Since the rift in Honami opened, laying the path to Lahai-Roi open in 2.8, there has been a lot of speculation about what will be in store for players as they step into the sci-fi themed Startorch Academy in Wuthering Waves 3.0. After some hands-on time with the new expansion’s early story, as well as some open-world exploration with the new characters, it’s clear that the students at the Academy aren’t the only ones with their eyes set on the stars, as Kuro Games seems poised to launch their player base into something new and exciting.
Before we get into all the details, a quick note. Despite the launch of 3.0 in just a couple of weeks, we were informed that the build we got to play is not the final build players will engage with. So there may be some differences between what I experienced and what the final product will be.
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As I got to jump into the 3.0 story, I found the most prominent element that greeted me was mystery. Even though I didn’t get to experience much of the narrative, everywhere Rover (Jane Jackson, The Division 2) went, questions followed. From the nature of the Void Storms that encircle Lahai-Roi and the mysterious manner in which it is kept at bay, to hints at characters being more than they initially appear, Wuthering Waves 3.0 feels so infused with questions that it could only take place in a setting that is singularly devoted to finding answers. While the grand questions surrounding the narrative are easy to get lost in, the most surprising came from an unlikely source: Lynae.
Lynae is on the way in Wuthering Waves 3.0.
One of the first characters teased for Wuthering Waves 3.0, Lynae left a fun but basic first impression. Playful and stylish, with an upbeat personality, the character felt like she would be a cheerful new companion to greet players as they arrived in Startorch Academy. However, after some time with her, it seems that this straightforward character may have more up her sleeves than one of her trademark spraypaint cans.
I won’t be diving into specifics, but if the hints that are given in the early moments of Rover’s time with Lynae are any indication, Kuro may be pulling another fast one on their fans. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time they presented a character with obvious elements and motivations, only to flip the script to everyone’s surprise. This type of switch is one of the things that made Canterella (Alexandra Guelff, Blasphemous II) one of the standout characters of the Rinascita Arc.
While the smaller questions are intriguing on a personal level, the grand scope of Wuthering Waves 3.0’s biggest questions astounds. How the place runs and where the technology comes from are pivotal elements, with hints even in these early moments of the narrative. But while these questions are poised to potentially change what we know about Solaris-III, they are also the most dangerous for the story thus far.
Wuthering Waveshas has always leaned on a character-first approach to gameplay and storytelling. While this has brought about emotionally resonating moments throughout its run, it has also at times left some plots with less than satisfying answers. That the most notorious of these, Rover’s brushing off of the Tethys Core problem with a simple “they’ll have to find another way,” comes from the only other sci-fi themed story the game has indulged in, could give fans cause to worry. But a lot has changed since 1.3, so hopefully things will play out better this time around.
The hints we got about the answers to some of the previously revealed tidbits about Lahai-Roi’s unique culture are intriguing. How the region manages without a Sentinel is the biggest question, and it feels like it will play a central part in the story’s narrative. A couple of different possibilities quickly emerge as to what may lie behind these questions. It will be interesting to see if any of the obvious possibilities win out, or if something unpredictable, but hopefully still fitting with the rest of the world, comes to pass.
Character development is just as important in Wuthering Waves 3.0 as any other system addition.
Just as Rinascita’s lore, with its cultural focus on echo usage, was woven into the interactive side of its world, Wuthering Waves 3.0 is clearly looking to do the same with Lahai-Roi’s technology. From transporter pads for quick travel around the academy’s campus to the frequency cassettes every person is issued that make a record of their memories and frequency, Kuro is looking to weave the region’s love of technology into every aspect of the world. And nowhere is that more noticeable than in the new exploration mechanic: the motorcycle.
First seen fully during Wuthering Waves‘ recent gameplay showcase, the motorcycle is the new means of moving around the region of Lahai-Roi, since Rinascita’s flight mechanic won’t be making the move over. This means a lot of the enjoyment of exploration will be tied to how well the bike handles, how long it lasts, and how effective it is at navigating difficult terrain. Luckily, Kuro seems well aware of how much is riding on the new mode of transportation. (pun intended)
The basics of steering feel solid. I got to try out a couple of driving challenges that tasked me with zig-zagging through rings, and found little difficulty with keeping the bike under control. It’s responsive and smooth, and feels great for the general kind of driving players seem likely to utilize it for. A feature that surprised me, and aids greatly in its job as an all-terrain traversal mechanic, is how the bike jumps.
With the push of a button, the bike will launch straight up in the air. Even from a standstill, this will work, with the height of the jump more than enough to clear most obstacles. This jump was invaluable for getting unstuck when I did inevitably crash into things.
The only place where the bike felt off to me was with the drifting mechanic. Used to navigate turns as well as recharge the bike’s stamina gauge, the effect of engaging the drift never felt natural. Rather than skidding around corners cleanly as I expected, I more often than not just came to a near halt. I didn’t spend a ton of time messing with it, though, so maybe it’ll just take a little getting used to.
While the bike serves its purpose as a great mode of exploration, it brings more to the table than just that. Customizable options like paint jobs are available, and the bike also comes with a small skill tree that allows players to improve the bike in small ways. My glance at the tree left me with the impression that the perks are good, but nothing major enough to make players feel like they are missing out if they don’t want to do the challenges required to earn the skill points.
Perhaps the bike’s most exciting feature, if you are a lover of the game’s music like me, is the radio. Tons of tracks are available from throughout the game’s library. Songs can also be favourited, so players can keep track of their preferred listens.
A few final details show off just how much fun and care have been poured into this major new feature. When making significant jumps, characters will do fun animations like turning to sit side saddle. Players can also invite companions to ride along with them to share in the road trip. I’m looking forward to my YouTube recommendations being flooded by vids of Rover and The Shorekeeper riding along with Astra Unicum playing in the background.
Players can also pick up collectables and gather chests without leaving their vehicle or even slowing down. This keeps drives from being disrupted by jumping off and on, or having to turn back when overshooting a chest.
Exploration and travel get a new standard in Wuthering Waves 3.0.
While the new traversal mechanic is exciting, travelling is only as much fun as the world you are exploring. Kuro set a high bar for world design with Rinascita, but it looks like it’s poised to make a repeat performance in Wuthering Waves 3.0. Clearly built to accommodate the bike, the initial areas of Lahai-Roi players can explore look massive and spread out. This initially seems bigger than the previous area, until you notice the significant decrease in verticality.
While the world of Lahi-Roi isn’t a flat plain by any stretch of the imagination, you don’t have huge structures like the Avarado Bank suspended in mid-air either. So while it feels more expansive, I won’t be surprised if it ends up being roughly the same when all is said and done.
If this talk of scale makes you worried about long, boring bike rides, you don’t need to be. There are plenty of things to do along the way, and fast travel points are spread out generously as always, ensuring that nowhere is ever too far.
Another small traversal element I got to experience comes directly in Lynae’s kit. When not in combat, Lynae can become invisible, allowing her to pass by enemies without triggering them. The ability is accompanied by a neat, holographic coloring of the character, making her stealth movements stand out, even as she blends in.
Given how easy it is to outrun enemies, even when not on a motorcycle, this feature doesn’t feel like anything overly special. It’s cool, but it doesn’t seem likely to be essential to exploring the world, or likely to be a means of pressuring players to pick the character any more than Lupa’s increased running speed was. It’s just a thing that allows the character to stand out a bit.
The visual design of the world is fantastic. The technological elements of Lahai-Roi’s world are executed marvelously. They feel unique from other technological spaces we’ve explored previously in The Black Shores, but not alien enough to feel out of place in the ever-developing setting of Solaris-III.
Also making the region stand out is the colour palette. There feels like a much stronger emphasis on cooler colors and tones, giving the region a strong contrast to the bright colors and packed energy of Rinascita’s design. This gives the new region a vibe all its own.
Another interesting new feature coming in Wuthering Waves 3.0 is a new messenger feature. The element allows Rover’s allies to stay in touch, as well as send along missions they need done. This feature feels like it could hold a lot of potential. With the ever-growing cast, it’s impossible to keep everyone’s favourites on screen. Hopefully, we may see bits of non-essential story play out here, as personalties from the game’s growing past keep in touch with the world-wandering protagonist.
Going the extra distance, it looks like Kuro Games is setting up the new feature to integrate with past storylines, so new players can have little extras brought in before they reach 3.0. A brief scan of some message threads led me to discover one conversation between Rover, Changli, and Jinshi that is clearly intended to take place in the wake of the 1.1 story.
The big addition to combat comes in the tune break system. When taking damage, a bar to the left of the enemy’s health fills. Once full, the next attack they take will send it into a tune break, allowing for extra damage to be dealt. A button prompt cues the player to do a special attack when the enemy is in this mode. And this interaction has been retroactively added to past resonators, so no one is getting left behind.
Combat gets an exciting new system in Wuthering Waves 3.0.
This new feature feels great. From a haptic standpoint, the feedback when breaking pops, and the visuals do a great job of making the moment something noteworthy. But the most important element of this mechanic is that it gives the developers another tool to play with so they can make new characters stand out and interact with each other. Characters who do increased break damage or get a buff after breaking an enemy are sure to show up, creating a new consideration for team building beyond elements and debuff synergies.
During my time exploring the combat in Wuthering Waves 3.0, I got to play around with the new characters arriving in the new patch: Lynae and Mornye. While I didn’t dive too deeply into the inner workings of their respective kits, both feel great to play. Lynae’s move set is kinetic and fun, as she bounces around the screen, leaving spray paint and tire marks everywhere.
Mornye’s combat style stands apart from Lynae’s, creating a stark contrast between the two. Often hovering over the battlefield, summoning laser strikes between graceful dodges, her playstyle feels more in line with Jinshi’s. Just instead of summoning a dragon to fight for her, she’s using drones to blast her foes with energy beams.
To say I walked away from my time with Wuthering Waves 3.0 excited would be an understatement. A great-looking world, intriguing plot, and fun new mechanics showcase that the developers at Kuro Games have no intention to rest on their laurels yet. Here’s hoping that all the promise that Lahai-Roi and Startorch Academy hold pays off in another great year of content for the game’s fans.
Wuthering Waves is available on PC, PlayStation, and mobile devices, and its 3.0 update is scheduled to launch on December 25th.
