Zone of the Enders HD Collection

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 62 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 62
  3. Negative: 7 out of 62
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  1. mrnice
    Aug 27, 2017
    7
    ZOE 1:
    Old school 3D action game with epic story but limited gameplay and map design. The concept (story, presentation and cutscenes) gives an impression of soaringly high ambitions. But if played solely for the action scenes, the game stands alongside its contemporaries from the PS2 era, and not the most impressive of them. The game has no "Wow this is soo awesome" moments in-game. But    ZOE 1:
    Old school 3D action game with epic story but limited gameplay and map design. The concept (story, presentation and cutscenes) gives an impression of soaringly high ambitions. But if played solely for the action scenes, the game stands alongside its contemporaries from the PS2 era, and not the most impressive of them. The game has no "Wow this is soo awesome" moments in-game. But overall, when looked at as a package, it is quite awesome, and a real treat for mecha/anime fans. I'm saying, consider playing it? But don't rush in with high expectations.

    ZOE 2:
    The sequel feels super polished, like an MGS game in terms of quality control. But I actually thought the missions felt less satisfying. Like it was hard in the wrong way... I had to restart one sequence involving two generators of some sort, several times. With barely any improvement in each retry. ZOE 2 feels longer and has much more variation in mission structure and especially boss fights. But as with the first game, mecha/anime fans are the main audience while other gamers could consider putting it in their game queue (aka 'backlog'). Just let it go if you don't get to play it. It wont show you any new tricks whatsoever, apart from "you can go up and down in this action game, not just forward/back/right/left!". It's sort of an 8/10 for the production quality and game direction. But the average gamer should be more concerned with gameplay and having fun and learning something useful. In that respect, I don't think anyone "must play" this title. Especially on PS3 with such a strong competition.    … Expand
  2. ShunOugarden
    Jan 6, 2020
    5
    You can't inverse Y axis ! On PS3 ! It's a shame you don't have the possibility to have parameter like that ! (ok, it's a ps2 game but updated for HD and PS3)
  3. Termin8ter
    Feb 29, 2016
    7
    I have never played any Z.O.E games, but I thought I would review this HD collection to review the improvements. aaand i was disappointed. There are heaps of graphics issues in ZOE, and 2nd Runner. The framerate would often drop below 30, seriously damaging the experience. They did patch up the graphics issues, but only for 2nd Runner, and only the PS3 version. These issues are what putI have never played any Z.O.E games, but I thought I would review this HD collection to review the improvements. aaand i was disappointed. There are heaps of graphics issues in ZOE, and 2nd Runner. The framerate would often drop below 30, seriously damaging the experience. They did patch up the graphics issues, but only for 2nd Runner, and only the PS3 version. These issues are what put Enders Project on hold. It does come with a demo for Metal Gear Rising, which is nice, but there's no replayability. If you want to get this collection, buy it on the PS3, but the only reason you'd want to buy it is if you loved ZOE on the PS2, or your'e desperate to play Metal Gear Rising. Otherwise, don't buy this.… Expand
  4. Electrohead
    Jun 9, 2020
    5
    The idea of a mech game created by Hideo Kojima sounds like a match made in heaven, but the unfortunate reality is that the 'Zone of the Enders' duology is very underwhelming.

    The first game is incredibly bare-bones and short - making it more of a curiosity than a game worth playing on its own merits. The 2nd Runner, while a huge step-up from the first game; is still very mediocre.    The idea of a mech game created by Hideo Kojima sounds like a match made in heaven, but the unfortunate reality is that the 'Zone of the Enders' duology is very underwhelming.

    The first game is incredibly bare-bones and short - making it more of a curiosity than a game worth playing on its own merits.

    The 2nd Runner, while a huge step-up from the first game; is still very mediocre. The game suffers from repetitive gameplay, bland environments, an uninteresting story and poor controls. The game does; however; feature a great soundtrack as well as some great mech designs.

    While I find both games lacking, I do think there is still a lot of potential for this series. I hope that Kojima Productions decides to make a spiritual successor in the future with more compelling gameplay.    … Expand
  5. BetalootDOTcom
    Mar 24, 2013
    7
    This is pretty much the benchmark for when I measure any current games quality. Zone of the Enders Anubis (“The second Runner” in some countries) on the Zone of the Enders HD Collection, is truly great, at the very least it’s one of the greatest.

    What’s really strange is that with the previous game (Zone of the Enders) feels almost the complete opposite end of the enjoyment spectrum to    This is pretty much the benchmark for when I measure any current games quality. Zone of the Enders Anubis (“The second Runner” in some countries) on the Zone of the Enders HD Collection, is truly great, at the very least it’s one of the greatest.

    What’s really strange is that with the previous game (Zone of the Enders) feels almost the complete opposite end of the enjoyment spectrum to play.

    Zone of the enders is Mech combat in the loosest sense that you pilot a Mech and there is combat; all of which, is aerial and fast paced as opposed to the heavy stereotype often given to this genre. The games have an intense story mode; in each version you play as a frame runner (pilot) that newly experiences the Orbital Frame, Jehuty (The Mech) and brings their unique personality to the table; what I will say is that the voice acting is some of the greatest you will hear to date, and there are extremely emotional moments in each game that will truly move you.

    In the first game though; there’s way too much rubbish, and it can honestly be said, free roaming doesn’t benefit the player at all when it comes to this style of game. Everything’s small yet open ended and often the direction feels like a complete mess when you analyse what you’re actually meant to do. Figuring everything out will give you a solid 5 hours on a first play, but the game itself if you know what to do takes 45 minutes or so at best. Also sub weapon changes can only be done realistically in advance of a battle without having to push start, as it would require a third hand in combat If playing hard mode due to being allocated to the D-pad.

    Also enemy and mission variety is very stale in the first instalment, and it’s honestly the plot that drove me time and again to complete this both now and when I were much younger. It’s interesting that when I completed this game alongside my girlfriend who was watching me do so, her “Is that it?” comment pretty much summarised the whole game.

    Zone of the Enders Anubis (The Second Runner) however is everything the first game should have been and more; the game even has a very recognizable art style in its sequel which has even received a massive upgrade on the HD release, with the developers going so far as to change every single polygonal model, and redraw and colour each animated scene frame by frame to match the games resolution.

    Most importantly the games controls have a massive variety of uses, yet are extremely intuitive, piloting Jehuty is as simple as using the left analogue stick to move, and triangle and cross for ascent and descent, while square commands main weapons and circle supports sub weapons and grab commands. Sub weapons now are accessible from pressing the L1 button (momentarily pausing combat to make the choice easily) as opposed to the dpad live, and more importantly, sub weapons actually have a use now as they are not only introduced in linear fashion, but they also work practically as alternatives to basic combat.

    I know that linear gameplay can sometimes be taboo, but not when it doesn’t feel like one big hallway. The freshness isn’t far removed from the linearity of the Half Life series to be more precise, only Zone of the Enders has a much more captivating plot, and in a lot of ways it has much better voice acting; more so to think that the whole thing is dubbed. I can’t move during cut scenes, but to be fair, I don’t really want to as I never feel robbed of my time while watching genuinely amazing performances on screen; There are definitely exceptions to the no cut scenes rule, and this one of them.

    Also enemies are not only highly varied, but the levels and ways you encounter them are too; this further accents the additional sub weapons; in a very Megaman sense, you’ll find that certain abilities work better than others depending on the situations. The game never gets boring, and when you finally think that it is, the game throws a whole new way to play in and keeps you going for longer.

    In both games Jehuty levels up, but you never feel like you have “avatar strength” and it’s always hard as the enemies level up with you, increasing their speed and strategies as well, making for harder gameplay as you level up, and not ease of enemy disposal as it is with most other games that adopt the RPG style; What sets this apart from other games with hack and slash elements like ‘Devil May Cry’ is that you literally could beat enemies up and throw them around with endless possibilities; in games like ‘Devil May Cry’ however, eventually you just repeat the same most effective combo with no need to change up.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

90
#90 Best PS3 Game of 2012
85
#85 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2012
46
#46 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 27
  3. Negative: 1 out of 27
  1. Official PlayStation Magazine Benelux
    Jan 8, 2013
    72
    Part two has miner Dingo Egret (best name ever!) stumbling upon Jehuty, the mobile suit of his predecessor, Leo. Everything is better this time around: better story, better graphics and most of all: better gameplay. [January 2013, p.84]
  2. XGN
    Dec 17, 2012
    80
    Zone of the Enders HD Collection has become a beautiful package. Both games offer original gameplay. Even though they are eleven years old, a surprising fact. The barrier between the two games can be pointed out as a negative thing, but both games are good enough to enjoy them throughout the full ride. This package belongs in your collection, no matter what.
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  3. GameOver.gr
    Dec 13, 2012
    60
    Time sure wasn't kind on the first Zone of the Enders and the HD remastering of the collection isn't perfect. Luckily the 2nd Runner remains a PS2 Classic and this, coupled with the feeling of nostalgia, are the only reasons you should care about this package.
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