Will Light Cones Ruin Future Games or Revolutionize Them?

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In Honkai: Star Rail, they swapped out conventional weapons for Light Cones and revamped gear into highly specialized and divisive items. Unlike a flexible system that lets players tinker with various weapon types or adjust gear based on stats, the Light Cones are strictly assigned to specific paths, tailor-made for their purpose, and surprisingly limited in options. This design is effective for Star Rail due to its methodical, precise, and turn-based combat system, and while it could potentially adapt well beyond the game’s format, the outcome may differ for other titles.

Ultimately, the choice boils down to the type of gaming experience the studio desires. Light Cones streamline inventory and reduce redundancy, yet they restrict a player’s creative expression. In Honkai: Star Rail, this balance is effective due to its emphasis on defined team roles, fixed turn order, and meticulously crafted strategies. However, in other game formats such as real-time combat or open-world action, such rigidity might feel constraining.

Why Light Cones in Future Titles Could Work in Favor

In Honkai: Star Rail, Light Cones establish an organized framework, yet this organization fosters distinctness, consistency, and equilibrium among characters. When it comes to games where roles are clearly defined, having role-specific equipment eliminates excess and guides players towards significant choices. Instead of investing resources on all-purpose weapons or balancing conflicting stats, players receive gear tailored to their character’s role. This allows developers to create more intricate character kits since the equipment is no longer a random factor but a fixed one.

If HoYoverse’s upcoming games focus on stricter character classes or smaller team compositions, Light Cones might serve as a balancing factor, allowing for more dynamic and rapid evolution in other aspects of the game. Additionally, there is long-term benefit in minimizing the clutter associated with equipment. In many gacha games, power imbalance is fueled by confusion over equipment stats and potential upgrades. Light Cones eliminate this early on, fostering a healthier game environment. Instead of continuously redesigning to sell more powerful items, the game can refine its existing structures, making them easier for players to comprehend.

Light Cones Can Only Work in a Certain Type of Game

In Star Rail, the functionality of Light Cones is sustained primarily because the game’s design caters to them, with its strategic combat and smaller team sizes. The pace is deliberately slow, allowing role-locking mechanics to thrive. However, introducing this gear system into a faster, open-world game such as Genshin Impact or another real-time title would quickly expose flaws due to the mismatch between locking gear behind fixed paths and core elements like improvisation and free exploration, which can diminish the excitement of discovering new areas.

The Case Against Leveraging Light Cones

In Genshin Impact, I love the freedom to mix and match weapons like a bow or catalyst, even if it seems unconventional. There’s an exciting element of exploration, pushing the boundaries of what’s expected, and discovering unexpected synergies that the developers didn’t anticipate. However, when it comes to Light Cones in other HoYoverse titles, they seem to squash that creativity. They’re already optimized before you even start playing, which I understand can be efficient, but it also feels restrictive. It promotes a culture of one-size-fits-all builds where there’s usually just one best option and a few duds, with little wiggle room in between.

As a passionate player, I can’t help but notice that the Signature Cones in this game seem to rely heavily on the fear of missing out (FOMO). These premium banners often lock away the Signature Cones, making certain characters feel incomplete or underdeveloped without them. In a system as rigid as this, lacking the appropriate Cone isn’t just an annoyance, but a significant setback that directly weakens character performance. This can create tension within free-to-play gaming environments and undermine the sense of ownership and individuality that sandbox gear systems aim to deliver.

In essence, what works well in a narrow, turn-based loop may not always translate smoothly to broader, more fluid games. If future HoYoverse titles are intended to feel dynamic, adaptable, and personalized, the Light Cones might not be the ideal blueprint.

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2025-04-23 05:07