Zone of the Enders (ZOE). WOW. That sums up this game.

How many of you are Gundam fans? Personally, I have the Wing Zero Perfect Grade (PG), along with the RX78 and Zaku PGs. All of the Endless Waltz (EW) 1/100th models, EW on DVD, and various other Gundam paraphernalia.

I bought ZOE just because it was produced by Hideo Kojima (for those of you to whom this name is unfamiliar, read the credits on your copy of Metal Gear Solid).

My brother told me that lots of reviewers tore ZOE apart because of it’s similarities to Gundam. I thought, "it’s a plus if Kojima made a rip off of Gundam, Lord knows no one else can make a Gundam game worth the nickel CD it’s burned on."

So I pop it in, and watch the intro. Lo and behold! Nobuyoshi Nishimura (of Gundam fame) was the character designer. So, now all the pieces are in place to make a helluva game, right? Damn right!

The game is beautiful, and flawless. When you first see the Jehuty (the mech you pilot), there’s 100 details to focus on. Primarily, how the light courses through his body. The battle system is the best aspect of the game. Attack one mech at a time. Move in close to use a blade weapon...but they block, and your blade clashes with his blade. That was too cool. You have to see it to fully appreciate it. And there’s plenty of weapon power ups to get.

My one complaint is this: when will gaming companies give us the option to put the dialogue in Japanese? I mean, it’s already there, why not give us the option, like in Onimusha? I think they’re too lazy to put in the extra patch. If any of you agree with me, Email, these companies and tell ’em who sencha’.

Bottom line: If there’s a cooler mech game on the market, tell me so I can run to the store and get it.