|
> Zone of Enders: A Fist of Mars: Written by: Adam Keller
 Publisher: Konami Price: 29.99 Genre: Strategy E for Everyone
A brand new spin on the ZOE universe, the Fist of Mars gives you turn-based
strategy with a flare of action, and a whole lot of story.
The story starts off similarly to its predecessor. You play as Cage Midwell, a gentle, if not
whiny, teen working on a passenger ship, called the Bonaparte III. Also aboard the ship are Ares Enduwa, Cage’s best
friend, and Myona Alderan, a mysterious hide away. Just before arriving at Mars, the ship is attacked and Cage, led by Myona,
disembarks on an unregistered LEV [mech] called the Testament. When they reach Mars, they are welcomed with an arrest warrant.
This is where the story starts to pick up. Ares, who was presumed dead, arrives with a Martian resistance group for help.
Soon, Cage is thrown into the middle of war. There are many mysteries, such as who attacked the Bonaparte and the identity
of Myona, who loses her memory after the attack. Cage often questions war, and everything that goes along with it. He sometimes
comes off as whiny, a major problem with the first ZOE. Also, there are just too many characters and sub-plots, which results
in a story overload. Overall though, the story is an anime-inspired sci-fi adventure, that is pretty good, but there is just
too much of it.
Definitely, the best feature of The Fist of Mars is the gameplay. The
main mode, called the “tactical stage”, is your typical turn-based strategy. You will control a varying number
of mechs, depending on the mission. This mode works like most other strategy titles. For each mech, you choose whether to
move, attack, etc., and then end your phase. Of course, you have different variables in your mobility, etc., such as terrain.
This mode has everything you would expect, and The Fist of Mars executes it well.
What makes this game different than other strategy titles is its “battle stage”,
more specifically the “Interactive Action System”. Once you command an attack, you are actually thrown in to the
cockpit. Instead of just watching the action, you actually get to determine the course of the battle. In real-time, you move
your sights and aim for your enemy, all while he is trying to dodge you. When you are being attacked, you have to evade your
enemy’s sights, and it gets increasingly hard as you start facing tougher opponents. Your aim will determine the success
of the hit, and after some practice; you can dish out a lot of damage. The “IAS battle mode” adds a fun twist
to the gameplay, which most of you will enjoy. Of course, strategy nerds have the option of turning it off if you want.
|
