Sequels are funny things. Having the ability to instill dread and giddy anticipation in equal measure, they truly are powerful. Because when any video game (or book or movie) adds a "2" to the end of its title, fans of the original are bound to worry.Will it measure up to the first or will it bring shame to the series? Or will it totally redefine the first and become a classic in its own right?

    When Zone of the Enders was first released, it gained an almost immediate fan base. This is helped in no small part by the inclusion of a Metal Gear Solid 2 demo disc, though. Solid Snake is Konami's perfect man-whore, as his name more or less implies. ZOE told the relatively simple story of Leo Stenbuck, a young boy who discovers a giant robot (known as an "Orbital Frame") when his space colony comes under attack by the mysterious BAHRAM militia. This frame, called Jehuty, is fiercely covetedby BAHRAM colonel Ridley Nohman.

    Just why, exactly, Nohman wanted Jehuty so bad that he was willing to kill for it is never fully explained. The original Zone of the Enders kept things simple. By focusing more on the characters rather than the larger situation, it had its own strange charm and fun.

    Zone of the Enders 2: The 2nd Runner takes place sometime shortly after the events of the first game. Players take control of metatron miner Dingo (don't ask) Egert as he stumbles upon Jehuty. It seems that the Frame was hidden shortly after Leo went to all the trouble of saving it. Fortunately, Dingo takes control of it just in time to fight off Nohman and his new team of villainous goons.

    If the original game was simple and sweet, the sequel is complex and deep. Just by skimming through the instruction manual, one can easily tell that the developers set out to blow the top off the ZOE world in a big way. The 2nd Runner has murder, betrayal, romance, and even a few resurrections. Fans will be more than pleased to discover the motives of Nohman, the formation of BAHRAM, and the history of the protagonist,Dingo.

    Another big plus is the gameplay. Kept almost the same as the original, it has slight additions that make it far superior to those found in most shooters of this type (even the original). The new abilities include a handy "grab" maneuver that works just about how it sounds: Jehuty grabs girders, steel plates, and even other enemies which it can swing around and toss at other robots. There's also a nice "Dash" lock-on ability that allows gamers to set their sightson just about every single enemy on screen by simply holding down the square button as they dash.

    The controls are the same intuitive combination of movement and attacking that made the first game so easy to get into. The new abilities are simple and easy to use, thus reducing the learning curve even more. The 2nd Runner exhibits just about the closest thing to flawless controls that can be found in any video game at this time.

    The game is broken up into missions, most of which are simple "Point A to Point B" affairs. Unfortunately, there are also a few stages that are almost exactly identicalto those found in the first ZOE. However, the game more than makes up for this with fun scenes including a train chase and a midair battle between a BAHRAM armada and Jehuty that's right out of Macross.

    All of this is helped in a huge way by the amazing, subtly cell-shaded graphics. The visuals are almost worth the price of admission. This is something that has to be seen tobe fully appreciated. It's a prime example of cell-shading done right.

    There are more enemies for Dingo to face than Leo could have dreamed of. However, the old favorites like Raptors and Mummyheads make a return. This time, however, the enemies are far stronger. The game even justifies this by explaining that Nohman used his research on Anubis (the frame he commandeered at the end of the original game) to beef up his smaller attack droids. There are enough evil automatons to battle in ZOE 2 that the battles always feel fresh and varied. Enemies don't travel in parties any longer, either. Instead, robots come at Jehuty in mindless waves. That is, unless there's a commander nearby. Then, and only then, will the antagonists group together and combine their attacks. There are also a large number of bosses to Dingo to face off with, and each battle manages to feel epic and heart-stopping. Many of the new frames are so inventive; gamers will find themselves playing well into the night just to see what new monstrosities will be thrown at them.

    The sound effects and music are both wonderful. The tunes that play in the background go a long way to adding tension and fun to the battles. The voice acting is surprisingly well done, also. Even Leo manages to sound ok. The dialogue does seem rather awkward at times, but that's mainly a problem with the translation.

    Make no mistake; Zone of the Enders 2 is a wonderful game. There are, unfortunately, a few problems that carry over from the original. For one thing, the playtime is way too short. It shouldn't take most gamers more than four to six hours to complete 2nd Runner on the first run through. And that's if they take their time. Another gripe, though not really a flaw of the game's, is the opening cinema. Actually, calling it a cinema is being nice. It's more of a strange montage of every single scene in the entire game. By about the two minute mark, most players will begin to wonder if there's any game to ZOE2 at all, or if it's just this long movie. Then again, the song that plays in the background is nice, so it's bearable.

    There are a few extras to 2nd Runner, most noticeably being the return of the two-player "Vs." mode. The camera and controls are slightly strange and there aren't as many extra frames to use as most people will probably like, but it's still quick fun and shows that the developers are going that extra mile to add depth and replay value to an already entertaining game.

    Playing a game like Zone of the Enders 2: The Second Runner reminds people why they became gamers to begin with. It's almost perfect, and if not for the short playtime, it would be practically epic. It may even be safe to say that not since Resident Evil 2 has there been such a pitch-perfect, amazing sequel. ZOE2 manages to keep all that made the original great while making things bigger, better, quicker, tougher. Fans and newcomers alike are sure to find something about this game to love. It's definitely worth a rental, if not a purchase.