Zone of the Enders 2 is one of the most unique games I've played in my life. The combat was thrilling throughout and I wish we got a third title. The concept art that Yoji Shinkawa had for ZOE3 looked so cool. One thing I really like is that the mechs in this franchise have an Egyptian aesthetic to them that is really striking.
I will say this in defence of ZOE 1 - it genuinely shocked me that you could get the "bad ending" by killing all the civilians you were supposed to save in the first half. It turns out that the pilot you were trying to meet up with was one of the civilians and it ends with Leo saying "...I was just playing a game..." which ties in with MGS2's themes.
Fun Facts: L3 & R3 can be used to talk with ADA by agreeing or disagreeing for a PS2 game this was amazing. Viola and AI Viola are mirrored/reversed so are Anubis and Jehuty, so are quite a few of the songs and music in this game, try playing them backwards. In the TV and Movie it is implied METATRON is imprintable with the pilot's deepest wishes.
@@ThBrando optional unless you want all of the extra missions as one requires a positive response to ADA saying something about beating a certain set of enemies within 90 seconds or something like that. though it seemed to work fine even for the chatting when i tried the VR one. both games have a small speedrunning community have have been on a GDQ marathon. they recently did a "how to train your speed runner" for the 1st game. fist of mars isnt canon, but it dose have a glossery of terms for like LEV and such which is kinda useful.
@@ThBrando It's not bugged, it's tied to the Frame rate; you have to be quite fast with your answers on the MARS version. PS2 version, you have like 3-5 seconds to answer ADA. On MARS version, it's closer to just over 1 second.
I just rewatched your FFXIII video. It seems the "I don't go out of my way to find bad localizations, I swear they just find me" line still holds true.
The mission where you assist the LEV's against the Orbital Frames was a spectacle when I was a kid. Honestly the best depiction of a mecha war in any video game ever, frankly.
I played ZOE 2nd Runner when it came out on PS2, and I've loved it since. I remember my friend and I playing through so much of the first games campaign together and we were hooked... Thanks for the video, made me nostalgic to think about the game and it's story again. I constantly listen to Beyond the Bounds and Kiss me Sunlight, which are such perfect themes.... Ah, the good ole days...
Man, I already knew the exact IGN list you were gonna bring up regarding the vector cannon cause I too was disappointed more people don’t talk about the weapon. There’s just a very nice sense of catharsis when, in a high speed 3d action game, the strongest weapon requires you to stand motionless on the ground and charge for upwards of 15 seconds in order to unleash a beam of pure destruction
25:36 i knew exactly which weapon you were gonna mention; its such a cool weapon and the added spectacle and music that is happening around you only adds to it!
There are very few games that make me feel like I am actually playing an anime and Zone Of The Enders does this in spades. The graphics in this game really hold up and is a real showcase for how powerful the PS2 actually was. I wish this franchise was revisited by Konami but considering that company's track record I wont hold my breath.
Sweet. Yeah I played ZOE VR. It was fun to replay. And no I never got sick playing it, it was like really super fun and they handled the dashing well. It was a lot of fun. I don’t think I could run the whole game in one sitting though.
I'm so glad this pearl receives the attention it deserves at almost 20 years from its release. It got me into the mecha genre from gundam to armored core. Truely underrated
12:32 No wonder Vic Viper follows a totally different naming convention. It's not an Orbital Frame. Vic Viper is a LEV. Yes, a LEV. A prototype for the next generation. I'm not sure that the thing even uses Metatron. It would have been interesting seeing a future where LEVs don't suck anymore.
One thing I found surprising in harder difficulty the AI controlled units will form a squadron where one unit is promoted to a commander rank. What this does is it unifies the enemy units to maximise the strengths and reduce weakness. A squadron with a shield and punchy guys will have the shield units constantly attack you from a distance. The punchy guys will sit back until you come close and then pummel you. The more variety the units the more the squadrons cover for each of their weakness. Squadrons are a pain as it uncreases the difficulty to kill the units. You are literally forced to make optimal use of all of your sub weapons to retake advantage.
Leo is a dollar store Amuro. ZoE 1’s story is famously those first handful of episodes of the original Gundam repackaged with a sentient AI partner and a twist at the end that leads straight to The Second Runner.
I'm surprised you didnt roast Taper and the LEV's when they charge the Bahram base. Everybody is gung-ho until the battle heats up and then mission quickly switches from a fun _Jehuty vs unamanned orbital frames_ to rendering aid to these klunky LEV's. To this day I still hate that mission! 🤣
"I once heard ZOE 2 be described as the least overhyped game of all time" Super Best Friends Play, I also used to watch them all the time, I miss those guys having fun together.
If ZoR was made to make the person playing feel in absolute control. Atmored Core is made to make you feel trapped inside a hulking death trap that will kill yourself and your target, and a true struggle and achievement to master piloting
VR mode is actually pretty reasonable. It's a cockpit view, so you always have the interior of the cockpit for your eyes to reference, which counters the motion sickness a bit. Same effect as driving games have.
This brought back all the memories of hoping Daemon X Machina was going to be a good spiritual successor and... I think that game was super disappointing, because I barely remember it except that I have a profound sense of sadness about it.
The thing I loved about this game that you touched on perfectly was when epic battles or moments occurred, like anime, the atmosphere and tone really brought the hype! The music, the mechanics, visuals, and voice acting all came together for a really memorable experience even years later.
"I totally crushed that game like 37 times, and man, playing the versus mode with my bro was the bomb. The mecha gameplay was super satisfying, you know? And those mecha designs, the animated cutscenes, and Dingo's reactions? Totally nailed it. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, and the music? Oh man, it was epic, especially when you're facing off against those boss battles. I gotta say, this game is a freaking masterpiece. And let me tell you, from start to finish, it's a wild ride. I played it way back when, but it's still stuck in my head. That's the mark of true art, my friend."
@26:15 is the only reason I clicked this video. I have yet come across anyone who has given the vector cannon the justice it deserves! You did and I appreciate it
Y'know, I knew about this game a little because of the Polygon video about Mecha games, and it was really cool to see an in-depth analysis of it. Speaking of multi-media franchises developed for the PS2 ,anyone remember the .hack// games? Would love to see a video somewhere about that series.
Zone of the Enders one came with a demo disc for MGS2 so a lot of people actually played it. That demo was the hottest thing, we’d replay it over and over. But yea that demo is what got people to get ZOE1, and I’m glad I did.
Fun fact: the ZOE 2 remaster was made by Cygames who are known for a number of extremely popular games like Granblue Fantasy, Shadowverse, Dragalia Lost and many many more
I wonder if that notorious mission (to the right to the right..a little bit more) was referenced in Phantom Pain when Quiet has to navigate the helicopter to her and Venom's position through the sand storm. 🤔 It is kojima so I wouldn't be surprised if it actually was.
This game is so nostalgic,in my opinion the greatest ever made in history,the story, gameplay,I love it so much,they don't make such a masterpiece nowadays!
My theory is that ZONE OF THE ENDERS takes place in the far future of the METAL GEAR SOLID franchise. Just look at the Orbital Frames Idolo, Dolores, Jehuty, and Anubis. Definitely, design wise, descended from Metal Gear Ray. And the main protagonist in ZONE OF THE ENDERS 2ND RUNNER, Dingo Egret, could very well be the descendant of Raiden.
I was hugely into this series back then, to the point where I actually tracked down and watched the supplementary movie and anime series. Most of my memories are with the anime series, likely because it was longer, being a TV series and all. I recall it being entertaining, but the first few episodes did drag a little. It's much more slice-of-life than a lot of other mecha anime I've seen, but the stakes do still escalate eventually, and without spoiling anything, it does actually bring some closure to events that happened in the movie, so I'd recommend checking it out if you're interested and have the time. I also tried to play the GBA game, but I just could never finish it. I think it was because the gameplay was just so easy that the missions just became too boring, though I still remember liking the characters and story. Same issue I had recently with Persona 2 on the PSP.
Played the demo for the first game in 2001, eventually got both of them on PS2 and PS3 physically, it's really funny because I got into ZOE long before Gundam but it's basically Kojima's homage to it. Orbital Frame is just interchangeable with Mobile Suit, Metatron is interchangeable with Gundarium, child soldiers, Enders are Spacenoids, colonisation of the solar system, etc. Still gotta get around to building a Jehuty model kit though!
I remember playing this on the PS2 ... yeah, definitely multiple runs ... ... tho hilariously, the more I learned how to play the game, the less the subweapons got used extepting the super specialized cases like battle or the flying battleships. The dash, the sword and the throw end up being the only things you use later on.
Dear Brando, Thanks. From the Self Proclaimed Largest ZOE Fan, Me Seriously though, ZOE1 shifted the trajectory of my life (I started to lose internet in playing games and ZOE pulled me ALLLL the way back. To the point of me working for Gamestop for 7 years. I own every ZOE media project including re-releases. I. Have. A. Problem. And no patience for people who complain about waiting for the next game in a series unless they've waited almost 20 years like me while knowing it'll probably never happen again or it will and it'll be a disappointment. (Why am I rambling on here?? Going to bed now lol) But seriously, thanks for giving the series some love.
I remember playing 1&2 on ps2 in I think 02-04 maybe earlier. The ZOE 2 demo in the old magazines with demo disks had it on there. My parents/dad bought 1 and we played through, got 2 and then learned that after beating 2 you get 2 player VS mode. So sick
I don't think I suffered from any motion sickness using VR in this game, and I suffer quite badley from it usually. I think having the cockpit screen surrounding you helps a lot, like looking outside the windows of a moving car to avoid motion sickness.
Kojima ought to be called a legend! Zone of the enders 2 was one of his most underrated masterpieces but those who played it bear witness to his genius in game design. ZOE2 is everything a mech game should be! Incredible looking robots fighting at break-neck speeds with blades, guns, missiles and exotic energy cannons with no interruption to the on screen action with cumbersome and confusing inventory menus. Kojima delivered to his fans the God of mech games that fully captured those fantastic action scenes from our favorite Japanese mech anime. Before ZOE2 there was mech warriors an American robot game that was slow and frustrating to play. Whatever robot you played as you were too busy to enjoy the combat as you fiddled around with the aiming system that almost always managed to miss the target. The fights were underwhelming and the controls were clunky. ZOE the predecessor of ZOE2 and many other 3d mech games drew inspiration from that American title....but ZOE2 ended them all with a mech game that put players in the cockpit of a godlike robot and designed a control system that made every player feel like a Japanese anime ace robot pilot who could run circles around his opponents while emptying their entire Arsenal of weapons on the enemies seamlessly. Kojima literally made this mech game perfect in every aspect: control system, art style, music, story.....this game was a magnum opus of robot anime games...an undisputed perfection of game design!
I've probably played this once a year since getting it in the 00s. My favorite level is the space force escort mission.....retying it over and over till I complete it without any of the space force dieing!
When the game was first announced for the PS2, my mind couldn't handle how good it looked. It literally saved every trailer on the pc, kept it like a holy book, and watched it over and over again.
This is one of my favorite mecha games of all time. You really did it justice. I should really pick up a copy of the NTSC-J version one of these days, I've never heard the Japanese dub. As goofy as the english dub can be, I can't help but get hyped like a wide-eyed boy when that (incredibly spoliery!) intro plays.
Something I loved about ZoE2ndR is that Dingo is not the typical mecha anime protag, the games make it clear that while Leo is probably the most compatile pilot, is Dingo the experienced pilot the one who can squeeze the most of Jehuty potential and be the one to be a match to Anubis.
55:45 hey! You didn't show the "Project Enders" thing! Kojima shown new Jehuty prequel models made on FOX Engine! But of course that was scraped too.. Still, thanks so much for this video. This game means the world to me and I'm glad you and other people here seems to feel that way!!
Interesting tidbit: ZoE had a really cool 'multi-target' lock on feature where you could target multiple enemies at once and fire a flurry of laser blasts at all of them at once. Sunrise was so impressed with this 'style' that it became one of the main features a year after 2nd Runner came out in an anime called Gundam SEED / Gundam SEED Destiny. In Gundam SEED / Destiny, Kira Yamato piloting FREEDOM Gundam often does an eerily similar multi-target lock on and fire attack that was inspired by ZoE.
16:00 - btw the animation inside the boxes are all done real time. meaning there is no pre rendered anime FMV that is played inside the boxes but rather the game animating the 2d parts real time. this kinda blew my mind for a while and goes to show how clever the devs were with this approach. The game uses different sets of images for the character's mouths, eyes and for the face movements. Basically its all split up images which the game assembles them all realtime as the cutscene is playing by picking the different mouth images, eye images and the character face images appropriately and then animates them all. One issue with this approach is that the devs did not cap the frame rate or the speed of these animations separately to 24fps or below 30fps and it is tied to the speed of the game itself. Cause of this you will notice the mouth movement being a bit too fast for a anime :D This was mostly a non issue for the PS2 as the game did not run at a locked 60fps during those cutscenes as it was demanding on that console. the mouth movement animated slowly at a framerate between 60 to 30 or below 30. this was ok for the most part on the PS2. But the 2nd runner PS4 version now runs at 60fps everywhere and even during the cutscenes. because of this, these animated cutscenes will all run at 60fps and without slowing down like on the PS2. this results in that mouth movement being a bit too fast. 28:54 The ranking system in the two events are used for determining the overall score. if you get S in these two events, with zero retries from a gameover screen, and with less than 15 saves (saves performed not slots), then you get the SS rank as the final score in the end. And yeah Steam players do get a W as there is a mod that basically replaces the EN voiceovers with the JP voiceovers :D
got this game on a random PS2 demo disc when I was a kid. went straight to the store and bought the game after spending hours of playing the same demo over and over again. Best decision ever. PS2 Version is great, since it utilizes the Dualshock 2's pressure sensitive buttons. i kinda missed those in the PC Version.
OMG once you get zero shift... The game changes for me. You go from long range closing in to close range to literally popping RIGHT in front of enemies and decimating them then roboninja teleporting to the next. Also, Toshiyuki Kakuta, AKA L. E. D. From the Beatmania IIDX series, made some of the music in ZOE1 and 2.
The idea for "Beyond the Bounds" is similar to Yoko Kannos "Green Bird", written for Cowboy Bebop. The concept that languages have changed/mixed in the far future and the Enders speak "offshoots" of the original Earth languages. Its awesome.
Omg I love Zone of Enders I cry every time I hear beyond the bonds I love you men for doing this video you are the best , sorry I hold myself but I am about to cry . Edit: I have watch this video 5 time I put it on every time i cook .
great video, ZOE 1 + the MGS demo is just an iconic memory of my childhood. I don't think I've actually been as engrossed and excited about a game since. The game play was just brilliant, bridged the gap between Gundam and what I thought a DBZ game should have been (complete with spirit bomb). A masterpiece and I hope we see a modern gen version one day!
I actually picked this up at release because it launched with the MGS2 demo, which was essentially the tanker mission. Didn't even touch the actual ZOE title until well after MGS2 launched, and instantly regretted letting it sit on the shelf collecting dust. Sadly, I didn't even hear about ZOE2 until the 360 launched. Got it with the HD collection and honestly wondered why Konami did not push harder at that games release. Konami takes all the prizes for missed opportunities
Played this game in VR and you’re not missing out on much if you didn’t. Although it was cool to look around Jehuty’s cockpit. Also more people need to play this game, if you couldn’t tell from my user name I’m a HUGE fan
@@Dzzy123 it wasn’t really disorientating, I think having the cockpit visuals around helped keep motion sickness down as there is always something to focus on. Also there’s a little Jehuty hologram there so that you have an idea what you’re doing.
Oh man finally something I can contribute to! Yes I have played the majority of the campaign in the VR mode. Yes at first it's sickening. But I found that after a while, it subsidies. However, I was never able to finish the final boss in VR. But all in all, I found myself kinda enjoying it
One of my favorite games for PS2. I played this game to hell and back with my best friend ages ago. Loved the vs mode too. Own the Animes on DVD as well. Such a underrated series.
Snatcher very much got me into VNs and 90's adventure games when it came out on the Sega CD. When I hear Hideo Kojima, I immediately think Policenuts and Snatcher!
I'll admit, as much as ZOE 1 is a game that isn't all that great and I haven't gone back to, I still think a lot about Viola's death scene. As clunky as the first game was, it had potential and good direction.
ZOE was special on the PS2. There was this Anime Hype coming up at the beginning of the 2000s in Europe and suddely you start the game and think: Wait Anime graphics in a game? Is that possible, cool! There were other Anime like titles such as ONI, but the characters felt plastic, giving the power of the PS2. To use mechs and Anime Cutscenes was brilliant. Sure the game was short, but I always make two replays, when I play ZOE. The first one just as an overpowered Jehuty version literally busting enemys with little effort (Gives you the feeling of being a Gundam pilot, since they usually are just over the top). The second one on hard mode to tackle everything on perfect. The game has suprinsingly small sequences to hate. Yeah the mine field.... and getting Ardjet to the roof. And yes the big war battle was amazing. You just thought: "Kicking spaceships was cool, but hey try this massive onslaught." and you were like: "Oh shit!" on the first time. Overall it is a game worth visiting every 2 years or so again.
maaaannn... the zoe3 game would've been so sick. I saw concept art and it was a prequel where the egyptian gods were basically these giant creatures. the mechs themselves looked more like fleshy/mechanical hybrids it was so crazy looking. so sad about its cancellation. moreso than any other cancellation i've ever heard of.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video! It brought back soooooo many great memories of staying up late playing this on my PS2. Not only is the vector cannon one of the best weapons in all of video games, I also loved the fact that I could grab an enemy, spin the fuck out of them and then toss them into another group of enemies. God this is such an epic game......
20:06 the combat system seems very similar to the one in the Baldr series (Baldr Force, Baldr Sky) which is funnily enough also a mecha game series. You have three buttons for attacks and 9 slots for weapons in total (which weapon is used when pressing a certain button depends on the distance to the enemy and if you're moving or not). The attacks also sometimes vary depending on the previous action/attack, leading to awesome combo potential in combat. Definitely recommend.
Even better about the vector canon, you can whip the beam around like a bullet hell game, so you could theoretically sweep about 45 degrees in either direction.
I was the 5th person yo play this game in vr, it was incredible. I've never suffered from motion sickness so perhaps I'm bias but I've had no such issue. It played very well and was a TON of fun! I'd recommend it to anyone once psvr2 comes out on ps5
A bit of some commentary on the multiplayer: it's horribly broken. Nephtys has an invulnerable dash that can be cancelled into itself, meaning she can lame out the timer if she ever gets a life lead. Her burst slash is also instant startup. Her shots are pretty bad but she never has to commit to anything, she can basically just continually dash around you and if you do anything she hits you with a burst slash and runs. Vic Viper beats everyone except Nephtys due to options and unavoidable gauntlet unblockables. Because options cost HP, Neph can basically just run away from round start and play extremely lame and safe. The only really interesting matches are between Jehuty v2, Naked Jehuty, and Aumaan Anubis. Anubis (both) are a bit too slow, they don't give the player enough control to really work. Their dash shot is pretty hard to deal with without Guard and lingers a lot, so it's basically force the opponent to block, then either use burst shot or zero in > melee/burst slash. Overall though it's really not worth playing compared to Acceleration of Suguri or Senko no Ronde which have similar gameplay but are designed with competitive play in mind.
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Zone of the Enders 2 is one of the most unique games I've played in my life. The combat was thrilling throughout and I wish we got a third title. The concept art that Yoji Shinkawa had for ZOE3 looked so cool. One thing I really like is that the mechs in this franchise have an Egyptian aesthetic to them that is really striking.
👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿 ZOE2 is my top 10 easily
Zone of the Enders and Zone of the Enders 2 are a masterpiece.
I will say this in defence of ZOE 1 - it genuinely shocked me that you could get the "bad ending" by killing all the civilians you were supposed to save in the first half.
It turns out that the pilot you were trying to meet up with was one of the civilians and it ends with Leo saying "...I was just playing a game..." which ties in with MGS2's themes.
Pretty sure the duration of the game and how often the environment around you gets destroyed plays a big role in that as well.
@@yukiterumi7371 nope
Fun Facts: L3 & R3 can be used to talk with ADA by agreeing or disagreeing for a PS2 game this was amazing.
Viola and AI Viola are mirrored/reversed so are Anubis and Jehuty, so are quite a few of the songs and music in this game, try playing them backwards.
In the TV and Movie it is implied METATRON is imprintable with the pilot's deepest wishes.
The L3 and R3 feature is completely bugged and busted in this version. I mean, I know it's optional, but I don't think it's ever going to be patched
@@ThBrando optional unless you want all of the extra missions as one requires a positive response to ADA saying something about beating a certain set of enemies within 90 seconds or something like that. though it seemed to work fine even for the chatting when i tried the VR one. both games have a small speedrunning community have have been on a GDQ marathon. they recently did a "how to train your speed runner" for the 1st game.
fist of mars isnt canon, but it dose have a glossery of terms for like LEV and such which is kinda useful.
@@ThBrando I've personally never had problems with it on PC, ps4, and ps3. (I've bought this game way too many times.)
@@ThBrando
It's bugged? It works okay for me.
@@ThBrando It's not bugged, it's tied to the Frame rate; you have to be quite fast with your answers on the MARS version.
PS2 version, you have like 3-5 seconds to answer ADA. On MARS version, it's closer to just over 1 second.
I just rewatched your FFXIII video. It seems the "I don't go out of my way to find bad localizations, I swear they just find me" line still holds true.
The mission where you assist the LEV's against the Orbital Frames was a spectacle when I was a kid. Honestly the best depiction of a mecha war in any video game ever, frankly.
I just started crashing down buttons and praying to god it works.
The LEV's what?
I played ZOE 2nd Runner when it came out on PS2, and I've loved it since. I remember my friend and I playing through so much of the first games campaign together and we were hooked... Thanks for the video, made me nostalgic to think about the game and it's story again. I constantly listen to Beyond the Bounds and Kiss me Sunlight, which are such perfect themes.... Ah, the good ole days...
Just finished this game yesterday, an incredible game.
please finish in my girlfriend next.
A magnificent series that I hope Kojima resurrects with a spiritual successor.
Area of the Finishers
imagine if Kojima and From reboot it together, Armored Enders or whatever
@@vladalexan Region of the Concluders
@@ennieminymoo6675 District of the Culminators
Vicinity of Limits
Man, I already knew the exact IGN list you were gonna bring up regarding the vector cannon cause I too was disappointed more people don’t talk about the weapon.
There’s just a very nice sense of catharsis when, in a high speed 3d action game, the strongest weapon requires you to stand motionless on the ground and charge for upwards of 15 seconds in order to unleash a beam of pure destruction
25:36 i knew exactly which weapon you were gonna mention; its such a cool weapon and the added spectacle and music that is happening around you only adds to it!
There are very few games that make me feel like I am actually playing an anime and Zone Of The Enders does this in spades. The graphics in this game really hold up and is a real showcase for how powerful the PS2 actually was. I wish this franchise was revisited by Konami but considering that company's track record I wont hold my breath.
Sweet. Yeah I played ZOE VR. It was fun to replay. And no I never got sick playing it, it was like really super fun and they handled the dashing well. It was a lot of fun. I don’t think I could run the whole game in one sitting though.
I'm so glad this pearl receives the attention it deserves at almost 20 years from its release. It got me into the mecha genre from gundam to armored core. Truely underrated
Zoe is the Armored Core of Dark Souls.
That is such an accurate comparison it's scary.
What? Isn't Armored Core made the same company as Dark Souls?
So Zoe is basically Armored Core.
Jesus christ.
Armored Core is already a Dark Souls my dude since the beginning
12:32 No wonder Vic Viper follows a totally different naming convention. It's not an Orbital Frame. Vic Viper is a LEV. Yes, a LEV. A prototype for the next generation. I'm not sure that the thing even uses Metatron. It would have been interesting seeing a future where LEVs don't suck anymore.
It uses Metatron for fuel but its body/armor are all LEV tech
One thing I found surprising in harder difficulty the AI controlled units will form a squadron where one unit is promoted to a commander rank.
What this does is it unifies the enemy units to maximise the strengths and reduce weakness.
A squadron with a shield and punchy guys will have the shield units constantly attack you from a distance. The punchy guys will sit back until you come close and then pummel you. The more variety the units the more the squadrons cover for each of their weakness. Squadrons are a pain as it uncreases the difficulty to kill the units.
You are literally forced to make optimal use of all of your sub weapons to retake advantage.
OH MY GOD, you're actually covering one of my favorite games of all time? let's do this!
Leo is a dollar store Amuro. ZoE 1’s story is famously those first handful of episodes of the original Gundam repackaged with a sentient AI partner and a twist at the end that leads straight to The Second Runner.
Refreshed my sub page in just the right moment.
I'm surprised you didnt roast Taper and the LEV's when they charge the Bahram base. Everybody is gung-ho until the battle heats up and then mission quickly switches from a fun _Jehuty vs unamanned orbital frames_ to rendering aid to these klunky LEV's.
To this day I still hate that mission! 🤣
"I once heard ZOE 2 be described as the least overhyped game of all time"
Super Best Friends Play, I also used to watch them all the time, I miss those guys having fun together.
If ZoR was made to make the person playing feel in absolute control.
Atmored Core is made to make you feel trapped inside a hulking death trap that will kill yourself and your target, and a true struggle and achievement to master piloting
VR mode is actually pretty reasonable. It's a cockpit view, so you always have the interior of the cockpit for your eyes to reference, which counters the motion sickness a bit. Same effect as driving games have.
I actually played this series on VR and that experience was amazing
This brought back all the memories of hoping Daemon X Machina was going to be a good spiritual successor and... I think that game was super disappointing, because I barely remember it except that I have a profound sense of sadness about it.
what makes you think a spiritual successor to armored core would out do zone of the endes?
Prolly my biggest memory with beyond the bounds is listening to it using the walkman in peace walker during ai pod boss fights.
For those interested, Anubis is getting a reprint on its model kit this May. Hopefully Jehuty gets it soon.
The thing I loved about this game that you touched on perfectly was when epic battles or moments occurred, like anime, the atmosphere and tone really brought the hype! The music, the mechanics, visuals, and voice acting all came together for a really memorable experience even years later.
"I totally crushed that game like 37 times, and man, playing the versus mode with my bro was the bomb. The mecha gameplay was super satisfying, you know? And those mecha designs, the animated cutscenes, and Dingo's reactions? Totally nailed it. The story kept me on the edge of my seat, and the music? Oh man, it was epic, especially when you're facing off against those boss battles. I gotta say, this game is a freaking masterpiece.
And let me tell you, from start to finish, it's a wild ride. I played it way back when, but it's still stuck in my head. That's the mark of true art, my friend."
@26:15 is the only reason I clicked this video. I have yet come across anyone who has given the vector cannon the justice it deserves! You did and I appreciate it
I didnt realise the MGS2 demo had all this attached to it!
First zone of enders I ever played was. Zone of enders the fist of Mars. Which Which loved.
Y'know, I knew about this game a little because of the Polygon video about Mecha games, and it was really cool to see an in-depth analysis of it. Speaking of multi-media franchises developed for the PS2 ,anyone remember the .hack// games? Would love to see a video somewhere about that series.
I actually remember watching the anime on adult swim or toonami 😅
Zone of the Enders one came with a demo disc for MGS2 so a lot of people actually played it. That demo was the hottest thing, we’d replay it over and over. But yea that demo is what got people to get ZOE1, and I’m glad I did.
Fun fact: the ZOE 2 remaster was made by Cygames who are known for a number of extremely popular games like Granblue Fantasy, Shadowverse, Dragalia Lost and many many more
I wonder if that notorious mission (to the right to the right..a little bit more) was referenced in Phantom Pain when Quiet has to navigate the helicopter to her and Venom's position through the sand storm. 🤔 It is kojima so I wouldn't be surprised if it actually was.
This game is so nostalgic,in my opinion the greatest ever made in history,the story, gameplay,I love it so much,they don't make such a masterpiece nowadays!
Half-Life Crowbar is atleast top 50 best weapons. Idc if its just a crowbar, say that when you get ambushed by facehuggers and run out of ammo!
My theory is that ZONE OF THE ENDERS takes place in the far future of the METAL GEAR SOLID franchise. Just look at the Orbital Frames Idolo, Dolores, Jehuty, and Anubis. Definitely, design wise, descended from Metal Gear Ray. And the main protagonist in ZONE OF THE ENDERS 2ND RUNNER, Dingo Egret, could very well be the descendant of Raiden.
I was hugely into this series back then, to the point where I actually tracked down and watched the supplementary movie and anime series. Most of my memories are with the anime series, likely because it was longer, being a TV series and all. I recall it being entertaining, but the first few episodes did drag a little. It's much more slice-of-life than a lot of other mecha anime I've seen, but the stakes do still escalate eventually, and without spoiling anything, it does actually bring some closure to events that happened in the movie, so I'd recommend checking it out if you're interested and have the time.
I also tried to play the GBA game, but I just could never finish it. I think it was because the gameplay was just so easy that the missions just became too boring, though I still remember liking the characters and story. Same issue I had recently with Persona 2 on the PSP.
Played the demo for the first game in 2001, eventually got both of them on PS2 and PS3 physically, it's really funny because I got into ZOE long before Gundam but it's basically Kojima's homage to it. Orbital Frame is just interchangeable with Mobile Suit, Metatron is interchangeable with Gundarium, child soldiers, Enders are Spacenoids, colonisation of the solar system, etc.
Still gotta get around to building a Jehuty model kit though!
29:42 jokes on you, I memorized the path perfectly and Ken can do nothing but panic lmao
I remember playing this on the PS2 ... yeah, definitely multiple runs ...
... tho hilariously, the more I learned how to play the game, the less the subweapons got used extepting the super specialized cases like battle or the flying battleships. The dash, the sword and the throw end up being the only things you use later on.
Dear Brando,
Thanks.
From the Self Proclaimed Largest ZOE Fan,
Me
Seriously though, ZOE1 shifted the trajectory of my life (I started to lose internet in playing games and ZOE pulled me ALLLL the way back. To the point of me working for Gamestop for 7 years. I own every ZOE media project including re-releases. I. Have. A. Problem.
And no patience for people who complain about waiting for the next game in a series unless they've waited almost 20 years like me while knowing it'll probably never happen again or it will and it'll be a disappointment. (Why am I rambling on here?? Going to bed now lol)
But seriously, thanks for giving the series some love.
I remember playing 1&2 on ps2 in I think 02-04 maybe earlier. The ZOE 2 demo in the old magazines with demo disks had it on there. My parents/dad bought 1 and we played through, got 2 and then learned that after beating 2 you get 2 player VS mode. So sick
I don't think I suffered from any motion sickness using VR in this game, and I suffer quite badley from it usually. I think having the cockpit screen surrounding you helps a lot, like looking outside the windows of a moving car to avoid motion sickness.
Kojima ought to be called a legend! Zone of the enders 2 was one of his most underrated masterpieces but those who played it bear witness to his genius in game design.
ZOE2 is everything a mech game should be! Incredible looking robots fighting at break-neck speeds with blades, guns, missiles and exotic energy cannons with no interruption to the on screen action with cumbersome and confusing inventory menus. Kojima delivered to his fans the God of mech games that fully captured those fantastic action scenes from our favorite Japanese mech anime. Before ZOE2 there was mech warriors an American robot game that was slow and frustrating to play. Whatever robot you played as you were too busy to enjoy the combat as you fiddled around with the aiming system that almost always managed to miss the target. The fights were underwhelming and the controls were clunky. ZOE the predecessor of ZOE2 and many other 3d mech games drew inspiration from that American title....but ZOE2 ended them all with a mech game that put players in the cockpit of a godlike robot and designed a control system that made every player feel like a Japanese anime ace robot pilot who could run circles around his opponents while emptying their entire Arsenal of weapons on the enemies seamlessly. Kojima literally made this mech game perfect in every aspect: control system, art style, music, story.....this game was a magnum opus of robot anime games...an undisputed perfection of game design!
Since you mentioned Kazuma Kaneko and Mechas.
He also designed the Werkbau and the Dis Astranagant from SRW.
Alpha 3rd I believe.
I just replayed this and The Fist Of Mars for GBA a few days ago and they’re still amazing
Also, the ZONE OF THE ENDERS video game franchise takes inspiration from MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM. It's another take on the One Year War.
I've probably played this once a year since getting it in the 00s. My favorite level is the space force escort mission.....retying it over and over till I complete it without any of the space force dieing!
When the game was first announced for the PS2, my mind couldn't handle how good it looked. It literally saved every trailer on the pc, kept it like a holy book, and watched it over and over again.
This is one of my favorite mecha games of all time. You really did it justice. I should really pick up a copy of the NTSC-J version one of these days, I've never heard the Japanese dub. As goofy as the english dub can be, I can't help but get hyped like a wide-eyed boy when that (incredibly spoliery!) intro plays.
Something I loved about ZoE2ndR is that Dingo is not the typical mecha anime protag, the games make it clear that while Leo is probably the most compatile pilot, is Dingo the experienced pilot the one who can squeeze the most of Jehuty potential and be the one to be a match to Anubis.
55:45 hey! You didn't show the "Project Enders" thing! Kojima shown new Jehuty prequel models made on FOX Engine! But of course that was scraped too..
Still, thanks so much for this video. This game means the world to me and I'm glad you and other people here seems to feel that way!!
Interesting tidbit: ZoE had a really cool 'multi-target' lock on feature where you could target multiple enemies at once and fire a flurry of laser blasts at all of them at once.
Sunrise was so impressed with this 'style' that it became one of the main features a year after 2nd Runner came out in an anime called Gundam SEED / Gundam SEED Destiny.
In Gundam SEED / Destiny, Kira Yamato piloting FREEDOM Gundam often does an eerily similar multi-target lock on and fire attack that was inspired by ZoE.
16:00 - btw the animation inside the boxes are all done real time. meaning there is no pre rendered anime FMV that is played inside the boxes but rather the game animating the 2d parts real time. this kinda blew my mind for a while and goes to show how clever the devs were with this approach.
The game uses different sets of images for the character's mouths, eyes and for the face movements. Basically its all split up images which the game assembles them all realtime as the cutscene is playing by picking the different mouth images, eye images and the character face images appropriately and then animates them all.
One issue with this approach is that the devs did not cap the frame rate or the speed of these animations separately to 24fps or below 30fps and it is tied to the speed of the game itself.
Cause of this you will notice the mouth movement being a bit too fast for a anime :D
This was mostly a non issue for the PS2 as the game did not run at a locked 60fps during those cutscenes as it was demanding on that console. the mouth movement animated slowly at a framerate between 60 to 30 or below 30. this was ok for the most part on the PS2.
But the 2nd runner PS4 version now runs at 60fps everywhere and even during the cutscenes. because of this, these animated cutscenes will all run at 60fps and without slowing down like on the PS2. this results in that mouth movement being a bit too fast.
28:54 The ranking system in the two events are used for determining the overall score. if you get S in these two events, with zero retries from a gameover screen, and with less than 15 saves (saves performed not slots), then you get the SS rank as the final score in the end.
And yeah Steam players do get a W as there is a mod that basically replaces the EN voiceovers with the JP voiceovers :D
got this game on a random PS2 demo disc when I was a kid. went straight to the store and bought the game after spending hours of playing the same demo over and over again. Best decision ever. PS2 Version is great, since it utilizes the Dualshock 2's pressure sensitive buttons. i kinda missed those in the PC Version.
34:04 this is really cool. I wish Armored Core let you see your AC while its in the garage from the perspective of your pilot
OMG once you get zero shift... The game changes for me. You go from long range closing in to close range to literally popping RIGHT in front of enemies and decimating them then roboninja teleporting to the next.
Also, Toshiyuki Kakuta, AKA L. E. D. From the Beatmania IIDX series, made some of the music in ZOE1 and 2.
I absolutely love this game the first one felt like a training mission but it was so good and no one ever talks about it
The idea for "Beyond the Bounds" is similar to Yoko Kannos "Green Bird", written for Cowboy Bebop.
The concept that languages have changed/mixed in the far future and the Enders speak "offshoots" of the original Earth languages.
Its awesome.
Omg I love Zone of Enders I cry every time I hear beyond the bonds I love you men for doing this video you are the best , sorry I hold myself but I am about to cry .
Edit: I have watch this video 5 time I put it on every time i cook .
I literally got teary-eyed in the car driving to work listening to one of the Final Fantasy orchestral suites.
You're in good company, here!
great video, ZOE 1 + the MGS demo is just an iconic memory of my childhood. I don't think I've actually been as engrossed and excited about a game since. The game play was just brilliant, bridged the gap between Gundam and what I thought a DBZ game should have been (complete with spirit bomb). A masterpiece and I hope we see a modern gen version one day!
I actually picked this up at release because it launched with the MGS2 demo, which was essentially the tanker mission. Didn't even touch the actual ZOE title until well after MGS2 launched, and instantly regretted letting it sit on the shelf collecting dust.
Sadly, I didn't even hear about ZOE2 until the 360 launched. Got it with the HD collection and honestly wondered why Konami did not push harder at that games release. Konami takes all the prizes for missed opportunities
17 minute into the video and i already searching on how to get my hand on this
I'm here because I randomly thought about this game-- 20 years later. Yeah, it was that good.
Played this game in VR and you’re not missing out on much if you didn’t. Although it was cool to look around Jehuty’s cockpit. Also more people need to play this game, if you couldn’t tell from my user name I’m a HUGE fan
Jehuty representing
Was it disorienting to play this game in VR?
@@Dzzy123 it wasn’t really disorientating, I think having the cockpit visuals around helped keep motion sickness down as there is always something to focus on. Also there’s a little Jehuty hologram there so that you have an idea what you’re doing.
Oh man finally something I can contribute to! Yes I have played the majority of the campaign in the VR mode. Yes at first it's sickening. But I found that after a while, it subsidies. However, I was never able to finish the final boss in VR. But all in all, I found myself kinda enjoying it
0:38 i peeped that fortuna warframe soundtrack, you sir have nothing but the best tastes
>"4 is inching dangerously close to being lost media"
...Wait oh my god it is. It's only in one place, what the hell
One of my favorite games for PS2. I played this game to hell and back with my best friend ages ago. Loved the vs mode too. Own the Animes on DVD as well. Such a underrated series.
Snatcher very much got me into VNs and 90's adventure games when it came out on the Sega CD. When I hear Hideo Kojima, I immediately think Policenuts and Snatcher!
I'll admit, as much as ZOE 1 is a game that isn't all that great and I haven't gone back to, I still think a lot about Viola's death scene. As clunky as the first game was, it had potential and good direction.
Getting M2 to remake the ZOE2 port from scratch as a result of the poor reception was the last great gift konami gave us.
the HD edition for 360 is backwards-compatible
You start with a LEV and they upgrade you with Jehuty making you feel like a Mech God,
then they give you Vector Cannon...
Then you get Zero Shift...
ZOE was special on the PS2. There was this Anime Hype coming up at the beginning of the 2000s in Europe and suddely you start the game and think: Wait Anime graphics in a game? Is that possible, cool!
There were other Anime like titles such as ONI, but the characters felt plastic, giving the power of the PS2. To use mechs and Anime Cutscenes was brilliant. Sure the game was short, but I always make two replays, when I play ZOE. The first one just as an overpowered Jehuty version literally busting enemys with little effort (Gives you the feeling of being a Gundam pilot, since they usually are just over the top). The second one on hard mode to tackle everything on perfect.
The game has suprinsingly small sequences to hate. Yeah the mine field.... and getting Ardjet to the roof.
And yes the big war battle was amazing. You just thought: "Kicking spaceships was cool, but hey try this massive onslaught." and you were like: "Oh shit!" on the first time.
Overall it is a game worth visiting every 2 years or so again.
Should try Omega boost its the only game I can think of like Zoe but it came out on the ps1 and was made by the grand tourismo dev team
Also in the ps2 version even if you force Jehuty to the ground and skate around the feet would make trails in the floor
I played this game in VR just to know what ZERO SHIFT felt like from the cockpit... it felt pretty good!
I'm certain that the cutscene slowdown thing you talked about was in MGS2 aswell
SEGA nailed the ZoE2 feel in the Ep6 Urgent Quest using AIS. Ever since, I've been wishing this series was still alive.
OMG i cannot believe i missout this game on steam.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VID !!!!!!
The upside down A symbol is called a "turned A."
The upside down A means “for all” in mathematics. Might mean Mars for all.
maaaannn... the zoe3 game would've been so sick. I saw concept art and it was a prequel where the egyptian gods were basically these giant creatures. the mechs themselves looked more like fleshy/mechanical hybrids it was so crazy looking. so sad about its cancellation. moreso than any other cancellation i've ever heard of.
The pachinko machine part broke my heart. Just like Konami in general.
I thoroughly enjoyed this video! It brought back soooooo many great memories of staying up late playing this on my PS2. Not only is the vector cannon one of the best weapons in all of video games, I also loved the fact that I could grab an enemy, spin the fuck out of them and then toss them into another group of enemies. God this is such an epic game......
20:06 the combat system seems very similar to the one in the Baldr series (Baldr Force, Baldr Sky) which is funnily enough also a mecha game series.
You have three buttons for attacks and 9 slots for weapons in total (which weapon is used when pressing a certain button depends on the distance to the enemy and if you're moving or not). The attacks also sometimes vary depending on the previous action/attack, leading to awesome combo potential in combat. Definitely recommend.
Bro i Love Zone of the Enders and the 2nd Runner. I was so addicted. And i still Love it.
I’m so happy I found this video!!! I love ZOE!!! I got a PS Vita on the soul believe that there was going to be a zone of enders game on it!!!
I tried this is VR and lasted 30 minutes. The motion sickness was strong in this one
I’ve been unsure about this game for a while but this video sold me on getting it thank you!
Jehuty is one of the other names of Thoth, the priest king of Atlantis and the Mesopotamian god Ningishzida of the Annunaki pantheon.
Ningishzida
Made a drum n bass remix to Bahram about a year ago. Still one of my alltime favorite games
Even better about the vector canon, you can whip the beam around like a bullet hell game, so you could theoretically sweep about 45 degrees in either direction.
I've seen the videos where people optimally use the Vector Cannon in regular fights and it honestly blows my mind every time
I was the 5th person yo play this game in vr, it was incredible. I've never suffered from motion sickness so perhaps I'm bias but I've had no such issue. It played very well and was a TON of fun! I'd recommend it to anyone once psvr2 comes out on ps5
A bit of some commentary on the multiplayer: it's horribly broken.
Nephtys has an invulnerable dash that can be cancelled into itself, meaning she can lame out the timer if she ever gets a life lead. Her burst slash is also instant startup. Her shots are pretty bad but she never has to commit to anything, she can basically just continually dash around you and if you do anything she hits you with a burst slash and runs.
Vic Viper beats everyone except Nephtys due to options and unavoidable gauntlet unblockables. Because options cost HP, Neph can basically just run away from round start and play extremely lame and safe.
The only really interesting matches are between Jehuty v2, Naked Jehuty, and Aumaan Anubis. Anubis (both) are a bit too slow, they don't give the player enough control to really work. Their dash shot is pretty hard to deal with without Guard and lingers a lot, so it's basically force the opponent to block, then either use burst shot or zero in > melee/burst slash.
Overall though it's really not worth playing compared to Acceleration of Suguri or Senko no Ronde which have similar gameplay but are designed with competitive play in mind.