Introduction
The first thing one will notice when playing Zone of the Enders is the polish. To see a game so complete and whole is somewhat rare. This is not to say that Konami's epic robot battle game is without its flaws. That's certainly not the case. However, it seems that everything that was intended to be included has made its way to the finished product, and ZOE is all the better for it.

Gameplay
Despite the amount of work that obviously went into this game, however, there are a few things that could have been better. Most gamers will be able to complete ZOE through the course of a day or less; and there just isn't much replay value. Secrets are minimal and hardly worth the effort. To help add more longevity to ZOE, an unlockable two-player battle mode is included. The battle game is a relatively fun diversion marred by a lack of weapons and a difficult camera. Due to the lack of a split screen, one player will end up in the background while the other is stuck in the foreground, making it hard to judge distances. Unfortunately, there is no option of playing cooperative mode. The final, most glaring, problem with ZOE is that it is just too easy to complete. The bosses are somewhat of a challenge, but once you learn the patterns, you won't have any problem.

Story
With events unfolding in the distant future, ZOE takes place completely on a small space colony orbiting Mars. Players are placed in the sneakers of young Leo Stenbuck, the squeaky-voiced protagonist who must escape the colony after it's attacked by terrorists. The game begins when Leo finds himself in the pilot seat of a huge, flying robotic frame known as Jehuty. From there, he sets out to destroy the interlopers and save as many civilians as possible. The story is fairly basic but still manages to feel original. This is helped by the fact that the characters are more believable than most and the pacing is fairly well done. As far as voice-acting is concerned, you may recognize a few of them from some of your favorite Anime cartoons. For the most part, the sound effects and voices are above average. The music is somewhat interesting that it changes according to the action onscreen. As you patrol the colony, roving from sector to sector, the soundtrack is rhythmic and simple. However, once you engage in combat, it takes on a more fast-paced beat. This system is reminiscent of a role-playing game. Besides this, there are a few other things that add an RPG feel to the game. The ability to "choose your battles," more or less, makes things fun. Instead of random battles, enemies wander in groups and, for the most part, mind their own business (this typically being the destruction of buildings around the colony). Once you get close to them, though, the fight is on. The game provides a nice lock-on feature to help you target enemies. To escape from a battle, simply release the lock and fly in the opposite direction. Those who stay and fight are given a choice as to how they attack. Being a fully equipped Robotic frame, Jehuty can fire lasers, attack with a huge sword, or charge up either attack to literally devastate foes. Apart from offensive tactics, players also have the ability to use a small energy shield and deflect lesser attacks. Battles, for the most part, are quite enjoyable and it takes only minutes to learn to handle Jehuty, due to the tight and very intuitive controls. As previously mentioned, the ability to level up your Frame is another incentive to fight often. Aside from the initial weaponry, it is possible to gain secondary attacks throughout the course of the game which adds depth to an already immersive experience. Scattered throughout ZOE are side missions in which you must protect buildings and innocents from certain death at the hands of your enemies. If you manage to get high scores on all of these, you might get a surprise when you complete the game.

Graphics
Zone of the Enders is the first in what looks to be a new epic series by Konami. With a sequel already in the works and a small but endearing anime series, this game has a lot going for it. Despite the short play time and lack of real difficulty, this game is extremely fun and would be at home in almost every action/adventure gamer's library.