Honkai: Star Rail's Penacony arc in Version 2.0 promises an exhilarating experience, teased through captivating cinematics and the introduction of new characters, including the malevolent Annihilation Gang.
Under the leadership of Duke Inferno, the Annihilation Gang seeks to destroy the world to gain the favor of the Aeon of Destruction, Nanook. As devotees of the Aeon, they are outcasts due to their impure thirst for destruction. Each of the four members under Duke Inferno has demonstrated their formidable capabilities, drawing comparisons to a prominent group from the Resident Evil series.
The Resonance of Four Lords in the Annihilation Gang
Aside from Duke Inferno, the Annihilation Gang comprises four lethal members: Akash, Dubra, Caterina, and Constance. Many fans of Honkai: Star Rail have drawn parallels between the gang and Resident Evil Village's Four Lords, particularly due to their cult-like attributes and the matching number of members.
In the eighth installment of Resident Evil, the Four Lords govern the Eastern European village, each gaining superhuman abilities after exposure to the Mold. The group consists of Alcina Dimitrescu, Salvatore Moreau, Donna Beneviento, and Karl Heisenberg.
The allure of Resident Evil Village stemmed from its compelling gameplay, offering players the chance to confront each lord and conquer their terrifying challenges before facing Miranda. This format, while straightforward, effectively conveyed the narrative. Consequently, Honkai: Star Rail has an opportunity to adopt a similar gameplay style for the Annihilation Gang in future updates.
Empowering Each Annihilation Gang Member with a Unique Boss Battle
Honkai: Star Rail has yet to confirm if the Annihilation Gang members will be playable characters, but there is speculation around their potential release in upcoming updates. However, it is anticipated that they will emerge as formidable boss adversaries, prompting the prospect of confronting them in their respective domains within the Ever-Flame Mansion. Similar to Resident Evil Village, the Annihilation Gang members could present distinct abilities and challenges, offering players unique encounters during each battle. The difficulty level for each member might be heightened, particularly as fans believe Constance to be the most formidable, being Duke Inferno's "pride and joy." This approach would also enable players to delve into their individual narratives, even if they are merely non-playable characters.
Naturally, it is essential that the challenges posed by each member do not closely mimic those in Resident Evil Village, despite the visual resemblances - for instance, Constance's attire resembling Lady Dimitrescu and Dubra wielding a child-like puppet akin to Beneviento. While integrating Beneviento's "hide and seek" mini-game into Honkai: Star Rail's main story may not be feasible, the transformation of these boss enemies into formidable entities, akin to Lady Dimitrescu and Moreau, remains a possibility. Notably, this would not be the first instance of a Honkai: Star Rail boss undergoing transformation, as evidenced by Cocolia and Phantylia's multiple forms during battles.
Although the official debut of the Annihilation Gang in the game may be some time away, anticipation is already building among Honkai: Star Rail enthusiasts. With the game commencing 2024 with an extensive update in February and its approaching first anniversary, HoYoverse may have significant plans in the pipeline, potentially involving an expanded Penacony map to accommodate the individual lairs of the Annihilation Gang.