This is a BagoGames Second Look. To read Aaron’s review on the Zone of the Enders HD Collection, click here.
Boarding a high-tech, combat-ready mech is empowering indeed. Flashing from one enemy to the next, slicing robots apart with surgical precision and hurling the debris across the battlefield is par for the course when you are engaged in Zone of the Enders’ frequent battles.
Hideo Kojima’s third-person combat game contains the ultra-speed, high-octane action of a Japanese anime, with a story that possesses his trademark drama and top quality presentation. These PlayStation 2 classics have been given a HD makeover, looking and feeling better than ever for hack and slash lovers new to the series, or hardcore fans desperate to revisit the game’s incredible combat on their PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and Xbox 360.
The HD collection gives you two bangs for your buck: the original Zone of the Enders and the sequel, Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner. These games differ in quality drastically, with The 2nd Runner cementing the franchise as one of the best experiences throughout the PlayStation 2 era.
Taking place during the year 2172, Zone of the Enders follows the story of a young boy named Leo. Mankind has managed to populate Mars, setting up several space colonies in search of the powerful energy: Metatron. Leo is a citizen of Antilia—a space colony orbiting Jupiter—when his home is attacked by the forces of BAHRAM. After fleeing the attackers, Leo finds himself in the driver’s seat of combat-ready Orbital Frame, Jehuty, and reluctantly fights off a small portion of the immediate threat.
Unfortunately, Leo’s character is clichéd and watery, constantly asking questions and jeopardizing the entire population because his flaky moral code doesn’t permit him to fight. It’s understandable that a young boy would be vulnerable and confused given the situation, but this doesn’t make him any more fun to listen to. However, ADA—the combat AI that supports Jehuty—is always there to question Leo’s actions and the two of them develop a unique friendship as the game progresses.
Despite Leo’s wishes to avoid the fighting, Zone of the Enders will be throwing a lot of it your way. The core combat system will be familiar to hack and slash fans, but due to Jehuty’s superior speed, power, and ability to manoeuvre the battlefield, the game tries to simplify things by changing your battle stance depending on the range.
When at long-range, the attack button will fire off a flurry of projectiles at the locked-on opponent, but move into close range and this same attack becomes an assault of sword slashes. Nearly every action adapts to whether you are in long range or close range, and this system keeps battles cinematic and fresh without the need for a complex control scheme.
In fact, there isn’t anything complex about the original Zone of the Enders’ fighting system at all. Sure, you have the ability to use sub-weapons such as decoys, cannons, and sniper fire, but none of these are necessary in the minute by minute play of the game’s battles. Enemies will go down without much of a fight, and for the mechs that do bring out the firepower, there isn’t anything that a quick dash or a shield can’t defend against. However, the boss battles are truly the highlight of the combat, particularly the one-on-one duels with rival Orbital Frames.
All of this is improved upon in Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner, and if you aren’t sold on the HD collection because the first game hasn’t quite grabbed you, it is highly recommended you try the second. The 2nd Runner is a powerful sequel; dwarfing the original game in every single aspect and reducing Leo’s adventures to something more akin to a tech demo. Explosive special effects, much more challenging and faster paced combat with memorable boss fights, The 2nd Runner is a huge leap in quality. The sequel elevates this series from a short and simple combat game, to an action-packed cinematic adventure that defines this HD collection.
You’re back in the shoes of Jehuty, but gone is the whiney and wishy-washy face of Leo. Dingo is our protagonist this time around, and the rivalry between him and his former BAHRAM commander Nohman is immediately set-up. The structure and story of the game is far more focused, with full anime and in-game cutscenes dripping with the stylish direction Hideo Kojima is known for.
The stronger narrative extends to the gameplay as well. Everything is more interactive here, allowing you to pick up objects on the battlefield to throw them at your opponent, or grabbing enemy robots and using them as shields and/or weaponry. Combining these tactics with your now-useful sub-weapons gives the fighting system that much needed flare and intensity that was missing previously.
When you are up against the legions of aggressive and unforgiving mechanized raptors, mummyheads and cyclops, you’ll need every tool at your disposal. The difficulty has ramped up significantly, and there is much more variety in your mission objectives. Chasing a train through an underground tunnel as you aim to destroy its engines whilst fighting off your attackers certainly gets the heart pumping, and these missions are far more engaging than the button-mashing exchanges found in the original.
The skills you’ve learned from destroying trains, armies of mechs, and city buildings can be taken into the game’s Versus Mode. Versus carries over from the original Zone of the Enders, allowing you to suit up as one of the many mechs found throughout the campaign to face off against a friend with a second controller, or an AI opponent with adjustable difficulty levels. Although this mode is fun, there isn’t enough depth here to keep you playing long after you’ve concluded Dingo’s tale.
However, the Extra Missions found in The 2nd Runner offer much more content than anything found in Versus mode. The Extra Missions range from a variety of timed objectives, assault missions, and survival arenas. You are rated on your progress and these additional levels will test the full extent of your mastery over the combat system.
Without a doubt, Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner capitalizes and acts upon the potential that was dormant in the first entry. The improved visuals, focused story, and much slicker combat make it a classic to behold, but both games offer something unique that should be experienced. Hardcore fans will be happy to see one of their favorite series in high definition, while the newcomer will get to board Jehuty for their first time as it looks its best. A memorable series by one of the world’s most accomplished game designers, this collection is highly recommended.
This review was based on a final version of the game provided by Konami.
