You know what time it is - it's time to look at the Zenless Zone Zero version 2.0 update, as we got a hands-on preview ahead of its launch. Hoyoverse has tweaked a lot of the in-game menus and done some general housekeeping, along with adding three excellent new characters and a stunning region to explore.
During our preview, the story and content that goes with it were still under wraps, so no spoilers here. However, I did get the chance to try out ZZZ's Yixuan and teammates ZZZ Pan Yinhu and ZZZ Ju Fufu, stroll the streets of Failume Heights, and kit out the proxies in some new wardrobe options.
As you head into the new city, you can hit up some shops or head to the Suiban Temple to find your new proxy base. There's also A-Shuo, a dog with a robotic arm and a fortune-telling stand, where you get daily trigram divination readings. I'm not sure if they really do much, but it's a cute addition nonetheless.
Or, if you're like me, you can head right on in to test the newcomers in combat. The three new characters all have interesting kits, which incorporate movement really well. Yixuan can fly around holding onto her bird, Pan Yinhu spins in a wide arc using his metal hat, and Ju Fufu darts about using her cat-like reflexes, bashing people with her deployable popcorn maker. It looks like a giant w-engine, so you can't miss it, and it stays on the field to deal damage even when Ju leaves.
The new team is really fun to play together. I did try Yixuan with the likes of Caesar and Astra Yao for support, who worked well, but I feel that she, Pan, and Ju Fufu are each other's best teammates. Pan, especially, as he works best with another Rupture agent or someone from the same faction. It feels like Pan is a dedicated support to Yixuan due to the new Sheer Force mechanic, which sees Rupture specialty agents dealing Sheer damage. Pan specifically boosts Sheer Force, so it locks him to a specific team for now, though this may change in the future as more Rupture characters arrive in-game.
There's also a new role introduced with Yixuan, along with a sort of new attribute. Similar to how ZZZ's Miyabi uses 'frost' instead of just ice, Yixuan uses 'auric ink', which functions as ether damage but has a new effect on enemies. She still applies corrupted once the anomaly gauge is full, though. As for the new role, Yixuan is one of those aforementioned Rupture agents, instead of aligning with one of the core roles of Attack, Defense, etc. She's still a DPS, though, and uses defense-reduction to hit hard, along with the Sheer Force mechanic I mentioned earlier.
On the flip side, enemies also get a newfangled thing: the Miasma mechanic. If your character is affected by the Miasma corruption, they accumulate contamination, which deals damage based on their current HP if you don't do anything about it. There's also a new sticky pool of Miasma guck that can appear on the floor in the Hollows, so don't step in that or you'll get corrupted, too. I'm not entirely sure how to fix getting Miasma-d just yet, but it didn't make too much of a mess during combat for me.
The 2.0 update's UI changes introduce a utility wheel so you can easily access settings, the camera, and your character screen, among other options. You can change what appears on your own wheel and where, so if you're particular about things being in a certain place, don't fret.
Navigation as a whole has gotten a lot easier in 2.0. Not only is there a mini-map in the corner to show you where you're at, but there's a main map screen showing overviews of each area. This makes finding that café or new noodle stand a lot easier. While these should, perhaps, have been added earlier, it's nice to finally have them.
Last but not least, I'd like to address the ability to dress up Belle and Wise. They don't just get skins themed to the Waifei Peninsula, oh no - you have accessory options to play with. This includes a panda hat, pin badges, and a headband with cute fuzzy ears. I really hope that we see more options in future updates, as no other Hoyo game I've played lets you dress up the main character, never mind accessorize with whimsical animal-shaped headwear.
I'm genuinely excited to properly delve into 2.0's new areas and get my hands on the bangboo Belion, designed to look like a mossy stone statue. Zenless Zone Zero is, in my opinion, one of the best gacha games out there. It hasn't fallen prey to Honkai Star Rail's power creep yet and has already outrun Genshin Impact with the quality of life updates. The changes coming in 2.0 prove that the team cares about the game and is making it a wonderful experience to play. So come on, proxies, it's nearly time to dive in!
Before you go downloading the Zenless Zone Zero update, make sure you grab these Zenless Zone Zero codes and check out the current Zenless Zone Zero events so you can save up for the new characters on the Zenless Zone Zero banners - and the rerunning options, too.