Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars

"It's sick and wrong"

I mean it. A Game Boy Advance knockoff should not be this much better than it's predecessor. This is bar none the best GBA game I have ever played.

Graphics: 7/10

Okay. Not Spectacular. Images were a little fuzzy. The battle map was too small to see well. But the attack animations ROCKED.

And ya know what else? You won't care! This would still be fun on a NES or Gameboy Classic.

Sound: 8/10

Not bad, but nothing we haven't heard before. The music was pretty good. The sound FX were okay. But, once again, you won't really care.

Story: 11/10

This is the first ever game with endless lines of text that you will actually WANT to read! Most of the chars have a funny line or two. Semyl and Razma are absolutely hilarious. All the carachtors are memorable.

The plot was slightly predictible at times...especially when it comes to BIS's actions...but then again the good guys have to be predictible.

The ending is much better than ZOE in that it actually had one. ZOE doesn't end so much as it just stops and dumps you back at the title screen.

I have absolutely no idea where this fits with ZOE. Amante mentions Leo in the epiloge thing (Like with Revolve Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid). Really doesn't clear much up...

Combat: 9/10

I don't know why this is so fun but it is. You basically move in and stomp the crap out of your enemy. Kinda like Final Fantasy Tactics only with some user interaction. You have to target them while they dodge around and if you nab the little red dot it's a critical hit. You also take control to dodge the enemy when he attacks.

The only thing I don't get is that the burst attacks won't work until you charge up some ''spirit''. I think this means your anger but it makes no sense for that to affect a mecha pilot's capabilities. I'd blame it on the battie-assed properties of metatron...but it works for LEVs too!

Through most of the game you have 4 OFs, 3 LEVs, and an Armored Car. There's a tank at the beginning too, but it dissapears...I think Robin dismantles it to modify the armored car...whatever. For the last stage Myona gets a 5th OF. It's the boss from ZOE that has the 2 prongs in the front that glow as it tries to ram you.

Everything but the OFs can be upgraded between stages, and the OFs level up with their pilots. Metatron...go figure.

Length: 5/10

Longer than the PS2 one, but not long enough. But then, good games never are. Took me a day and a half to beat, but it might take you longer if you stop to eat and sleep. I didn't. I couldn't. It won't LET YOU.

Replay: 1/10

Not much, but that's okay. Once ya know the plot it's all over. Maybe after 15 years or so, like reading a book over again.

Buy or Rent:

Rent it, then clear your schedule for the whole rental period. You MUST beat it before it has to go back. Trust me.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/18/02, Updated 06/18/02