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| High Speed Robot Action Redefined. |
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner is the sequel to 2001's mecha hack-and-slash game of the same name, Zone of the Enders. Faster, better and harder, The 2nd Runner improved over many criticisms of its predecessor. While it didn't sell well as producer Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear) expected to be, it remained one of the PlayStation 2's hidden gems. In 2012, it received the HD treatment alongside its predecessor as part of the Zone of the Enders HD Collection for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 systems. Now that the introductuins are over, it's time to visit the sequel to the original high speed robot action game.
STORY- 2174 A.D., two years after the first game, we follow miner Dingo Egret on Jupiter's moon, Callisto, as he stumbles upon an abandoned Orbital Frame, Jehuty. As he investigates the frame, Mars' military organization BAHRAM is unleashing chaos on Callisto, searching for Jehuty. Having no option but to fight back, Dingo awakens Jehuty in hopes of ending the conflict. Throughout the ride, we learn more about Dingo's past and a major plot point regarding Jehuty is resolved at the end. Leo Stenbuck, protagonist of the first game, makes an appearance and is less annoying than before.
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| The story is more engaging and thrilling than before. |
GAMEPLAY- Like the first game, The 2nd Runner is a third-person hack-and-slasher with some role-playing elements. You control Jehuty, which is piloted by Dingo, as you engage BAHRAM's forces. Aside from the standard homing missiles and swords, there various sub-weapons Jehuty can use, which can provide protection and extra damage. However, using them consumes the sub gauge located beneath Jehuty's health bar. As Jehuty defeats enemies and bosses, its abilities increase. This includes an extended health bar and sub gauge bar as well as the ability to tackle high-level enemies. The bosses this time around are plentiful and brutal. With many testing your reflexes and temper. One aspect of the game that can be an annoyance is the camera, which can get in the way when things get hectic. While the overall game feels linear, shooting and slashing enemies at lighting speeds is still very rewarding.
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| Fast-paced and challenging, how it should be. |
A negative aspect of the Z.O.E. 1 was its short length, it took me around five hours to beat it. The 2nd Runner extends that playtime slighty, taking me seven hours to finish it. To add some replay-value, there are some optional missions that you can unlock by collecting 19 files scattered throughout the levels. Also, there's a versus feature in which supports single and two-player modes. Furthermore, there's a 3D incarnation of the hit shooter Gradius called "Zoradius". In it, you control the Vic Viper (Leo's mech in the game) as it shoots through hordes of enemies in a style similar to early Gradius games.
PRESENTATION- The 2nd Runner is visually striking compared to the first game. Character models, environments, and anime cutscenes all look stunning and hold up remarkably well. The voice work is mediocre, with cheesy and awkward performances and script. On the other side, the soundtrack is amazing, packing some catchy electronic tracks.
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| The presentation holds up better than its predessor. |
Originally, the HD edition of The 2nd Runner by High Voltage Software had performance issues such as massive frame-rate hiccups, which made the original PS2 version more playable. Thankfully, HexaDrive, the company behind the great HD remaster of Okami, fixed all of the issues present, making the game run well as it should have.
OVERALL- I had a blast with Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner. The controls and presentation has been enhanced for the better, the story concludes some plot points introduced in the original, and the action is a lot more tougher this time aound. While it has its issues, The 2nd Runner is still a joy to play.
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