Just fresh after the release of Honkai: Star Rail, Hoyoverse has already lined up a new project that fans are greatly anticipating.
Hoyoverse announced the development of their new game, Zenless Zone Zero, in May of 2023, and they have released some closed early beta codes for testing. Zenless Zone Zero is a character action role-playing game with sleek and stylish real-time combat. For Honkai Impact 3rd and Genshin Impact players, the gameplay will feel right at home as Zenless Zone Zero has refined their combat system, taking the best of both games and wrapping them into one fun package. While Hoyoverse has yet to give a concrete date for the official release, they have said to expect the game in late 2024. The gameplay will feel right at home as Zenless Zone Zero has refined their combat system.
Setting
The game is set in a futuristic urban city known as New Eridu, which is invaded by a force known as the Ethereals. As the Ethereals destroyed the rest of the world, New Eridu serves as the last bastion for humanity. With their arrival came the Hollow, an alternate dimension from whence the Ethereals came from. New Eridu now uses the Hollows to extract valuable resources and create new technologies, turning the Hollows into a commodity where rival companies and gangs fight for control. Unique to this place is the Unknown Substance, a resource that is highly sought after but also corrupts living beings that come into contact with it.
Characters
Zenless Zone Zero’s cast is expressive and vibrant with their personalities and designs. Players will take the role of the Proxy, a handler for the many playable Agents, as they guide them all throughout the Hollow. Each Agent belongs to a faction, providing them a distinct identity and aesthetic. Currently, there are 14 available Agents in the closed beta. Here is a list of the available factions and their respective characters,
Belobog Heavy Industries
- Grace Howard
- Ben Bigger
- Anton Ivanov
- Koleda Belobog
Section 6
Victoria Housekeeping Co.
- Ellen Joe
- Alexandrina
- Von Lycaon
- Corin Wickes
Obols Squad
Gentle House
- Anby Demara
- Billy Kid
- Nicole Demara
- Nekomiya Mana
Gameplay
Like its predecessors, Zenless Zone Zero is a character-driven action game with an emphasis on swapping characters to extend combos and dodging incoming attacks. The game features a perfect dodge system where timing your dodge will slow down time and allow the player to sneak in some hits during an enemy flurry. There are 3 physical damage types: Slash (effective against Ethereals), Strike (effective against Robots), and Pierce (effective against Humanoids). Some Agents also have an elemental affinity, which are Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Wind, each applying a special effect on a target. Agents can also equip items that augment their stats for damage, critical hit, elemental affinities, and mobility.
The game also has a Daze system, where continuously attacking an enemy will build up their Daze meter. When an enemy is stunned, they will take extra damage from all attacks. Players can use their character’s special attack to trigger a combo attack with the other reserve characters when the enemy’s Daze meter is filled up. Zenless Zone Zero’s combat system encourages players to chain as many hits as possible while avoiding enemy attacks, with mission requirements asking for a combo counter threshold and amount of hits taken. Much of Zenless Zone Zero’s difficulty can be overcome with enough skillful play of your chosen Agents.
While the game has its story content called Commissions, it also has a roguelike dungeon crawler activity called Hollow mode. Here, players can face randomized challenges and earn many rewards, giving this game a lot of replayability value. There are also plenty of mini-games to play should players feel the need to take a break from the intensity of combat.
Closing Thoughts
While Zenless Zone Zero is a gacha game, Hoyoverse has stated that the gacha won’t matter as much to them as the content itself. Hoyoverse clearly put much passion and care into this project, especially with the game’s stellar art direction. Zenless Zone Zero is set to release for PC, Android, and iOS. Currently, Hoyoverse has launched the second phase of ZZZ’s closed beta test. Should you wish to pre-register and get early access to the game, check out the ZZZ website here.
In summary, Zenless Zone Zero looks to be a promising and entertaining new entry in the Hoyoverse list. With a cool setting, vibrant aesthetic, a charming cast of characters, and an engaging combat system, it’s easy to see this game garnering wide appeal.