Zone of the Enders the 2nd Runner

Zone of the Enders the 2nd Runner

PS2/PS3/360

Released in 2003 for the PS2 and recently for the PS3 and 360, Zone of the Enders the 2nd Runner is a prime example of a sequel that takes what was good with the first game and makes it ten times better. The graphics got a nice upgrade, the controls are just a fluent as it was in the first game, the sub weapons are more useful, new enemies to fight, the game is longer, and more boss battles. The story this time has you playing as Dingo Egret, a former BAHRAM soldier, on a mining operation and discovers an abandoned mecha in it. Soon BAHRAM attacks and he has to fend them off in Orbital Frame Jehuty. He ends up on BAHRAM's ship and is killed by their leader. He was brought back to life two months later by a spy in BAHRAM's ranks and is sent off to upgrade Jehuty so it can destroy its counterpart, Anubis.

Like with the first game, you control Jehuty and engage your enemies with long range laser attacks, close range sword attacks, grabbing and throwing enemies, use of different sub weapons, and powerful burst attacks. The same enemy types from the first game make their return with a few tweaks. The Cyclopes now has a ranged attack that hurts and the Mummy Head repairs damaged allies. With a new game comes new enemies such as the Narita, a fast and mobile enemy that can rams into you to have its allies follow up with attacks, the Lepard, a primarily ground enemy that can be tricky to deal with, and an enemy that grabs you and can deal massive damage.

Unlike the first game, you're mostly sent to do objective that involve going from point A to point B and kill everything along the way. It helps that the combat is fun and addicting, so it's a minor complaint. Over the course of the game you can find mission icons that unlocks new missions for you to do from the main menu that offer different challenges like killing so many enemies, killing enemies in a time limit, to killing so many enemies in a time limit without getting hit once. There's an improved vs mode that lets you control the various bosses from the game and fight your friends. I wish they included online play with vs mode but the PS2 version didn't have online play either so it's not that big of a deal.

In my review of the first Zone of the Enders game, I criticized it for a lot of back tracking. It's not present here, but even if you wanted to back track you can't. It has a linear progression which isn't bad but I would've liked some free roaming elements like there was in the first game. Overall I love the improvements, and I loved the extra missions, hell I loved this game a lot more than the first game. If you haven't played it, go get it or at least rent it.

There is something I would like the mention though. If framerate drops bother you a lot, then get the PS2 version. I can't say anything about the 360 version because I've only played it on PS2 and PS3, but the PS3 version has some framerate drops that makes the game play a little slow but not so bad it comes to a crawl.

Just an FYI there.

Summary:

Good:

-took what was good in Zone of the Enders and made it better

-sub weapons can be useful

-better graphics and particle effects

-new enemies

moderate:

-slight framerate lag on PS3 during some cutscenes and some boss fights. Not sure about 360

-kinda short

bad:

-linear progression

Graphics: 4.5/5

Game play: 4.5/5

Story: 4/5

Sound: 5/5

Overall: 4.5/5