Initial release date: July 4, 2024
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows
License: proprietary license
Genres: Action role-playing game, Adventure game, Fighting game
Developers: miHoYo, Shanghai Miha Touring Film Technology Co., Ltd.
Publisher: COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.
Engine: Unity
Zenless Zone Zero is the latest action-packed release from HoYoverse, the company behind Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, and Honkai Star Rail. Set in New Eridu, this action RPG blends fast-paced combat with a very urban vibe in a pseudo-Japanese setting. What makes this game unique, and how does it stand out? Find out more in our Zenless Zone Zero review!
Zenless Zone Zero transports players to New Eridu, a city continuously attacked by unknown creatures known as Hollows. You play the role of a Proxy, a contractor that navigates the Hollow to protect civilians and unearth the secrets behind anomalies. New Eridu appears tranquil for the most part, but there are roving gangs of robbers and monsters in the Hollow, where commissions are put.
Overall, the tale is very deep, but there are some amusing and well-animated, well-voiced moments that effectively depict its side stories. Aside from main plot grinds, character side tales are available throughout your journey and contain deeper connections to characters you can root for. Overall, the tale is forgettable, but there are some memorable moments.
Zenless Zone Zero shines most brightly in its playability. Combat is slick and swift, reminiscent of the Senran Kagura games. Knowing the fundamentals alone, however, is insufficient; you must also invest in your characters, as in other gacha games.
Evades, switching, super attacks, and EX moves all require upgrades to improve their effectiveness. More complex features, such as Bangboos, small rabbit-like pals who assist you in battle, and W-Engines, a weapon and ability-enhancing equipable item, all require upgrades with different currencies, which sounds confusing but is separated enough not to be burdensome.
The game environment is largely made up of talks, with several activities and mini-games that provide breaks from the main story but are still required for full completion and achievements. distinct times of day produce distinct event triggers for completing further material from Officer Mew Mew and Sage in a Barrel coin gathering activities.
Side content can almost be completed by merely clicking/pressing through rather than providing intelligent responses, which may occur from time to time. Certain Exploration events on the HDD, your user interface for completing Story and Combat objectives, may demand some memorization and puzzle solving.
While these cultivates add material to the game, they can be done rapidly and repetitively, causing your brain to melt out of your ears at times. Leveling up characters and everything else is the most difficult endeavor, resulting in a style over substance feeling in the end.
Zenless Zone Zero looks lively, modern, and clean. It’s a distinct approach from HoYoverse’s prior titles, falling midway between Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd. Characters in cutscenes appear almost rubbery, evocative of vintage stretchy cartoons. The visual style complements the story’s semi-serious tone. The cityscapes are detailed and immersive, with iconic areas filled with NPCs.
The audio design is equally amazing. The lively soundtrack suits the game’s fast-paced action and urban surroundings. Voice acting is excellent, with each character delivering their lines with personality and no two sounds same.
The soundtrack features a variety of styles, including rock, trap, and a cameo performance by Tiësto. Entering the Hollow to complete end-game content and hearing the trap music instrumental sustained me and my excitement during the long slog.
Zenless Zone Zero operates pretty well on PC, however some performance concerns may necessitate the use of a more powerful system. Areas such as Lumina Square are stressful on nearly every device we tested. The game does allow high resolutions and frame rate toggles, as well as several customization options to save battery life and performance.
For those who are curious, playing using Steam Deck, which is not optimized for ZZZ, and downloading through Heroic and the Epic Games Store causes performance issues such as missing frames and, at worst, crashing, which I would only advocate in extreme instances.
The iPad Pro with Apple’s latest chipset, the M4, provided the best overall experience (the only device with the power to run a game but not a desktop with two displays). While there are occasional performance glitches on PC, they are minimal and can cause stuttering on some important hit strings. Your experience should be fairly smooth, but it’s important to be aware that it may not perform optimally at its top settings and would benefit from being adjusted somewhat lower.
Zenless Zone Zero is a wonderful addition to HoYoverse’s repertoire; some may find it too similar to Honkai Impact 3rd, but I believe the environment and characters are more anchored in reality than the latter.
Zenless Zone Zero’s basic but accurate combat system, realistic setting, and breathtaking presentation outperform most current-generation console games. Despite some minor performance concerns, Zenless Zone Zero provides an experience comparable to those in its class, i.e. Senran Kagura.
Review Overview
Gameplay: 88%
Controls: 90%
Aesthetics: 94%
Content: 86%
Accessibility: 82%
Value: 88%
Overall: 88%
VIBRANTLY ACTION-PACKED!
Summary:
Zenless Zone Zero provides a high-energy experience that combines explosive combat and breathtaking visuals. Players are attracted into a futuristic world populated with distinct personalities, each with their own set of powers and stories to share. The combat is powerful and responsive, while mission repetition can disrupt immersion. Zenless Zone Zero, with its anime-inspired art style and engaging tale, provides a gripping trip that action RPG lovers will undoubtedly enjoy.