#ZONE OF THE ENDERS KEN VR SERIES#
It's unfortunate that the series hasn't received another entry since this game's release fifteen years ago. Jehuty remains one of the most visually memorable characters in the medium and the menacing Anubis isn't far behind. On a more positive note, I find the in-engine cutscenes to be very well directed and I definitely notice a lot of the MGS2 DNA in their cinematography.
The numerous anime cutscenes aren't my favorite stylistic choice, but considering the uncanny valley effect that plagues a lot of other early sixth generation games (including its own predecessor), then this was probably a very reasonable compromise to make. Every single boss has its place and the sense of escalation gained by fighting them over the course of the game is something that very few other games can match. The Nephtis fights are made to teach the use of certain mechanics, the second Ardjet and Inhert fights force the player to fundamentally rethink their course of action, and Vic Viper, Zakat and Anubis are conventional, but decidedly grin-inducing spectacular duels. The bosses are yet again the stars of the show, and the majority of them are brimming with creativity and brilliant attention to detail.
The only (minor) complaint I have is that the automatic lock-on can be a bit too aggressive at times. I don't think I've ever lost my sense of orientation at any point during my recent playthrough, which is a testament to how polished the controls actually are. And it bears repeating just how good the readability is. The animations are also fantastic, although I think it would be nice if they provided a more distinct sense of weight. It isn't on the level of a character action classic, but it comes surprisingly close at times. The aerial battles / Aumaan Crevasse segment alone is a remarkably ambitious piece of game design.Ĭombat is significantly more polished this time around. Periods of downtime are carefully situated in-between substantial gameplay portions and the various elements rarely overstay their welcome. Although the core mechanics are rather simple, the overall experience remains fresh and varied over the course of the story mode. Whereas the original suffers from its simplistic premise and underdeveloped nature, the second entry is a clear improvement in every conceivable way.įirst and foremost, this game thankfully adopts a much more linear and handcrafted structure which allows for a significantly better sense of pacing. I find it difficult to think of another sequel which manages to blow its predecessor out of the water to the same degree that Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner does.
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