PS2 Game Review - Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

ZONE OF THE ENDERS

THE 2ND RUNNER

A PS2 Game Review By
Le Chupacabra

Loved mecha anime but was saddened by the fact that god-knows-how-many-feet-tall-robots-of-mass-destruction don't exist? Don't worry. Help is only a phone call and a strait-jacket away. However, if you insist on wanting to control a mech armed with all manner of energy swords, searing laser beams and giant phallic missiles, then say hello to Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner.

A sequel to the technically brilliant yet flawed Z.O.E. (let's just call it that for short, eh…typing out the full thing is a pain), The 2nd Runner is everything the first game should have been…and more!

You play as Dingo Egret, an ice miner on the moon of Callisto. A routine cleaning operation goes awry as the militaristic BAHRAM faction attack the peaceful community of Callisto and in a twist of fate, you find yourself in control of Jehuty an Orbital Frame of great power. Soon, Earth and all its space colonies are under threat of annihilation as the BAHRAM leader, Nohman, puts aside any and all political pretense and declares open war. So it's up to you stop him (isn't it always?).

The wonderfully paced story is greatly complemented by a mixture of hand-drawn anime cutscenes and in-game cinematics. This isn't your average hero-saves-the-world-and-beds-damsel story either! It's full of unexpected twists and surprising revelations and awesome characters that will have you completely engrossed. As anime, Z.O.E. 2 is simply brilliant in its own right! The voice acting is so good that this is one of the few times you won't miss the Japanese dubs at all! The banter between Dingo and the female runner Ken Marinaris presents some equally funny and serious moments and are some of the many highlights of this game.

The music is just purely and simply incredible. The main theme song 'Beyond the Bounds' is such a great track that's it worth downloading and making it a mainstay in your mp3 playlist. From the majestic intro theme of Nohman's Orbital Frame, Anubis to the techno beats of the airship battle; the soundtrack perfectly integrates itself into the whole playing experience and really makes the game superbly enjoyable.

Z.O.E. 2 manages to look even better than it sounds and man, does it look awesome! It's worth buying this for the graphics alone! At any given instant your screen will be filled with a plethora of special effects ranging from searing hot lasers to plumes of black smoke to hundreds of flashing lights to awe-inspiring explosions and more! Jehuty seamlessly switches from energy-sword combos to its multi-laser attacks in a way that can only be described as pure poetry in motion. The mechs are luxuriously detailed and there's a certain sleekness to them that sets the style of Z.O.E apart from other games and anime. Some of the levels look so amazing that you may get caught up in just staring at the awesome design and munificent details. The Orbital Frames have these energy lines that flow throughout the body and those really give them a remarkably distinct look. The colour of these energy lines even indicates the health level of the Frame! There are a lot of little touches like this that really make the world of Z.O.E. come alive.

Z.O.E. 2 is one of the few games that manage full 3D freedom with aplomb. You can dash about in any direction with Jehuty as you deliver death by laser to your foes. Your energy sword combos can be mixed with dash attacks, downward slams, rising slashes and burst attacks. When dashing, you can aim for multiple enemies and then let loose with a barrage of homing lasers. The combination of these moves and Jehuty's super fast motion results in your screen exploding with adrenaline-pumped scenes of utter destruction. Each battle gives you this genuine rush that'll have you yearning for more. You can even use Sub-Weapons that have various effects and really spice up your fighting style. The Grab move is extremely useful as you will soon find out! Geyser lets you immobilize an enemy while the insanely powerful Vector Cannon can eradicate anything. The fourteen sub-weapons you get throughout the game also allow the judicious use of strategy, and trust me, you'll need to at times! The boss fights are pretty darn incredible. Each one is completely unique and really presents challenges that you'll thoroughly relish. The game kept throwing these bosses in my direction with relentless regularity and I loved that.

Z.O.E 2: The 2nd Runner is one of the most superbly thrilling action titles to come along in quite a while. If you like anime and videogames, then this game is truly a gift from Heaven! Even if you don't, it's still bloody enjoyable!