Zenless Zone Zero by Hoyoverse is an action adventure gacha game that has a lot going for it and has a good amount of content in the game itself. The amount of content provided in the game while at the start feels a bit overwhelming due to various mechanics implemented in the variety of gameplay provided. Aside from that, the overall feel of the game from an aesthetics standpoint feels fluid and cartoony in a sense, but this adds some much-needed character to the game’s appeal. This more fluid art style really makes the game feel different from the rest of the games Hoyoverse have made so far for mobile devices. Zenless Zone Zero is a very different game from the particular norm of adventure-based games typical in Hoyoverse games in regards to its impact in the subgenre.
The varied gameplay provided in Zenless Zone Zero ensures that the game never grows stale. To go into a deeper explanation of the gameplay it involves the classic action game, with exploration as a focus in both the open world like section and in the dungeon crawler like area. Moreover, there is another additional form of gameplay in the form of the arcade having old retro themed games as the center pieces that are playable. The action portion of the game feels like a set standard for Hoyoverse at this point in time. However, there is a parry like mechanic in the action portion of the game that feels like the developers are branching out and exploring other competitors and truly thinking on how to improve themselves. Moreover, this parry mechanic is further utilized as a form of increasing the total dps (damage per second). By adding this in makes the game feel a lot more engaging from the player’s perspective. Aside from that this allows the player to have a lot more agency in creating teams, and jump in attacks. This agency is then carried into the exploration aspect with the dungeon crawler aspect and open hub exploration.
Furthermore, this increased agency is then reinforced into the social aspect of the game where the player can interact with other characters in a similar watered-down version of social link events in the Persona series. While that may be the case it is still enjoyable and heightens the overall experience when playing. As for the retro styled themed games implemented in the game one of them is easily recognizable as the old retro Snake game that was on early cellphone models. The arcade feature for the game adds a refreshing experience to the overall experience of the game to prevent people from burning out.
The overall feel of the game is more cartoon like in terms of the fluidity of the characters movement. This is evident even in the advertisements of the game being made more cartoon like and similar to something more akin to manga with its more anime themed aesthetic. As for the fluidity of the game it stems from the gameplay which then extends into the characters the player can interact with. These characters provide some much-needed world building and going over their combat styles can provide glimpses into their personalities.
Hoyoverse’s other games like Honkai Star Rail, Honkai 3rd Impact, and Genshin Impact have all had a certain tone and focus from certain character designs. As for the newest game Zenless Zone Zero the character designs while having a certain quality to them offer a good change of pace in comparison to their previous entries. The focus for this game is in its story telling, with updates and events only being added as the game is a live service game. Moreover, the angle the story writers choose is pretty good and really hooks in the player at the start with a focus on modern themes. These modern themes come from the fact that some of the artistic beats, and feel of the game feels very modern with some retro elements mixed in.
Zenless Zone Zero is such a strange yet fun experience from Hoyoverse. The game itself has a good amount of varied gameplay that changes up the pace of the game for the better. By having varied gameplay allows players to do other things in game and ensures that they play the game longer. Aside from that, the game itself oozes style, and this has all evident from the gameplay, especially at the end of each combat area as a prime example. This emphasis on style is what really gives the game a personality and this is then extended into the designs of characters and experience. Overall, the total experience presented in Hoyoverse’s new game Zenless Zone Zero is a positive experience that is an easy 8/10 game for mobile devices
Zenless Zone Zero is available for PC. For more information, visit HERE
Related: Reviews by Kyle Manila
I would describe myself when interacting with games as a strategist with a pension for stealth and loud explosions.
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