Zone Of The Enders

Konami certain to Mech gamers’ days with Zone of the Enders.

Posted by Staff
Don’t be misled, this is no spin-off from that popular BBC soap, Zone of the Enders is a forthcoming PlayStation 2 title from Konami set millions of miles from Albert Square.

The action takes place in the 22nd century on and around Jupiter and its four moons where the human inhabitants consist predominantly of labourers and their families assigned to mine the planet’s rich mineral resources. Occupants of another Earth colony, Mars, are eager to gain independence from Earth and believe that gaining control of Jupiter and its resources will greatly assist this aim. It is from this point that the action begins…

In Z.O.E. giant mechs – huge, yet highly manoeuvrable, mechanical war machines piloted by humans – battle it out in the skies above the planet’s surface. Following an initial conflict the game’s central character and the one controlled by the player, a young boy named Leo, comes across a downed mech minus its pilot. Intrigued, Leo steps inside and unwittingly embarks on a mission to save his beleaguered planet.

Wave after wave of invaders must be repelled in some of the most spectacular battles ever witnessed in a video game console. Weapons effects from lasers and missiles fill the screen with amazing colours as the highly detailed mechs wheel and circle above the cityscape. In close combat, giant swords take the place of projectile weapons with the resulting clash of metal on metal filling the skies.

When engaged in battle gamers need to be sure of their aim as any stray shots that hit surrounding buildings will cause damage and kill innocent civilians. If, during the game’s later stages, the amount of destruction exceeds a pre-determined limit, the player will fail the mission and be forced to replay it.

Although at initial glance Z.O.E. may seem no more than an out and out blaster it features a highly detailed plot including Leo’s relationship with a young girl named Celvice and his nemesis, the power hungry Viola. A further relationship is the one between Leo and ADA, the mech’s artificial intelligence. Leo and ADA develop together, with ADA adapting in direct relation to Leo and his actions.

If the above doesn’t whet your appetite then how about this…

A one level demo of Metal Gear Solid 2, easily the most anticipated PlayStation 2 game currently in development, comes free with each copy of Z.O.E. Check out Snake’s new moves in this taster for what is sure to be another masterpiece from game’s supremo Hideo Kajima, who also produced Z.O.E
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