Zone of Enders Reviews

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, MGS2 adds 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