Hoyoverse Embraced Their Adult Audience - Zenless Zone Zero

Summary

Zenith: Zone Zero is a gacha game offering a unique blend of storytelling and gameplay. The game surprises with its anime-inspired narrative, featuring a modern setting plagued by 'eternals' and a sibling duo running a movie store by day and acting as proxies by night. Its combat system is flashy and satisfying, while the TV-based board game element adds a strategic layer. The game also includes a story skip feature and a story library for replaying scenes. Presentation is a standout, with expressive animations and a cohesive art style targeting a mature audience, promising potential for an engaging roguelike mode in future updates.

Takeaways

• 🎮 The game 'Zen-et Zone Zero' is a unique entry in the gacha genre, offering a different experience from other titles.
• 🌐 The game's world is closely tied to real life, with a modern, eastern city setting plagued by 'eternals', monsters emerging from anomalies called 'hollows'.
• 🎭 The main characters are siblings running a movie store by day and secretly working as proxies (hackers or Netrunners) by night, influenced by cyberpunk themes.
• 📚 The storytelling in 'Zen-et Zone Zero' is multifaceted, utilizing comics, conversations, animations, and TVs to convey the narrative.
• 🔍 The game's progression system is designed to prevent premature farming of artifacts, unlocking basic features later to avoid wasting resources.
• 🎨 The art and animation are highly expressive, with unique character animations that enhance the emotional depth of conversations.
• 📺 The 'TVs' in the game serve dual purposes: storytelling and gameplay, acting as a board game mechanic that integrates with the game's roguelike mode.
• 🤖 The combat system is flashy and satisfying, with a hack-and-slash style that allows for chaining assists and special attacks.
• 🎲 The game includes a roguelike game mode called 'Hollow Zero', offering randomized events and permanent upgrades for replayability.
• 🏆 Achievements and mini-games are present, providing additional rewards and gameplay variety.
• 🎉 The game's presentation is top-notch, targeting an adult audience with mature themes and detailed world design.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video script?

The main theme of the video script is a review and analysis of the game 'Zen-et Zone Zero,' discussing its story arc, unique presentation, and gameplay mechanics.

How does the game 'Zen-et Zone Zero' differentiate itself from other titles by the same developer?

It differentiates itself through its combat system, presentation style, and story, which are all notably different from games like 'Genshin Impact' and 'Honkai Impact 3rd.'

What is the setting of 'Zen-et Zone Zero'?

The setting is a modern, anime-inspired city plagued with 'hollows,' which are anomalies that spew out monsters known as 'eternals.'

What are the two main characters' roles in 'Zen-et Zone Zero'?

The two main characters are siblings who run a movie store and secretly work together as a proxy, functioning as hackers or Netrunners.

How does 'Zen-et Zone Zero' incorporate storytelling through different mediums?

It uses comics, conversations, animations, and TVs to tell its story, each serving different purposes and adding depth to the narrative.

What is the significance of the TVs in 'Zen-et Zone Zero'?

The TVs serve as a gameplay mechanic where players move around like in a board game, triggering events and story sequences, and they also tie into the game's narrative as the point of view of the main characters as proxies.

How does the combat system in 'Zen-et Zone Zero' work?

The combat system is a hack-and-slash style where players can break enemies' guard to stun them, triggering assists and special attacks from different characters to create long chains of attacks.

What is the 'Hollow Zero' game mode in 'Zen-et Zone Zero'?

'Hollow Zero' is a rogue-like game mode where players explore maps, get random augments, and engage in randomized events and boss encounters.

How does 'Zen-et Zone Zero' handle progression and character development?

Progression involves leveling up characters, abilities, and weapons called 'cores,' and farming materials in simulated combat rooms. There are also various activities like side quests and achievements that reward 'pulls' for characters.

What is the significance of the 'bang boost' in 'Zen-et Zone Zero'?

The 'bang boost' is a second gacha system in the game that uses a free-to-play currency and allows players to add an assist character to their team, functioning similarly to a normal pull system.

How does the presentation in 'Zen-et Zone Zero' cater to its target audience?

The presentation, with its wacky animations, world design, graphic style, and attention to detail, is cohesive and serves an audience of adults, with some characters designed to be more attractive and expressive.