Test - Inzoi: Test: Why the Sims (yet) don't have to be afraid

Inzoi would have had my jaw folded down as a child and even today I have to make an effort to keep my mouth closed. In the first trailers, not only the Zoi (Inzois variant of the Sims) look incredibly in love with detail and realistic, but also the environments in live and construction mode. While the Sims are increasingly relying on comic graphics, I get a life simulation here that deliberately takes the real world as a model.

Sounds too good to be true? It is partly too. Because Inzoi dreams great and rarely meets his ambitions. In the test, I clarify why the game is not a failure and who can still have a lot of fun with it.

An editor for falling in love

Inzoi deliberately plays in his setting with the fact that I am in a simulation. I don't start my new life in the apparently real world, but in a computer variant that is sold by a company in the game as an AR experience.

The game explains in a charming way why everything is not so realistic. A cool detail that my zoi can even take up in conversations. However, a real story does not relax - history writes as in other life simulations through the experiences of my zois.

At the beginning I create it in an extensive editor that is one of the best what games can deliver these days. The diverse templates alone are bursting with details. I adapt to different menus or with fine controls if I want, but really every little detail from the birthmark, over the eye make-up to the shape of the nose. Everything can be attached, pulling and modeling in an uncomplicated and intuitive manner according to your own wishes.

Looks and outfits feel much more stylish and contemporary than the clothes in the Sims. Inzoi also allows me to set suitable clothes for every situation (e.g. sport, go out, summer or winter) and to beautify them with accessories. Thanks to a large selection and many possible combinations, I would be happy to spend my first game hour here. The ambitions and wishes for my zoi (self -determination and art) are quickly chosen. Then it can start.

Interior architecture instead of furniture modular kit

Initially, I choose between two towns - one American and an Asian. Both cities offer several typical public properties - in the case of the Dowon inspired by Korea, for example Buddhist temple or convenience stores, as well as potential new home that I set up myself.

For me, the construction mode is the biggest highlight of Inzoi. Not only does everything work smoothly here, it also looks like directly from an Ikea catalog. By combining, coloring and placing freely, I arrange furniture and decoration so that my surroundings look like a real home and do not like dipped assets.

The chic graphic does the rest. Inzoi is not photo -realistic, but lighting mood, details and a sense of furnishing trends ensure very credible and stylish buildings. Alone that, for example, I can leave make -up utensils lying around on the table or can take a console based on the Nintendo Switch on the dessert, contribute enormously to the atmosphere. Inzoi looks significantly less clinical in its facility than the stylized Sims houses.

The control also works very intuitively - walls can be lifted or lowered in a better view and a menu pops up for each piece of furniture, through which you can dye it, rotate, copy and so on. If you don't feel like building despite everything, you simply stand up to finished rooms or even houses. Your own creations can also be saved and even share with others.

Incidentally, the graphic impresses, especially in construction mode-everything still looks chic in live mode, but the zoi are given a rather low and washed-out look when zooming in. Outside of your own four walls in the busy streets, it jerks pretty nice.

Distraction instead of fun

So far, Inzoi still sounds like an absolute dream for fans of life simulations - but only if I press both eyes with the actual simulation. As important to me, creating characters and furnishing houses is, without live mode, in which I can actively experience both, it loses its charm at some point.

And this is exactly where Inzoi crunches it. Basically, the live mode works just like the Sims: I look for a career or maybe go to the university, meet other zoi and find friends or fall in love. In the meantime, of course, I am not allowed to lose sight of needs such as hunger, hygiene or sleep and also have to take care of my zoi's wishes who, thanks to their artistic ambitions, would like to learn to paint or play piano playing.

But all of these interactions are very superficial or in the worst case do not work at all. Where the Sims becomes quite demanding when I juggle with different goals or needs, Inzoi always remains shallow and uninspired. In places, I feel like in a mobile game where I have to constantly perform actions for dopamine without having a real effect - employment therapy.

Everyday grind in virtual paradise

So my need ads empty very leisurely and can always be filled up quickly and easily. Even with several zois, this is easy. If I still get in trouble, I can buy special donuts in the so-called Miaow shop, which all strips fill or bring more bonuses. I simply earn the necessary points for this by fulfilling the wishes of my zoi.

This is also very simple, because my undemanding zoi usually only wants to paint a picture or praise yourself. Even negative moods, how to be sad or feel uncomfortable, do not have any significant effects. In theory, skills are then more difficult to develop, but if I crouch my zoi in front of the easel or forcing it to read a book, it still works quickly.

This means that a large part of the game mechanics can simply be ignored. Taking feelings or needs into account remains purely optional in Inzoi. The crumbly gameplay skeleton also reveals itself elsewhere: that I can accompany my zoi to work is a cool thing in itself. There I always pour out the same tasks. Just to get a little more money in the end, which I can end without endlessly using the Money Cheat menu.

This particularly depresses me because I chose Idol as a career to become the Korean pop star. In the end, my zoi was promoted to a simple employee in the talent agency - I never saw a stage. The surprising stories and experiences that make Sims so unique and individual are completely missing.

When I visit public places like Parks, my zoi might be around or shoot a selfie - but the sights do not differ in the actions they offer me. And even in conversations, the reactions are often identical - regardless of whether I want to compliment my counterpart or to persuade him to eat vegan nutrition. So a certain routine quickly appears and thus boredom.

A lot (gifts) potential?

Inzoi has really interesting approaches. For example, tons of exciting topics such as the effect of AI or the question of whether my counterpart actually knows that we are in a simulation. Actions such as “secretly pups” give the characters character and inzoi a touch of role play.

And even the events such as weddings offer many exciting features: You can have suitable actions play like in a film and even adapt and decorate public places. Inzoi also becomes creative again and again and, for example, allows me to create Emotes and Poznan for my zoi with the help of AI.

But most of it does not work properly or does not yet seem mature enough (my wedding, for example, got stuck in half of the program items because my husband did not open; I was married anyway). Inzoi is bristling playfully from unused potential, but the developers still have a lot of work ahead of them.

Do not only deliver more content such as new furniture, events and tasks, but actually screw on the basic game mechanics, Inzoi could definitely be dangerous in the long term.