Zoochosis
- September 30, 2024
- Clapperheads
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Zoochosis" is a night shift zookeeper simulation where players must care for and save infected animals from turning into mutants. Interaction with the animals includes preparing meals, restocking, and cleaning enclosures. The player's choices determine the ending, as they try to save specific animals and survive the night, leading to multiple possible endings.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Unique concept combining horror and animal care simulation.
- Interesting monster designs and atmosphere.
- Developers are actively working on patches and improvements.
- Repetitive gameplay loop with little variation.
- Numerous bugs and glitches leading to soft locks.
- Misleading trailers that do not represent the actual game experience.
- gameplay303 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth. While some appreciate the unique mechanics of diagnosing and treating animals, others criticize the simplicity and predictability of the gameplay loop, which often leads to boredom after a few playthroughs. Additionally, numerous bugs and a disconnect between the advertised features and actual gameplay have left players feeling disappointed, suggesting that the game feels more like a demo than a fully realized experience.
“The main gameplay loop of figuring out the disease and then treating the animals is very satisfying, so even without any horror elements, Zoochosis is quite an immersive and enjoyable experience.”
“I enjoy figuring out the right concoctions to cure animals, but the most overt challenge is messing around with the game's mechanics on repeat playthroughs to kind of suss out the repeating cycle of checking habitats.”
“Once you get the hang of it, the gameplay is actually pretty nice and enjoyable.”
“The gameplay is repetitive, and the food-making minigame is just terrible.”
“The gameplay loop is tedious chore bait and the routine gets old fast.”
“The game itself is just a zoo keeper simulator with some horror themes; the gameplay gets boring after 30 minutes. It's always the same; if you played it once, you've seen everything the gameplay has to offer.”
- story275 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it intriguing yet ultimately underwhelming due to its short length and rushed pacing. While some appreciate the unique premise and multiple endings, others criticize the lack of depth, poorly executed dialogue, and repetitive gameplay that detracts from the narrative experience. Overall, the story shows potential but feels incomplete, leaving players wanting more substantial content and better storytelling mechanics.
“The story is intriguing.”
“The story and twists are quite entertaining and were fun to unravel.”
“I bought it for the awesome monsters, but I was blown away by how great the story is!”
“Its story felt too short for the hype that built around it and I don't think it's worth the price it's listed at.”
“The story just happens, it ends, and you're left feeling indifferent.”
“The story is very poorly executed.”
- stability96 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and soft locks that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users have noted improvements and fewer issues over time, the overall consensus is that the game is currently very buggy and lacks polish, making it difficult to recommend for immediate play. Players are advised to wait for further patches and fixes before purchasing.
“It was cool at release, but now it's almost bug-free.”
“Playing on Steam Deck, this game runs great (plugged) on medium/low settings with fast loading between the zones.”
“Unfortunately, the game severely lacks polish and is quite buggy and doesn't explain the basics of the game very well.”
“A buggy mess; had several game freezes when interacting with objects and when being attacked by the creatures where it simply fades to black, yet you can still move around and do stuff.”
“The game is very buggy and you will get soft locked at points.”
- graphics69 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the high-quality visuals, creature designs, and immersive atmosphere. However, some users have reported performance issues, such as low frame rates and graphical bugs, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while the aesthetics are generally well-received, they are often overshadowed by gameplay and optimization concerns.
“For an indie game, the graphics are surprisingly good, and the voice acting is incredibly impressive.”
“The graphics are amazing, and the immersion feels incredible. I'm glad they managed to patch up a few glitches which helped me actually finish the game.”
“The graphics and creature design are amazing; I love the freaky mutated animals.”
“It's upsetting as hell that they took away any form of graphical options from the Steam Deck.”
“The graphics used in trailers and the Steam product description are misleading.”
“The graphics are also nowhere near as pristine as past renditions, even when set on 'epic' settings.”
- grinding46 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players describing the gameplay as tedious, repetitive, and akin to performing mundane chores. Many reviewers expressed frustration with the lack of engaging content, as the tasks quickly become monotonous and detract from the horror experience. While some appreciated the potential and unique mechanics, the overall sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from enjoyment, making it feel more like a job than a game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding can be a bit overwhelming, but it adds depth to the gameplay experience.”
“The grind is real, but it makes the rewards feel so much more satisfying.”
“This game was so boring I didn't want to play it, but I still wanted to give it a fair shot, so I procrastinated for weeks until finally getting around to playing it again only to realize again that it's always either a tedious list of chores or some overly edgy shock value content.”
“However, after the initial excitement fades, the repetitive tasks, like feeding animals and administering vaccines, quickly become tedious.”
“The gameplay loop is tedious chore bait and the routine gets old fast.”
- atmosphere38 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its spooky and unsettling qualities, with strong visuals, sound design, and unique monster designs contributing to a creepy environment. However, many players feel that the gameplay does not effectively utilize this atmosphere, often leading to a disconnect between the intended horror experience and the actual gameplay, which can feel repetitive or lacking in tension. While some appreciate the initial build-up of suspense, others criticize the reliance on cheap jump scares and a lack of meaningful interactions that could enhance the overall atmosphere.
“The dark atmosphere is really oppressive and anyone sensitive to that kind of thing will totally get it.”
“The premise, visuals, atmosphere, and sound design are all fantastic but it is ultimately let down by gameplay that lacks the same attention to detail.”
“Ultimately, zoochosis is a game with a lot of heart and a genuinely creepy atmosphere.”
“I loved the interaction with animals, but I was expecting a horror atmosphere; I was expecting to get spooked, and I didn't even once.”
“Too repetitive, agonizing tutorial, general atmosphere that was more comic than horror.”
“The monster cannot actually hurt you in any way; it takes away from the otherwise creepy atmosphere. When you get attacked, it has no consequences, and it just makes the game not as scary as it could be.”
- replayability31 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the random elements, multiple endings, and unique mechanics that encourage experimentation. However, many reviewers criticize the linearity, lack of meaningful unlocks, and repetitive gameplay, leading to a perception that the replay value is limited and not worth the price. Overall, while there are aspects that promote replayability, the execution leaves some players feeling underwhelmed.
“With multiple endings, the game offers replayability and various outcomes.”
“The game is very replayable due to it unlocking new animals to cure after each playthrough.”
“It's designed as a replayable experience where you experiment with different choices or methods to calm the mutations each run, eventually allowing you to discover more and more of the story.”
“Ultimately, it's fun for the first playthrough but definitely not worth the price tag as it has little to no replay value.”
“The idea of replay value isn't really there with 8 animals and a repetitive loop for each one.”
“The lack of meaningful unlocks or an endless mode further diminishes the replayability factor.”
- optimization20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including lag and stuttering, particularly in critical areas like animal enclosures. While some users noted improvements following frequent developer patches, others still found the game unplayable on lower-end systems, suggesting it may not be worth purchasing until further optimizations are made. Overall, the game's unique concept and design are overshadowed by its current performance shortcomings.
“Edit: The dev has been hard at work, making one patch a day for over a week, and the performance is way better now.”
“Performance is getting better by the day.”
“The game both looks great and runs smoothly, letting the player jump headlong into the insane and skin-crawling story!”
“Very unoptimized game that had nothing to do with the trailers.”
“As much as I want to love and play it for its unique concept and great designs, my experience is ruined by the poor optimization. The biggest issue is with the lag you get when inside the animal enclosures, which is arguably the most important location to not have that lag since your reaction time is delayed.”
“The game is poorly optimized, and I was getting heavy stuttering even after dropping everything down to the lowest possible settings with a GTX 3060.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as campy and unintentional, often eliciting laughter from players due to its quirky elements, such as funny character names and absurd situations. While some found the voice acting and animations amusing, others noted that the game's bugs and awkward moments contributed to its comedic charm rather than detracting from the experience. Overall, players enjoyed the humor as a lighthearted contrast to the intended horror, making it a fun, albeit flawed, gaming experience.
“In conclusion, the game is a funny time and you should give it a shot and give it your own thoughts.”
“I will say it was quite hilarious to have the penguin forced to attack me as it just bobbed me up and down on the roof for a bit before dropping me.”
“Maybe assuming the game might be a bit of a ‘horror comedy’ was on me: while I’m fully aware that part of taking care of animals is cleaning up their waste, I just assumed that a trailer that so proudly showcased their ‘poop-sucker’ had a sense of humor.”
- monetization13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling that the advertising misrepresented the product, leading to perceptions of it being a cash grab. Reviewers suggest that the game lacks meaningful content and gameplay depth, which further fuels the belief that it was designed primarily for profit rather than delivering a quality experience. Some even propose that a free-to-play model with a demo could have better served the game's potential and player expectations.
“I actually am wondering if the whole point of the trailers was to make this a cash grab.”
“Feels like a cash grab.”
“If not, then it was a cash grab that will fade into obscurity.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while the voice actors show potential, their emotional delivery lacks depth, which can detract from player engagement. Some players appreciate the wholesome elements and the option to toggle emotional features, but many feel the game appears unfinished, with missing content that diminishes the emotional impact of the experience. Despite these shortcomings, the game's concept and updates have garnered some positive feedback.
“The fact there is a way to toggle this off in the game made me feel included.”
“The animals were pretty wholesome in my opinion.”
“That said, it does seem like an unfinished product - a lot of scenes and occasional scares that are shown on the trailers are just not present, which is somewhat heartbreaking considering how good the idea behind it was.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the dark ambient tracks that enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize the lack of impactful music during key moments, particularly in horror elements. Many feel that the soundtrack does not effectively contribute to the game's tension or excitement, with some describing it as boring or poorly executed, especially during boss encounters. Overall, while there are glimpses of potential, the music is seen as a missed opportunity to elevate the game's experience.
“Also, the dark ambient music is really awesome.”
“It's clear they had an idea but rushed on key features that really make a horror game beyond just the graphics.”
“No music.”
“Little to no music.”
“I hate to say it, but the game was a major letdown. The atmosphere, infected animal designs, and overall idea were really good, but they kept taking the simple way to make something happen. For example, the infected animals just appear without any transformation. The boss music is awful too; it's more suspense music than boss music, sounding like jumbled-up sound effects.”
