Wuthering Waves is an open-world adventure RPG by Kuro Games that first premiered on May 22, 2024, on Steam. What makes this game special is its interesting combat system. MyMMO author Nathalie Schnee even finds it better than that of Genshin Impact.
I enjoyed my time in Genshin Impact very much, but after nearly four years, it became a bit boring. Just at the right moment, a new anime RPG appeared. I was immediately excited about Wuthering Waves, and the combat system particularly captivated me. I would like to share with you here why I find it better than that of Genshin.
What is Wuthering Waves actually about?
Wuthering Waves is, like Genshin, a free gacha game. This means you can play the game completely free of charge. However, there is the option to use real money to exchange for in-game currency. A special incentive for this is the various characters, called Resonators, which are only available for a limited time.
The plot itself is nothing special. The protagonist wakes up in a world and has no memories. With the newly gained companions, he experiences several adventures and tries to regain his memories. Just like in Genshin, a mascot is not missing, which you encounter later in the story – its name is Abby.
Still, Wuthering Waves is the first story that I read without skipping. It wasn’t the story that fascinated me, but the facial expressions of the different characters. They allow the player to be extremely immersed in the events. At some very emotional moments, I even wiped away a tear or two behind my screen.
The characters touch not only with their story; they also have a lot to offer:
It all starts with combat preparation
The player has various attack and defense mechanics available in Wuthering Waves.
- Intro and outro skills: Triggered when a new Resonator is introduced and the currently fighting character is swapped out.
- Parrying: When the opponent glows yellow, the player can parry the opponent’s attack with a well-timed counterattack.
- Dodging: When the opponent starts an attack, the player can escape at the right moment by pressing the dodge button. This creates a slow-motion effect.
- Forte cycle: A specific ability tailored to each Resonator that is charged during combat and can be unleashed again.
- Basic attack: The normal attack.
- Ability: An ability that the player can trigger.
- Ultimate ability: A particularly powerful ability that charges up in combat.
However, the function of the Echos is extraordinary. These are small monsters that can be found all over the map. The player can defeat, capture, and equip them to fight alongside them.
Especially players who are crazy about Pokémon – like me – are very attracted to collecting the little monsters in the overworld. These monsters are extremely important for combat as they significantly enhance the Resonators you fight with.
Echos are the equivalent of artifacts in Genshin. A combat team always consists of three characters. The player equips each Resonator with a total of five Echos that match the character’s element. This provides the character with enhancements. However, additionally, each Resonator, similar to Genshin, also requires a weapon.
The monster that is equipped first has a special task. The main Echo can be actively summoned in combat, allowing the Resonator to transform into the monster for a brief period. This attack can also be used for movement outside of combat. For example, the player transforms into a motorcycle-riding monster and zooms across the map.
I find collecting Echos much more enjoyable than collecting artifacts. However, the gambling aspect of obtaining the right stats on the Echos, such as crit damage or crit rate, proves to be a bit more challenging. However, collecting artifacts in Genshin is quite monotonous since you have to enter the same instance repeatedly. In Wuthering Waves, the Echos are dynamically picked up in the overworld.
Genshin Impact places a lot of emphasis on elements in the game, as enemies can be taken down using elemental reactions. To do this, the right elements must be combined. Therefore, it takes some experience to know which elements cause strong damage and which characters are best suited for this purpose.
In some cases, a team can consist of only one element, but certain conditions must be met for this.
This reminds me of Pokémon. I enjoy collecting them, but when it comes to battles, I find it tedious to pay attention to which element is effective against which. This is also how I feel in Genshin. Causing elemental reactions feels laborious.
In Wuthering Waves, you can collect different monsters, use them in combat, and thus have access to a large repertoire of combat techniques without constantly having to think about elemental reactions.
Wuthering Waves offers better immersion
The most important point is the immersive combat experience in Wuthering Waves. Since the player has to pay close attention to intro and outro skills, the forte cycle, parrying, and dodging, combat feels more impactful and draws the player deeper into it. The slow-motion effect when dodging also makes combat feel very dynamic and exciting.
Especially in co-op mode, the intro and outro skills take on a new role. Two other players from your world can join. When fighting together, the intro ability of the Resonators of team members charges up. However, switching to a teammate’s character is not possible. Instead, you press the designated button, and instead of swapping Resonators, you trigger the intro skill of the team member – and fighting together is simply more enjoyable.
If three friends are in your world, you can only attack with one character in Genshin Impact, leaving you somewhat helpless. In Wuthering Waves, it is possible to activate the intro ability of a nearby ally, making you feel less handicapped.
The forte cycle ability also makes combat feel particularly individualized, as this ability is specifically tailored to each Resonator. It offers the player an additional attack option alongside the usual ultimate ability and the normal ability that every gacha character has by default.
In Genshin Impact, sometimes fighting feels like I am blindly swinging around and hitting a few enemies in the process. The battles affect me less because they do not immerse me in the events on the battlefield as much.
In Wuthering Waves, on the other hand, it feels almost like being fully present on the battlefield, which ultimately gives me more enjoyment of the combat system.
What do you think of Wuthering Waves? Is Genshin Impact still your top favorite among gacha games? Let us know in the comments. If you’re looking for more games that resemble Genshin Impact, take a look here: 6 games like Genshin Impact.
