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Great Anime Mecha Game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: March 09, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is an extremely good game. For those of you out there that are fans of giant robots, such as Gundam, Macross, and Evangelion, I highly suggest that you purchase this game. In the game you play a a young man by the name of Cage, and you pilot the giant Testament! The games is very much like an RPG. As you go through the game you build a team and reach higher levels with your Robot. You can even customize with new weapons and armor. The game consists of of many scenes. Each scene as 4 stages. 1. Story 2.Strategy 3. Tactical(which is the fighting) and then you go to stage 4. Intermission-this is were you take the money you made and upgrade your robots. Afterwards you start the next scene. Overall this is an amazing game. BE AWARE -- IT IS VERY ADDICTIVE!!!!
As I said before--if you are an anime fan, you will for sure want to pick this game up!!!!!

One of the Best!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: March 16, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I thought the first installment of "Zone of the Enders" was the best video game I had ever played on any system ever. I was not in the least bit disappointed with Fist of Mars. Though technically a sequel, none of the characters from the first installment make return appearances. ADA and Jehuty are replaced by Pharsti and Testament (respectively) and Leo Stenbuck and Celvice Klein are replaced by Cage Midwell and Myona Alderan (respectively). While it is a little disappointing that we do not at least see ADA return to carry out her mission to mars, it is compensated for completely by an equally memorable and lovable cast. The storyline is surprisingly similar, with a young boy minding his own business suddenly finding himself the pilot of a powerful yet mysterious Orbital Frame while sharing a comfortably small one-man cockpit with a mysterious young woman.

The battle system is the most unique and interesting feature to the game. It would be unfair to compare it to the battle system of the first game. What you have to keep in mind is that these games are almost completely different from each other. The first was a third-person mecha-combat/shooter, this one is a turn-based mecha strategy. Fortunately, this in no way makes the experience any less enjoyable. What separates this strategy from most others is that you actually have some control in the actual battle system (instead of simply letting chance and statistics fight it out). When you engage an enemy, the game cuts to a first-person screen in which your enemy tries to lock onto you. To avoid being struck, simply keep your cursor out of his firing range (or the enemy frame itself out of your sight) before the time expires. This is surprisingly addictive and never really gets old or tiresome.

There is a moment in FOM, though very early on, that in itself makes the game worth owning. It is after the attack on the Bonaparte III and Midwel and Alderan have just had their first encounter with the mysterious "black frame." Myona has suddenly lost her memory, trading her initially creepy and pensive persona for one of almost child-like innocence. Cage, trying to collect himself on what exactly has happened, is suddenly hard-pressed to remember the very name for what has happened to Myona. I probably do not need to give you the full details of the ensuing exchange, but for those three or so who have not heard:
Cage, worried: I guess it's...?
Myona, dumbfounded: Amnesia?
Cage, realizing what has just happened: Yeah, that's it!
It is the only time in my life I have ever laughed at that stupid "amnesia" joke, and all because of a pair of postage-stamp-sized pictures of a dumbfounded Myona and Cage (with a little help from our dear comedic friend Timing). Moments like this are sadly rare in video games, especially in Game Boy Advance games. Between the amazingly addictive battle system and endearing storyline, Fist of Mars is a valuable addition to any GBA library.

I mean, you know a game is good when it can breathe new life into one of the oldest jokes in the book.

Depends on the player

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

After reading all the reviews, and playing the game five or six times, I have come to a conclusion.

You must enjoy anime and /or manga as well as plot to enjoy this game.

I read about ZOE in a magazine, and it stood out. I decided to pick it up a few weeks later, and I played through the entire game in a matter of weeks.
This videogame has extroadinarily long cut scenes, followed by midlength battle sequences. If you like story, great, if you like alot of shooting, not so great.

Don't pay attention to the E status on there, this has quite a few swears, and some adult situations, though you must understand that all of it is written.

I must urge those who say this game has no replay value to try it again. I have played three times so far, and I have gotten two different endings, though I am sure there are more.

If you want a videogame from Nintendo that encompasses all the aspects of life that people like to glaze over, death,..., and sorrow, then get it. I did, and found one of the only games by Nintendo of it's kind.

As I said, it's all about what you want. It all depends on you.

Lots of action followed by lots and lots of text.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 17, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Zone of Enders has had a following on the Playstation and PS 2, but now it's come to GBA. The game is very well crafted, excellent graphics are accompanied with good play control, and a nice musical score. The design of this game is where it really gets interesting though. RPG and strategy elements combine to form the battles in this game. You must employ war like movement patterns tactics, but upon the conclusion of a small battle, you recieve experience points that level up your character. On top of this, the battles you fight can either be run in real time, or governed by statistics. For instance, earlier on in the game you can manually control your targetting and evasive actions. As you build up your stats though, you can have the computer do this for you, as eventually the computer will be better than you. This nice feature keeps the action high. Unfortunately, in an attempt to create a plot, there are numerous sequences of lengthy text discussions. This can get rather mundane quickly. In spite of this, the game is a lot of fun and action filled mostly all the way through.

Try This Game out

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game is really good, if you haven't tried it yet, you should. The battle system is jut like Advance Wars, you move your men all over the map. When you are in range, you can start an attack sequence, in which you aim at the enemy, after you attack it shows an anime sequence of you attacking your enemy. The story line is confusing if you haven't played Zone Of The Enders for PS2, but it is worth the wait to read all the words.

For Anime/Mech fans.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game is classified as strategy, yet the game takes no strategy to win. The game is VERY easy even for people who have never played strategy games before. The enemies are very easy to beat and the missions usually consist of "Eliminate the Enemy" objectives. In addition, the IAS system (which is basically a targeting minigame) basically lets you choose whether or not you want to be hit or hit the enemy. If you use the IAS all the way through the game you can beat the game without ever getting hit once. The only problem is that the IAS becomes tedious and annoying, so you'll turn it off midway, and the game will still be a piece of cake.

So why did this game win a place in my hcollection? Because it's absolutley beautiful. The battle animations are wonderful and very pleasing to the eye. The mech designs are very cool, and you grow to care for each one, like a collector's item. The battlefields are well detailed as well. The CG pics are far and few inbetween, but put the cherry on the sundae. And to top it with sprinkles, Konami added an amazing musical score to the game, making you feel each part of the game through the music. When a hyper-insane mad-scientist is burning down a city, the music depicts the atrocity and horror through the music, making you all the more eager to stop him.

But the main draw is the story. The game is played through a mission-by-mission basis, but seems more like episodes to an amine series. The game starts out with lots of mysteries and finishes off with 2 different endings, making the game even more replayable. The dialouge inbetween missions help you relate to and get to know the characters and you actually care for what happens to them next. Not many plot-twists, but the story remains constant and well contructed till the end. Very little cheesiness here. My favorite part of the dialouge are the character portraits that come up when a each charater is talking. Each character has 3-8 pics for different emotions, and they are beautifully drawn. The story itself is very well translated and flows smoothly.

So click "Add to cart", and get yourself some headfones too, because this is a theatrical experience for any anime fan, but too easy for a strategy buff.

One of the Best GBA Games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

ZOE: The Fist of Mars is easily one of the best Game Boy games ever made. The story is intriguing as are the characters. The graphics are very good during Battle Sequences and cut scenes. For any fan of anime series with giant robots, some romantic elements and plot twists, this is one game you have to buy. Even if you're not a big fan of anime, this game is still worth your money. Outside of the battle sequences, primarily in the map, the graphics aren't very good. The landscapes are not well made. Most of the scenarios are also simple, destroy all enemies maps. There is also a hands-on element called the IAS which allows you to go inside the cockpit of your vehicle to either dodge or hit an enemy vehicle. While this can become tedious and prolongs the fight, you can turn this off along with battle animations, which brings me to the next point in this game. The battle sequences are amazing and are some of the best elements in this game. The scene shows a highly detailed animation of your vehicle performing its attack. The game runs HEAVILY on story and plot, and players who don't like to read and want to get right down onto the battlefield should NOT buy this game. To enjoy it the most, you must have PATIENCE and read through all the scenes.

Interesting Idea, sloppy execution

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: March 09, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game has a great story, but it didn't need to be told in incredibly long cut scenes... It could've been done in a Silent Hill style game where it is more of an interactive story. Instead they , for some of the strategy is genius, but most is not. They then made a skeet-shooting style battle system, which "Duck Hunt" for NES did better.
If you like a story and have quick reflexes for the battles, get this game, but if you were expecting really good action and strategy, go for TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX for GBA

Great!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: July 04, 2002
Author: Amazon User

People say it's too boring or too much story. Akira was good. I think Akira was long (The Manga) but it was good. there is the perfect balance of Action, Strategy, and RPG elements. Since many people didn't like it i picked it up at a game store used...don't buy it new its worth that much but you can find it easy in places with used games like trade a game. The story scenes are long but its all good. The music is pretty good for GBA but Tony Hawk 2&3 still beat all if you ask me. If you have a short temper you might want to throw it across the room in later levels if you are still using the targeting system IAS (Interactive Action System). Even though i haven't gotten through it the replay value is pretty much Zero because there are no extra modes but you could always take it back to trade a game and get another game! Don't let the kids play this they cuss even though it's an everyone rating they say Damn and Hell.

Best!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

For me this was and is the best game for GBA. I love it! The graphics are really good and so r the little cut scenes that show the attacks. The gameplay is also good combining strategy and tactics with hand eye coordination and reflexes. A lot of people complain about all the dialogue but it gives the gane a great story and plot and is fun to read and watch the characters facial expressions. This is a very good game. I would say its not for kids 8 or less though as there is some course language. I HIGHLY RECCOMEND THIS GAME!!!

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