One of the best character motion video games let me enter the fight circulate state. I really like zipping to my goal, pummeling them with assaults, nimbly dodging, launching them into the air, and juggling their physique till they finally give out — or within the case of Zenless Zone Zero, explode right into a kaleidoscope of neons evocative of a ’90s tv set. Hoyoverse’s newest free-to-play providing excels at frenetic combating that’s immediately gratifying. If something, I generally wished I might get again to the motion extra rapidly whereas I used to be taking part in, however there’s much more to the remainder of the sport too.
Zenless Zone Zero, or ZZZ, is my first Hoyoverse title. I haven’t tried Genshin Impression or Honkai: Star Rail, however that’s largely as a result of the setting and recreation fashion of ZZZ appealed to me way more. Since my playthrough was a beta with every part unlocked, I can’t converse to how the free-to-play gacha mechanics shall be mirrored upon my dwell playthrough.
ZZZ places me within the footwear of Belle, a teen woman residing in a future technology-centered metropolis populated with common people, augmented people, cat folks, shark maids, robotic espresso makers, and every other mixture of personhood ever dreamed up on an anime poster. That’s not a derogatory sentiment, by the best way; every part and everybody in ZZZ appears like a part of the identical chaotic, trendy universe, and I like it. There are robotic rabbits referred to as Bangboo that assist with each type of process. Belle runs a video rental retailer by day together with her brother, however her primary gig is serving as a extremely expert information via interdimensional rifts (referred to as Hollows) that hold spawning in her metropolis. I by no means combat anybody as simply Belle; for motion sequences, I’ll change to the battle-oriented crew of playable characters. Belle is current, however observes and directs the celebration members via her personal Bangboo robotic that she controls remotely.
Throughout ZZZ’s fights, I can toggle at will between as much as three characters. Whereas all of them have completely different weapons and play kinds, all fight is targeted round chaining gentle and heavy assaults, a dodge, and a meter-based tremendous transfer. Billy, a cyborg, makes use of weapons and ranged assaults, whereas Corin, a maid whose primary persona trait is “deeply anxious at all times,” makes use of a workers that’s additionally a chainsaw to tear into the faceless Ethereal foes. I can rapidly swap between my celebration members at will, however there are particular factors the place I can tag in an help for extra injury. Irrespective of which character I choose, the general fight system is intuitive and fluid. It presents up the right video game-y sensation of all of the sudden letting the participant really feel highly effective with out boring them via overly simplistic mechanics.
The opposite facet of Hole exploration is a bit stunning: puzzles. As a substitute of sending a squad down an limitless maze of hallways that every one look appropriately tech-wasteland-y, I navigate throughout a grid of televisions superimposed on a 2D airplane. Generally I’ll slide weights to open a door; different instances I’ll soar between flooring to entry completely different factors on a map. It’s a novel mechanic that, like several good puzzle, will get extra advanced after its tutorial phases. Fixing these puzzles is tied into story goals, however they’re additionally an vital method to gather sources all through ZZZ. Their design is a novel strategy that I haven’t seen a lot in any recreation, and they’re a pleasant palate cleanser after the motion sequences.
There’s additionally a complete lot to do after I’m not within the Hole. As Belle, I can discover my neighborhood, handle the video retailer’s show to spice up clients, play arcade video games, take photos of cats, textual content with pals, or get espresso or noodles to spice up my stats for the following Hole run. (For those who’ve ever wished to see the tantalizing fuel-up pre-battle scene for an espresso machine, ZZZ has you coated.) I may even doomscroll on my cellphone on discussion board posts earlier than mattress.
There are a variety of in-game actions that pad out the expertise, together with a totally voiced story informed via comedian nonetheless panels or conversations. I usually wished to get again to only combating, and generally the litany of issues — and the limitless quantity of menus to improve my characters and weapons — felt like boundaries to the meat of combating and puzzles. When Belle received assigned a day by day listing of chores to finish for in-game loot, I spotted how a lot of ZZZ’s scope went past simply the speedy battles that I’d grown to like.
Since I used to be taking part in on a beta account supplied by Hoyoverse, all my progress shall be wiped when ZZZ goes dwell. However I’ll be curious to play the true expertise, together with with its gacha components, to see how that impacts the circulate. I’m wanting ahead to discovering the zen of ZZZ’s motion sequences once more.
Zenless Zone Zero shall be launched July 4 on Android, iOS, PlayStation 5, and Home windows PC. The sport was reviewed on PC utilizing a pre-release beta obtain code supplied by Hoyoverse. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These don’t affect editorial content material, although Vox Media might earn commissions for merchandise bought through affiliate hyperlinks. You could find further details about Polygon’s ethics coverage right here.