What story does Zenless Zone Zero Season 1 tell?

With the conclusion of Zenless Zone Zero Season 1, which version of the storyline do you like best, Proxy Masters? This article will summarize the main plots of each version and analyze the overarching narrative themes. Simply put, the entire Season 1 storyline revolves around the "Sacrifices,"consisting of both the main plot and epilogue chapters.

The true main storyline of Season 1 actually concluded in Version 1.4 when Hoshimi Miyabi decisively severed Bringer. Versions 1.5 to 1.7 are lower-stakes epilogue chapters. Version 1.5 featured Astra Yao's exclusive Lunar New Year storyline, while Versions 1.6 and 1.7 resolved older conflicts unrelated to the core narrative.

1. The Beginning of Zenless Zone Zero Main Storyline

Let's start with the launch main storyline. In the Red Fang Gang case, we assisted the Cunning Hares in seizing a safe, unexpectedly obtained the artificial intelligence Fairy and gained the friendship of the Cunning Hares. We subsequently foiled the conspiracy in the Vision Corporation bombing case, completely dismantled Vision Corporation, and met Nekomata and Corin.

2. First Encounter with the Sacrifices: Belobog Heavy Industries and Bringer

Next came our mission to assist Belobog Heavy Industries in retrieving Unit Zero (the crane's "love story" with the unfinished building), marking our first encounter with the Sacrifices. Later, Qingyi discovered anomalies in the Sacrifices sample, while Bringer sought to seize Belobog's Sacrifices specimen.

Bringer executed two schemes: First, he sent Zhu Yuan and Qingyi to Sixth Street to canvass votes, allowing us to reconnect with Zhu Yuan and Qingyi. Second, Bringer orchestrated an attack on the evidence transport to steal the Sacrifices sample. With Faretone joining Zhu Yuan and Qingyi, this plot was thwarted, and the Sacrifices sample ultimately reached Hoshimi Miyabi. Notably, during these events, our protagonist repeatedly switched between Shopkeeper and Proxy identities when interacting with Zhu Yuan, which became the reason Zhu Yuan holds a grudge against us.

3. The Trigger Incident of Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.4 Main Storyline

Afterward, we went to the Ballet Twins and met Victoria Housekeeping. At the time, Lycaon's master had purchased the Ballet Twins, but the building seemed haunted by spirits, leaving the Proxy-less Lycaon helpless. We assisted Lycaon in navigating to purge the rebels within the Ballet Twins. In return, Lycaon helped us rescue the hacker Rain and thwarted Bringer and Sarah's scheme to crash an airship and eliminate Charles Perlman. It was after this incident that the "Master" of Victoria Housekeeping-the mayor of New Eridu-instructed Lycaon's group to become allies of Faretone.

Later, after Charles Perlman fled to the Outer Ring and was found by the Sons of Calydon, Bringer-unable to control the Outer Ring-bribed Lucius to assassinate the overlord Pompey, attempting to seize control of the Outer Ring and manipulate Perlman. Fortunately, our protagonist's group supported Caesar's rise to power, foiling Bringer's plot and gaining control over Perlman.

In Version 1.3's storyline, since the Sacrifices sample was in Hoshimi Miyabi's possession and Sarah had uncovered the secret of the Cursed Blade, Sarah's faction enlisted Null Face to attack the Anti-Air Sixth Division. Though their plan seemingly failed in the end, they successfully obtained Hoshimi Miyabi's fingerprints.

4. The Final Conspiracy in Zenless Zone Zero Season 1

The accumulation of these events became the catalyst for Version 1.4's main storyline. In Version 1.4, Bringer and Sarah obtained intelligence through the true Null Face that the power source of Hoshimi Miyabi's Cursed Blade shared the same origin as the Sacrifices. They exploited the tracker on Charles Perlman to orchestrate sabotage, including but not limited to:

a. Loading bullets with Sacrifices-enhancing serum to shoot Hoshimi Miyabi, triggering the Cursed Blade's rampage

b. Framing the Hollow Special Operations Section 6 to seize the Cursed Blade, extracting Sacrifices power and forcing Hoshimi Miyabi's rampage to undermine the Hoshimi family's political standing in New Eridu.

Fortunately, with our Proxy's efforts, Zhu Yuan and our team rescued the rampaging Hoshimi Miyabi. Ultimately, all Agents in New Eridu rallied to thwart The Exaltists' conspiracy. However, what Hoshimi Miyabi severed with her blade was not just the Exaltists' plot-it also erased clues about the fall of the Old Capital.

Bringer clearly possessed critical intel and knew the protagonist's mentor, Carole Arna. Before his death, Bringer attempted to self-destruct and take the protagonist down. Yet the Proxy siblings, protected by ocular implants, emerged unscathed. Bringer's final words-"You'll spend your lives hiding in shadows, drowning in the delusion of chasing the 'true culprit'!"-implied that the protagonist's belief in a "culprit" behind Carole Arna's disappearance was a fantasy, hinting that the trusted mentor/mother figure Carole Arna might truly be the antagonist. With this cliffhanger, Season 1's main storyline concluded abruptly.

5. Zenless Zone Zero Epilogue Chapters

The three postscript chapters following Version 1.4 essentially revolve around one core element: the protagonist's eyes. Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.5 is entirely disconnected from the main storyline. Astra Yao's story focuses on thwarting a villainous plot with Proxy and Evelyn during her New Year concert.

The late singer Joran de Winter-Astra's idol-died in a corporate power struggle. Astra aimed to spread Joran's uplifting musical legacy through her posthumous works. However, Joran's widow, the antagonist Madame de Winter, believed Astra represented corporate forces stealing Joran's "revolutionary legacy." Madame de Winter, hating the world, attempted to kill all concert attendees. Fortunately, when the venue began plummeting from the sky, Astra and Evelyn confided in each other to resolve misunderstandings, deepening their bond and jointly resolving the crisis.

Starting from this version, we gradually encountered various delusional antagonists in main and Agent stories. These villains are largely insane, obsessive, and twisted, making them hard to empathize with. Some players aptly noted: "These deranged villains are failed 'Agents.'"

Most Agents in Zenless Zone Zero have tragic pasts. Rare exceptions like Zhu Yuan-who hails from a happy family-are exceedingly uncommon. Those who overcome their suffering become Agents; those who fail often descend into madness. I believe the writers aimed to showcase divergent paths chosen after shared traumas, such as the Hollow Zero incident.

Beyond driving the plot, these antagonists serve as foils to the protagonists: Anby vs. Twiggy; Astra Yao vs. Madame de Winter; Trigger vs. Zoe; Vivian vs. Dina and Camille. The most iconic storyline I adore is Trigger's Story "Zero Point Calibration"-a tale of two PTSD-stricken individuals hurting yet ultimately redeeming each other. The vengeance-obsessed Zoe finds liberation through death and redemption through Trigger's awakening.

Zoe and Trigger share striking parallels-both bear indelible scars from the Hollow Zero incident. When the disaster first struck, authorities underestimated its severity, dispatching teams like Trigger's squad for reconnaissance. As the crisis spiraled out of control, military brass abandoned these vanguards, recalling reinforcements to minimize losses. Zoe, also a discarded squad member, grew to despise deserters.

Their mutual redemption unfolds as:

Zoe, consumed by PTSD, embarks on a path to hunt deserters.
Trigger deludes herself into believing her teammates are still alive.

Upon finding our protagonist, Trigger's first act is to enlist our help in locating her squad. After confronting and killing Zoe, Trigger internalizes this "hatred." No longer adrift, she vows to fight-but unlike Zoe's misplaced rage ("The brave direct their blades at the strong; the cowardly turn theirs toward the weak"), Trigger recognizes Zoe's error: targeting deserters instead of the military brass who miscalculated, the Etheric Horrors that killed her comrades, or the true culprits behind the Old Capital's fall.

Zenless Zone Zero showcases character personalities through the divergent choices these individuals make at similar life junctures. Another pivotal character developed in Trigger's story is Shepherd, who appears cowardly and opportunistic, yet radiates humanity's inherent goodness-a core theme the game celebrates. Shepherd and Nicole share similarities: both seem unremarkable but forge strong bonds, a secret I believe lies in their inner kindness.

The game's worldview is steeped in despair. New Eridu stands as humanity's final fortress, while Hollows across the globe erode civilization, forcing survivors to huddle in isolated enclaves. All bear tragic pasts and lost loved ones, yet some choose to persevere. Their motivations vary-Hugo conquers inner demons, while Vivian and Lighter find redemption through others.

New Eridu's grand narrative weaves mundane and supernatural tales of Agents and ordinary souls. This is why I love Zenless Zone Zero! My sole regret for Season 1 is the absence of a truly formidable antagonist. I hope the developers keep up the great work in Version 2.0. For every Proxies, don't miss deeper story analyses and new merchandises!