Zone of the Enders is a PS2 game by Konami. The only way I can think of describing its genre is "Anime Simulator". Regrettably, this description falls much too short of describing what it actually feels like to play this excellent game.
In Zone of the Enders (ZOE), you take control of Jehuty, a custom "Orbital Frame" -- i.e., a giant flying mecha. However, ZOE is on the opposite end of the spectrum from all the other mecha games, such as Mechwarrior. You are not piloting a lumbering bipedal tank full of intricate systems and particle weaponry. There is no HQ to support you, no dropship to pick you up, and no base to defend. There is just the ultimate freedom of flying through space, gracefully sliding aside just in time to avoid enemy fire, and power-dashing around the enemy, to slice it in two with the razor-edged plasma sword...
It takes time to learn how to control a 'Mech or a HERC. It takes no time at all to learn how to control Jehuty (once you memorize the buttons, of course). The controller feels like the natural extension of your hands; the Orbital Frame feels like a pure expression of your will. Animes such as Macross or Gundam Wing can show you what piloting mecha would be like; ZOE makes you feel it. The graphics, the sounds, and the controls all come together in ZOE -- it feels as though a lot of careful thought was put into each aspect of the game. The skin of your Orbital Frames glows with waves of power which pass over its circuitry. Verniers on the sides open up to release a
burst of blue flame when you dash. Your plasma blade screams like a banshee when the enemy blocks it. Jehuty leans sideways when you move to the side; it goes into a somersault when you dash upwards.
Jehuty's "feet" etch razor-thin lines into the metal floor when you touch down on it, like a chrome-plated ice skater.
The story, though not the chief focus of ZOE (it's an action game, after all), is still quite good. You play the part of Leo, a young kid who lives on the "streets" of a Martian colony. His parents are dead and the other kids pick on him because he's an outsider. However, when they are crushed under an enemy Orbital Frame in the middle of a battle, Leo is left completely alone. Fortunately for him, he stumbles into the cockpit of Jehuty, where ADA -- Jehuty's AI -- calmly tells him that he is now the new Runner of the frame. This part of the game is especially well-done, actually. You are thrust into your first battle without any preparation -- just like Leo. Thus, you're really able to feel his fear, as you're screaming "oh shit ohshitohshit which button does an attack ? What do I do ?!!" Ok, so I suppose that wouldn't work if you read the game manual beforehand -- but what kind of gamer would do that nowadays ?
Anyway, the story is pretty solid and intriguing, since Leo (and, thus, the player) is completely unaware of what's going on in the outside world (hint: bad things). In addition, there is actual character development. At the beginning, Leo wants nothing more than to get the hell away from ADA and Jehuty, just as soon as the immediate danger passes. However, as the story progresses, he slowly changes his attitude -- when he realizes that he is in a unique position to actually change things.
ADA's character is just as interesting. Leo, unskilled in technology and unaware of Searle's little rooms, treats the AI as sort of a big sister (since it has that soothing female voice). ADA has no choice but to respond in kind; over the progress of the game, it slowly develops a personality of its own. Why by itself this is nothing new in anime, I really liked how the "what does it take to be alive ?" theme was handled in ZOE. Well, that, and I'm a sucker for melodrama.
The story is told through scripted in-game animations, as well as through FMVs. The FMVs are computer-rendered, but not fully photorealistic -- they are basically a combination of CGI and anime. I personally really like this style, though I've heard some people complain about it. Speaking of multimedia: the voice acting in the game is actually pretty good. It's not FFX-grade, but it's still much better than most of the games out there.
Of course, ZOE is not without its share of problems. For example, the missions get somewhat repetitive in the second half of the game. Many of them revolve around getting the various sub-weapons for your Orbital Frame; unfortunately, most of these sub-weapons are useless, with the possible exception of Comet and Halberd. Some people have also complained that the game is too short; however, I find this to be a virtue, not a flaw. The game is exactly as long as it needs to be, and it comes naturally to its conclusion -- unlike some other games out there (*cough*Squaresoft*cough*) which should last 5 hours, but last 500 instead, because of all the pointless tasks that artificially inflate the play time.
Despite these problems, ZOE is a great game, and the first one of its kind that I have played. In other games, the controls are just a means to an end; in ZOE, the controls are the game. The loving attention to detail that must have went into the game design really shines through.
Now, ZOE 2 is out (and should arrive in my mail any minute now... oh yes...), and hopefully it will pick up where ZOE left off. Stay tuned.
Posted by metabug at 2003/08/22 11:24 | TrackBack (3) | Categories: Games