inZOI Early Access: a quick review
Could inZOI be the game to rival The Sims, or does it offer an entirely different experience? Let’s dive into the Early Access premiere of inZOI and explore whether EA should start feeling the heat.
The cat is always watching
The lore behind inZOI from KRAFTON is simple: you are an intern in AR company, your boss is a cat… and you are tasked with taking care of a virtual city. In inZOI is that the gameplay doesn’t focus just on your currently played family. We also can, and should, monitor what’s going on in the city. What zois do and how they act influences the entire community. If things go wrong, your cat-boss will give you a reprimand.
The control over the city is pretty big. Technically, there aren’t any cheat codes; because the game’s in-game menu gives you complete freedom. You can instantly add funds to your family or even adjust the lifespan of a zoi with just a few clicks. However, the real magic of inZOI lies in its customization, so let’s dive into these aspects right away.
Ultimate character creator
Creating Zois is arguably the most enjoyable feature in the game right now, finally addressing the long-standing requests players have made for years. With highly realistic models, you can bring virtually any character to life. The possibility to move almost every inch of the models face is truly impressive, and players have already demonstrated their mastery of the in-game character creator. On Canvas, the in-game platform for sharing creations, you can find and download Zois designed to resemble celebrities or beloved characters. You can also choose from varied body types, skin colours and age groups. Once you are done with appearance, you can pick your Zoi’s wardrobe for different occasions and modify existing clothes with your own textures.
We all know that looks aren’t everything, so apart from visuals, we must choose our Zoi’s character. There are currently 18 archetypes, with additional traits unlocking as you play. While the system shows promise, it could benefit from some tweaks. Despite the various archetypes available for Zois, their behavior often feels surprisingly similar. I’d expect that zois with contrasting characters would have different reactions to the same situations, but unfortunately I haven’t noticed much difference.
Create whatever you want
The building tools in inZOI, much like its character customization features, provide endless creative possibilities. Players can effortlessly upload their own textures, generate new ones on the fly, or dive into Canvas to explore and download creations from other players. That means you can decorate your home with your photos of art, adding an extra layer of fun. Additionally, we can modify existing designs or craft entirely original pieces, sometimes resulting in delightfully quirky creations like a banana lamp.
Another standout feature is the 3D printer, which creates in-game 3D objects by scanning and processing uploaded images. With this, you can create virtually anything you imagine: whether it’s a statue of your pet, your favorite mug, figurines, or any other personalized item you desire. Just make sure to upload clear photos with a blank background. Moreover, these items can be used for character customization as well.
Customization of your surroundings goes far beyond just your house. Players can modify the city as well, e.g. upload videos or photos on billboards or decide how many animals will roam the city parks. Alternatively, you can also turn your city into a wasteland…
While the cities appear lively and entertaining, they lack a certain depth, which diminishes the sense of immersion. The map is quite expansive, so naturally, populating it with events and characters poses a challenge. However, let’s not forget that it’s only Early Access.
There are some fun, immersive additions, however. For example, our Zois will wait for the green right before crossing the street. Alternatively, you can travel around by car.
So it is great or…?
The greatest challenge in reviewing the game was the ever-present memories from The Sims hovering over my thoughts. As a person who played all instalments of EA’s iconic life sim, it’s difficult not to look for comparisons. The contrast between the classic cartoony style and hyperrealistic, almost uncanny valley-like graphics was the first noticeable issue. Adjusting to this new aesthetic took some time. While it’s not inherently bad, the overly polished, sterile visuals didn’t click with me right away.
Things that did leave mixed feelings was the rapid and overly linear progression. Zois advance with surprising ease, whether it’s excelling at work, mastering new skills, or romance. Winning over my Zoi’s crush or learning something new felt almost effortless, taking only minutes to achieve. Hopefully this feature will be tweaked because the speed at which everything moves takes away from the satisfaction of achieving goals. Moreover, conversation choices don’t feel as meaningful as they should be and sometimes feel a bit too random.
Another potentially controversial topic is the use of AI. While it undeniably brings a new level of customization, there are moments when it can feel overwhelming. I tried not to use AI as much as possible, but I am quite sure many elements of the game feel AI-generated, including conversation starters. This level of integration evokes rather mixed emotions in me, though I recognize this is entirely a personal perspective.
Final verdict
The early access launch of inZOI has been a clear success, with an impressive number of players joining on premiere day. The game definitely had entered new territories by integrating user-generated content and AI in innovative ways, with more features coming up in the future. With ongoing updates and improvements, this game has the potential to become one of the best life-sims out there. But will it dethrone The Sims? Based on where it’s headed, probably not.
What I enjoyed:
- Incredible customization tools,
- Possibility to upload your own textures and 3D models,
- Canvas,
- Character animations look fun,
- Many character archetypes.
What I didn’t enjoy:
- Zois do not really act like their chosen personalities,
- Progressing is way too fast,
- 3D printer tool needs some tweaking or optimization,
- Cities are big, but feel a bit empty at times.
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