Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars

Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars

North American box art
Developer(s) Sunrise Interactive
Publisher(s) Konami Computer Entertainment
Series Zone of the Enders
Platform(s) Game Boy Advance
Release date(s)
  • JP September 27, 2001
  • NA February 12, 2002
  • EU June 7, 2002
Genre(s) Action
Tactical role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars, known in Japan as Zone of the Enders: 2173 Testament (ゾーン　オブ　エンダーズ 2173 テスタメント Zōn obu Endāzu 2173 Tesutamento), is a video game that was developed by Sunrise Interactive and published by Konami in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance. The game is story-orientated, and is based around turn-based strategic mecha combat. It was once the only game in the series to not be given a Mature rating in the US until the 2012 HD Collection download versions that did not include the Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance demo.[1][2][3]

Storyline

The story is set within the Zone of the Enders universe. It is 2173[4] and humankind, in the search for a valuable resource called Metatron, has expanded its reaches to Mars and the moons of Jupiter, and full colonies have been established. However, Earth keeps a tight rein over the colonials, known by the derogatory term "Enders", and discrimination is commonplace. Food supplies are short, movement of citizens is controlled, and many Mars inhabitants have tried to rise up against Earth, but to little avail.

The game follows the story of a 17-year-old boy named Cage Midwell, a worker upon the interplanetary express ship "Bonaparte III" with his close friend (and idol) Ares Enduwa. However, on a routine journey, Cage spots a woman creeping into the cargo holds, and follows her. As he does this, the ship is attacked by a powerful black Orbital Frame. Cage and the girl, who introduces herself as Myona Alderan, climb into a mysterious LEV held within the ship and escape, eventually crash-landing on Mars. They are quickly caught and are accused of being the ones responsible for the crash. On top of this, Myona has completely lost her memory. However, shortly after their imprisonment, they are freed by an "Anti-Terrestrial League" leader called Deckson Geyse. His faction, BIS (Born In Space), quickly come and rescue them, and Cage finds himself caught up in the escalating conflict between Earth and Mars.

Structure

The game is structured in a manner resembling an anime TV series, with 26 "episodes", each containing one mission. Each episode (with the exception of the last, which is purely storyline-based) consists of a series of story scenes, followed by a gameplay, and closing with another series of story scenes. Between episodes, the player can purchase equipment and upgrades for their mecha, and save the game. A directory of terms and characters is available, gameplay may be saved at any point during combat, and story scenes can be fast-forwarded, reversed, or skipped completely. Also, meeting certain criteria in game can lead to different endings and missions.

Gameplay consists of an interface similar to that of Super Robot Wars. The characters' mecha have various attacks and statistics that allow them to perform different tasks, and different strengths and weaknesses in combat (For example, Mebius' Orbital Frame Orchist has powerful ranged attacks in the forms of the Elfen Bow and the Moon Balista moves, but is weak in close combat both offensively and defensively). There are a variety of different mission objectives, from protecting targets to destroying particular enemy combatants. Attacks are performed or evaded by using the IAS (Interactive Attack System) where the player targets or avoids the enemy from a 1st person perspective.

Characters

Cage Midwell – a 17-year-old worker upon the interplanetary express Bonaparte III. An orphan, he has a substantial inferiority complex, an excessively passive nature, and low self-esteem, and is completely reliant on his friend Ares to help and support him. He even carries a button with a song Ares played with him as a good luck charm, evidence of his need for Ares's support. He meets Myona during the destruction of the Bonaparte, and the two form a close relationship as she attempts to recover her memories. He becomes a member of BIS, and plays a pivotal role in Mars' future.

Emotionally damaged, he often blames his failures on other people, and has a tendency to snap under pressure. However he is kind, gentle and is capable of doing whatever he feels is justified for the greater good.

He uses the Orbital Frame "Testament". One half of the Animus Project, it is inhabited by an advanced AI called Pharsti, who becomes a valuable ally to the inexperienced Cage. It is incredibly powerful, described in-game as having "limitless capacity".

Ares Enduwa – A co-worker and friend of Cage's, at face value, he is a mature, intelligent (if not ingenious) young man. However, he is secretly an agent of anti-earth terrorists BAHRAM, and can become the main antagonist of the game.

Ares pilots several frames throughout the game, including the Orbital Frame Vjaya. Modeled after a ninja, it has the largest movement range of any unit in the game, and a high accuracy. However, its power and defenses are somewhat lacking. It is piloted by multiple others throughout the game.

His main frame is the Black Frame, aka Iblis. The other half of the Animus series, it uses a close synchronisation with the pilot to boost its power. It is used to destroy the Bonaparte III.

Myona Alderan – A mysterious girl with no memory of her past, Myona becomes an important character within the story, and becomes very close to Cage. However, her amnesia means that she is unaware of her true role.

Myona is not majorly featured as a pilot within the story, but towards the end, pilots the Nerokerubina.

Deckson Geyse – The founder of BIS, is an integral part of the Mars Resistance movement, although he is unaware of the extent of his influence. An ex-military man, he became suspicious of Earth's dealings on Mars and, upon unearthing the extent of their tyranny, formed BIS.

Deckson drives Edge, a large tank which can also refuel and rearm other units.

Semyl Shambrow – The youngest member of BIS, as an orphan, she experienced much prejudice as an "ender", and her contempt for Earthlings, combined with her desire to improve the world for her orphan friends, led her to join the resistance. Strongly assertive-aggressive, she often gets in arguments with Razma, although the two are otherwise very close.

She pilots Caliburnus, an LEV with powerful defensive capabilities. Primarily a support unit, its mobility is low, but its ranged attacks allow it to stay just behind the front line and pepper the opponent with missiles.

Razma Cascade Jr. – An outgoing skirt-chaser, despite his tendency for immaturity, he is reliable and intelligent. He shares a love-hate relationship with Semyl. An exceptional sniper, his eyesight and hearing, and natural perception, mean that he is able to notice things that others miss. Has a tendency to flirt with any and/or every nearby female, particularly Mebius, who he has a light crush on.

His LEV is called Dreizehn. A long-range unit, it has the accuracy to match Razma's natural sniping unit. Like Caliburnus, it is ineffective up close, but its ranged attacks mean that it is ideal for softening up opponents before they reach the close-combat units.

Mebius K Lylekraft – Mature beyond her years, her caring, soft, beautiful exterior hides a keen strategic mind. Due to an Earth General's mistake, her husband was killed in an accident, and the stress caused a miscarriage. Wracked with loss, the suicidal Mebuis was encouraged by Deckson to stop Earth's tyranny, so that such things may never happen again.

She pilots BIS's First Orbital Frame, Orcrist. Despite being fragile, it is lithe and nimble, and has exceptionally powerful ranged attacks. However, its defensive capabilities and hand-to-hand ineptness means that it rarely sees close-range-combat.

Tadamichi E. Yukito – Something of a geek, he has a tendency to become absorbed in his own little world. Coming from a rich family, he saw as a child how even the highest echelons of Martian society was considered inferior to Earth. He gets along well with Warren.

Yukito pilots the LEV Justeen. Very agile and powerful in the leg ares, it is a valuable close combat unit; however, it has excellent medium range power thanks to its ZZ Grenade attack.

Warren Lumenlux - An ex-mercenary, he is often overcautious and serious; nevertheless, he is an excellent soldier. The "strong, silent type", he rarely reveals his feelings. An excellent strategist, and the second-in-command of BIS.

Warren's Orbital Frame, Durandal II, is another effective close combat unit. While its movement range is average, its attack power makes it an important part of any attack strategy.

Philbright Westriverside Warehouserock XXVI - An effeminate young man, he is often mistaken for a girl (Even Cage does so early on). An enthusiastic young man, he has a lot of suppressed guilt and trauma at his killing of his insane father, which leaves him open to emotional wounds. He has developed a crush on Myona, and develops and aggressive jealousy towards Cage.

He drives a light armoured vehicle called "Blade", a support vehicle capable of healing and restacking ally units. It also has a well-ranged, if weak, gun.

Robin O'Connell – BIS's financial supporter. She maintains many ties to the Mars Resistance's underground, and seems to support the Martian cause. She and her secretary, the enigmatic Twede, play vital roles in BIS' exploits.

Deezel Zephyrs – A high-ranking Earth Officer and recurring antagonist. He was the mastermind behind many sadistic experiments on Martian citizens, and was responsible for the Mindflow system and Animus projects. A dominant superiority complex eliminates any compassion for his subjects; indeed, his conviction in his own brilliance drives him to attain his own goals, whatever the cost may be.

Bolozof Velasgo – A cold, malicious man, he is in charge of an elite Earth army unit called Acemos. A vicious racist, he is determined to keep Martian inferiority going, and will resort to attacks on comrades to allow his continued suppression on the Martian populace. Depending on the player's actions, he can either end up killed by his own subordinate or end up as the chief antagonist.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings70.63%[5]
Metacritic71 of 100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Game Informer6.5 of 10[5][6]
GamePro3.5 of 5[5]
GameSpot7.3 of 10[7]
GameSpy78 of 100[8]
IGN6.3 of 10[9]
Nintendo Power[5]
Play Magazine5 of 5[6]

At the time of its release, Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars received mixed to positive reviews. IGN's Craig Harris criticized the game's dialogue elements, saying that it is over-saturated and detracts from the overall experience.[9] Play Magazine however described the game as a "more than welcome breath of fresh air on the GBA", giving it a perfect score in their April 2002 issue.[6]

References

External links

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Zone of the Enders
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