Honkai Impact 3rd Part 2 will be releasing on 29 February with a new world, characters, combat, and more

Honkai Impact 3rd (HI3), the free-to-play gacha 3D RPG by Chinese developer HoYoverse, will be releasing its biggest update yet, titled Honkai Impact 3rd Part 2, on 29 February.

HI3 Part 2 will give let players embark on an all-new adventure in the planet Mars and introduce them to a new set of characters as they fight for all that is beautiful in the world. Players will also make use of a revamped combat system to take on a new host of enemies threatening to snuff out the spark of civilization.

With the adventures of Kiana Kaslana, Raiden Mei, Bronya Zaychik, and the other Valkyries we've come to love in HI3 Part 1 now over, Part 2 will introduce players to a new trio of main characters: Senadina, the lively and uplifting girl with striking red hair; Helia, the skilled warrior and reliable partner; and Coralie, the petite girl with a giant hammer as her weapon.

Unlike HI3 Part 1, where players take on the role of the 'Captain' character who seldom appears onscreen, HI3 Part 2 will let them take on a more active role in the story as they step into the shoes of the Dreamseeker.

Similar to the Traveler from Genshin Impact or the Trailblazer from Honkai: Star Rail, players can choose between male or female versions of the Dreamseeker and join the other playable characters on their adventures.

Senadina, Helia, and Coralie will lead players in a new adventure in Mars, where humanity will be struggling to rekindle the spark of civilization from the many Honkai disasters it endured during Part 1. The places players will frequent in Mars include Oxia City, the modern metropolis with game arcades and shopping malls, and the steampunk city of Langqiu.

While exploring a whole new world is certainly exciting, the biggest highlight of HI3 Part 2 has to be its revamped combat system.

Combat in HI3 Part 2 will now see players take the fight to the skies with the new aerial combat system, which will let players use aerial attacks and combos to take advantage of a new dimension of battle against whatever enemy they face.

Certain characters in HI3 Part 2 are even geared towards aerial combat, with Senadina notably able to use multiple aerial combos with her unique weapon of choice in a yo-yo.

There's also the new Astral Ring system, which lets players enter a brief state that enables simultaneous burst skills for an easier and more direct option to deal a huge burst of damage. Astral Rings accumulate energy during fights and, when sufficiently charged, will enable characters to make use of their burst skills.

Enemies in HI3 Part 2 will also behave differently from before. HoYoverse even said that they are more "intelligent", using more diverse skills to test players' skills and knowledge of the game's combat mechanics, and will even rest or entertain themselves outside of battle.

HoYoverse said in a press release that they are "dedicated to bringing an immersive and interactive gaming experience to all new and avid players" with the release of HI3 Part 2.

To celebrate the release of the massive new update, there will be a series of time-limited in-game events that will give bountiful rewards for players. By accumulating logins, players can receive Battlesuit Supply Cards, S-rank Battlesuit Option 2024, Anniversary Stigmata, and Anniversary Emblems, among others.

Players can also get Coralie Character Card, her recommended weapon, and Anniversary Frame by exploring the main story chapter and completing main story tasks. Meanwhile, participating in the featured event will also offer the opportunity to obtain Disciplinary Perdition's new outfit.

There will also be real-life events to celebrate HI3 Part 2's release, including offline collaboration events and activities across the world and a peripherals collaboration with Razer and iBUYPOWER.

For more information on what's to come in HI3 Part 2, check out the full preview livestream here.

Yan Ku is a full-time dog parent, part-time (gacha) gamer, and part-time writer.

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