Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

"I never scream to myself, until I've played this game!"

Zone of the Enders : The 2nd Runner (origin name : Zone of the Enders : Anubis), another masterpiece game produced by Hideo Kojima. I thought this game would be so-so, as I can't give too much expectations, scared to be disappointed just like Devil May Cry 2. Surprisingly, it doesn't, and this game is 100 times better than the first game, Zone of The Enders!

This is the review, fair and square, IT IS a good game, but you may say it isn't.....But take note that I'm reviewing the game for the Japanese version of the game (Z.O.E : Anubis). So this is not a fake review, ok?

Zone of the Enders : Anubis (The 2nd Runner) takes place 2 years after the first game, sounds accurate isn't it? 2 years before it's the first game released, now after 2 years, the 2nd game is released. And this game doesn't rush. All is made of effort, and to be honest, this game will hooked you up. I would rather spend a few dollars to buy any goods related to this game rather than spending thousands of dollars buying a Rolex watch!

STORYLINE
Storyline is rather moderate, neither too difficult nor too simple. This game takes place 2 years after the first game, You play the game as Dingo Egret, one day you were on the journey finding the Metatron on Calistro, a satellite of Jupiter, and you coincidentally found one of the Orbital Frame, and yes, that Orbital Frame, were known as Jehuty, who is supposed to self destructed 2 years ago, (Don't know why it is here though, it's a lovely robot! I bet the producers won't let Jehuty die just like that!) And suddenly, yeah as usual, chaos came, you were trapped, and ''accidentally'' fall into Jehuty, and tadda! Ada on service! (Try to go deeper on storyline will spoil the plot.)

But honestly, the story isn't too great though, but it's better than the first one, and one of the most exciting and wonderful storyline I've ever seen. Hideo never rush a work! He's great, and he really is great! Storyline never gives a feeling of easy predictable type of storyline, you may even learn that this is how storyline should be created! This is how a storyline should even be plotted : Never rush, and never make the story too predictable, and plan the storyline accordingly from the prologue stage, upper stage, middle stage, climax, downpart stage, and to the epilogue. And Z.O.E: Anubis made it!

Marks given : 10

GRAPHIC, ARTWORK, and CG SCENE
If you've ever played Metal Gear Solid 2 : The Sons of Liberty, you'll noticed this game is using the same graphics as MGS2 did. And it is separated with 2 types of graphic:

- For some cut scenes, and intermission between characters, it is viewed in High quality resolution CG Anime, and it is added with some cel-shaded graphics.
- For in game, and most of the cut scenes, it is viewed in Full FMV CG.

And for the overall, I would go with 4 parts, Graphic, Artwork, CG scene, and Animation

GRAPHIC : Nice and very well constructed, you'll never see that type of impressive graphics in other games execpt MGS2, Smooth and clear. Color setting is very nicely chosen, Background is very well constructed, like you really get into the scene! Moreover, and most importantly, the special effects of the game is really kick ass! They made the flashing effect look cool, no over flash effects is included, and the blur and slowdown effect is very well used. As I said before, Hideo never rush!

Artwork : Character designs is using Realistic added with Bishojo or Bishounen art style (take Xenogears as an example). And they are very well drawn. Hey! the female character looks like Ellyham Van Houten from Xenogears! and Leo Steinbuck (the first game main character) looks like Shingo Yabuki from King of Fighters! except that he's quite a serious character this time! And Dingo Egret looks like either Dante from Devil May Cry, or K' Dash from King of Fighters! But this is only my point of view. Overall they are very well done. suits the physical look to the personality. The only thing I can complain is their impression gives a lot similar to the characters from the other games! But that's just my opinion anyway.....

As for Mechanics, Since it is designed by Yoji Shinkawa, I can't help myself admire this guy! They made the mechanics really futuristic and cool! and very digital. and the design never failed gamers to love those mechanics. MGS2's Metal Gear Ray already reached the standard of ''Futuristic Mechanic'', and Z.O.E : Anubis's Mechanics improved a lot from the previous designs of the first game!

CG SCENE : Arrangement is very well done, but most of the cut scenes is going under transmission, and similar to MGS2, you can ''play'' with the transmissions! Only for camera playing though. Some of the transmission cut scenes is made under first person view, so sometimes, you feel like you're sitting on Jehuty and watch the outside environment. for even some scene makes your eye candy even sweeter! But overall cut scenes is quite less now, so CG scene is quite few, but what's surprising is, every cut scenes never failed you to watch it. Since they are very well arranged.

ANIMATION : Great, in a word, Jehuty's moves is cool! Every single detail of movement of Jehuty, no matter it is in battle, cut scenes, anime cut scenes, or whatever it is. The animation that they did is very cool, so same for the other characters mechanics (Orbital Frame to be exact), their movement is cool, and fatal. ^_^ Movement of each Orbital Frames is quite smooth and non lacking. But it sometimes makes you dizzy and confuse due to the speed of the battle.

For the Opening Animation, It's great, but too much. It almost spoiled everything. They even showed the last battle sequence to you! and some of the cut scenes of the last battle! So you may feel somewhat like spoiled throughout the game! But in the other point of view, it makes you wonder even more that what is happening due to some slight ''spoilers'' that the opening animation offered.
And as a side note, it's LONG!

Marks given: Graphic - 10, Artwork - 10, CG Scene - 9, Animation - 8

MUSIC and VOICE ACTING
I'll empahasis this section into two parts:

MUSIC : Not so great, but it is better than the first one though, But the songs that they arranged and composed is surprisingly orchestrated, and very well suited to the gameplay being, and overall, it's not bad at all, the excitement of the song suited to the gameplay is very well arranged. Overall it's quite of those nice songs
to hear with. They also included some old songs, preferably the theme of certain old characters, like Viola (don't ask) and Leo Steinbuck. And some of the songs are taken from the first game.

And, The main theme, Beyond the Bounds, is very nice to hear with. strings of the instrument and orchestrated tune with the future mood of the song is well composed. Vocal's of the song may sound strange, but it's the beauty......

Voice Acting : Great, Voice acting is quite comfortable to hear with, no squeaky feeling and screwed out of voice voice acting is applied. You may hear them scream in some times, and it's annoying, but the emotion and the strength of the voice is there.

Marks given : Music - 9, Voice Acting - 9

GAMEPLAY AND CONTROLS
This game most interesting part, the Game play, is really makes you wanna play this game, and ask for more!

GAMEPLAY and CONTROLS : I scream while I play this game! in a word : AWESOME! Yeah, it's great, the feeling of playing this game is like you want to feel the battle with your controller! Gameplay goes like this:

You control Jehuty, and every button you press will result on different action, that's how action games is, but you will keep your hands full ALL THE TIME, Every button serves a very useful purpose. Like Circle button is for using sub weapons, Square is for Melee attacks, and shot attacks at far range, and etc. The more skillful you have with this game, the game play experience and excitement adds. That's how the game play should be, and every single action and the effects of the graphics makes you feel like the feeling is there! For an action game, this is how it supposed to be, mashing the buttons for some kick ass action is really how an action game should be!

As for controls, It didn't give much problems, as I said before, the controls of this game will make your hands full. as every button in this game serves useful purposes.
But sometimes, for some dense players (no offense), they might find this controls hard to get use with, actually I agree with those, it take quite a time to get use to the controls, those are not called dense in sense, should be called ''newbies''.

Not enough? You have versus mode for various Orbital Frames after you've cleared the game, and clear the extra missions for more Orbital Frames! and you also have Previous Story mode, which you can view back the first game's story, making you understand the story even more, that is, if you didn't played the first game.

Note here that the difficulties for this game is no joke, even in Normal mode, a single soldier can kill you straight if you're not careful, not to mention they come in groups, that is to test how great you are in this game!
Even to clear those Extra Missions to unlock extra Orbital Frames is also not an easy task, but it's not difficult either. So in overall, I can say a word ''Balance''

Marks given : Gameplay - 20 (30,40,50 I want to give even more marks!) , Controls - 8

CAMERA
Worse nightmare of an action game, Worse camera angles. But luckily, this game doesn't have any, but it doesn't have perfect camera angles! You may sometimes need to switch camera angles in certain places, the controls for tweaking the camera angles, and the setting is a bit too sensitive in sense. But overall it can be overlooked, since it's doesn't seem as bad as Kingdom Hearts though (not Final Mix). Overall, no matter in battles or non battles, Camera angle always point to straight, you can't have a better view unless you turn the view of Jehuty, and it will automatically switch the view for you, just like the first game did. Quite frustrating sometimes, but not for long.

Marks given : Camera - 7

RESULT
To buy or not to buy? To be honest, you can have different views and reasons, so I can't force or persuade you to buy it. But buying this game is a wise choice for you to do so, it's a masterpiece game made by Hideo Kojima, and it's from Konami, and it's a great game! Should you hesitate to buy it? If you really can't believe the game, take a rental, and tried it shortly, if you hooked up by this game, then you should buy the game! Spending a few bucks for this game isn't a hard job for a player, it matters with will you spend your money for this game only.

As a result, I suggest you buy this game, as the opening animation said ''High Speed Robot Action'', I think if you are an action game fan, then this game is really worth trying out.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 02/16/03, Updated 02/16/03