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Zenless Zone Zero hosts special showcase at TGS

44K View2023-09-22

During today's special live broadcast event at TGS, HoYoverse provided in-depth insights into the gameplay, characters, and story setting of Zenless Zone Zero. Whether at Gamescom in Germany or at TGS in Japan, the game has garnered significant attention from players. We had the opportunity to try out the game earlier, and the overall impression is that Zenless Zone Zero stands out in terms of gameplay and presentation.

In the game, players take on the role of a "Ropemaker" who can navigate the "Hollows" to find directions. They are assisted by terminal entities called "Bangboo" in the form of rabbits, which help the Agents (the characters players can control) in their exploration. The exploration part of the game is presented in the form of various retro TV screens, and players move through different television sets, encountering various exploration events. These events can range from regular battles to scripted story animations, shops, dialogues, or new entrances leading to unknown and formidable enemies.

In terms of gameplay experience so far, "Zenless Zone Zero" offers a combat system with a "high ceiling but low floor." The core design remains that of an action game, where characters have three types of attacks: basic attacks, skills, and ultimate abilities. During battles, players can forcefully switch characters using a button or trigger character changes through a "Combo" feature.

Character switching through "Combos" is a unique feature in "Zenless Zone Zero." In the game's design, most monsters have a "Balance Value," and when this value accumulates to its maximum, the system prompts players to switch characters for combat. When switching at this moment, players not only gain a significant damage bonus (attacks can deal 200% damage) but also witness impressive entrance animations.

Moreover, because the "Balance Gauge" for each monster is calculated individually if players control their attacks properly, they can continuously trigger the "Balance" state. From a gameplay perspective, other games also feature similar designs. MiHoYo's "Honkai Impact 3rd," for instance, includes character entrance abilities and mechanics related to breaking shields. However, what sets "Zenless Zone Zero" apart is the sheer exhilaration of it. When conditions are met, players can repeatedly switch characters, dealing high damage continuously.

At this point, battles transform from the typical back-and-forth "action turns" into an unruly dance of non-stop carnage. This not only significantly enhances the visual spectacle of battles but also shifts players' combat strategies. Instead of one-on-one evasion and rolling around, players are encouraged to provoke, break shields, trigger balance, and finally reap the rewards together. Combined with the exquisite ultimate ability animations, the overall combat experience starts with restraint but escalates into pure exhilaration.

Exploring the "Hollows" doesn't just entail treasure and exhilarating battles; it also comes with a constant sense of pressure, akin to a looming shadow throughout the exploration. In the game, advancing by one step increases the "Pressure Value" to a certain extent. When the "Pressure Value" reaches its maximum, you'll suffer a negative effect. This design is somewhat reminiscent of games like "Darkest Dungeon," but "Zenless Zone Zero" takes a lighter approach. Within the "Hollows," there are more opportunities to alleviate this pressure: taking rests or capturing a group photo as a reward after defeating formidable enemies.

Now, everything seems to be exceeding industry standards. The only question remains: when will it be released?

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