Honkai: Nexus Anima Demo Impressions
A hands-on report from Gamescom finds potential in Honkai: Nexus Anima's creature-collecting and city exploration, despite its autochess-style combat.
Honkai: Nexus Anima, a new creature-collecting game from Hoyoverse, was playable at Gamescom. A Pocket Gamer reporter tried the demo and found it had potential beyond its initial 'Palworld-like' comparisons.
The story is a typical Hoyoverse battle between light and dark. Players collect creatures called Anima, some of which are infected by a darkness that needs cleansing. They battle other collectors while exploring the city of Ilia and its surroundings. This setting may appeal to some as a deep narrative and serve others as a simple gameplay backdrop.
Gameplay: Autochess and Exploration
Honkai: Nexus Anima's combat differs from other Hoyoverse titles. It uses Auto Chess-style battles against opposing Anima groups. Players win by synergizing elemental types and using supporting characters' special abilities to customize their lineup.
Exploration in the city of Ilia is a standout feature. Anima act as mounts or use their abilities to help traverse the environment. They can pick locks or leap over obstacles. This makes them feel like companions, not just collectibles. The exploration area is smaller than Zenless Zone Zero's regions. Each Ilia district has unique music, atmosphere, side stories, and areas to explore.
Gameplay has surprising depth. Using Anima abilities for traversal can unlock new dialogue options. Player stats can also affect dialogue, similar to games like Fallout.
World and Humor
The game evokes a retro style reminiscent of Pokémon and Digimon while maintaining Hoyoverse's dramatic flair. Distinct music plays in each district, with separate night versions, making Ilia feel like a welcoming hub.
The reporter found the game quite funny. Virtually everyone in Ilia's behavior verges on the deranged. One example is a receptionist admitting the 'happiness committee' intentionally leaves money around for kleptomaniac heroes to collect.
Some Anima designs are absurd. Kaffiend is a coffee-addicted koala that carries its drink in an IV bag on a pole, drinking through a tube. Furrari is a cyborg cat with wheels that zooms past at high speed. Petrilogs are wooden-like Anima found posed in static positions around the city. Some designs look familiar, like Hoppelon, a group of small creatures resembling Greek hoplites.
The reporter's session was brief and story-light, focused on wandering Ilia. They believe the game will be a big hit, though likely not on par with MiHoYo's major releases. It has a high level of polish and quality. The autochess combat isn't to the reporter's personal taste, but they credit the game's originality. They concluded by noting it was the first time they had to write the phrase 'coffee-addicted koala.'
