Zanki Zero: Last Beginning

Zanki Zero: Last Beginning oozes both charm and horror in equal measure. It’s a highly enjoyable game that deserves a lot more attention than it’s getting. Perfect for fans of horror, mystery, and dungeon crawling RPGs.

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"Zanki Zero: Last Beginning" is a post-apocalyptic survival game where modern civilization has been destroyed and ruined islands wade in the sea. Players explore the world from the perspective of eight clones, each with their own past and deadly sins. With only 13 days in one life, players must hunt for materials and food while fending off monsters in real-time battle environments, and face the consequences of not taking care of basic needs like going to the bathroom. The story unfolds as players uncover the reasons behind the destruction of the world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 343 reviews

story162 positive mentions

grinding37 negative mentions

The game's visuals are impressive, showcasing a significant step up from previous Spike Chunsoft 3D titles.
The story is engaging and features well-developed characters, with many emotional moments that resonate with players.
The unique mechanics, such as the aging and cloning system, add depth to the gameplay and encourage strategic thinking.

The combat system is clunky and can feel repetitive, leading to frustration during encounters.
Inventory management is cumbersome, with characters dropping all their items upon death, making it tedious to re-equip them.
The pacing can be slow, especially in the early chapters, which may deter players looking for a more action-oriented experience.

story
458 mentions
35 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its engaging and dark narrative, reminiscent of Spike Chunsoft's previous works like Danganronpa. While the character backstories and plot twists are often compelling, some reviewers noted inconsistencies and pacing issues, particularly with gameplay mechanics that detract from the storytelling experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a strong point, but it can be overshadowed by frustrating gameplay elements, leading some players to recommend experiencing the story through easier difficulty settings or even watching it online.
- “The story is captivating in a way that is expected of Spike Chunsoft, but it's held back by gameplay that gets really tedious after a while.”
- “A wonderful story from front to back with very likable characters that have their own gripping stories to tell.”
- “The story is absolutely amazing; it really had me at the edge of my seat during the major reveals.”
- “Then there's the dissonance with the main story; your characters can die, but you will walk over points where that character is suddenly alive and talking for no particular reason other than they probably couldn't figure out a system to make character deaths/scenarios sync up.”
- “The story starts out engrossing, with tons of intriguing mysteries to be investigated, and while it mostly keeps that up to a satisfying degree, the play mechanics can be so mind-numbing and unfair-feeling that it ruins the pacing of the story.”
- “The gameplay does the story injustice.”
gameplay
301 mentions
20 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Zanki Zero" is a polarizing aspect, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating due to its complex survival mechanics, including aging, resource management, and repetitive dungeon crawling. While some appreciate the unique mechanics and the challenge they present, others feel that the gameplay detracts from the otherwise engaging story and characters, leading to a desire to experience the narrative through easier modes or external sources. Overall, the game offers a mix of innovative ideas that may appeal to fans of survival and dungeon-crawling genres, but it often struggles with execution and balance.
- “The mechanic of coming back stronger and better each time was enough to get me invested in the story, which I found to be enthralling.”
- “The story and character dynamics are what really keep you coming back for more, but the gameplay is fun and challenging as well, with multiple difficulty settings for all kinds of players.”
- “The gameplay is where this game changes the most from what most are used to in a Spike Chunsoft published title.”
- “Boring and linear, predictable chapter-based arcs and gameplay that gets old very fast.”
- “The gameplay does the story injustice.”
music
43 mentions
30 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its quality and ability to set the mood, while others criticize its repetitiveness and limited variety, noting that it can become grating over time. Although the soundtrack is described as decent and fitting for the game's atmosphere, many players feel it lacks memorability and depth, with some expressing disappointment over the audio quality of the soundtrack. Overall, while the music serves its purpose, it does not stand out as a highlight of the game.
- “The music and visuals are extremely impressive, especially for such a small game like this.”
- “The soundtrack is expertly crafted and sets the mood just right.”
- “I loved the music!!”
- “The soundtrack is extremely limited--I swear they made like 4 songs for this game.”
- “They're fine musically, but it gets pretty grating hearing the same music over and over and over again for multiple different scenes and menus.”
- “The music is rather lackluster.”
grinding
38 mentions
8 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
Overall, the grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and unfun, with many players feeling that it detracts from the otherwise engaging story and unique mechanics. While some players may find enjoyment in the grind, particularly those who appreciate RPG elements, the repetitive nature of dungeon crawling and resource management often leads to frustration and burnout. Many reviewers suggest that the game is better experienced through watching playthroughs rather than enduring the laborious gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “However, the answer is buried beneath a tedious grindfest of weird unfun game design choices and a pile of turn-offs/flaws that ultimately made me decide to put the game down after 25 hours.”
- “I truly cannot emphasize enough how tedious this game gets as it goes on, which in my opinion makes this game far worse.”
- “The story is captivating in a way that is expected of Spike Chunsoft, but it's held back by gameplay that gets really tedious after a while.”
graphics
31 mentions
39 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the impressive visuals and unique art style, particularly in character backgrounds and environments, while others find them underwhelming for a 2019 release. The aesthetic is generally appreciated, especially for fans of anime and dungeon crawlers, though some dungeons are described as drab. Overall, the game showcases a solid art direction, but its graphical fidelity may feel limited due to its development for the PS Vita.
- “The game's visuals are really good; it's a massive step up from the other Spike Chunsoft 3D games.”
- “The music and visuals are extremely impressive, especially for such a small game like this.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly good (Danganronpa, please try this style).”
- “As it was developed with the PS Vita in mind, its graphical elements were held back.”
- “Yeah, this game takes a long time to beat, or you can beat it quickly if you just cheese the game by doing difficulty level one, but for the visuals, gameplay, soundtrack, and overall playability... this game should have only been $30 tops, and that is being generous.”
- “The graphics are fine.”
emotional
24 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching and unique storytelling, with well-developed characters that evoke strong attachments and reactions from players. Many reviewers noted the heart-wrenching backstories and impactful plot twists that contribute to an emotional roller coaster, making the experience memorable despite some gameplay frustrations. Overall, the game successfully combines a compelling narrative with emotional depth, leaving players moved by the characters' journeys and the overarching themes of survival and connection.
- “Easily one of the most touching, emotional, and unique stories that is comparable to other spike hits.”
- “The characters are well crafted and each backstory is touching and paces the overarching story really well.”
- “This story of a few humans surviving together and forming bonds in a world full of monsters is a touching one that makes the game worth playing, but one should be prepared to deal with some difficulty.”
humor
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and clever, while others feel that attempts at humor often fall flat or come off as forced. The writing features a blend of dark and light-hearted moments, with memorable characters contributing to a unique comedic atmosphere. Overall, the humor can be hit or miss, but it adds an interesting layer to the game's narrative and character interactions.
- “Sometimes the cutscenes/dialogues were a little too long and halted the action, but they were at least funny.”
- “Amazing story, memorable characters and its weird and funny sense of humor.”
- “The writing is intelligent, and very funny.”
character development
11 mentions
45 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with well-rounded designs and engaging backstories that foster player attachment. While some reviews highlight the strong character-centric narrative and unique art direction, a few critiques mention that certain characters feel underdeveloped or bland. Overall, the combination of stylish character design and compelling development contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The character designs are quite well done, and I liked exploring their backstories, which were pretty good.”
- “Well-rounded character design and development, even creating a bit of emotional attachment (at least for me, very subjective).”
- “As the game is heavily character-centered, character development is the most amazing.”
- “The story and the character development of the several characters just feels bland.”
- “The Danganronpa games kind of lived from the character development, the suspense when a murder is going to happen, the stories of the characters, and sometimes even from the murder solving, at least in my opinion.”
- “Are you a CRPG addict, but you suddenly love anime character design?”
atmosphere
11 mentions
55 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as immersive and chilling, effectively blending horror and survival elements that create a sense of constant tension and urgency. While the eerie ambiance and unique dungeon designs enhance the experience, some players find the lack of music in certain areas detracts from the overall mood. Overall, the game successfully evokes feelings of mystery and hopelessness, making it particularly engaging for those who appreciate dark themes and complex narratives.
- “Together with the calm and eerie atmosphere, it creates a very immersive experience, definitely something where you have to stay concentrated since you have to make decisions all the time.”
- “Each set of ruins really had its own unique atmosphere while also giving off a sense of mystery and hopelessness.”
- “The atmosphere was eerie and very chilling at times, which was a constant reminder of just how barren and hopeless the world had become following the end of the world.”
- “BGM is mediocre; the atmosphere in dungeons is hampered by a lack of music and the inclusion of ambiance instead.”
- “Not for people who don't like games with scary atmospheres (gameplay-wise) and dark situations involving children (story-wise).”
optimization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the resource and base management aspects, while others report significant performance issues, even on high-end PCs. Many users find the extensive menu navigation tedious, and performance seems heavily influenced by rendering resolution, with lingering issues in the launcher and overall performance not yet addressed.
- “So if survival mechanics are not your thing, you should still enjoy this game solely because the story is that good, but if you do like the micromanaging and grind that comes with resource and base optimization, this game should be a great fit for you, as it was for me.”
- “This is one of these games where performance is highly dependent on the rendering resolution.”
- “Be aware of bad performance even though my PC is really high-end.”
- “While you'll do less damage if you're not as optimized, the game is so bogged down in menus that you'll just get tired of setting up the optimal equipment and party formations all the time.”
- “This is one of those games where performance is highly dependent on the rendering resolution.”
replayability
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability; while some users find the game to have little replay value, similar to other titles from Spike Chunsoft, others describe it as infinitely replayable. This suggests that the game's replayability may depend on individual player preferences and engagement with its content.
- “Infinitely replayable.”
- “Now to the real cons: very little replay value.”
- “No, like the majority of Spike Chunsoft's other visual novel style games, there is very little replay value.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
While the game is generally stable, players have reported specific issues during certain boss battles, where glitches can prevent bosses from being defeated, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. This suggests that some aspects of the game may not have been thoroughly playtested, particularly at higher difficulty levels.
- “The combat can become even more frustrating during certain boss battles, where some of them (possibly due to difficulty-specific glitches, I've read) simply refuse to die, resulting in you using standard procedures on them interminably while your characters literally urinate themselves, die of starvation, or some combination thereof.”
- “It's not a buggy game by any means, but it just seems some things were not playtested very well. For example, a boss in the high school later on, on a certain difficulty, will not die.”