Billy Kid might be the best part of Zenless Zone Zero
I love Billy Kid from Zenless Zero Zone. Although I’m not really convinced by it in other ways, due to things like pace and free gifts lost foreverI can’t fault this element of his design. Almost every part of him is done perfectly, and the fact that we have such a great character in the first place makes me inclined to give him a Zenless Zero Zone a little freedom
Part of this is due to the overall design for Billy Kid. He’s a robot, which means you’d worry that he might look a little generic. However, his robot face can be just as expressive, if not more so, than the other characters. This is due to the exaggerated approach that the HoYoVerse artists use. So while he may look stern and stern at first glance, when he moves, we see a wide range of emotions just like anyone else. There are also other touches, like the red leather jacket covered in fandom patches and the exaggerated hairstyle that rivals any shonen hero.
Billy Kid also has the best personality in the Zenless Zero Zone. Those who keep up Tri-barreled gun will know what I mean. He’s totally Vash the Stampede. This is a character who actually means well and is a good guy (robot)! He can be so goofy about everything! He loves the show Star Knight. He has a crush on a celebrity. He calls his gun Girls. But we also know that he’s much more than that. He’s a capable spy. He’s a smart tactical unit with a name for himself. His character trailer from 2023, featuring his beta voice actor Michael SchwalbeNote that he was even once an infamous “weapon of war” of the Outer Ring and a fearsome warrior. He is skilled, capable, and caring!
Billy Kid’s English and Japanese Voice Actors Zenless Zero Zone even enhance it. Both Clifford Chapin and Yu Hayashi give these passionate, earnest, over-the-top performances. You can see there’s room for seriousness in their portrayals. At the same time, they both do a perfect job of enlivening him and bringing him to life.
Honestly, I think the combination of the right character and voice actor makes Billy Kid the best part of the first installment. Zenless Zero Zone story. He completely steals the show during the tutorial, as we help Phaethon get him and Anby out of the Hollow in the introduction. He’s a constant source of laughter, genuinely and completely hilarious due to both his interactions with Anby and the reactions. At the same time, he’s an absolute badass. He handles situations efficiently and intelligently when dealing with enemies. He’s practical when it comes to navigating and successfully getting out of situations. He’s also just a good friend in general to the Phaethon siblings, really appreciating his “manager”. No matter what the situation or who’s in the scene with him, the writing means he plays it perfectly.
The only bad thing about Billy Kid in Zenless Zero Zone is… well, actually using him. It’s a shame because there was so much potential when it came to the concept behind the character! He’s a DPS, but a completely ranged unit in a game where you’re more likely to be up close and personal when defeating bad guys. His attacks actually look great too. I absolutely love how he looks when he uses Fatal Shot Assist. His Stand Still and Clearance Time Specials? Also great to see.
However, Billy Kid is clearly a case of form over function. Zenless Zero Zoneand that keeps him from being one of the best party members at least for now. His playstyle is very forgiving, which is a plus! While his Basic Attack only hits once, it’s easy to use his other attacks or build on it to deal AOE damage. The problem arises when you look closer. He’s a physical attack Agent with Cunning Hares. You know who is also and happens to be a better DPS due to her nature as an S-tier character? Nekomata. It also doesn’t help that Anby and Nicole are more versatile party members who can fit into other teams more easily than Billy. There are currently no Physical Stunners or Support units in the game that can support Billy’s team, and someone who wants an A-rank Physical DPS could probably pick Piper instead.
I know it’s too early for Zenless Zero Zone. At the rate that HoYoVerse tends to add new characters to the game, maybe two to three per patch, we’ll likely see a lot of Agents that players will come to love over time. However, there’s something special about Billy Kid in Zenless Zero Zone. Aside from his fighting abilities, everything about him fits the game perfectly, not to mention appeals to a general audience.
Zenless Zero Zone Available for PS5, PC and mobile.
