Unless you've been living under a rock then you probably will recall KONAMI’s instant PS2 hit, Zone of the Enders, which was produced by the Metal Gear series’ Hideo Kojima. Well folks, he’s done it again. Directed by Shuyo Murata, The 2nd Runner has proven that hits CAN come in twos. This time around you take on the role of an ex-soldier turned miner Dingo Egeret, who happens to come upon an orbital frame that has been abandoned on Collisto, a moon of mars. You eventually come to realize that the best thing to do would be to use this frame, you will come to know as Jehuty, to protect your friends from the attacking BAHRHAM. Later you will come to join forces with new as well as familiar faces against the evil force that is the BAHRHAM commander, Nohman... runner of ANUBIS.
The Good
This game has definitely received an upgrade over its predecessor. The most notable is its graphics. This time the game is cel-shaded, which leads to extremely beautiful environments and particle effects. The gameplay looks much smoother and more natural than the original. Though the controls may take some getting used to, they are very solid and manageable. This is a good thing, especially when you take into account the enemies, who now have the ability to conduct group attacks while following a single commander. *(word to the wise: destroy the commander to make the battle easier)
The story this time is much more involved. There is more than just the basic, “Lets save these people, then fight a boss.” This time it’s primarily about saving your own ass. There are the customary “protect” missions, but not as many as in the first game. Plus they are far more interesting. Overall, the missions have really changed. You don’t have to worry about blowing up buildings and killing civilians to get the job done, and you will have missions that require you to follow directions instead of just destroying anything and everything until you get to a cut scene.
Speaking of cutscenes, a big change would have to be... well... the cutscenes! Instead of the anime style CG from the original, the KONAMI team went all out for all-anime cutscenes. It will switch from anime to in-game graphics during the cutscene, depending on what’s going on, but it adds a new flavor to the story.
A huge improvement can be seen in the available attacks. You now have the ability to grab surrounding objects and opponents to do some damage. In fact there are parts of the game where you have to grab and use object in order to proceed. Throughout the game you also pick up familiar weapons such as the halberd and gauntlet as well as new ones like the homing missile and the ever popular vector cannon.
While the overall gameplay is good, the one thing that makes it come to life is the soundtrack. From hyper excited to moody and dark, the music is definitely a plus. It always fits the situation and can really gets the blood going.
The Bad
The most noticeable and publicly acclaimed problem is the slowdown. While it doesn’t really affect the overall gameplay, it can get a little annoying. It occurs most often during battles with multiple opponents or when your screen gets crowded with particle effects. The worst it ever got while I played was during the battle with Vic-Viper. The only other thing that is worth complaining about is the camera. For the most part, the camera is ok. It really doesn’t hinder gameplay, but sometimes you have to stop moving in order to let the camera catch up and face the direction you want it to. But that’s about it.
Replay Value
While not as much as you’d like, there is an average amount of replay value. For instance, some things in the game you won’t experience until your second time through. Also, you can replay it using the different versions of Jehuty, my fav being Jehuty ver.2. You can also play through it with all the subweapons you have collected. This allows you to get to previously unexplorable areas of the game, which leads to extra bosses, extra missions, and extra mech choices for 2 player battles. The greatest extra you can unlock in the game is the 1985 hit GRADIUS staring Vic-Viper. With updated graphics and gameplay this extra can keep you busy.
Final Thought
I definitely recommend this game to all diehard ZOE fans, as well as newcomers. The game is much more innovative than the first and all I can say is... I can’t wait for the third.
Editor's Bloody Note:
First I'd like to apologize to Michael for this being so friggin' late. I've been trying to put this up, but angelfire has been showing odd... twitches, of late. I'd also like to concur with Michael, it's not a difficult question to answer when wondering if this game if right for you. Simply put, if you played and even remotely enjoyed the first game, then this will blow your pants off!!! Which is why I refrain from wearing pants when playing video games... or doing pretty much anything at all... which is probably the reason I have no friends. Don't look at me dammit! DON'T LOOK AT MEEEE!!!!