The Aetherium Wars event in Honkai: Star Rail is a delightful parody of the iconic Pokémon franchise. From the tournament structure to the characters and dialogue, it’s clear that the developers had a lot of fun paying homage to Pokémon.
The event starts off with a familiar tournament format, reminiscent of Pokémon battles. As you progress, the references become even more obvious and hilarious. The Aether Spirits system, where you must defeat each creature to obtain it, mirrors the process of capturing Pokémon. The battle system also follows a similar pattern, with increasingly challenging opponents leading up to the ultimate champion title.
But the parody doesn’t stop there. The event includes subtle nods to Pokémon, such as two IPC guards who mimic the antics of Team Rocket. These guards constantly try to steal your Warp Trotter, just like Team Rocket’s pursuit of Pikachu, only to be defeated every time. The voice actors for these guards sound so similar to the real Team Rocket that players speculate they may be the actual voice actors, though this has not been confirmed by the developers.
The humor continues with comical exclamation points appearing above other players’ heads when they spot you, followed by goofy one-liners and combat. The dialogue from competitors is intentionally over-the-top, exaggerating the Pokémon experience. Even the Trailblazer instructs their Warp Trotter to use “Tackle,” a move commonly seen in Pokémon battles.
Another reference comes in the form of a mysterious character named Giovanni, who serves as your guide throughout the event. This is an obvious nod to the Pokémon character of the same name.
The Aether Spirits themselves are caught in Aether Coins, which function similarly to Poké Balls. Once you’ve captured all the available Aether Spirits by conquering the Victory Zones, you earn the “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” achievement, a clear homage to Pokémon’s catchphrase.
One particularly amusing Aether Spirit is the Entranced Ingenium: Illumination Dragonfish. Its Ultimate move does absolutely nothing, and each time it is used, a pop-up appears stating that it did “absolutely nothing.” This creature is a perfect reference to Magikarp, a famously useless Pokémon.
Players are already praising Aetherium Wars as Honkai: Star Rail’s best event yet. The attention to detail and the thought put into this parody tournament is evident, making it a must-play event for both Pokémon fans and those looking for a good laugh.
Source: DOTESPORTS
