ZOOPUNK showcases grizzled combat and wondrous colors, but something feels off — Is the AI wave coming?

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I just watched the ZOOPUNK announcement during the Xbox Partner Preview, and I have to say, I’m really impressed. Even if you’re unsure about how they’re using AI, it’s obvious the developers are prioritizing giving players a lot of control and freedom in the game.

ZOOPUNK, a new action RPG, takes place decades before the events of the 2021 game F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch. It features the return of Rabbit and boasts impressive visuals. This time, the game explores the backstory of Torch City, moving away from the traditional Metroidvania gameplay of the previous title.

TiGames released the following:

The World of ZOOPUNK

Everything on the planet is connected through a powerful, hidden network. The Fire Seed is like a central transmitter, sending signals through this network and reshaping anything it touches based on the Creator’s design. Because this force is so unpredictable, the world of ZOOPUNK has broken apart into separate areas, each with its own unique landscape, resources, and beliefs.

Players will journey through diverse and detailed environments shaped by war. These include a traveling community of mechanics and wanderers, a heavily fortified industrial complex built around a volcano, a peaceful haven offering respite from the conflict, and a decaying fortress where the military has lost control.

Dynamic Combat and Character Diversity

ZOOPUNK’s core gameplay revolves around exciting combat. Each character fights differently, drawing inspiration from animal abilities, allowing players to create a personalized fighting style.

  • Braton the Rhino: A powerhouse brawler wielding a massive flame sword
  • Rayton the Rabbit: Agile and fast-paced, specialising in melee combat
  • Trixie the Chipmunk: Nimble and precise, relying on acrobatics and hit-and-run tactics

The latest trailer shows Rayton the Rabbit teaming up with Braton and Trixie to sneak into the enemy’s stronghold and steal the Spark. They’re in a race against time to save Torch City.

From the world of F.I.S.T., a new chapter unfolds. A ZOOPUNK journey of metal, wilds, and will.

ZOOPUNK looks fantastic, there’s just one hitch

First off, let’s talk about the aspects of ZOOPUNK that are absolutely terrific.

The world is beautifully colorful, like a painting with bright, rich shades. Even snowy landscapes weren’t just white – they were filled with warm oranges and yellows.

The combat is exciting and visually impressive, with satisfying feedback when you hit enemies and opportunities for powerful combo attacks. It looks fantastic, so I’ve already added it to my wishlist.

The game’s music is energetic punk that really pumps you up during battles. However, the voice acting felt a little bit weak compared to everything else.

If you’re already familiar with the game *F.I.S.T.*, you might recognize the Chinese voice acting. However, the English voiceovers feel a bit off – it’s hard to say whether the actors didn’t deliver their best performance, or if artificial intelligence was used in the process.

I’ve shared my opinions before on how AI was used in ARC Raiders. I thought it was a good way to add to the game, as long as it was implemented responsibly.

I still feel the same way about a style like ZOOPUNK. However, if a game relies heavily on acting and storytelling, bad performances really stand out. Of course, I could be completely off base!

I’m only using AI because NVIDIA demonstrated it back in January during a partner event. You can find a recording of that original AI voiceover there, and it’s noticeably less polished than the one in the new trailer.

As a tech and gaming fan, I’m really hoping everyone’s thinking about how AI is changing things. I mean, take a game like ARC Raiders – they’re using real voice actors, carefully directed, which feels totally different to a game where all the NPC conversations are just made up on the fly by an AI. There’s a huge gap in quality and feel, and it’s something I think gamers really need to be talking about.

Could this be the future of gaming? Are we heading towards games where characters are artificially generated instead of carefully designed? I’m not sure I’m prepared for a world where a feature that used to be a simple, enjoyable mod – like those for Skyrim – becomes the main focus of entire games.

ZOOPUNK is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. More information about the game will be revealed soon.

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2025-11-20 22:40