Zenless Zone Zero
- July 4, 2024
- COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.
- 5h median play time
"Zenless Zone Zero" is an action RPG from HoYoverse that takes players to a vibrant world filled with danger and intrigue. In this game, you'll discover a unique blend of combat and exploration as you uncover the mysteries of the "Hollows" and fight against the threats that lurk within. With its striking visuals and engaging characters, "Zenless Zone Zero" promises an unforgettable experience for fans of the genre.
Reviews
- The game features stunning graphics and fluid animations, making it visually appealing.
- Combat mechanics are engaging and fun, with a unique character-switching system that adds depth to gameplay.
- The storyline is interesting and well-presented, with vibrant characters that enhance the overall experience.
- The game frequently crashes, especially during loading screens and when accessing menus, making it frustrating to play.
- There are long loading times and performance issues, even on high-end devices, which detracts from the gaming experience.
- The TV exploration mechanic is often seen as tedious and time-consuming, taking away from the combat-focused gameplay.
- story464 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in Zenless Zone Zero is generally engaging and well-presented, featuring vibrant character designs and a mix of comic-style storytelling and cutscenes that enhance the narrative experience. While many players appreciate the intriguing plot and character interactions, some find the pacing slow and the frequent interruptions from mini-games and exploration mechanics detract from the overall immersion. Despite some criticisms regarding repetitiveness and technical issues like crashes, the game's storytelling is often highlighted as a strong point, keeping players invested in the unfolding narrative.
“The story isn't anything world-shattering but it keeps you invested, is expertly voiced and well-presented.”
“Intriguing story, and their storytelling methods through comics and cutscenes are gorgeous.”
“The story is immersive, the characters are all very unique and expressive which is a huge improvement considering the other Hoyoverse games.”
“The exploration in the hollow is obnoxiously annoying, the storytelling is so far the messiest from all hoyo games I've played, the flow of the story is pretty terrible.”
“The story is awful and cringe, and the missions involve a tedious TV segment.”
“The story lacks in the emotions, but the gameplay is good.”
- gameplay365 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its fluid combat mechanics, engaging character designs, and vibrant aesthetics. However, several users have expressed frustration with the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop, the excessive reliance on button mashing, and the intrusive TV mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, performance issues such as crashes and lag have been a common complaint, impacting the enjoyment of the gameplay.
“The gameplay is incredibly smooth and intuitive on my phone, and I haven't experienced any of the crashes others have shared here.”
“The gameplay itself is engaging and fluid, and last but definitely not least, the combat is absolutely incredible.”
“The vibrant, anime-inspired visuals and fluid combat mechanics make every moment engaging.”
“The gameplay is mostly spent not in combat, which is a bit sad, but it's probably to make sure the basic combat system doesn't get stale.”
“The gameplay is literally just pressing the attack button a billion times because every enemy has a gorillion health, and every so often you press the switch button when the enemy does something yellow.”
“The overall gameplay is so braindead; I've played every Hoyoverse and Kuro game, and this was honestly a snooze fest.”
- graphics304 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of Zenless Zone Zero have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, vibrant colors, and smooth animations, which create an immersive experience. Players appreciate the unique character designs and the overall aesthetic, often comparing it favorably to other titles from the same developer. However, many users have reported performance issues, including frequent crashes and lag, even on lower graphics settings, indicating a need for better optimization across various devices.
“The graphics are breathtaking and the world is vibrant and detailed.”
“The stunning graphics and fluid combat system keep me hooked for hours.”
“Visually stunning: the game's art style is a standout, with a unique blend of cyberpunk aesthetics and anime influences.”
“I was really hoping to play this game, but I have an issue with graphics; background graphics and environment effects feel like they are in 144p even though graphics settings are on max. I'm hoping that they would fix this issue really soon.”
“Even on low graphics, my phone heats up after 10 minutes or so, and then everything becomes unplayably laggy.”
“The game itself is fun but clearly it's not well optimized, and one more thing: the graphics are not that great. I use the highest graphics preset but it doesn't look that amazing.”
- optimization128 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including crashes, lag, and stuttering, particularly on mobile devices. While some users experience smooth gameplay on higher-end devices, others find the game poorly optimized for lower-end hardware, leading to frustration with loading times and resource consumption. Overall, there is a strong consensus that the game requires further optimization to enhance stability and performance across a wider range of devices.
“The controller support and great optimization also adds another layer of experience.”
“All in all, this is the best optimized game with anime-like animations and buttery smooth gameplay!”
“Fun and smooth gameplay, I'm genuinely impressed at how optimized this game is.”
“The game is really heavy and the performance is not great.”
“The main issue with it right now is it randomly crashing at times; the optimization, even on low or medium settings, can cause serious lag spikes.”
“This is a phenomenal game and very fun... sadly it is horribly optimized for mobile and seriously needs to get fixed ASAP.”
- character development99 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning and unique character designs, which are often praised for their detail and personality. Players appreciate the vibrant art style and animations that enhance the storytelling experience, although some feel that certain characters may come off as generic or unappealing. Overall, the combination of engaging narratives, diverse character personalities, and impressive visuals contributes to a rich and immersive world.
“The characters have a unique personality and character design that adds depth to the game's world.”
“The character designs are captivating, and the world is brought to life with vibrant colors and detailed environments.”
“The character designs are amazing, and I absolutely love the animation style and the look of the game.”
“Maybe I am not the target audience, but to me the character designs feel bland and the combat is just button spam, rinse and repeat.”
“The character designs are unappealing; the combat, although has really good animations and is very fluid, feels very shallow.”
“The character design has its strengths, but unfortunately 80% of the cast is still incredibly generic and forgettable.”
- music81 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during combat and exploration. However, some players find the music to be generic or too quiet, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, there are concerns about volume levels and repetitiveness in certain aspects.
“I'm enjoying this game so far, the world, and characters are well designed, the story is interesting and the music and combat are amazing.”
“The soundtrack is lovely; I love a good soundtrack.”
“The music is by far the best of the best.”
“Music is too generic and bland, even for a Hoyo title.”
“The music and sound volume are kinda disappointing.”
“I really love the music but it's so quiet even on full volume.”
- stability46 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and glitches that disrupt gameplay, particularly on mobile devices. While some players have experienced smooth performance on PC, many mobile users face issues such as screen freezes during dialogues, random crashes, and long loading times, making the game nearly unplayable for them. Despite the game's potential and enjoyable elements, the instability is a major drawback that needs urgent attention from the developers.
“I don't think it's my device because when I actually can play, it runs great and is pretty smooth.”
“Not playing on my phone, but it runs great on PC with no issues.”
“The game runs great when you first open it.”
“However, the game as of right now is buggy and crashes constantly.”
“Not even 8 minutes can go by without you running into a game-breaking bug that either crashes you or freezes everything, losing all progress just made.”
“It's an absolute buggy mess.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, especially as they progress beyond the initial stages. While some appreciate the combat mechanics and the reduced grind compared to similar games, many express frustration with the excessive backtracking and time-consuming tasks that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding can feel like a chore, particularly after reaching higher levels, leading to a mixed reception regarding its implementation.
“It was fun in the beginning but it gets boring, grindy, and repetitive after a while once you become familiar with the gameplay and combat.”
“Very grindy after level 40.”
“Simply feels like they put the combat and animation in the wrong game, the mission is awfully tedious and they put too much unnecessary stuff.”
- monetization23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism for its reliance on costly in-app purchases and misleading advertising, particularly regarding the promised free pulls that players find difficult to obtain. Many users feel that the game is designed as a cash grab, with excessive ads and a gacha system that heavily favors luck over player investment. While the gameplay and art style are appreciated, the overall experience is marred by the frustrating monetization practices.
“Absolutely amazing game! I'd love it if getting characters wasn't reliant on luck and microtransactions, but the gameplay and style flow really well together!”
“💯 Amazing game! I'd love it if getting characters wasn't reliant on luck and microtransactions.”
“Has standard Hoyoverse gacha and monetization.”
“I had high hopes, but this is a merciless cash grab of a game masquerading as a steampunk fetishist fever dream.”
“I don't dislike the game itself, but what I dislike is the false expectations this game's advertisements have set. Free 180 pulls is very misleading; if you head into the game thinking you'd get those immediately, you're mistaken.”
“False and misleading advertising in this case.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its engaging and quirky dialogue, which enhances the overall enjoyment and keeps players invested in the story. Characters are described as hilarious and well-designed, contributing to a fun and immersive experience reminiscent of titles like Borderlands. The combination of witty writing, entertaining NPC interactions, and vibrant animations creates a genuinely enjoyable atmosphere that players appreciate.
“The characters, with their hilarious and funky dialogue, bring a unique level of enjoyment that's rare in other games.”
“The writing is hilarious, and I love the extensive interactions with NPCs.”
“The humor is on point.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful music, engaging city-based environment, and well-crafted characters, creating an immersive experience reminiscent of titles like Splatoon and Jet Set Radio. While the gameplay and animations enhance the overall feel, some users note minor shortcomings. Overall, the combination of sound and visual elements contributes to a captivating and enjoyable atmosphere.
“This is my absolute favorite game of all time and outshines all the other Mihoyo games with its city-based atmosphere and unfortunately amazing songs!”
“The music and street atmosphere combine so well to create an ideal street atmosphere, reminiscent of something out of Splatoon or Jet Set Radio.”
“Good gameplay, effects, animations, and atmosphere, but has quite a few lacking parts.”
“The characters and their story are well crafted, giving the game a very special atmosphere.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players expressing frustration over technical issues, such as a black screen and unresponsive controls, leading to feelings of disappointment and neglect from the developers. However, there is also a sense of optimism from new players who appreciate the game's potential despite these challenges.