Zenless Zone Zero Review
I’ve picked up and enjoyed every title MiHoYo has put out to date, so I really wasn’t expecting anything different from their latest game, Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ). I dropped Genshin Impact after playing for around 2 months, but have been keeping up with Honkai Star Rail for over a year now. I figured there was no way ZZZ would reach the same standard, but I think I’m in trouble, I really like this game.
Described as an urban fantasy action RPG, you take on the role of either Wise or Belle, a brother/sister duo working as a proxy. Proxies work outside the law to assist others in the exploration of Hollows, disordered dimensions where monsters appear. The city of New Eridu, the last surviving city after civilization was destroyed by the Hollows, is filled with people who have to brave the Hollows to achieve their various goals, and they need your help.
I have to say, when I write it out like that, it really makes for a compelling premise. I’ve played Honkai Star Rail for over a year, and my elevator pitch for the game would likely be far messier. I think the setting is quite a strong one, and its specificity creates a really strong identity that extends throughout the game.
It’s a bit of a slow start, as gacha games tend to be, but what immediately strikes you is the art. It uses a comic book style to deliver some of its scenes, but when a cutscene does play, you know you’re in for a treat. The character animations are highly exaggerated, and so each scene feels dynamic, while being a visual delight. The character designs themselves are strong, but combined with excellent animations and strong performances they really come to life.
I will say, this game does have a bit of an advantage in that I’m playing it on PS5 rather than on my phone, not a typical case for a gacha game. Every MiHoYo title has eventually made its way to PS5, but this was the first time it launched on every platform simultaneously. So unlike some mobile games, which I only give maybe 50% of my attention, this game has my full attention, and it manages to hold it, mostly.
The combat, while a lot of fun, gets off to a bit of a slow start, if only because it’s a little too easy. You field a team of 3 agents, each with a role and an element. You have your basic attacks, a special move, a dodge, an ultimate attack, and the ability to swap in another character. If you time a dodge or a character swap at the right time, you’re given the chance to counterattack for some nice damage.
As you attack an enemy, you slowly build up daze. After filling the daze bar below their health, you can stun an enemy, opening them up to a chain combo, and leaving them vulnerable. Chain combos let you swap between characters as they dash onto the field and perform a special attack. There’s also status effects tied to each element, which build as you attack the enemy, and are triggered after reaching a certain threshold.
It’s hard to avoid comparisons to the recent Wuthering Waves, which has a very similar combat rhythm. Wuthering Waves probably has a bit more mechanical complexity to it, but I didn’t spend enough time to really get a grasp on it. It’s safe to say that they have a lot in common though, and Wuthering Waves coming out first means that if people feel underwhelmed by ZZZ combat, they have a nice alternative to turn to.
The longer I’ve played ZZZ, the better the combat has gotten. As the challenge slowly begins to ramp up, I have greater satisfaction in it, and my skills have gotten better in response. Being easy to play, tough to master is something almost all games desire, but I think they’ve done a decent job towing the line here. The early hours may be a bit slow for gaming veterans, but are probably a great on ramp for more casual players, which gacha games often target.
What carried me through the opening hours are the characters, the setting, and even the story to some degree. Every character you’re introduced to in the main story is memorable and unique, something MiHoYo is proven to be quite adept at. What I hadn’t expected to like, is the locations around New Eridu.
When you’re not working as a proxy, Belle and Wise run a video rental shop, something I have an undeniable soft spot for. Your neighborhood is filled with stores run by eccentric shop keepers, an arcade, and plenty of cats. This city setting is a lot of fun to run around in, and since it’s much smaller and more condensed that MiHoYo’s other titles, it feels more intimate. Between missions, it almost feels like a slice of life game. I grab a bowl of noodles to boost my stats in the next mission, do a bit of shopping, check my phone, and talk to people around the city.
The game even features a day night cycle, and while somewhat cumbersome in practice, it makes the city feel dynamic. Characters move about the city throughout the day, sometimes only available at specific times. At the end of each day, you return to your home base, and crawl into bed, getting ready to do it all again tomorrow. Gotta rest up so you can rise and grind, because this is a gacha game after all, the grind is unavoidable.
You have to grind for materials to level up your characters, unlock level caps, level up your skills, level up your weapons, get new equipment, and more. The daily grind takes a bit longer than Honkai Star Rail, and without an auto battle feature you have to do the battles yourself.
I’ve only been playing about a week, so it hasn’t worn on me yet, but only time will tell if this grind is sustainable, or enjoyable long term. What I do appreciate is the ability to customize this grind, deciding what combination of materials you want or how much energy to want to spend with each run.
If you’ve played a MiHoYo title before, you know what you’re getting yourself into. If you’re new to gacha games, I think this is a pretty approachable entry. The combat is fun, it’s working on a smaller scale, and while the grind is present, it’s not particularly egregious. Giving you 6 free characters from its current roster of 16 is a nice bonus, and it gives a good amount of free pulls as you play.
Mr Hunter’s Grade: 9
Like all gacha games, your tolerance for the nature of these games is a huge factor in how much you’ll enjoy them. I’m happy to turn on a podcast, grind out some missions, explore the city, and then lock in for the bigger story segments. For now, I’ve been juggling this game alongside Honkai Star Rail, and been having a blast.
It excelled in all the areas I expected it too, mainly its characters and its quality, but still managed to surprise me. Its setting is a lot of fun, and feels tangible and lived in, creating a great backdrop for the game, while giving it a lot of possibilities. Belle and Wise are a great duo, and became my favorite protagonists in any gacha game. The story isn’t groundbreaking, but it sets a good stage for the characters to dazzle and entertain you.
Final Grade: 8.5
MiHoYo continues to prove why they’re giants in this space. I feel like I’m turning into a bit of a fan boy, but I really can’t help it at this point. They set the bar for modern gacha games with Genshin Impact, raised the bar with Honkai Star Rail (personally speaking), and hit another home run with Zenless Zone Zero. I’ve really enjoyed my time with this game, and if it can build off its excellent first impression, I’ll probably be playing for many more hours to come.
