Flopshin Midpact

Their designs fall into being overdesigned and overdetailed and I do feel like if this wasn't a vapid gacha game, the designs would be more interesting. Another issue is the designs using orientalist stereotypes.
I do have some favorites though.

Yun Jin

Hu Tao

Layla

Shinobu

Ayaka

I actually kind of hope that China would hit them with the censorship beam again. (Though, this probably won't happen since Genshin makes a ton of money and gives China free promo so there is no point). Specifically, Jean and Rosaria's designs look so much better and fits their character and jobs more.

Jean Before

Jean After

Rosaria Before

Rosaria After

I really enjoy shows and whatnot with large casts so I can't help but be interested in this game. Almost all the characters have something to add to the table whether they are lore relevant or not.

For example, I really like Yanfei, who some people think is a bit of a nothing burger because we already have other adepti and an illuminated-beast. But I just like that she is a legal advisor. That is so normal.

(Lumine looks gay as hell here...)

My issue is that the game doesn't really do a good job at showing the characters struggles that well. A lot of their story quests are shallow or poorly written and you would like a character more just from reading their character profile.

Another example, I love Ayaka, but her story quest felt a little confused about her desire to be a "normal girl" since she is seen as a perfect princess. The ending is a bit unsatisfying. But her Character Story 3 & 4 genuinely makes me tear up and I wish to see more writing like that.

I feel like Genshin has a really bad balance between showing the conflicts of each nation and addressing the larger story. I actually really like that artifacts and descriptions *foreshadow* future characters and plotlines, but those cannot be the only way to learn about characters.

Signora is a really interesting villain whose motivations and backstory never were fully addressed in the archon quest even though the Inazuma chapter would be a perfect time to learn about her.

fanart by @flikati on twitter

I do find it really fun that a lot of lore is in books that you can collect and read in-game though. "A Preliminary Study of Sangonomiya Folk Belief" ?? I love that. Amazing. I can roleplay as some anthropology scholar now.

These books range from historical documents, folktales, and even "reincarnated as a blah blah" light novels. They all tie into Genshin's themes of subverting societal/cultural/narrative roles, imperialism, and critiquing religion. Well... maybe not the light novel...

Really good. Only thing is Sumeru music sometimes pisses me off and I will explain why through this skit in "Orientalism: Desert Level Music vs Actual Middle-Eastern Music" by Farya Faraji.
But they also make bangers like this song which makes me cry.

I really like the combat and elemental reaction system Genshin has going. I can only say I don't really like the gacha aspect of it and feel annoyed that if I don't have the newer characters, my account will be bricked and I can't fight anything.
I also find the grinding weirdly satisfying. I think I just enjoy repetitive actions.
I think exploration is fun. I also just find the game really beautiful.

[screenshots found here]