InZoi Early Access Review – Pretty Vacant

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As a seasoned gamer embarking on the immersive world of InZoi, I must confess that attempting to assess its charms without referencing its closest relative, The Sims, was an ambitious endeavor, bordering on folly. A small, greenhorn part of me once believed it could be a thrilling test to withstand the urge to compare this game with The Sims during my review. Alas, I confess, I have already succumbed to the inevitable.

The environment where InZoi is found plays a significant role. Unlike many games that are warm, comfortable, or fall somewhere in between, very few play like The Sims. Since Maxis introduced it back in 2000, this game has been extraordinary – creative, charming, innovative, and exquisitely detailed. It seems no other studio has attempted to rival its 25-year dominance of the life simulation genre. While the franchise’s reputation may have suffered some blows over time, due to perceived stagnation and its parent company EA’s questionable monetization strategies, this discontent has only fueled the search for an alternative. And now, with InZoi, a new contender emerges, full of youthful enthusiasm and stunning beauty.

Initially, the captivating aesthetics of InZoi sparked high expectations, and upon experiencing it, I must say it lives up to its visual appeal. From its sleek UI, bustling cityscapes, to characters resembling pop stars with full lips, everything about InZoi is visually stunning. Moreover, it offers a plethora of customization options, an engaging open world that evolves over time, and a commitment to creating realistic yet grand experiences. Interestingly, despite its glossy exterior, the game ran smoothly even on my modest gaming PC (AMD Ryzen 5 3600/NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super). However, during my approximately 20 hours with InZoi, I found that I was missing out on something crucial: enjoyment. Although InZoi is visually impressive and full of promise, its current iteration lacks warmth and vitality, which combined with monotonous gameplay, made InZoi a game that I yearned to appreciate but seldom did.

As a gamer, let me tell you, InZoi really gets it right and has me buzzing with excitement! The character creator in this game is simply breathtaking. You could spend hours customizing your Zois and their outfits, but even the pre-made ones are exceptionally designed and intriguing. Once I went through almost every option, I couldn’t resist creating my own Zoi. The customization process was a blast – easy, intuitive, and packed with options. I ended up spending way too much time playing around with the game’s color wheels, adjusting studio lighting, filters, and backdrops to see how various tones and textures would look in different scenarios. Although you can’t tweak features as detailed or exaggerated as The Sims, the overall effect is impressive, enabling you to create a wide array of unique-looking Zois. Plus, I adore that there’s an asymmetrical mode, giving my digital counterparts some of our real-life quirks!

InZoi offers many essential and basic clothing items that might appear ordinary at first glance, but they provide an excellent canvas for experimenting with and personalizing your style. Moreover, you can stack layers in your outfit – wear shirts beneath pants, for instance. Though these features may seem minor, I recall the days when I longed for the ability to put boots over my virtual clothes, and it took a considerable amount of time for that option to become available. Regrettably, even now, they do not allow layering outerwear in InZoi.

I enjoyed personalizing my Zoi character even more with the crafting menu, allowing me to customize every detail like cuts, hemlines, and sleeve lengths for a perfect fit. Although the game focuses on basics, it doesn’t lack trendy options, accessories, or unique outfits that add some pizzazz! Unlike games such as The Sims, InZoi stays current with fashion trends, offering many stylish and enjoyable outfits. Furthermore, InZone Studio has hinted at more items in the future, which will be free of cost.

As a gamer, I was dismayed to find that hair choices in this game are rather sparse, and my character’s facial hair is looking pretty scruffy. The lack of quality black hairstyles was particularly disappointing, considering the game’s apparent aim for a more diverse character creator. However, it’s worth noting that the game seems to deviate less from South Korean beauty standards, which is a positive step.

However, I noticed that InZoi doesn’t seem to stray far from conventional standards of beauty either. The customization options for body shape are extremely limited, and tattoo and piercing choices are virtually non-existent. To make a character who doesn’t look like a model at the end of the day, one would really have to put in an extraordinary effort.

Refining Zoi’s character traits presents a slightly restrictive approach, as I appreciate the concept behind predefined personality types that somewhat resemble the Myers-Briggs system. However, in practice, this setup results in only 18 distinct personalities, with little leeway for individual nuances. Instead, offering a selection of individual traits would generate an almost endless variety of possible personalities. Consequently, every Zoi you encounter has a 1-in-18 chance of being identical to another Zoi.

Similarly, the fixed nature of Zoi’s ambitions can be observed, as each personality is best suited for two specific objectives but can choose from a variety of life paths. Despite these constraints, I continue to be intrigued by InZoi’s approach to character development and recognize potential for enhancement.

One intriguing aspect of InZoi lies in its unique approach, where instead of immediately dropping you into your own virtual abode, it immerses you in an oddly captivating narrative involving a corporation (run by cats) that tasks you with managing your own virtual realm. Although a minor part of the game, this quirky introduction adds a touch of humor and eccentricity to InZoi. Moreover, these feline overlords appear to be invested in the notion of your Zois accumulating good karma to progress after death, as those with negative karma are condemned to linger until they earn enough positive energy. This structure provides a loose framework for the game, focusing on themes such as community, human values, kindness, and, somewhat eerily, mortality. It’s a fresh idea, and the inclusion of a less Eurocentric character creator gives InZoi a more diverse feel compared to games like The Sims, which I wholeheartedly appreciate.

In this game, the importance of community becomes increasingly evident as you progress, whether through character interactions or the underlying feeling of unity among all the Zois in your city. For instance, each Zoi influences the image of your community, and you have the ability to significantly alter what I can describe as the overall atmosphere of the city you’re in. This is achieved by adjusting the likelihood of Zois performing good or bad actions, as well as the probability of disasters, accidents, and crimes occurring. This aspect caught me off guard and seemed to permeate every aspect of gameplay. For example, it’s effortless and almost imperceptible to switch to another family with a single click, making you feel like you’re controlling everyone – an experience that, admittedly, could be frustrating at times. There are also dedicated menus for analyzing your community, such as one that provides data on how many Zois had disturbing dreams the previous night. Although I don’t fully grasp the rationale behind this, I must admit I found it fascinating to observe these peculiar statistics.

Among the standout menus is one that offers an incredible level of customization, enabling you to significantly modify the visual aspect of your cityscape. Remarkably, there’s no loading screen required for this transformation; I swiftly turned the picturesque, Santa Monica-inspired Bliss Bay into a desolate, post-apocalyptic cityscape. This menu also grants flexibility in altering the vegetation and wildlife, so you can swap towering oaks for cherry trees or release hordes of raccoons, cats, pandas, or alligators onto your Zois. Additionally, it allows you to decide what images and videos appear on billboards, control the weather intensity, and even make your bikini-clad Zois scurry indoors during a sudden blizzard. Another feature lets you choose between night skies adorned with drones or fireworks. I was genuinely amazed by its breadth and instantaneous changes, and I particularly enjoyed how these modifications accentuated my favorite aspect of the game – the opportunity to roam freely in its expansive open world.

As a gamer, I typically steer clear of open-world games because they often come off as overly expansive for the sake of size, and jam-packed with elements just for the sake of it. However, I’m drawn to those thoughtful RPGs that exhibit restraint and prioritize crafting a specific ambiance rather than overwhelming me with tasks. Luckily, InZoi is one such game. Traversing Dowon, its South Korean-inspired metropolis, reminded me of wandering around Seoul during my last spring visit, full of excitement, curiosity, and the joy that comes from exploring a new, stunning city. The world feels breathtakingly real, teeming with Zois who are as lively as the city itself. You can converse amicably with them or even scold one for watching me do squats in the park, which adds to the game’s authenticity and immersion.

If it seemed unusually detailed, it’s because it occurred with my character Zoi just minutes into my initial game session among the three families I designed. Despite finding such behavior inappropriate in real life, I must admit that this encounter significantly increased my anticipation for InZoi’s social elements. As a new player, I was immediately captivated by the responsiveness and authenticity of the game world. Surprisingly, observing another character leering at Zoi, an expression I hope not to use again due to its unpleasant connotation, became one of my most memorable experiences during my actual playtime in InZoi.

It appears that my initial concerns about Zois seeming repetitive due to insufficient character development were validated. While you can determine preferences when interacting with your Zois, such as liking spicy food or disliking ball sports, these aspects didn’t significantly differentiate one character from another for me. In truth, the likes and dislikes of each Zois I encountered felt somewhat arbitrary. Despite their striking beauty, none of them seemed deep, complex, or individualistic—my own Zois included.

Furthermore, engaging with people isn’t particularly enjoyable. While there were numerous ways to interact, they felt unusual, excessively specialized, and superficial. The way they were presented was also overpowering, as clicking on Zoi would produce a large cloud of social options on your screen. You can also choose to view all options, which transforms them into a more readable but equally overwhelming layout.

Interacting with other characters in the game feels stiff and inconvenient because, although it uses a smartphone-like device for various gameplay aspects, there’s no option to call or text anyone. Instead, communication is limited to “positive response,” “negative response,” or silence when receiving messages. Social interactions mainly revolve around delivering gifts or inviting someone over if they are nearby. However, if they aren’t close by, you have to navigate the map and ask them to meet at a specific location. Overall, this process was somewhat frustrating and added unnecessary complications to the gameplay experience.

Among the aspects I appreciated in this game are features like hovering over a Zoi to get insights into their current feelings towards you or access their comprehensive profile, which includes information learned about them, significant moments, and more. Additionally, I found engaging with the option to shape your relationships with others by filling up one of the four relationship meters (friendship, business, family, romance) to a specific level. Upon reaching this stage, you are presented with the choice to either accept or reject the new dynamic. If you decide not to act, you’re prevented from getting any closer or moving further apart, introducing an intriguing twist to social interaction. Although it would be more captivating if these relationships branched out (for instance, increasing friendship could lead to becoming “close friends” then “best friends”), it remains a unique and appealing innovation that makes InZoi stand out.

Initially, as I embarked on creating genuine connections, I encountered more aggravation. My initial family, modeled after mine with a husband, wife, and child, initially behaved like strangers. The way they were created didn’t automatically foster friendship or camaraderie within the game. After spending several days trying to bring them closer while also familiarizing myself with InZoi, I opted for a new beginning and crafted my next Zoi, a young adult with a Collaborator mindset and a promising future.

After getting her comfortably settled into a surprisingly lavish two-bedroom apartment, I embarked on personalizing the space for her. While there wasn’t much I could do to change the apartment’s structure, I swiftly transformed it from an expensive greige dwelling into something brighter and more reflective of her personality. I spent time scouring Pinterest for art pieces to adorn her gallery wall, thrilled not only by the freedom to hang frames everywhere but also by the ability to upload my own images without resorting to mods or additional content. However, as I was decorating, I pondered about the potential impact of such functionality and InZoi’s AI-powered art generation for high-end PC users on developers.

As a gamer, I’ve learned that InZoi Studio has clarified how their AI functions after some concerns were raised. Over at the official InZoi Discord, one of their devs explained it this way: “All AI elements in InZoi are powered by exclusive models created by Krafton. These models are trained exclusively on company-owned, copyright-safe assets and data. What’s more, the AI capabilities within InZoi are integrated directly into the game client as on-device solutions, meaning they don’t connect with external servers for communication online.

This proposal seems reasonable on a conceptual level, but it doesn’t sit well with me that all AI applications are universally unethical by nature. Yet, I harbor reservations about the environmental consequences of this specific model, the sourcing methods Krafton is using for its assets and data, and the potential influence this might have on artists who craft in-game art for a living.

As an enthusiast, I must say that InZoi’s furniture currently offers a versatile collection of fundamental pieces that can be effortlessly personalized through the use of custom images, texture modifications, and color adjustments. Although I didn’t delve deeply into testing the game’s construction mode, I found its user-friendly layout, despite seeming a bit strange initially, to be straightforward enough for anyone to grasp. Building structures and rooms in InZoi became quite straightforward thanks to this streamlined interface.

After investing a significant portion of her initial savings into furnishing her new bachelor apartment, I realized it was high time for Zoi to start earning. Since she was already enrolled in university, I found out that she couldn’t pursue a career without dropping out—a minor hurdle, I thought. I’d just have to watch my spending or find some extra income source. After a few days of attending classes, I reached the conclusion that going to college with Zoi was painfully monotonous, as it primarily involved being cooped up in a building for half the day while time seemed to crawl. This issue isn’t unique to the game, as even fast-forwarding through the night took longer than expected, even at maximum speed. However, I appreciated the occasional queue break during Overwatch or similar games, which gave me a chance to stretch my legs and do something else. It was surprising to find out that I had nearly three minutes of free time while playing a life simulation game.

Additionally, I never experienced a feeling of advancement during college. I was unaware of my proximity to graduation, lacked a sense that my personality was truly developing or evolving, and remained uncertain about the ultimate goal of this undertaking. In the end, I decided to leave in order to explore whether working a job might be more pleasurable. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. Although the game attempted to create an experience by sending you off to work and assigning small tasks like cleaning or rehearsing a dance routine, these elements did not contribute to engaging gameplay or enjoyment. The careers were unfulfilling, relationships and social interactions were superficial, my character Zoi was both dull and prone to sudden, inexplicable urges, and as a result, I found little joy in living out her life.

It’s odd that a game so focused on exploring the human, or Zoi, soul, appears to lack its own. The gameplay doesn’t live up to my expectations in its daily aspects, and there seems to be a general absence of character in InZoi – no wit, charm, humor, unexpected moments, joy, or zest. Instead, the entire experience feels quite sterile. From the game’s simplified menus and extravagant settings, to watching my Zoi bathe in her swimsuit before discussing future crypto currency and K-Pop stock trends with a casual passerby, it sometimes felt like I was inhabiting a city created by Lumos or another prominent corporation. This is a somewhat modest dystopia where everyone is aesthetically pleasing but emotionally detached; a world where technology and material possessions are more valued than human experiences.

Concerning technology, it’s clear that whether someone chooses InZoi often hinges on a single query: Is it compatible with my computer? I managed to smoothly run the game at Medium settings using an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super graphics card, and 16 GB of RAM. While this setup isn’t particularly high-end, it functioned well enough to make me optimistic that most PC gamers will encounter no issues. Besides occasional clipping, a common issue with early access titles, and a few text formatting glitches, I encountered no bugs or major problems.

Writing this critique has been quite challenging. I’m not saying The Sims team should feel threatened or that InZoi has definitively outperformed or underperformed in some imaginary contest. Instead, it’s been intriguing to constantly adjust my perspective. I’ve had to consciously step back from comparing InZoi solely to its own merits and current state while considering its status as early access, but also not being swayed by its potential. At the same time, I’ve had to distance myself from The Sims’ 25 years of groundbreaking developments, evaluating whether elements in InZoi seemed lacking or derivative when viewed alongside such a dynamic and continually evolving giant. It can be tricky to determine the true value of a work that is so evidently a spiritual successor to a thriving, ever-changing colossus.

Overall, my experience with InZoi was rather disappointing. While I understand that new items and cosmetics are planned for the game, and there’s certainly room for improvement as the developers focus more on its social features, at this point, the gameplay isn’t engaging enough. I have concerns that the social-simulation aspects may not receive as much attention as I’d like. Despite my hopefulness and eagerness to review a long-awaited game, after investing several dozen hours into InZoi, I believe it’s unlikely I’ll return until it has undergone significant development.

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2025-03-21 01:11