Perfect Stu
02-13-2003, 04:09 PM
I've had some time playing the demo of Konami's second installment of the Zone of the Enders series which can be found included on the demo disc that comes with the latest Official Playstation Magazine.
The first thing you'll notice about this game is its graphics/effects/visuals. You'll watch an opening cutscene which looks like an (high quality) Anime movie. This is the sequels first difference from its older brother - ZOE took a more polygonal approach. The new anime-inspired cutscenses fit RIGHT in with this game, regardless of whether or not you've played the first game in the series. The English voicework is good, somewhat similar to the quality you'd find in director Hideo Kojima's blockbusters Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2. This particular cutscene looks fantastic...snow gusts, character animation and overall sound are notably well done.
I won't talk about the story here, as I myself don't know much about it, and I don't want to spoil anything for gamers who are interested in this title. The game IS a futuristic flying-mecha action game set in space. The thing that seperates typical action games from Hideo Kojima's (from Konami) work is that his games also tell a deep, complex, engrossing story not unlike a hollywood movie. If you've played either of the Metal Gear Solid games, you'll know what I mean. The action in this game is far more fast-paced and intense than MGS(2), which are stealth-based. You'll be whooping a lot of ass and blowing a LOT of crap up as you progress through the game. Be prepared for some fairly lengthy cutscenes that narrate the story during breaks from all the crazy action of battle. Expect plot twists, and emotion from characters. Kojima is a mastermind, he'll do his best to suck you in, trick you or confuse you only to ease your curiosity with a dramatic battle sequence or cutscene.
On to the playable part of the demo: Your character (named Dingo) will find himself controlling a mecha (dubbed orbital frames in the ZOE universe) called 'Jehuty' which turns out to be much quicker, stronger and battle-oriented than any other mecha he's ever controlled. You're in the midst of an attack from a myserious evil force of flying robots and human-controlled mechas. You'll learn that you have some serious fire power at your disposal...and you'll need to use it when 40+ raptors (flying robots/mechas) swoop in on you. At this point, you'll be incredibly impressed with the game's graphics. A mix of cel-shading and 3D polygons, this game is absolutely GORGEOUS. Particles will fly as you slice through an opponent's armour, and smoke will fill the screen as you destroy a passing enemy. I was really surprised that the development team was able to put so many enemies on screen in frantic combat with a jaw-dropping amount of graphical effects and keep the framerate at a very respectable speed. You may notice SLIGHT drops in framerate during large explosions, but it doesn't effect the gameplay at all (from what I've played).
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/news/01/16/konami/zoe2_screen010.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/news/01/16/konami/zoe2_screen008.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/ps2/zoe2/z_screen004.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/ps2/zoe2/z_screen001.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/ps2/zoe2/z_screen008.jpg
-a small taste of what you'll be looking at during battle. the screens don't do the game proper justice, however. you have to see this game on your TV in midst of battle to truly appreciate the visuals
The controls will take a bit of getting-used-to, but they'll soon feel right at home. Your mecha will float mid-air, and you can raise and lower its elevation, as well as glide forward, backward, and side-to-side. The thrust button will give you a quick burst of speed in any direction, and will come in handy when dodging laser blasts and tiny missiles, and any other oncoming enemy attack. You can also hold the thrust button while remaining still to build up an energy force you would then propell at a targeted enemy, or you can mix the thrust button with the basic attack button to have Jehuty throw some battle combos at a group of unsuspecting foes. From a distance, you can blast an emeny using a laser-cannon of sorts. In close range, you can slash through enemies which create some fantastic explosions. You're also able to grab a smaller foe and swing it around for a while and then throw it at a bunch of evil bastards that are ready to attack you in a wave (not unlike a large group of bees/mosquitos). Later in the game you can find objects like steel frames and small pilars that you can use to simply DESTROY. Blocking also comes in handy when you're faced with a a group of incoming missiles as well as in 'hand to hand' combat. The game offers you very sofisticated, fast-paced action/battle sequences. The controls are responsive and fluid, and once you get used to them, you'll feel like an extension of Jehuty itself.
Throughout the demo you'll face 3 'bosses' who can offer a more challenging, lenghtier, more dramatic battle sequence. Your character (Dingo) can and will communicate with your enemies before/during/after comabt. Bosses will taunt you until you deal them some serious damage. Most bosses are characters just like yourself (human) that control a different mecha. They have personalities, emotions, and will tell parts of the story themselves, just like any actor (villian) in a movie.
The sound in this game is also top notch. The musical score rivals those in games such as MGS or Halo, and the sound effects are quite effective. The voiceovers are, like I said earlier, quite well done, and are never a nuissance. The sounds of Jehuty slashing through the air in midst of a snowstorm, the sounds of explosions nearby or in the distance, the sounds of a structure collapsing at the hands of either yourself or any enemy and of course the music all add the the game's overall atmosphere.
Personally, I can't wait to play more of this game. The demo, along with a few other key factors, have me sold. This is the type of game I'll really WANT to sit down and spend a couple hours playing during my free time. The action is definately unlike anything I'VE played before, and the whole storyline and presentation makes it a fulfilling gaming experience.
To conclude, I will say this: ZOE2 looks to be what ZOE should, or could have been. The production cost has to be up there with other blockbuster games (Halo, MP, MGS, etc.). Hideo Kojima's team always create projects that seem to be on a different level than their competition. The clean graphics, the sheer amount of detail, the deep, sophisticated story...This development team obviously has certain artistic and creative skills of which I could neve imagine. Kojima doesn't want to create a game...he wants to create a masterpiece.
The first thing you'll notice about this game is its graphics/effects/visuals. You'll watch an opening cutscene which looks like an (high quality) Anime movie. This is the sequels first difference from its older brother - ZOE took a more polygonal approach. The new anime-inspired cutscenses fit RIGHT in with this game, regardless of whether or not you've played the first game in the series. The English voicework is good, somewhat similar to the quality you'd find in director Hideo Kojima's blockbusters Metal Gear Solid and Metal Gear Solid 2. This particular cutscene looks fantastic...snow gusts, character animation and overall sound are notably well done.
I won't talk about the story here, as I myself don't know much about it, and I don't want to spoil anything for gamers who are interested in this title. The game IS a futuristic flying-mecha action game set in space. The thing that seperates typical action games from Hideo Kojima's (from Konami) work is that his games also tell a deep, complex, engrossing story not unlike a hollywood movie. If you've played either of the Metal Gear Solid games, you'll know what I mean. The action in this game is far more fast-paced and intense than MGS(2), which are stealth-based. You'll be whooping a lot of ass and blowing a LOT of crap up as you progress through the game. Be prepared for some fairly lengthy cutscenes that narrate the story during breaks from all the crazy action of battle. Expect plot twists, and emotion from characters. Kojima is a mastermind, he'll do his best to suck you in, trick you or confuse you only to ease your curiosity with a dramatic battle sequence or cutscene.
On to the playable part of the demo: Your character (named Dingo) will find himself controlling a mecha (dubbed orbital frames in the ZOE universe) called 'Jehuty' which turns out to be much quicker, stronger and battle-oriented than any other mecha he's ever controlled. You're in the midst of an attack from a myserious evil force of flying robots and human-controlled mechas. You'll learn that you have some serious fire power at your disposal...and you'll need to use it when 40+ raptors (flying robots/mechas) swoop in on you. At this point, you'll be incredibly impressed with the game's graphics. A mix of cel-shading and 3D polygons, this game is absolutely GORGEOUS. Particles will fly as you slice through an opponent's armour, and smoke will fill the screen as you destroy a passing enemy. I was really surprised that the development team was able to put so many enemies on screen in frantic combat with a jaw-dropping amount of graphical effects and keep the framerate at a very respectable speed. You may notice SLIGHT drops in framerate during large explosions, but it doesn't effect the gameplay at all (from what I've played).
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/news/01/16/konami/zoe2_screen010.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/news/01/16/konami/zoe2_screen008.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/ps2/zoe2/z_screen004.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/ps2/zoe2/z_screen001.jpg
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/ps2/zoe2/z_screen008.jpg
-a small taste of what you'll be looking at during battle. the screens don't do the game proper justice, however. you have to see this game on your TV in midst of battle to truly appreciate the visuals
The controls will take a bit of getting-used-to, but they'll soon feel right at home. Your mecha will float mid-air, and you can raise and lower its elevation, as well as glide forward, backward, and side-to-side. The thrust button will give you a quick burst of speed in any direction, and will come in handy when dodging laser blasts and tiny missiles, and any other oncoming enemy attack. You can also hold the thrust button while remaining still to build up an energy force you would then propell at a targeted enemy, or you can mix the thrust button with the basic attack button to have Jehuty throw some battle combos at a group of unsuspecting foes. From a distance, you can blast an emeny using a laser-cannon of sorts. In close range, you can slash through enemies which create some fantastic explosions. You're also able to grab a smaller foe and swing it around for a while and then throw it at a bunch of evil bastards that are ready to attack you in a wave (not unlike a large group of bees/mosquitos). Later in the game you can find objects like steel frames and small pilars that you can use to simply DESTROY. Blocking also comes in handy when you're faced with a a group of incoming missiles as well as in 'hand to hand' combat. The game offers you very sofisticated, fast-paced action/battle sequences. The controls are responsive and fluid, and once you get used to them, you'll feel like an extension of Jehuty itself.
Throughout the demo you'll face 3 'bosses' who can offer a more challenging, lenghtier, more dramatic battle sequence. Your character (Dingo) can and will communicate with your enemies before/during/after comabt. Bosses will taunt you until you deal them some serious damage. Most bosses are characters just like yourself (human) that control a different mecha. They have personalities, emotions, and will tell parts of the story themselves, just like any actor (villian) in a movie.
The sound in this game is also top notch. The musical score rivals those in games such as MGS or Halo, and the sound effects are quite effective. The voiceovers are, like I said earlier, quite well done, and are never a nuissance. The sounds of Jehuty slashing through the air in midst of a snowstorm, the sounds of explosions nearby or in the distance, the sounds of a structure collapsing at the hands of either yourself or any enemy and of course the music all add the the game's overall atmosphere.
Personally, I can't wait to play more of this game. The demo, along with a few other key factors, have me sold. This is the type of game I'll really WANT to sit down and spend a couple hours playing during my free time. The action is definately unlike anything I'VE played before, and the whole storyline and presentation makes it a fulfilling gaming experience.
To conclude, I will say this: ZOE2 looks to be what ZOE should, or could have been. The production cost has to be up there with other blockbuster games (Halo, MP, MGS, etc.). Hideo Kojima's team always create projects that seem to be on a different level than their competition. The clean graphics, the sheer amount of detail, the deep, sophisticated story...This development team obviously has certain artistic and creative skills of which I could neve imagine. Kojima doesn't want to create a game...he wants to create a masterpiece.