Zenless Zone Zero, the latest game from Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail developer HoYverse, is familiar in many fundamental ways, but also makes some significant changes to the formula. At first glance, it’s easy to see that Zenless Zone Zero is the most action-oriented of the series, eschewing both the open-world exploration of Genshin and the turn-based combat of Honkai: Star Rail. However, the changes aren’t just in the gameplay, some major overhauls to the story structure may actually be what this game needs to stand out from the crowd.

Zenless Zone Zero chooses an urban sci-fi setting called New Eridu, the only major city surviving after the collapse of civilization due to a threat called the Hollows. Over time, New Eridu has been able to gain wealth by extracting resources from the Hollows, but this has not been without consequences. The city is home to many rival factions, from powerful monopolies to underground gangs, all working together to create a world of conflict.

Zenless Zone Zero’s Protagonist Isn’t An Outsider

ZZZ Skips Some Of The Exposition

It may take some time to understand the depth of Zenless Zone Zero’s lore, but one thing is clear from the get-go: how the protagonist differs from Genshin and Honkai: Star Rail. In both games, the player character is a person who is thrown into an unknown world, and in both cases is awakened from sleep before or during the events that start the game. Genshin’s Traveler literally falls into the game world, while Honkai: Star Rail’s Trailblazer is awakened by Kafka, a character with an initially cryptic intent that alludes to the Trailblazer’s inherent powers.

But in Zenless Zone Zero, the protagonist is a character who is already familiar with the environment of New Eridu. The typical gender selection that starts the game offers the opportunity to play as one of two brothers named Bell and Wise. Bell and Wise share ownership of a video store called Random Play and have their own personalities and interactions in the game. The two work together in the role of “agent,” guiding those who take risks and venture into the Hollows.

While Genshin and Honkai: Starrail’s approach has its merits, Zenless Zone Zero’s shaking up of that convention along with its protagonist feels like a breath of fresh air. In a game that is less focused on exploration, you’re instantly immersed in the world of New Eridu, eliminating much of the separation between protagonist and environment that was present in previous HoYverse titles. Rather than meeting the main characters as outsiders and learning about the lore, Bell and Wise play intimate roles within the culture of New Eridu, with a pre-existing relationship that opens up familiar dialogue from the get-go.

Zenless Zone Zero’s instant immersion approach may not be for everyone, and there isn’t much opportunity for transparency about exposure at the start. The Traveler and Trailblazer function more directly as avatars for the player, establishing them as instantly relatable outsiders. However, this type of presentation can sometimes feel a bit awkward, so ZZZ’s less didactic way of unfolding the story feels more natural overall.

Not Every Protagonist Needs To Be A Chosen One

This Story Might Be A Bit More Grounded

As a normal part of his world, Zenless Zone Zero’s protagonist also doesn’t seem to aim so much for the typical Chosen One cliché. There are certainly worthy stories for these types of heroes, but while some, like The Matrix, are truly exhilarating, most seem pretty boring. Often times, Chosen One stories end up feeling like cheesy wish fulfillment more than anything else, and the illusion of being an inherently special character doesn’t always lead to the most interesting storytelling possibilities.

It’s certainly possible that Zenless Zone Zero could go in that direction, but it’s not as concept-focused as Genshin or Honkai: Star Rail, at least as far as the opening beats of the story are concerned. Bell and Wise are important because of their role as surrogate mothers, but they’re mostly portrayed as normal people in this particular realm. A few unusual abilities distinguish the two, but these are all established as powers that others cannot wield, and their innate natures seem essentially no different from anyone else in the game.

It’s nice to have the experience of playing as a more normal person at the beginning of the story, even if that changes later. The low stakes at the beginning keep everything in New Eridu closer to the ground, emphasizing the feel of a somewhat gritty urban environment as opposed to high fantasy or space sci-fi.

HoYoverse Setting Zenless Zone Zero Apart Is Smart

A Crowded Market Needs Diversity

Genshin and Honkai: Star Rail’s drastic changes to the character formula weren’t entirely necessary, but in an increasingly saturated market, anything that sets one game apart seems sensible. Gacha games require a lot of dedication and time from dedicated players, and the release of HoYverse alone is a struggle to make ends meet. Throw in current competitors like Wuthering Wave into the mix, and even the most dedicated fans of Genshin-style games will have to decide what to get into in general, giving Zenless Zone Zero a tough challenge from the get-go.

Zenless Zone Zero combats this issue by feeling like a legitimate new effort. Combat and worldbuilding are the most obvious strengths in this regard, but the approach to the protagonist also plays a big role in setting it apart. If the game can build on this change and take the story in a different direction, it could be a good way to freshen up a genre that’s in danger of becoming stale. At the time of the game’s release, Zenless Zone Zero still has a lot to offer, but the change in protagonist indicates that the game has the potential to produce something new.