Zone of the Enders - The Fist of Mars (USA) Gameboy Advance game

Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars

Synopsis Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars, known in Japan as Z.O.E. 2173 Testament, is a tactical role-playing game developed by Winkysoft and published by Konami in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance. It is a story-oriented spinoff of the Zone of the Enders franchise, diverging from its mecha action console counterparts by adopting turn-based strategic mecha combat akin to the Super Robot Wars series. A unique feature of the game is its Interactive Attack System (IAS), which adds a skill element by requiring players to target or evade enemies in a first-person minigame during combat.

Setting Set in the year 2173, the story unfolds in a universe where humankind has expanded to Mars and the moons of Jupiter in the search for a valuable resource called Metatron. Earth exerts tight control over the colonials, derogatorily termed "Enders", leading to widespread discrimination and oppression. Food shortages, restricted movement, and rebellion attempts are common, but the Martians' efforts against Earth's dominance have largely been futile.

Plot The narrative follows 17-year-old Cage Midwell, a worker on the interplanetary express ship Bonaparte III. Cage, along with his friend Ares Enduwa, encounters a mysterious girl named Myona Alderan in the ship's cargo hold just as it is attacked by a powerful black Orbital Frame. Cage and Myona escape in a hidden LEV, crash-landing on Mars, where they are quickly imprisoned and accused of causing the crash. Myona suffers from convenient amnesia, but they are soon rescued by Deckson Geyse, leader of the Anti-Terrestrial League faction BIS (Born In Space). Cage becomes entangled in the escalating conflict between Earth and Mars, discovering Myona's hidden past and his own role in the resistance.

Structure The game is presented like an anime TV series with 26 "episodes", each comprising story scenes, gameplay, and concluding story scenes. Players can purchase upgrades, save their progress, and access a directory of terms and characters between episodes. Choices made during the game can lead to different endings and missions.

Gameplay Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars employs a turn-based strategy interface similar to Super Robot Wars. Each mecha, or LEV, has unique attacks and statistics, offering various strategic options in combat. Missions have diverse objectives, such as protecting targets or eliminating specific enemies. The IAS introduces a skill-based component, where success in attacks or evasion depends on the player's ability to target or dodge the enemy in a first-person view.

Characters

• Cage Midwell: A 17-year-old worker on the Bonaparte III, emotionally fragile but kind-hearted. He becomes the pilot of the Orbital Frame "Testament".
• Ares Enduwa: Cage's friend and secret anti-Earth terrorist agent. He pilots various frames, including the Black Frame Iblis.
• Myona Alderan: A mysterious girl with amnesia, found by Cage. She becomes close to Cage and plays a crucial role in the story.
• Deckson Geyse: Leader of BIS and integral to the Mars Resistance, piloting the support unit Edge.
• Semyl Shambrow: The youngest BIS member, an orphan with a strong contempt for Earthers. She pilots the defensive LEV Caliburnus.
• Razma Cascade Jr.: An outgoing sniper with a love-hate relationship with Semyl. He pilots the long-range LEV Dreizehn.
• Mebius K. Lylekraft: A strategic mind hidden behind a caring exterior, piloting the Orbital Frame Orcrist.
• Tadamichi E. Yukito: A geeky pilot of the agile LEV Justeen.
• Warren Lumenlux: A cautious ex-mercenary piloting the close combat unit Durandal II.
• Philbright Westriverside Warehouserock XXVI: An effeminate young man with a support vehicle, Blade, capable of healing allies.
• Robin O'Connell: Financial supporter of BIS with underground ties to the Mars Resistance.
• Dezeele Zephyrs: A high-ranking Earth officer and antagonist, responsible for sadistic experiments on Martians.
• Bolozof Velasgo: Leader of the elite Earth unit Acemos, a vicious racist determined to maintain Martian inferiority.

Reception Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars received mixed to above-average reviews, with a Metacritic score of 71 out of 100. Critics praised its story and unique gameplay elements but criticized the dialogue's saturation. Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40, reflecting its reception in Japan.