Zone of the Enders

"Drops of Jupiter..."

Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the kind of day when everything that can possibly goes wrong, does? We've all had them. You wake up one morning to find that your alarm clock has been sounding off for an hour and a half, work starts in ten minutes, your car won't start, the milk is expired, your clothes have been turned pink due to a slight mishap with the washing machine, and your girlfriend dumped you for someone a little more style, pizzazz and zest. Yeah, life can really suck sometimes. But when push comes to shove and the stress finally gets to you, all you can do is either rise above it all or get carried away in the madness.

Take Leo Stenbuck for example. This endearingly shy and introverted boy lives on a space colony called Antilia, situated on the planet Jupiter. It's the 22nd century, and humans have finally transcended the barrier between life on Earth and life among the stars. But despite the advanced technology, living on another planet is still a harsh reality. Antilia is under siege, caught in the crossfire of opposing military forces gridlocked in a deadly war for supremacy. In the middle of it all, Leo watches in horror as his best friends are killed without mercy. As he flees from the carnage, he discovers Jehuty, a mechanized combat weapon with enough power and capability to end the war. As he climbs into the driver's seat of this mysterious machine, he learns that its creation was for a single purpose: destruction. Thus Leo is drawn into a dark world of lies and bloodshed, where even an innocent kid like him must kill for a greater good.

Leo's goals are simple: stay alive, keep Jehuty from being destroyed, and deliver it to the people who claim ownership to it. It's a daunting task for a kid even as bright as our hero. Luckily, the mech he's piloting represents the latest in advanced weaponry. Its sleek design and powerful engines allow it to flow across a battlefield with the grace of a figure skater, all while armed with devastating lasers, swords, and projectiles. It's the kind of war machine that every futuristic anime fan could possibly desire. You'll have to maneuver this work of art through various locales on Antilia, taking out enemy forces as you attempt to rendezvous with the people in charge of his new toy. He'll have to face down legions of unfriendly aircraft, ranging from the most pathetic enemy robots to reinforced laser cannons. Not only that, but he has to deal with deadly military personnel that are out for his blood. The only thing he can do is pray that his piloting skills are enough to see him through the ordeal unscathed. Thus the epic confrontations will continue, until Leo is brought face to face with death itself.

However, this epic tale of death and destruction does have a few drawbacks. While Jehuty may sport a deadly arsenal the likes of which we've never seen, you'll never have to use it. The standard enemies of this game are so inept that you can usually zoom up to them, fire off a few energy bullets, and hack them to pieces with your sword. No fancy sniper shots are required, and no automatic machine guns need apply. All you'll really need is a good button mashing finger and enough intelligence to navigate through the war zone. You'll have to wander into a small area, defeat some foes, get an item, and move on to the next, eventually leading up to harder bosses and missions. After a while, it tends to get repetitive and dull. Also, the game lasts roughly five hours, only allowing for a brief taste of destruction and mayhem. Once you've finished the story, you'll be left disappointed, expecting just a little bit more out of what could have been a truly awesome game.

While the strategy and objectives may seem like mindless chores after a while, the sheer beauty of the battles almost makes up for it. As boredom sets in and the game gets dull, you'll be caught off guard by the handful of epic boss battles sprinkled throughout the progression of the game. You'll get to fight powerful enemy mechs of massive proportions and powers, whose abilities and weapons exceed far beyond anything the rest of the baddies could ever muster. These confrontations are intense and eye-opening, sure to leave you stunned in their glory and craving for more once they've been endured. All the while, Jehuty stands tall and proud, its shiny armor and flashy lights giving off the kind of energy and vitality uncommon in most of today's characters. The game's beauty extends beyond the individual mechs, treating gamers to a dark and gritty setting just waiting to be wiped out by gunfire. Though the regular enemies tend to be lacking in the polish and detail department, the rest of the game portrays the futuristic urban society with clarity and quality.

Zone of Enders is a decent game. Sure, many people will skip right over this and go straight for the Metal Gear Solid 2 demo that comes with it, but the game does deserve it's own attention. The repetitive missions, overall ease and brief storyline all take away what could have been an extraordinary experience. Instead of the emotionally driven epic that it was trying to be, Zone of Enders feels like an above average mech game with a fair amount of atmosphere and incredible battles to make it stand above the rest. Could it have been better? Absolutely. It could have been far worse as well. But if you can appreciate this game for what it offers, chances are that all its drawbacks won't mean much to you. Leo Stenbuck's adventure may be nothing more than a brief journey for survival in the PS2's extensive library, but you'll get to experience it with him every step of the way.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 05/31/05