Honkai: Star Rail's upcoming Amphoreus arc is heavily inspired by Greek mythology, from the illustrations in the "Golden Epic" trailer to the inspirations behind the Chrysos Heirs. The much-awaited chapter will arrive in Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.0 this January, and there's already an exciting lineup of characters to look forward to.
As many would know, stories based on Greek mythology always include the 12 Olympians in some way, because they are the most well-known characters. The trope has become predictable at this point, and Honkai: Star Rail could easily go this route in the Amphoreus arc. But based on the initial teasers for the Greek-inspired Amphoreus characters and the overall worldbuilding, the HoYoverse title may just stand out.
Honkai: Star Rail Veering Away From the Usual Greek Myth Trope is a Good Thing
According to legend, Amphoreus and its people were molded by 12 Titans, who were born from the Coreflames. They watched over different facets of humanity and nature, like the sky and death. Civilization thrived under the guidance of the Titans, until a phenomenon called the "heretical black tide" drove the powerful beings to madness, which eventually caused the millennium-long war between mortals and gods.
At first glance, the Titans are equivalent to the Olympians, but they aren't the main characters in Amphoreus. They are now represented by their respective Chrysos Heirs, who are prophesied to pluck the Coreflames and revive the planet from the consuming darkness. In fact, they seem to be similar to Genshin Impact's Archons, who could also have heirs to take up the mantle of presiding over Teyvat's regions.
Known Titans of Amphoreus
- Aquilla
- Cerces
- Janus
- Kephale
- Mnestia
- Nikador
- Oronyx
- Thanatos
In the case of the known Chrysos Heirs so far, they seem to be based on some lesser-known gods and deities from Greek mythology. For example, the upcoming 5-star character Tribbie has three faces, just like Hecate and the Fates. Another upcoming 5-star Honkai: Star Rail character named Mydei, who's also known as Mydeimos, is likely based on Deimos, a deity personifying fear and the son of Ares and Aphrodite. It's good that Honkai: Star Rail is veering away from the usual Greek myth trope of featuring Olympians, not only because it will differentiate Amphoreus' story from other Greek-inspired stories, but also puts the spotlight on more characters from the source material.
- Tribbie (5-star): Quantum, Path of Harmony
- Mydei (5-star): Imaginary, Path of Destruction
Similarly, this is the route that the Hades series went on, as it features Zagreus and Melinoe as the main protagonists. While the games do feature the Olympians and other beloved characters from Greek mythology, like Achilles, Heracles, and Odysseus, developer Supergiant Games took great care in adding more depth to the characters' stories and personalities, especially for lesser-known gods and deities. That way, more people could learn about these characters beyond just the Olympians, and see them in a different light.
Interestingly, this isn't the first time HoYoverse has tackled mythology in its games. Honkai Impact 3rd has elements inspired by Norse mythology, as evidenced by the powerful female warriors known as Valkyries. It also introduced the Imaginary Tree, which is Honkai Impact 3rd's version of Yggdrasil, the tree that connects different worlds. The Imaginary Tree is also believed to be the vessel that connects the worlds and universes within the HoYoverse multiverse.
As the fourth major planet in Honkai: Star Rail, there's a lot riding on Amphoreus to bring something fresh and new, especially with the promise that it's going to be inspired by Ancient Greece. If Honkai: Star Rail's recent "Of Titans and Mortal Realms: Ancient Hymn" trailer is any indication of what's to come, then avid players might be in for an exciting story and an expansive world in the next few months.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 90%
- Released
- April 26, 2023
- ESRB
- Teen / Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Simulated Gambling, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Publisher(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
WHERE TO PLAY
They call them, "Aeons" in this galaxy. They construct reality, erase stars, and leave their marks on countless worlds. Together with your companions you'll travel across the galaxy on the Astral Express, following the path once traveled by the Aeons. From here, you will explore new civilizations, meet new comrades, and begin new adventures among countless fantastical worlds. All the answers you seek will be uncovered among the stars.
Well what're you waiting for? Are you ready to begin this trailblazing journey?
Honkai: Star Rail is a new HoYoverse space fantasy RPG. Hop aboard the Astral Express and experience the galaxy's infinite wonders filled with adventure and thrills.
Players will meet new companions across various worlds and maybe even run into some familiar faces. Overcome the struggles together caused by Stellaron and unravel the hidden truths behind it! May this journey lead us starward!
- Engine
- Unity
- Cross-Platform Play
- Limited
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Turn-Based RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 83 hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
