Zone of the Enders

by Konami

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000059Z8I
• Item Weight: 8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: March 27, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (123 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,927 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

A "giant robot"-themed action-adventure, Zone of the Enders not only looks great, but it plays great--a rarity in this junk-heap-filled genre. Set in the future inside an orbital space colony, Zone casts players as Leo, a young boy who inadvertently and unwillingly becomes the pilot of an orbital frame (giant robot) named Jehuty during a brutal invasion by hostile forces. While the original story is based on a familiar premise used in Japanese animation, the orbital frame designs are quite fresh, with nice touches such as glowing-vein-like patterns on Jehuty's armor that change color according to the armor's condition.

The mission-based gameplay in Zone requires Leo to travel back and forth between various locations, performing simple tasks and fighting squads of enemy orbital frames in addition to the occasional "boss." Piloting Jehuty is a breeze thanks to intuitive controls, effective onscreen displays, and a rotating third-person camera viewpoint that's refreshingly unobtrusive. While the 3-D environments are somewhat cramped, they're richly detailed and very interactive, allowing for some serious property damage that, along with civilian casualties, is frowned upon.

Admittedly, Zone's arcade-style combat is a bit too dumbed down, as the majority of battles can be won by mindlessly mashing away at the main weapon button. This wouldn't be so much of an issue if not for the fact that the game can be beaten in just a few hours, with the story coming to an abrupt end that leaves you hanging. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Absolutely stunning 3-D graphics and exceptionally friendly controls
• Heavy-handed melodrama that really grows on you
• 1- or 2-player vs. mode unlocked when game is completed
• Includes Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty playable demo disc

Cons:

• Shallow gameplay
• Short game length, disappointing ending

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty demo

Packaged with Zone of the Enders is a playable demo disc of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, the highly anticipated and much-hyped sequel to the PlayStation classic Metal Gear Solid. Fans will be pleased to know that it's everything they could have hoped for... and then some.

Not simply a rehash of its predecessor with next-generation graphics, MGS2adds much deeper gameplay to its tactical espionage action formula. Our hero, the "famous" Solid Snake, has been given a handbook's worth of new moves and techniques--skills that are put to the test against much smarter enemies within highly interactive environments. To introduce newbies to the Metal Gear world and to bring veterans up to speed, the demo includes an onscreen tutorial as well as a cleverly written plot synopsis of the first game.

Although it only contains the initial stage of the game and can be played through in less than an hour, the MGS2 demo has surprisingly huge replay value that's further boosted by its Internet ranking system, where players can enter in their clear codes (which they receive upon completion of the game) on the Konami Web site to see how they stack up against other players worldwide. --Joe Hon

Product Description

This is the game Zone of the Enders for the Playstation 2. This game comes with the original case and instructions. We stand by our products and offer a 60 day guarantee. If a game does not work within 60 days from the time you receive it we will gladly exchange it for you.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Amazing game engine, graphics, but could have been more, April 9, 2001

By 

Laurence (South Eastern, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zone of the Enders (Video Game)

I am sure there is not a single person who bought this game who popped it into their ps2 before the MGS2 demo, and rightfully so, but I am not going to address the demo in this review, I am going to address the game you paid for. ZOE had and still has so much promise. The camera engine is mindblowingly perfect for a game of this sort. The programming team at konami gets all of my respect for taking the zelda z-targeting camedra and refining it even further. Not only does this camera allow you to never get lost in the action, but it makes the on-screen battles appear to be beautifully choreographed mech duels that would fit in the best directed anime movies. The graphics are some of the first that convince me that my ps2 is more powerful than a dreamcast, and the detail in the completely destructable environments is astounding. I had a lot of fun with this game while it lasted. ANd that gets to my first complaint. This game ends just as you think it is getting started and I mean that literally. I had no clue that I had fought the final boss battle when I did. As the credits begun to roll, I thought to myself "Its odd that they put the credits in the middle of the game" but an unsettling feeling sunk in as I realized that it was over. The plot (which is pretty poor, due in part to some horrific translation and voice acting) had really gone nowhere by the time the game ends, and this game gets my vote for having the most shamelessly loose-ended, wait for the sequel ending of any game since Soul Reaver. My second complaint is that the gameplay, while fun, is very basic and has little to no variety. I could only bring myself to play one hour bursts of this game because I had a great time during that hour, but by that time, I was beginning to grow tired of fighting the same three enemies with the same strategies. What I later realized to be the final level does show an inkling of diversity (in that you are traveling through a trench rather than just over an open plained battlefield) but it is too little too late. The boss battles get a nod for bumping up the strategy, innovation, and adrenaline level but there are only four of them. My two final complaints are the completely inane method of shooting down the "porters" to open up secret weapons, and the fact that this game gives you a poor excuse for an incentive to play through again and perform perfectly (you get a measly different song playing through the closing credits.) I don't mean to harp on this game too badly because I was enjoying it, but I expected far more than 4 and a half hours of gameplay and far more diversity. The fact of the matter is that the MGS2 demo provides just as much gameplay and more enjoyment than the headlining game in the package. However, with such a great game engine, I have very high hopes for a sequel. Taken together, ZOE and the MGS2 demo are a package worthy of the price, but neither would be individually.

Justin Belin

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The game with the Metal Gear Solid 2 Demo!, April 5, 2001

By 

Olaf the Bear (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zone of the Enders (Video Game)

That is what Zone of Enders will always be referred to. I find this incredibly sad, because Zone of Enders is truly a solid game. It's fun, visually stunning, and nothing like we've ever played before (except in the arcades). But I know tons of people buying this game solely to play the MGS2 Demo.

But Konami already knew that.

Anyway, Zone of Enders is a very easy game with what is supposed to be an indepth storyline. Unfortunately, the storyline is about as indepth as say "The Bouncer," and it leaves you hanging. The motivations for some of the actions to the characters were quite pathetic and even annoying at times. The only voice-acting I thought was solid was ADA, who was monotonous anyway. Everyone else was just annoying. Regardless, the game is fun to play and look at.

Now, the Metal Gear Solid 2 Demo- it's pretty incredible. You only play one level, which can actually be finished in under 10 minutes, but there's a lot more to do in the level than just finish it. If you've never played Metal Gear Solid before, the controls take some getting used to, but once you do, it's incredibly fun.

Some of the effects you run into during the game are incredible. You can see the individual hairs on the characters' faces. When people shoot you, and you're against a wall, blood splatters on the wall. When there's a pool of blood, and you step in it, you leave blood footprints for a while, and the enemy can see it and sound an alarm. You can take an enemy hostage and drag him around and not get shot at. You can surprise an enemy and point a gun at his head or at his groin and he'll give you stuff (like health). You can have your back up against a wall, and you can tap the wall to call attention to the guard. You can search people and shove them in rooms and even lockers once you've knocked them out. You can shoot pipes and fire extinguishers to temporarily blind enemies... if you smoke, your health slowly goes down. i was walking in the rain... and i stepped inside, and the guard saw my wet fotoprints. and the way it shows you is through a little popup PIP window, that shows you what the guard sees... it's cool... just some incredible stuff.

They're not even done with the game yet. You should be excited by now.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Game for the Anime Fan, April 6, 2001

By 

Anime Master (Tyler, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zone of the Enders (Video Game)

At last a game with mech combat that doesn't make you want to throw your system out of window, ala Armored Core 2. Zone of the Enders is a game that brings in a control configuration much like Metal Gear, thank god. The action is incredible fast paced and furious. Yet the challenge comes in trying to prevent damage to building where civilians are currently located as well as stay alive.

The Story is quite interesting, although very reminisant of "Gundum 0080: War in the Pocket", "Neon Genisis Evangelion" and "Gundum Wing". This is partly due to the fact that the story is writen by the same man whom wrote "Gundum". You play as a emotional damaged young man whom has just seen his friends killed and could not save them. While running from the carnage of war he finds a proto-ytpe mech that he must piolet to stay alive, and to protect the future of mankind. Some nice plot twists and great characters truely make this a classic. I will put a warning that this game is quite dark and contains some scenes of graphic war like violence and language. This game is more for the 15 and up crowd.

If you want a game that truely plays like an anime it just does not get any better!