Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

"Hideo Kojima goes beyond the bounds of duty"

Two years after Zone of the Enders, in both real time and story time, Kojima returns with another anime/mech action opus. The end of the first game saw your orbital frame, Jehuty, self-destructing... or so we thought. Two years on, Jehuty is rediscovered on a mining star, and it still has the same captivating effect as ever, this time ensnaring our latest hero of the universe, Dingo Egret. Some of the previous game's cast have also returned for roles of varying importance, and there is a cameo appearance from one of Konami's oldest stars, Vic Viper.

Graphically, this game is exactly how you would expect an anime/mech crossover to look. The orbital frames are large, solid-looking hunks of metal that also display a believable amount of agility. Compared to the previous game, there is more variation in the mechs and enemies this time, and cockpit conversations are also handled in a manner that allows you to immerse yourself in the game further. For such a fast-moving, action-packed game, it is hard to believe that the PlayStation2 keeps things smooth. There is occasionally slowdown, but this is never a hindrance to the gameplay and could almost be described as artistic rather than annoying. All this accompanied by weapons that produce explosions and mass-destruction that John Woo would be proud of.

The soundtrack is an area that has seen some careful attention. Playing ZOE was such a refreshing change from the norm. The music was really exciting to me, rejuvenating my interest in games, and suiting the pace of action perfectly. I had fears about this sequel that the music would leave less of an impression than its predecessor, and indeed, in some areas it does, but overall it pushes the player a bit more than the original. There is never a time where you don't feel urgency, even when the gameplay may have slowed down for a bit. All rounded off perfectly by Maki Kirioka's ''Beyond the Bounds'', a sweet fusion of mystical mutterings, pulsating pop and a classic chorus.

Gameplay is a mix of many different styles, occasionally frustrating, but never dull. The fighting action is a combination of long distance shooting and close-up grappling, which can get a little messy at times, until you receive a power-up later on which makes it much more acceptable. There is a veritable feast of sub-weapons to pick-up, but there isn't really any need to use more than three of four of them in the main game. There is less of the damage control element that caused so much headache for players of the first game, and when it is introduced, it is done in a way which has some direct relevance to the flow of the game. There are also scenes involving exploration, strategy and suspense.

Many would say Kojima has been losing the plot recently, trying to bring too much of his Hollywood aspiration into the gaming world, but some of the extravagance given to Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has been restrained here. Throughout the game, there is a great deal of story to be fit in somehow, and it is achieved through a mixture of anime sequences, mech-to-mech transmissions, and instructions from your own orbital frame. There are times when these scenes can get lengthy, but thankfully the game resumes just before the threshold of boredom is reached. Like Kojima's other recent ventures, the game time comes in at a tight six or seven hours, and can be reduced considerably with subsequent plays. It's a comfortable length of game for his style, though - any shorter and the story wouldn't make an impression, any longer and it would feel too drawn out.

Replayability is found with the addition of extra missions, which first must be hunted down within the main attraction, some only being obtainable on a second play. These take the form of minigames which are played out in the game's areas, with specific objectives and rules. Vic Viper also gets his starring role in a 3D version of popular Konami shoot-'em-up Gradius, this time called Zoradius, which is worth the price of admission itself for die-hard fans of the series. The versus mode sadly hasn't evolved at all from the one that came with ZOE, but with the more varied style of orbital frames this time around, some enjoyment can be found there.

Anubis is closer to the anime ideal it is aiming for than the original ZOE. It is a more complete and well-rounded experience - the gameplay feels like it has been put under the microscope by Konami Japan and the story has more closure without ruling out the potential for a sequel. It is an altogether more mature affair than ZOE, and should win back critics of the original as well as gaining a new base of fans. I heartily recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of action on their gaming platter.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/05/03, Updated 03/05/03