Cerydra’s visual design is a rare HSR disappointment

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In Honkai: Star Rail, the entire Amphoreus arc has been an outstanding demonstration of HoYoverse’s development skills. As a history enthusiast with a passion for ancient civilizations, I must say that I have been thoroughly impressed by the team’s attention to detail in crafting the Graeco-Roman world theme thus far.

Instead, Cerydra and Hysilens appear to lack the distinctive Greek-Roman themes found in Aglaea and Mydei when it comes to their design. Unlike the latter, they seem not to incorporate elements that are characteristic of the Graeco-Roman theme.

Their designs are not poor at all; on the contrary, they effectively convey their respective themes. I appreciate Hysilens’ coral-inspired weapon, particularly its transformation into a trident to symbolize Poseidon/Neptune, and the idea of it also functioning as a violin is impressive. Moreover, her oceanic head ornaments are appealing. As for the Chess Master Monarch, I admire the extravagant crown and scepter that emphasize their regal status.

My issue is: These two characters could be from anywhere in the universe.

From a personal perspective, selecting the conventional design for Cerydra, featuring a monarch with a crown and scepter, seems to be a significant misstep. Wouldn’t it be more intriguing to draw inspiration from the Roman emperors instead of this common design archetype?

The character’s tale bears a strong resemblance to that of Julius Caesar. In fact, the titles of her abilities – “Ave Imperator” and “Traces” – are explicit allusions to Caesar and the emperors.

Visualize Cerydra adorned in an imperial gold and purple palette, resplendent in a Roman-esque armor (ranging from muscle cuirass, lorica segmentata, to lorica squamata, each offering the potential to shine brilliantly within HoYoverse’s artistic realm). She might wear either a laurel wreath or a helmet crowned with a crest, as Aglaea already sports the laurel. Her attire also includes a grandiose military cloak that billows dramatically behind her in the wind. In one hand, she may hold an eagle standard reminiscent of Rome, or perhaps wield the vinewood cane, the weapon of a centurio, as her tool.

Instead of saying “Would that not achieve the same purpose of making her an image of royalty and empire, conveying that she derives her authority from being a warlord and master strategist, while emphasizing her support role as a Harmony character?”, you could rephrase it to:

“Isn’t it possible for this representation to portray her as a regal figure with connections to power through her military acumen and strategic prowess, highlighting her supportive nature as a Harmony character? And wouldn’t this fit more seamlessly into our existing understanding of the world?

Although I admit that the image of a medieval king aligns better with the chess motif, considering its historical association with the game, it’s still disappointing not to see a stronger connection to Amphoreus’ visual theme. As time passed, this theme appears to have taken a backseat in favor of more generic fantasy attire. I was hoping for a greater emphasis on Centurii-chan rather than Furina’s design.

Following Mydei and Tribbie, the Graeco-Roman influences in character designs started to fade more and more. I believe that if Cerydra was involved, she could have effectively reintroduced these elements and solidified Amphoreus’ uncertain visual persona, given her robust thematic link to well-known historical figures.

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2025-08-02 15:47