Zoochosis (video game)

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Zoochosis
This is the cover art for Zoochosis. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to Clapperheads.jpg
Developer(s) Clapperheads
Publisher(s) Clapperheads
Engine Unreal Engine 5 [1]
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
ReleaseSeptember 30, 2024
Genre(s) Survival horror
Mode(s) Single-player

Zoochosis is an indie survival horror video game developed and published by Clapperheads. It was announced on January 16, 2024 [2] [3] and released on September 30 on Windows. [4] The game has drawn attention for its premise, focusing on a player's role as a zookeeper tasked with creating vaccines and curing mutated animals. [5]

Contents

Gameplay

In Zoochosis, players assume the role of Paul the zookeeper experiencing their first night shift, during which they discover that the zoo's animals have started to mutate, such as giraffes, zebras, elephants, moose, hippopotamuses, gorillas, penguins, and wallabies. The gameplay revolves around making vaccines, curing the mutated animals, and unraveling the mystery behind the zoo's sudden epidemic. [6] [7]

The developers have indicated that the game will feature several possible endings, which will vary depending on the player's decisions regarding which animals to rescue and which to avoid. [8]

Additionally, Zoochosis is played from the perspective of a bodycam, adding a layer of immersion to the experience. [9]

Plot

In September 08, 1991, Paul Connelly is down on his luck for failing to support his wife and daughter, which leads him to work at Pine Valley Zoo as the new zookeeper. His employer Oliver Metzger instructs him to observe the habitats and make sure he takes care of the animals when they get sick, which he will pay Paul money to help his family in the morning.

As Paul begins his first day, he is shocked to learn that some of the animals have small parasites that will mutate them into monsters. Paul later finds out that Oliver had injected him with one of them as a way to "protect" him from being eaten, but will begin to mutate if the mutant animals attack him. As he prepares to make meat (which the zoo uses human flesh to ease the parasites), Paul later meets with female journalist Sarah Watkins, where the duo work together to find the source of the parasites and put a stop on to Oliver's ongoing crimes.

Eventually, Sarah gains access to the zoo's computer system and learns that the zoo is actually a secret government research facility that holds the "Mother", the source of the parasites. Oliver has been luring zookeepers in and infecting them with the parasites since Mother can only feed on infected lifeforms. However, if they can synthesize a toxin from the blood of a female parasite and feed it to Mother, they can kill her which will result in the death of all of the parasites she has given birth to and cure their hosts, including Paul.

There are numerous endings to the game, many of which result in Paul being fed to Mother or fully mutating and attacking Sarah and Oliver. However, the best ending occurs when Paul nonlethally subdues all of the infected animals and extracts their parasites, creates the toxin, and has Sarah inject it into Oliver before feeding him to Mother. Having survived the night, Paul takes Oliver's sports car to return to his family while Sarah exposes the illegal and unethical experiments being conducted in Pine Valley Zoo.

Reception

Pre-release

The first trailer for Zoochosis received attention for its unique horror setting and concept. Edwin Evans-Thirwell of Rock Paper Shotgun praised the game as an "open homage to The Thing ". [10] PCGamesN likened it to " Resident Evil meets Planet Zoo ", [11] while Dread Central described the game as "The Thing meets a zoo". [12]

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References

  1. ↑ Usaid. "What the Hell is Zoochosis?". GamingBolt.
  2. ↑ Zoochosis - Official Announcement Trailer. IGN . January 16, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  3. ↑ Romano, Sal (January 17, 2024). "Zookeeper bodycam horror simulation game Zoochosis announced for PC". Gematsu. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Zoochosis New Release Date Trailer". YouTube . September 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ Grganto, Katelyn (January 18, 2024). "New Steam Bodycam Horror Game Has a Unique Setting". Game Rant . Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ Breslin, Richad Lee (January 18, 2024). "Survive a zoo filled with mutated animals in twisted new Resident Evil-style horror". GAMINGBible. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  7. ↑ Levine, Gloria (January 19, 2024). "Planet Zoo Gone Wrong in This Chilling Horror Game". 80.lv. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  8. ↑ Davey, Jamie (January 17, 2024). "Upcoming Indie Horror Zoochosis is The Thing in a Zoo". Game Watcher. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Mike (January 17, 2024). "Bodycam Horror Combines With 'The Thing' in 'Zoochosis' [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  10. ↑ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (January 18, 2024). "Animal-loving horror Zoochosis is an open homage to The Thing". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ Mcmullen, Chris (January 17, 2024). "The Thing inspired bodycam horror is Resident Evil meets Planet Zoo". PCGamesN . Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  12. ↑ Wood, Justin (January 17, 2024). "'Zoochosis' Trailer Shows What Happens When 'The Thing' Meets a Zoo". Dread Central . Retrieved March 20, 2024.
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