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A superb action game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Zone of Enders 2 is a vast improvement overs its disappointing predecessor and wonderful game in its own right. Not since the original Devil May Cry have I been so impressed by an action game. Its a 3D giant robot (aka mech) combat game which does not feature the slow, tank like mechs one finds in most other games, but rather a agile, quick mech that moves with what can only be decribed as grace. The combat is dazzling. In the beginning one faces off againt a swarm of tiny robots (100 at once!). As you chop through them, bigger robots (your size) will come to challenge you, while dozens of small ones are still flitting around. And things get more hectic from there.

The gameplay is cool because it mixes shooting action with melee combat. You can lock onto a foe a fly around them, shooting from all angles. You can also lock onto dozens of foes, than unleash a storm of laser beams (an effect borrowed from the Panzer Dragoon series). If you have a couple of free seconds, you can charge up, generating a massive ball of energy which will do massive damage to the target (and anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby). You can block (for a limited period of time). You can wind up getting a frantic swordfight with an opponent, with both of you flying around looking for an opening. You can grab an opponent, use him as a shield against the lasers a second opponent is firing at you, then swing him around in a circle for a few seconds, gaining momentum, then slinging him into your 2nd opponent, which might knock both of them against a wall (which might partially collapse) or a building (which might fully collapse) doing them both extra damage. Also, one can also pick up stuff lying around (steel girders and suchlike) and start beating opponents with them. Furthermore, as one progesses the the game, one uncovers subweapons (decoys, hyperpowerful lasers, homing missiles, etc) which help keep the game fresh. Classic stuff.

There are a wide variety of game objectives. In one scene you are flying alongside a giant train, taking it apart piece by piece (and destroying all of its bodyguards in the process). In another scene you fight one on one with an opponent who alternates between fighting you in giant robot and Vic Viper (Gradius) form. It uses all of the old weapons from Gradius. That may not mean much to those who were not gaming during the 16 bit days, but its is a nice touch for those of us who remember. In another scene you are on a battlefield, trying to save and patch up wounded allies. In another scene one is trying to minimize the harm two contending forces inflict on civilians. That entails destroying one side (the bad guys) and incapacitating the other (the good guys).

The audiovisuals are as superb as one would expect from Hideo Kojima (the Metal Gear Solid series) and his team. Unfortunately, the story is also what one has come to expect from Hideo Kojima and his team, but the segments are mercifully brief and not nearly as frequent as they are in the MGS series. The well detailed graphics (they are cell shaded but still very well detailed) feature loads of little touches for players to appreciate. Lines of power glow on your robot (an effect present in the original that has been 'borrowed' by many other games since) and while the environmental is not fully destructive, much of it is, and most of those parts that are not destructible reflect damage (case in point being the fleet of massive air ships you take down at one point). The character designs are gorgeous (one is going to have a lot of flashbacks to the mechanical type enemies of MGS such as the Ninja) and the are loads of lighting effects, particle effects, and smoke clouds. Gorgeous character designs, brilliant graphics (to have such a brilliant lightshow going on as dozens of robots clash sans slowdown is a brilliant technical achievement). I also own Panzer Dragoon on the X-box, which has a much easier time of it because it is an on-rails shooter, not a free flying one as is ZOE2, yet ZOE2 boasts more impressive graphics. These guys ought to win some sort of award for technical wizardry. Of course, the music and sounds are also quite impressive, but I daresay that one will be so focused on the action that the music will not have a chance to imprint itself upon one's memory.

Downsides? ZOE2 can theoretically be completed in approx ten hours, though the is an important caveant to that. Something to keep in mind is that high intensity action games like ZOE2 derive length of gameplay from the challenge, rather than from vast worlds (think GTA3 or Final Fantasy X). Some people might find getting killed over and over as they strive to master a level frustrating. Aside from that, I can think of nothing wrong with ZOE2. In summary, Zone of Enders 2 is as compelling action game which should have a place in the library of any gamer that ocassionally just likes to blow stuff up.

A Rush

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

ZOE: The Second Runner does everything that the first ZOE was supposed to do. The last game was plagued with a goofy character/plot, limited enemies and attacks and now its fixed. There are several new enimies, a more badass main character, and...more attacks. The gameplay is still essentially he same thing, fast and action packed. Though this time the particle effects are cel-shaded. Personally I think this gives the action a nice little affect. The orbital frame you pilot, Jehuty, also has some new features as well. Now you can "grab" your enemy and toss him into other guys, or just into the wall if you perfer. Jehuty is also now equipped with homing lasers that can take out masses of small targets. Now I don't know how other people feel, but I think the difficulty has been ramped up some. I've been having a tough time beating some of the bosses/levels. Overall I am enjoying ZOE: The Second Runner throughly with its sharp, clean graphics, flashy particle effects, lightning fast gameplay, superb voice acting, and just a great video game experience. I reccomend this game for any fan of the original or someone looking for a tense action adrenline rush!

Not perfect, but one of the best PS2 games at this time

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: April 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I don't make a ton money, so it is rare that I would say buy a game for more then $30, but ZOE2 is worth payig the price for anyone into action games. I think this game is pushing the limits of what the PS2 can do. The Anime feel is captured by Konami. I would love to see this title on the X-box.

The game is short, but that is one of the few negatives about it. I would have liked to have seen more variety in game. Maybe if they mixed in a sniper mission and missions that require more stealth. It is a game that can almost be won by button smashing. It is not that simple, but there are times when that seems to be all you do. The ability to grab items or enemies is a nice touch. There was a few times when the camera got kind of stuck while fighting.

Bottom line, unless you hate action games, this is worth buying.

Does everything that ZOE said it would.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: March 14, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The first Zone of the Enders game was by no means a horrible game. In fact, many people bought just because of the great idea behind it (plus Hideo Kojima slapped his name on it). I mean, huge mech, lightning fast, anime styled battles. The combat delivered, but that was about it except for some flashy graphics. Plus a whiny protagonist thrown into the mix didnt help at all. This game is basically what the first game didnt do + the things it did well. Its an incredible game, pick it up whenever you can. The battles flow better, the hero isnt as annoying, the sub-weapons are actually interesting and everything just flows perfectly. The only flaw i can think of is the plot and the dialogue. The dialogue can be laughable, with the two characters basicallly grunting at each other. The whole "big war, bang bang, argh" thing is still in place, which was never a great plot in the first place.

The Best mech game ever!!!!!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: April 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I purchased this game around a week ago. May i first start by saying that this is the best mech game ever created and far surpasses the first game. This is the closest thing to something like Gundam Wing. The visuals within the game are truly top class and the best on the PS2, from the barrage of explosions to the magnificent mech designs,the game moves quite fluently but at times slows down when a lot of enemies are on screen. The difficulty level on normal mode has stepped up a notch forcing you to use strategy on not only bosses but also the enemies within the game. The mix of techno and pop music fit in well with the game, along with the voice overs which were done very well. For fans of the first game i can tell you that the final fight against Anubis is well worth the wait and really goes to town on the graphics. The only great disappointment within the game was the story which was well paper thin, had this been fully implemented i would have given it five stars. I hope the developers Konami decide to give it another try as i would really like to see it achieve its full potential. Bring on Zone of the Enders 3!!!.

Enders strike again

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: March 08, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This is the best game yet. 1. it has new types of jehuty's including version 2 which looks so cool and can teleport like anubis, i think version one can 2, but anubis can teleport because of tha tail he has, if you can destroy that he cant teleport. Anubis is powerful though. 2: it has new features the grab has been upgraded, you can pick up pieces of buildings poles etc. 3: SPACE BATTLES!!! finally you get to fight in space. Also Leo Stenbuck (that evil kid who was in zoe1) makes his appearence and he has his own orbital frame (vic viper) leo is also grown a little (he looks different), Ken is new and her orbital frame (Ardjet), then there is this ugly creepy guy names lloyd and his orbital frame (Inhert). Viola A.I is also new, its based on the character viola. Viola A.I is a cyborg and her frame (Nephtis) is the same. Jehuty also has a scencing mode (the cockpit turns red) where it can scence anubis. I think they are equal matched too because they are both the same (it depends on the player). Also you can pilot an ice breaker too which is slow because it is a heavy machine, but you can make it faster by dashing etc, it can't hover like jehuty can. This game is a keeper and its worth the money, so get off your chair and stop reading my review, GET IT TODAY!!!!

Short on game play

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 21, 2003
Author: Amazon User

All of the reviews praising the graphics and game control are dead on....however, I gave 3 stars because this game follows the increasingly disturbing trend of short game play. The game was over after about only 5 true hours of game play (some previews had promised up to 10--this is a vast overestimate). If you enjoyed the first version then you will probably enjoy this one. But be warned, this is a very short game--not worth the price(my advice, rent it or buy it used).

Whooooooooaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 31, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Man! this game is awesome! i have the first one and i have to say it was good on some aspects but it still wasn't perfect. at least the graphics were pretty good. but forget that, if you want Z.O.E. at its finest get this game! the game has much more variety than the last one, prettier graphics (i didn't think my PS2 could do such things!) more types of weapons (wait until you see the late game weapons) and the awesome mech design (Jehuty fighting Anubis is something worthy of a movie). the sound is pretty good too but you're most probably going to be amazed by the graphics. my only gripe is that there is some slowdown SOMETIMES. nothing out of this world like Dynasty Warriors 3 so you'll probably get over it. but still this game blew me and my friends away! get it now!

High Speed Robot Action, can't describe it any better...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I honestly don't think that there is any game that can match the sheer excitement, speed, and drama or ZOE: the 2nd runner. For those who have played the first ZOE, throw away all those preconceived notions about this game being slow, boring, and tedious. In fact, ZOE2 is the exact opposite of the first game. Huge amounts of enemies (running in the high hundreds in one level) keep you on your toes. Amazing graphics just keep you in awe (I was surprised this was running on the PS2). And the music makes you feel like you are attempting to save the universe.

With more extras than the first, beautiful graphics and cinemas (no more CG scenes), and action that literally never stops and gives you a sore forearm. ZOE2 is definately a must-buy for action fans and PS2 lovers alike.

GOOD PACE, GOOD CONTROLS, GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME TO PLAY!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I am a fan of action video games and when this came out I reserved a rental at my store. Now I proud to say that the ZOE club have a decent video game under their belt. This game has a good fighting chemistry as you take control of complex robotic characters that whim through the dark skies and bright looms of green and purple space dust. Anyways if you like games in which you have to clean the sweat marks off the controller you just made from playing a certain game for a long time than I gurantee you as soon as you get into the ZOE zone than you will see for yourself the destiny that awaits of you!

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