inZOI - Before You Buy

Summary

In this video, the creators dive into the strange world of *Enoy*, a life simulation game that tries to rival *The Sims*. Offering similar gameplay with innovative features like controllable characters, open-world exploration, and 3D object creation, *Enoy* is ambitious but still very much in its early stages. The game has some quirky and bizarre elements, from AI-generated textures to the inclusion of magic cats, and its technical issues make it feel unfinished. Despite the rough edges, the potential is clear, making it a game worth keeping an eye on as it evolves.

Takeaways

• 😀 *Enoy* is compared to *The Sims* as a potential competitor in the life simulation genre, with similar mechanics but added innovations.
• 😀 The game introduces controllable characters called 'Zo' and a full open world, which feels fresh after years of *The Sims 4*.
• 😀 Some new features in *Enoy*, like a driving system and a more customizable character creator, are praised for adding depth and uniqueness.
• 😀 Despite its strong start, the game is plagued by bugs and technical glitches, making the experience feel unfinished and uncanny.
• 😀 The AI texture creator is a bizarre feature, allowing players to generate strange and often nightmarish designs, but its functionality is limited and poorly executed.
• 😀 The character creator offers two main categories for avatars: uncanny supermodels or freakishly odd characters with awkward features.
• 😀 City management features, including the ability to alter the weather and cleanliness of the environment, provide fun, though somewhat pointless, customization.
• 😀 The driving mechanics in *Enoy* are awkward, with frictionless car controls and no real consequences to running over NPCs, making it a humorous but flawed feature.
• 😀 Despite the open world, exploration feels shallow, and the game lacks meaningful long-term goals, leaving players to create their own fun.
• 😀 The game is clearly in early access, with many unfinished features, such as a ghost system that isn't fully implemented yet, and frequent crashes.
• 😀 *Enoy* is an experimental, quirky game that could appeal to those who enjoy exploring unfinished titles, but its lack of depth and polish makes it hard to recommend to a wider audience.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the video script?

The video script focuses on reviewing a life simulation game called Enoy, which is compared to The Sims, highlighting both its promising features and early access issues.

How does Enoy compare to The Sims in terms of gameplay?

Enoy is very similar to The Sims in its gameplay, with a focus on creating and controlling characters called Zo. However, it introduces innovative features like a fully open world, controllable Sims, and even car ownership.

What are some of the innovative features introduced in Enoy?

Some innovative features of Enoy include controllable Sims (Zo), an open world to explore freely, the ability to own and drive cars, a 3D object crafting system, and city management tools like changing weather and cleanliness.

What are the main issues that detract from the experience of playing Enoy?

The main issues with Enoy are its technical problems, including numerous bugs, crashes, and poor graphics, which make the game feel unfinished and sometimes uncanny. Additionally, some of its features, like facial mapping and emote generation, don't function as expected.

What role do cats play in the game's story and mechanics?

In Enoy, cats are central to the game's strange narrative. They serve as tutorial guides, offer boons for completing life goals, and are presented as gods who rule over the Zo and the underworld, adding an odd corporate-like atmosphere to the game.

How does the character creation system in Enoy work?

The character creation system in Enoy allows players to customize their Sims (Zo) with options like changing textures and clothing. While the customization tools are somewhat limited for facial features, players can create either highly stylized or unnervingly uncanny characters.

What is the purpose of the crafting system in Enoy?

The crafting system in Enoy allows players to import 2D images and turn them into 3D objects within the game. This adds a layer of creativity, letting players place objects like characters from other games or random 2D images into the world, though its practical use is limited.

Why is the city management feature considered bizarre?

The city management feature in Enoy is considered bizarre because it allows players to dramatically alter the state of the game world, including changing the cleanliness, weather, and even creating post-apocalyptic environments, which seems out of place in a life simulation game.

What challenges exist in driving cars in Enoy?

Driving in Enoy is awkward due to poorly implemented car controls. The car handles poorly, with frictionless movement and an unrealistic collision system, leading to endless sparks without the ability to run over characters or cause significant damage.

Is Enoy ready for long-term play based on its current state?

Enoy is not ready for long-term play due to its early access state, with incomplete gameplay mechanics, technical bugs, and shallow core gameplay. While it has potential, it currently lacks depth and is more suited for experimentation rather than sustained gameplay.