Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

Towering mechs swoop from the sky, buzzing by each other as gears grind inside their sleek crablike shells. They pass within inches at speeds seen only as...
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PS2

9.5

excellent

Game Overview

Towering mechs swoop from the sky, buzzing by each other as gears grind inside their sleek crablike shells. They pass within inches at speeds seen only as a blur. A person could be knocked back the length of a football field in the wake of their backdraft. One draws a glistening sword, itself as long as nearby buildings are tall. The other draws a menacing weapon, and fires a billowing blast that illuminates the entire night sky. Miss. An entire building behind the dodging sword bearer crumbles in violent wreckage.

The Bottom Line

The game's setting expands greatly beyond that of the first ZOE: battles will be fought in canyons, cityscapes, enemy fortresses and even in the depths of space. A new cast of characters populates these diverse settings, promising to infuse this epic saga with a human element.

In ZOE2, players are once again thrown into an interplanetary conflict, but this time the stakes are even higher, as the fate of Jupiter and Mars are held in the balance. Players will find a host of new gameplay features to help balance the odds. Exhilarating new maneuvers enable players to swing around enemies, target and destroy swarms of enemy fighters, tear down walls to use as shields or as a weapon, and even teleport out of danger. There are also more sub-weapons that support basic attacks and enhance strategic play during combat.

Expert Reviews

85/100

score

Thanks to its excellent controls and sheer depth, the combat system will ultimately be one of the reasons this game will keep drawing you back in even after you complete the single-player campaign.

95/100

score

The game is a whole lot faster than the previous game. There is so much going on at the screen at once, it might be hard for players to keep up, but that will never be the case.

86/100

score

A dazzling masterpiece of high tech production... The 2nd Runner isn't so much a videogame as it is an all-encompassing experience.

ESRB Game Ratings

This game is Rated: Mature
Content is most suitable for persons ages 17 and up. This game is likely to contain violence and blood, suggestive themes, or strong language.

Content Descriptors:

Blood

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner Cover

Game Info

Platform:	Sony Playstation 2
Release Date:	3/11/2003
Publisher:	Konami
Developer:	Konami JPN (KCEJ)
Genre:	Action
ESRB Rating:	M
Gamesite:	--

Game Quality Ratings

Overall

9.5

Gameplay

9.6

Graphics

9.6

Sound

9.1

Concept

9.4

Difficulty: Medium

OVERALL

9.5/10

Recent Customer Reviews

The 2nd Runner

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner is one of the smoothest 3D fighting games you will find and it is... a great addition to the mech genre.
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Published 1640 days ago by supersaiyan23

Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

I recommend this game to any mech fan, and those who don't like those kind of games, this game...
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Published 1903 days ago by gigargon

The best follow-up to an original, and twice as better