The cast of characters in HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero hails from the city of New Eridu. All playable characters are associated with a specific faction.
All playable Agents wield one of 5 playable attributes: Electric, Ether, Fire, Ice, and Physical and one of 5 playable styles: Anomaly, Attack, Defense, Support and stun.[1]
Design
[edit]Characters in Zenless Zone Zero have different design based on their faction; For instance, the design for Victoria Housekeeping characters is based on Victorian-era butlers and maids with tropes from horror movies.[2][3] The development team designed characters based on previously unseen design elements.[3]
Compared to design of characters in HoYoverse's previous games such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, Zenless Zone Zero took a different direction with its variety of playable characters; There are non-human playable characters such as Ben Bigger, a grizzly bear, Soukaku, a blue-colored oni-like character, and Billy Kid, a cyborg gunslinger.[2][4][5]
According to Li Zhenyu, the producer of Zenless Zone Zero, main protagonists Wise and Belle have independent roles from each other.[6]
Characters
[edit]Playable
[edit]Random Play
[edit]Random Play is a video store in New Eridu where Belle and Wise rent out VHS tapes, while living on the floor above the business. The staff room in the back of the store doubles as a base for their Proxy work.
| Name | Voice Actor | Description | Cits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise |
|
The main protagonists of the game, a pair of siblings who secretly perform Proxy work under the codename "Phaethon." Neither of the siblings participate in combat, but instead use their unique "HDD" system to sync up with their Bangboo, Eous, to guide their clients through the Hollows. Players can choose between Wise (male) and Belle (female) as the player character. Whoever is not picked will serve as the player character's assistant throughout the game. | [2] |
| Belle |
|
Cunning Hares
[edit]Cunning Hares (formerly known as Gentle House) is a small scale temp work agency that will take on various commissions for clients who can't or won't hire a bigger (or more reputable) agency. This faction was released in July 2024.
| Name | Attribute | Rarity | Style | Voice Actor | Description | Cits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anby Demara | Electric | A-Rank | Stun |
|
A calm and collected young girl who is unusually competent and efficient in combat, but struggles in other aspects. Anby attempts to improve her social skills by imitating scenes from popular movies, but with little success. | [2][8][9] |
| Billy Kid | Physical | A-Rank | Attack |
|
A cyborg gunslinger with a surprisingly casual and carefree personality. A Starlight Knights superfan who refers to his custom revolvers as his "girls." | [2][8][9] |
| Nekomiya Mana | Physical | S-Rank | Attack |
|
The mischievous cat-themed member of the group. Initially she planned to have the Cunning Hares killed in the Hollows for their role in killing her former gang-mate Silver, but after seeing them try to rescue her former neighbors from the Vision Corporation's scheme, she decided to join them instead. | [2][8] |
| Nicole Demara | Ether | A-Rank | Support |
|
The founder of the Cunning Hares who struggles to keep her group afloat financially. | [2][8][9] |
Belobog Heavy Industries
[edit]Belobog Heavy Industries is a company specializing in In-Hollow construction. This faction was released in July 2024.
| Name | Attribute | Rarity | Style | Voice Actor | Description | Cits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anton Ivanov | Electric | A-Rank | Attack |
|
The sharp-tongued project manager who refers to his wrist-mounted drill as his "bro." | [2][8] |
| Ben Bigger | Fire | A-Rank | Defense |
|
A grizzly bear Thiren who works as the accountant. Despite his imposing presence, Ben rarely gets angry outside of combat. | [2][8] |
| Grace Howard | Electric | S-Rank | Anomaly |
|
The mechanic of the group, her enthusiasm for all things mechanical has led her to design and program various heavy machinery for Belobog, referring to them as her "children." | [2][8][10][11] |
| Koleda Belobog | Fire | S-Rank | Stun |
|
Grace's unofficial sister and the President of Belobog Heavy Industries. She blames her father for disappearing one night with a bag full of money, thinking he was responsible for embezzling company funds and nearly ruining everything while she had to slowly rebuild Belobog's reputation afterwards. | [2][8] |
Victoria Housekeeping
[edit]Victoria Housekeeping is an agency specializing in housekeeping services, though they will also take on jobs that require venturing into the Hollows to acquire items for their client. This faction was released in July 2024.
| Name | Attribute | Rarity | Style | Voice Actor | Description | Cits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandrina "Rina" Sebastiane | Electric | S-Rank | Attack |
|
The gentle and delicate Head Maid, often accompanied by two floating Bangboo puppets named Drusilla and Anastella. Skilled at all housekeeping duties except for cooking, where only Ellen is able to stomach her dishes. | [2][8][10] |
| Corin Wickes | Physical | A-Rank | Defense |
|
A timid and anxious maid who wields a very large buzzsaw as her main tool. | [2][8] |
| Ellen Joe | Ice | S-Rank | Anomaly |
|
A shark Thiren who prefers hanging out with her friends to doing extra work or club activities. She wields an oversized pair of pruning shears. | [2][8] |
| Von Lycaon | Ice | S-Rank | Stun |
|
A white wolf Thiren who acts as the Head Butler, using a kick-based fighting style to dispatch enemies with his cybernetic legs. | [2][8] |
Hollow Special Operations Section 6
[edit]Hollow Special Operations Section 6 (also known as Section 6) is a frontline operational unit of the Hollow Special Operations. This faction was released in July 2024.
| Name | Attribute | Rarity | Style | Voice Actor | Description | Cits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soukaku | Ice | A-Rank | Support | A blue, demonic girl whose true origins are unknown. Soukaku prefers talking about eating more than anything else. | [2][8] |
Obol Squad
[edit]Obol Squad is a part of New Eridu Defense Force Obsidian Division. This faction was released in July 2024.
| Name | Attribute | Rarity | Style | Voice Actor | Description | Cits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier 11 | Fire | S-Rank | Attack |
|
The mysterious leader of Obol Squad. Her real name is unknown. She has a love of spicy noodles and cats. | [2][8] |
Criminal Investigation Special Response Team
[edit]The Criminal Investigation Special Response Team (part of New Eridu Public Security or PubSec) is an agency specializing in law enforcement. This faction was released in July 2024.
| Name | Attribute | Rarity | Style | Voice Actor | Description | Cits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qingyi | Electric | S-Rank | Attack |
|
An android member of Criminal Investigation Special Response Team. | [2][8] |
| Seth Lowell | Electric | A-Rank | Defense | Member of Criminal Investigation Special Response Team. | [2][8] | |
| Zhu Yuan | Ether | S-Rank | Attack |
|
The leader of the group. | [2][8] |
Sons of Calydon
[edit]Sons of Calydon is a biker gang. This faction was released in July 2024.
| Name | Attribute | Rarity | Style | Voice Actor | Description | Cits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luciana "Lucy" de Montefio | Fire | A-Rank | Support | A rebellious, blonde-haired biker who travels with tiny boar Thirens. She has a surprisingly refined demeanor in contrast with her appearance. | [2][8] | |
| Piper Wheel | Physical | A-Rank | Anomaly |
|
A tiny woman who maintains a big rig for the Sons of Calydon. She prefers resting when not actively on the job. | [2][8] |
- Fairy (Voiced by:
Allegra Clark). One of the keys (artificial intelligence) in the Hollow Deep Dive (HDD) system.[12] - Mr. Mole (Voiced by: Tim Heller). An unseen voice-only character encountered by the Proxy.[13]
- Tin Master (Voiced by: Tim Heller). The barista and owner of Coff Cafe coffee shop.[13]
Reception
[edit]The characters of Zenless Zone Zero have enjoyed positive reception, especially in terms of revenue: as Zenless Zone Zero is a gacha game, much of its revenue comes from sales of in-game currency players use to obtain characters. Most revenue comes from limited character banners. The mobile version grossed almost US$52 million in its first 11 days and US$100 million in its first month.[14][15][16] Reviews from Eurogamer and Kotaku praised the design of characters of the game.[1][4]
Controversy
[edit]Some players have criticized the alteration towards Nicole Demara's design.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Orr, Jessica (July 4, 2024). "Zenless Zone Zero review - ultracool action at a smaller scale brings miHoYo's characters into focus". Eurogamer. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Lawton, Tilly. "All Zenless Zone Zero characters". Pocket Tactics. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Nelva, Giuseppe (September 12, 2023). "Zenless Zone Zero Producer Promises "Much More Complete Gaming Experience" for Second Beta". TechRaptor. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Rowe, Willa (July 8, 2024). "Zenless Zone Zero Is Stylish, Fun, And A Letdown". Kotaku. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Warnock-Estrada, Micah (July 13, 2024). "Zenless Zone Zero's Character Designs Could Signal a Shift for Genshin Impact". Game Rant. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Partleton, Kayleigh (September 1, 2023). "Hoyoverse says 'gacha doesn't make much of a difference' in ZZZ". Pocket Tactics. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao "Zenless Zone Zero (2024 Video Game)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Ebanez, Kristina (July 3, 2024). "All Factions in Zenless Zone Zero and what characters are included". Destructoid. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c Tolentino, Josh (December 2, 2023). "HoYoVerse introduces the Cunning Hares in new Zenless Zone Zero character teasers". RPG Site. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ a b Tolentino, Josh (November 10, 2023). "HoYoVerse shares a primer on Zenless Zone Zero combat mechanics, introduces Rina and Grace". RPG Site. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Tolentino, Josh (June 17, 2024). "HoYoVerse profiles Zenless Zone Zero's mecha-fixated character Grace Howard". RPG Site. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Allegra Clark [@SimplyAllegra] (July 13, 2024). "beep boop! Master, I'm the English voice of Fairy in Zenless Zone Zero! I'm here to help you out and cause absolutely no problems on purpose (if there are problems they're probably your fault) (just saying) Have fun being bullied I MEAN PLAYING THE GAME! #zzzero" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Tim Heller [@timhellercreative] (July 31, 2024). "Had a BLAST working on this game and bringing two VERY DIFFERENT characters to life. Huge thank you to everyone at Blend, Sound Cadence, and MiHoYo for letting me reaaalllllly go full send. TWO NPCs: One you visit every day for that sweet sweet cup of Joe, and the other… well let's just say most prefer him in small doses…" – via Instagram.
- ^ Astle, Aaron (July 16, 2024). "Zenless Zone Zero surpasses $50 million in 11 days". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Norris, Rory (August 2, 2024). "Zenless Zone Zero made over $96 million in its first month alone". PCGamesN. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Vahlström, Johan (August 7, 2024). "Zenless Zone Zero raked in $100 million in its first month". Gamereactor. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
((cite web)): CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chu, Joshua (November 27, 2023). "Zenless Zone Zero Censorship controversy explained". PC Invasion. Retrieved August 8, 2024.