Zenless Zone Zero varies-with-devices

Premium action RPG with an urban appeal

Zenless, also known as Zenless Zone Zero, is a paid action game from miHoYo. Dubbed as the next Genshin Impact, this role-playing game is set in a futuristic universe where civilization as you know it no longer exists. The world is now overrun by supernatural creatures called Ethereals. In the middle of the chaos, you play as a demon-dimension explorer tasked with shutting down these dimensions and stopping Ethereals.

With its generous helping of exploration and fighting, Zenless is definitely poised to be a good alternative to Genshin. However, its unoriginal gameplay mechanics is offset only by its fresh narrative.

Be the best demon-dimension explorer

Eager fans of Zenless are looking for clues that could link it to other miHoYo titles such as Genshin Impact or Honkai Impact 3rd. There are no direct references in terms of story though, but the familiar gameplay is there. One case in point is the use of a gacha mechanic for unlocking other characters in the game, which unfortunately favors those willing to invest real-world money.

Unfortunately, its gameplay doesn’t stray far from its sister titles. It also adopts a real-time action approach instead of a turn-based strategy like the one in Honkai - Starrail. It’s driven by a unique story premise that should allow endless gameplay, but the mechanics themselves largely remain in the tried-and-tested formula of the Chinese video gaming giant. It doesn’t take away anything from the awesome and visually-charged animations and interactions.

In terms of visuals, this game can hold its own against other major games from the same developer-publisher. It has a unique take on a post-apocalyptic future, focusing on a more urban feel for both its characters and its set designs. This design option ultimately gives the game its visual identity, allowing it to endear itself to players who prefer styles reminiscent of GhostWire: Tokyo or Persona 5 Strikers.

Zenless Zone Zero 1.2 update

Zenless Zone Zero 1.2 was released on September 25, 2024. The update features new characters such as Caesar and Burnice who will be making their debut alongside the new explorable map called New Eridu Outer Ring. The Outer Ring is an undeveloped zone on the outskirts of New Eridu, which serves as the central stage for the upcoming story chapter.

Players will have the opportunity to join forces with Caesar and Burnice, who are members of the Sons of Calydon, a major key faction in the Outer Ring who runs a logistics company that transports resources through the Hollows.

Caesar is the game’s very first Physical Defense agent and Burnice is a Fire Anomaly-type agent of which both are equipped with the W-Engine Channel. Of course, it’s not complete without a Bangboo as the Sons of Calydon’s very own S-Rank Bangboo, codename Red Moccus, is set to join with its very own customized Bangboo Motorcycle.

Players can obtain rewards via a new gameplay called Investigator Training Course at HIA, as well as having the opportunity to practice the skills they learned with characters from across different factions for free which can level up their agents at a faster rate. Investigator Training Course mode has four different courses that allows you to train as a Hollow investigator as of any agents that are now available to use.

New Disc Drives has also been introduced to this new update, as well as a time-limited survival shooting arcade game called "Bizarre Brigade.” In this new roguelike mode, players will have to advance through difficult levels with different characters and use them to complete varying challenges for exciting rewards.

Aside from game changes, there are also quality-of-life changes added to the game as well in this new update. Players can expect better TV Board experience that allows players to automatically acquire Observation Data and rewards with the help of FAIRY after completing the board once, sparing the players from having to go back to the board repeatedly which makes the gameplay smoother. Interactions for some common events have been adjusted as well which cuts down on close-up scenes overall, perfect for players who just want to get straight into the action.

Additional updates now allow players to save preset lineups and use Battery Backup charges that boost stamina, which is perfect for players who are too busy. While the player is away from the game, the batteries will be charging as backup batteries which can be used later at any time.

On top of this, one of the most requested features will be added in the upcoming versions. Version 1.4 will let Proxies explore the city as whatever agent they so like.

Not that much of a grind-focused game

Despite coming from HoYoverse, who’s known for gacha-heavy titles, Zenless Zone Zero is set not to rely on such a mechanic. The official version of the game won’t feature a stamina system that will put a limit on how many story missions a player can complete in a day. Meanwhile, a character trial system will allow players to access properly leveled party members for some missions.

Besides that, the game is also reportedly not going to “punish” players who have chosen to take a break from it for a bit. Diving into most server-based RPGs after a long time of being unable to grind can be punishing, as there are a lot of rewards and events you’ve likely missed and everyone else has grown stronger while you were away. ZZZ aims to divert from that, and the developers will be working toward that goal.

Yet another Genshin Impact

Zenless Zone Zero remains a curious game in its own right despite miHoYo’s other major titles. Its approach to a post-apocalyptic future that looks pretty urbanized creates a unique identity for the game, which could also explain its enduring appeal despite not adding anything new or unique to the gacha action RPG genre. Experienced players would feel all too familiar playing this one though.