Anubis: Zone of the Enders (PS2)

November 20, 2003 | 1 Comments

aka Zone of the Enders: the Second Runner is one of the most enjoyable and coolest games I've had the pleasure to play. The game is presented in pseudo cell-shading look while the cut scene is presented in Anime form. Despite the difference in the two art styles, they strangely blend quite well with one another. This is achieved through effective use of cuts and editing, clever implementation of the colour schemes (which mostly limited to the blue/green hues), and the previously mentioned pseudo cell-shading of the 3D elements. The special effects that pops out everytime the mecha battles each other have to be seen to be believed. And the whole gaming experience makes it feel as if you are the one who's actually piloting the mecha.

The game also benefits from the fact that the characters are more interesting this time around. Dingo Egret, the male character of the game, is cool personified. His 'devil may cry' attitude is much preferable to Leo Stenbuck's whining act in the first game. Ken Marinaris, the female character of the game, is also far more intriguing than Viola from the first game. Like Viola, Ken has that streak of ruthlessness in her personality. But she's far more sympathetic than Viola ever managed to be in the first game. And for those of you who missed Leo and Viola, they're both back in this game. Thankfully, they are less annoying and their appearances are of limited nature. It also helps that the English voice acting improves greatly from the first one.

Of course like any other games, this game has its faults. For one, the game is relatively short. Make sure you don't play the the entire game in one sitting or else you'll finish the game very quickly. The battles can sometimes be a bit repetitive, especially in areas where enemies respawn over and over again. However, the enjoyment I got from this game basically outweigh the negative aspects of the game so I'll recommend it for those of you who like frantic mecha battles.

desktop pictures, screenshots, and movies of "Anubis" from IGN.com

© memento 2003