Warning: this article contains spoilers for the main game and DLCs!
Hello!
We are back with a new installment of our Creating series, and this time we want to tell you about our dear Zinaida Muravyova!
It's hard to imagine the Atomic universe without its heart—Granny Zina. She has been one of the central figures in Artem Galeev's concepts since the 2000s.
Granny Zina is an imposing character in the world of Atomic Heart. Zinaida Petrovna Muravyova, despite being 52 years old (at the start of the main game), remains an indomitable fighting spirit, capable of defeating enemies on her own.
Granny Zina maintains secret government communications under Sechenov, but reports directly to Khrushchev. However, after tragedy befell her daughter, she began to doubt Sechenov's ideals and blamed him for what happened to Ekaterina.
Granny Zina's character is a mixture of strength and determination, which she often hides behind a mask of temper and hysteria, tactfully playing on stereotypes about the incompetence of female officers. Despite this callous facade, she does care deeply for her daughter. Actress Irina Shanaeva helped bring the character to life in the game.
Granny Zina has extensive knowledge of activities inside the Facility, a high level of combat training, and access to various secret systems. With her powerful but well-disguised intellect and physical strength, she has become a superhero of sorts. Employees have long regarded her as a local celebrity. By studying various records and materials within Facility 3826, players will notice the high level of authority that she has earned among other employees.
Granny Zina's original image has undergone some changes since the early iterations of the game.
High-waisted tweed trousers, a shirt, and a sports coat are the key elements of her final costume, which is very much in keeping with classic British riding and sporting fashion. Granny Zina often went on business trips for government affairs, which inspired her to adopt English style for her image. She wears a headscarf to finish off her look. This style may seem unusual, but it definitely stands out to the general fashion of the Atomic Heart world.
Comment by Artem Galeev:
"Her image and relationships with other characters are full of folklore motifs. For example, Sechenov represents Koshchei the Immortal, while Granny Zina represents Baba Yaga. Their relationships and roles have long been captured in various fairy tales."
As a reference to her fairy tale inspiration, she has a flying hut. The original plan was that the hut would function as a store, flying from place to place, but this idea was canceled during development, and NORA was created instead. Maybe she deserves her own story?
In addition to the hut, Granny Zina also has a miniature version. It acts as a sort of pet, and Granny Zina refers to it as a "chipped chicken." Initially, Sechenov discovered this creature in the world of Limbo and took it as a trophy for research.
In the game, her role has changed many times, from a friendly granny, ready to help, to an antagonist. But her concept remains the same—she is an éminence grise, able to manipulate everyone for the benefit of the world's socio-political goals.
If you were inspired by the story of Granny Zina, you can become her with the help of our new cosplay guide. Follow the link to download it!
Don't forget to check out our previous entries in the Creating series. Dive deep into the world of Atomic Heart!
https://steamcommunity.com/ogg/668580/announcements/detail/4118049834324441918?snr=2___
https://steamcommunity.com/games/668580/announcements/detail/4044863802194034222?snr=2___
https://steamcommunity.com/games/668580/announcements/detail/3907498939971262998?snr=2___
https://steamcommunity.com/games/668580/announcements/detail/3827557510049261496?snr=2___