So after having played ZZZ Tuning Test for roughly 4 hours over the weekend, I must say, I am satisfied, especially for a pre-Beta/Beta test.
First and foremost, music and art department is once again, as expected from Hoyoverse, top notch. Literally every game they produced since honkai has absolute banger music, it's unreal.
Can't stress out enough how much the music resonates with me.
Art wise, it too is impressive, very flashy, very rapid due to gameplay and setting, but in a nice direction and character design / choice too, is very thoughtful , although maybe a bit visually revealing sometimes (looking at you, respectfully, Nicole)? Hopefully CCP doesnt go with the ban hammer like they did with Mona.
Character personalities, really got me hooked on the featured characters, hopefully I dont succumb to gacha hell when it's released
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Regarding story and story presentation, I love what I see so far. Especially since this Test Phase is a Beta test. For it, it has coherent and engaging story which lets one really immerse into the world building of ZZZ.
Also the presentation, varying between animations, comic book styles and Persona like dialogue really mixes thinks well.
The game starts with CN VA as standard and I played with CN VA throughout and must admit that I like the VA's alot.
Traditionally I grew up with German Dub, then Englisch Dub, then Sub for JP animated content so it is always somehow difficult to switch from JP to CN VA, but I get more used to it and like it more in OG CN content.
Now to the big part, gameplay.
It reminds of Devil May Cry, hacking yourself through enemies. Everything is kinda bling bling and my zoomer brain was almost oversaturated with things happening on screen.
You can choose from a Team made up of up to 3 Agents which feature their move and skill set varyingly.
On that note, I have to laude the character transitions, never seen something look so smooth and clean before, as well as the combo system.
Things that are still workable on, are the interface between battles which reminds me of those Super Mario Bros Wii Overworld walking, just 10x slower, aswell as the skillset of some characters, e.g. Anby Demara and Soldier 11 really look and play similiarly aswell as all Claymore type characters.
Maybe Hoyo can look to the devs of PGR and Wuthering Waves, the combo anf skill sets of their feautured characters are beyond wild.
Yes, one can argue that is consistency, but it takes a lot of the diversity which was previously established via story.
One could at more combos between characters to mix things up again or just revise some skillsets alltogether.
Plus I dont see how they will monetise it, probably gacha but even then, no clue how they will work this out, maybe like Genshin? 160 Primos for a wish?
I had the overall feeling of reading a voiced manga with playable fighting scenes and animations set in between. I liked it and am looking forward to it if the story and world building keeps being this engaging.
Also shout out for Anby for being best girl.
