Genshin Impact is now available on PlayStation 4, PC, and of course, mobile. The Nintendo Switch version will be out later. While we don’t have a full Genshin Impact review ready just yet, here are our first impressions.

The Good

Exploration feels rewarding. The world is gorgeous. Breath of the Wild is clearly an inspiration but this isn’t a shameless clone. There are plenty of gorgeous sights in this game that you will only find in Genshin Impact.

The score is gorgeous. The beautiful soundtrack makes exploration an absolute joy to do. The battles are more intense thanks to roaring sounds that immerse the players.

The characters in Genshin Impact are diverse and mostly fun. The characters are unique when it comes to both aesthetics and gameplay. Each character is associated with a specific element. They also specialize in different weapons. Experimenting can be pretty fun.

Swapping between characters feels great. The transitions are smooth and don’t feel like a chore. Genshin Impact rewards players for using many characters.

The game has a steady framerate throughout. This is especially so on higher-end devices. As of writing, we haven’t test Genshin Impact on a console yet.

There really isn’t a game that looks and plays like this on mobile. Genshin Impact is truly an accomplishment. Few gacha games in particular play like a console game. Genshin Impact is one of the best looking games on the market.

The Bad

There is a bit of input lag. I’m not sure if this affects everyone, but a few people I have played with have expressed some lag during combat. It’s still not enough to make the game unenjoyable though.

Dungeons are bland. They all have unique aesthetics, but going through dungeons is the same experience every time. Narrow paths lead to a big climax. The formula works, but something new will need to come to spice up the gameplay.

If you are playing on mobile, the game takes up a lot of space. It’s also intensive, so expect your device to get pretty hot while playing.

The gacha simply isn’t player-friendly. The pull rates are rough compared to other gachas and there isn’t enough currency to naturally get most of the players. Getting meta characters as a free to play user is incredibly difficult.

The Mixed Feelings

The combat in Genshin Impact doesn’t feel great, but it’s good enough. The touch screen controls work great and make the most out of smartphone limitations. Controller support would make a significant difference if added in a future update.

Spending money isn’t required unless you want certain characters. The game is easy enough to enjoy with the characters you naturally get from playing the game. You are unlikely to get your favorite character if you don’t spend money. If you can move past this, Genshin Impact is a good time.

The crafting and cooking mechanics feel bland and uninspired. Doing these things yields exciting results, but the actual process loses its charm within a few hours. Those who don’t like grinding will find this aspect frustrating. Otherwise, it’s an okay mechanic.

And there you have it! Expect our full Genshin Impact review soon! Until then, what are your thoughts on the game? What platform are you playing on?