Format: iOS
Genre: Action RPG
Developer: miHoYo
Publisher: miHoYo

Running on this reviewer's iPhone 14 Pro Max, the game looks like a PlayStation 5 title but running natively on a cellphone. There is a layer of near-cognitive dissonance as to how it's possible to have waving fields of the game's clearly "Breath of the Wild"-inspired grass, and its massively detailed, incredibly animated anime characters running on such a device. The game's art direction is superb, particularly the indoor areas such as the library and the tavern. The user interface is immaculate, and does a good job of clueing the player to what he hasn't yet completed or noticed.

The soundtrack is ho-hum when looked at from a "is this memorable after gameplay?" vantage-- but during gameplay it does a really nice job of weaving the action into a delightful aural tapestry. Most of the music is sweeping orchestral work, but having been done by Chinese composers not in an obnoxious Hollywood trailer style. Other songs are more ambient and moody. The game's English voice acting is out-of-this-world-- some of the best this reviewer has ever heard in a video game.

Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG which lets the player attack and activate special combat abilities, where characters-- up to four at a time-- can be flipped between mid-combo. It's important to inflict status ailments-- such as fire-- on enemies, then switch characters to nail the baddies with a second element. New characters can be acquired via a gacha system, which never feels necessary as the game hooks the player up with a good starting cast. The game is surprisingly playable with touch controls, but has full Bluetooth controller support for good measure.

There are daily activities to do; there is a sprawling set of triple-A caliber story-based quests to work through; there is co-op support for up to four players. No matter how one plays, the title is generous about issuing its premium currency through normal play. Its art style and aural elements are difficult to resist, but this reviewer found himself getting a bit bored with the combat over time, with encounters becoming a bit of a slog. Still, for a mobile gacha-style game, it's tough to find a better recommendation than Genshin Impact-- a huge-budget, one-of-a-kind experience that's occasionally tough to believe.