MiHoYo’s next game is even better than Honkai: Star Rail

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SHOULD I PLAY ZENLESS ZONE ZERO?

Definitely play it. MiHoYo has created yet another masterpiece of a game. Zenless Zone Zero is the latest title from the developers of Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, and it’s an absolute blast. While the gacha system could stand to be a bit more generous than it is in the current test version, Zenless Zone Zero delivers thrilling combat, impressive visuals, and an immersive storyline filled with memorable characters.

TIME PLAYED

I played Zenless Zone Zero for four hours. I’ve reached level 11 and made it through three main missions and four side commissions. I’ve currently acquired seven four-star characters, three of which are free, and leveled two of them to level 20.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT ZENLESS ZONE ZERO

• Incredibly good combat. I can’t stress enough how good the combat is in Zenless Zone Zero. The movement feels incredibly smooth, and I was able to switch from one character to another in a matter of seconds. Pulling off combos and finishing off enemies with deadly abilities is really fun, especially when tag-teaming with multiple characters. The assist blocking and parrying mechanics fit in really well with the attack functions, and everything just flows together really naturally to create an exhilarating fighting experience.

• An action-packed story. Zenless Zone Zero takes place in the near future in a post-apocalyptic metropolis called New Eridu. In this world, citizens are plagued by hollows, supernatural disaster areas caused by monsters. The storyline starts when a few characters steal a strongbox from a rival gang and fall into one of these hollows. I was tasked with helping them get out safely. It’s a well-written, funny story that helped pull me into a world full of unique and memorable characters.

• Swearing. I never thought I’d hear it in a MiHoYo game, but Zenless Zone Zero embraces profanity for the sake of comedy. Swears are only used sparingly, and oftentimes they’re semi-muted, but they still caught me off guard and got me to laugh every time. It’s a great example of using curse words for comedic effect and not just to be edgy.

• Jazzy music. I’m a huge fan of games with good music, and Zenless Zone Zero doesn’t disappoint. The game has a bunch of different tunes spanning from groovy hip-hop to upbeat jazz and even classical music. The score does an excellent job of setting the mood across story cutscenes, combat, and light exploration.

• This rad dude. See this guy? This handsome cyborg with the blazing white hair and gigantic pistols? This is Billy Kid and he’s awesome. He’s what happens if you combine Spike Spiegel from Cowboy Bebop, Magna Swing from Black Clover, and Vash the Stampede from Trigun to create one badass, gunslinging character. That character is Billy Kid.

• Clean visuals. Zenless Zone Zero looks absolutely stunning. There’s nothing in this game that feels outdated, unpolished, or lacking in style. Everything from the environment to the characters and menu looks extremely crisp.

WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN ZENLESS ZONE ZERO

• There’s a lot of information. If you don’t pay attention, you might get lost. Since Zenless Zone Zero’s storyline takes up half of the gameplay, it’s extremely important to not skip any dialogue, even if it’s in a side mission. There are a lot of details buried in each cutscene that might be useful or necessary in understanding certain connections, mechanics, or plotlines later in the game.

• Gacha system. It’s hard to say how the gacha system feels, especially when I’ve only touched the surface in the beta. But from sixty-some free pulls, I only managed to get four four-star characters. I haven’t received a single five-star character yet. Compared to Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, where I unlocked multiple great characters relatively quickly, the gacha system in Zenless Zone Zero feels less generous so far.

PLATFORM TESTED

PC via official game launcher.

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