What the first game should've been.
ZOE2 is a new child with new beginnings containing little bonuses for the those who have played the first game. If you have not played the first game, you haven't missed too much. Either way, the sequel is a breath of fresh air. Gone are the broken intermissions and maps. Also gone is the annoying antagonist and clunky CGI from the first game. Replaced are anime-style sequences that mesh better with the actual gameplay and mecha. This new style of storytelling makes the him come off as a "somebody" rather than just some dorky kid who stumbled upon the ultimate weapon. Even with just a couple of cameos, you actually welcome his appearance in the story. He even pilots something special. For fan of the Gradius series, you'll have something to grin about.
So what does this sequel do that's different from the first?
Pure action, a good story, and over-the-top graphics.
ZOE2 is a very straightforward game that now concentrates on storyline, soundtrack, and emotion. The new character (Dingo) is less tolerant, less forgiving, and much less patient than the prequel making the game more gritty. This new tone even carries over into the Jehuty - the ultimate mecha and main star of the game. Some of Jehuty's weapons go through some serious upgrades. Other weapons are brand new to Jehuty and are just downright crazy. There is even a point in the game where you get to mount a grand cannon which seems almost minutes to charge and fire.
ZOE2 embarasses the first game by putting everything on steroids. Instead of four homing lasers, you have eighty. Instead of ten enemies on screen you have two-hundred. Two-hundred? Yes. There will be a time where you will encounter that many enemies. But is it fun?
Two words: **** ya.
The boss fights are even more creative. And even the tutorial is creative. It's actually integrated into the game's story. This time around you actually make use of the environment around you and despite the amount of graphic detail that shows up in the game, it never seems to slow down. This maybe due to the developer's imaginative use of cell shading - an art direction mostly abused by other games. Old revisiting characters look better and are hellbent on wanting to kill you but that just makes the game that much more enjoyable. The environments, scenarios, and level designs work so well with the dogfights and music that it's hard to put down. It's only downside is the length of the game. I don't know if this was deliberate but the game lasts just as long as the first game.
There are many games that use anime and mecha as a way to lure young little boys to play their mediocre crap but Zone of Enders 2 is different. It is a game that people should experience on their own...even if they slightly interested in this type of genre.
radcastro.com