Zone of the Enders Complete Collection - Underland Online
- Underland Online
- Mike Lewis
- 02/13/06
- click here
"...an anime that is 'based on' a video game that goes above and beyond any expectation that you might have..."
"Game enthusiasts and fans of unique mecha series? shouldn?t be without this collection."
Seeing the phrase 'based on' associated with anything can be good or bad. When it comes however to films or anime that are 'based on' video games, often times the results aren't good. Star Ocean EX for example starts out strong and follows the Star Ocean: The Second Story game closely at first, but then falls apart as the series ends. The Final Fantasy OVA's, television series and even computer animated movie have very little to tie themselves to their original source material. Then you get something that takes the same premise as the games, sets it in the same world, but adds in completely different characters and makes it work.
Z.O.E, or Zone of the Enders, has seen two titles released on the PlayStation 2, and while they weren't bad, they certainly didn't come anywhere close to comparing to some of their other legendary games like Metal Gear Solid. The anime however, that's a different story, and it isn't often when you find an anime that is 'based on' a video game that goes above and beyond any expectation that you might have had. In fact, you don't even need to have played any of the games to enjoy the series, and now the series is back in yet another ThinPak Collection.
When ADV says complete collection though, they really do mean it. You will find that the more than just the series. The OVA that precedes the series and even the games is included here. Z.O.E 2167: Idolo will introduce new comers to the fantastic world, one filled with Orbital Frames (mecha's) and two worlds on the brink of war; Earth and Mars. The series is set before the first game. Z.O.E Dolores, I is the series that is based on the video game series, and isn't quite what you may expect. Dolores refers to the Orbital Frame in the series, and she certainly has a mind all her own. She?s found herself in the company of James Links, a space transporter who has a great many problems to worry about, and now that he has to try and get Dolores as well as his estranged son and daughter to Mars, things are getting just a little complicated.
The Z.O.E Complete Collection box reflects both the OVA and the television series in its artwork. One side features something of a tribute to the Idolo OVA. The art is nearly identical to the cover of the original release, though there are some changes. The Orbital Frame has been added for example, and the image is enclosed in something of a ?letterbox? approach. The blood red background images are extremely beautiful. The reverse side would be an accolade to the Dolores, I television series
This is another collection where the total number of volumes has been decreased. The Idolo OVA still remains a stand-alone disc, but the series itself has gone from six to five volumes, all with new cover art that looks quite a bit better than the original releases. The complete series would take up the shelf space of three DVD's in normal cases, and for those concerned about space (like myself) this is a fantastic thing.
I do have a slight complaint, and that this is another case where ADV removed some very good and informative extras. We all know that you'll find clean versions of the opening and closing animations on every volume, and I for one can live without those, but there were some other things that the series had to offer. The Dolores Diaries were rather humorous since they came from the mind of the rather quirky Orbital Frame, but there was also information concerning some of the technology that was found within the series. You can live without it certainly, but I was one of those nice touches that ADV had included with the DVD's and it is sadly missed in my opinion. I still think that if the extra are going to be removed from the disc, at least take the extras and compile them on a single DVD or leave the release format as it was, especially when you have good extra features like this series does. Still the OVA, the serious side of Z.O.E, and the television series, definitely the comedic portion, stand well enough on their own without the addition of bonus features.
This may not be exactly what some fans of the game remember Zone of the Enders being like, but this is an instance where it?s completely fine. The OVA sheds some light on the original game while the series is just a fun continuation of the game itself. If you?ve never played it, that?s not going to be an issue either as both are done in such a way that you don?t need to have a callus on your thumb to enjoy them. Besides, how often to do you find a giant, pink, talking mecha in an anime series? Not often, and Dolores may be a little different, but that?s why it works. Game enthusiasts and fans of unique mecha series? shouldn?t be without this collection.
Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 (Archive on Monday, March 13, 2006)