Zone of the Enders launches Kojima's mecha saga. Fluid aerial combat, Yoji Shinkawa design and science-fiction mood. Short but rare elegance on the pad.
Your verdict
Category
Action1 player12+
Description
A Konami and Hideo Kojima action game released in 2001, the first Western Zone of the Enders franchise entry signed Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid). Pilot Leo Stenbuck pilots the Orbital Frame Jehuty (futuristic combat mecha) to defend the Martian space station Antilia. Dynamic third-person 3D combat with agile mecha, Yoji Shinkawa cyberpunk anime aesthetics. Western release (US, Europe), franchise birth.
Zone of the Enders review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Slender mechs in razor-sharp cel-shading by Yoji Shinkawa, dazzling battles and brilliant lighting effects: the anime aesthetic comes alive in real time. The fluidity of the clashes and the elegance of the design stand apart from everything else. This visual identity, sleek and futuristic, keeps an intact modernity.
A mecha action game from Kojima Productions, Zone of the Enders offers brisk aerial combat at the controls of an agile robot, long associated with the playable Metal Gear Solid 2 demo bundled with it. Still common in the West, its interest lies in this Kojima lineage and this memorable promotional tie rather than scarcity. A piece valued by fans of mecha action.
Memorable bosses
At the controls of an overpowered Orbital Frame, this mecha action game delivers aerial duels of giddy velocity against enemy armors just as nimble. Locking on, dodging and alternating laser blades and guided shots in zero gravity demands sharp reflexes. The fluidity of these robotic jousts and their nervous energy lay the groundwork for a formula its sequel would push higher.
An underrated gem
Many bought it for the Metal Gear Solid 2 demo tucked in the box, overlooking the game itself: mecha combat of heady fluidity, all speed and verticality. Short and a touch repetitive, it suffered from that unfair reputation. Fans of snappy aerial action will nonetheless discover a remarkably polished mechanic.
Is Zone of the Enders still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2001 on PS2, Konami's project supervised by Hideo Kojima laid the foundations of a nervous, aerial robot action, where you pilot the mecha Jehuty in fast battles mixing ranged fire and close combat. The lock on system, the fluidity of the three dimensional movement and the cinematic staging impressed at release. The story, more intimate than it seems, accompanies an exhilarating rise in power. The very short length and a repetitive structure weigh. An interesting foundation of the saga, recommended for those curious about the origins of ZOE and for fans of stylised mechanical action.
