!MAIN!
PlayPlay
!MAIN!
PlayPlay
Side Story

Which Platform to best play ZoE2 on

So you want to play the widely loved second entry in the Zone of the Enders (ZoE) series? That’s all well and good, but which version should you play? As we covered in our article on the game, the versions all have their unique elements to them. This could be framerate, how the enemy-AI was changed compared to the original release, if the original particle effects are still intact or if the system can play the first game.

Below we’ve put together a table covering all the versions. 

We’ve also indicated if these versions include ZoE2 Special Edition(SE) and ZoE2 M∀RS Edition content. For reference, SE added new difficulty levels and some fights to the main campaign, while M∀RS added a VR mode, quick-sub-weapon switching and some additional unlockable artwork. 

OutputMin FPSMax FPSOriginal AIOriginal
Visual Effects
JPN VA
as option
Can play
ZoE1
SE
content
M∀RS
content
PS2 
NTSC/JPN
480i3050YesYesNo*YesNoNo
PS2
PAL / JPN(SE)
480i3050YesYesNo*YesYesNo
PS3
pre-patch
7201030NoNoNoIncludedYesNo
PS3
patched
10805060YesPartialNoIncludedYesNo
X3607201030NoNoNoIncludedYesNo
X1 BC**10806060NoNoNoIncludedYesNo
M∀RS(PS4)4k6060NoPartialNoNoYesYes
M∀RS(PC)4k6060***NoPartialModsNoYesYes

* Obviously the Japanese release has Japanese voiceover, but no ability to switch to the English voices.
**X1 BC = Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Program; meaning inserting your original Xbox 360 disc into the Xbox One.
*** PC’s gamespeed is tied to the framerate, thus going beyond 60 will have negative results.

Final verdict

Depending on your region, the original Playstation 2 release offers the original experience if one can handle the hefty frame-rate drops. Conversely, the game runs butter smooth on the Xbox One while also coming with the first game in HD, though it does miss out on some of the original visual effects. 

If you don’t care for the first game though, and we’d have to pick an all round version, it would have to be the M∀RS edition on PS4/PC. While there is no definitive version of the game with all the bells and whistles, this one comes the closest. Sporting the most stable frame-rate, some of the original visual effects being restored and also featuring new bonus content it is a great place to start. 

Regardless of which version you play, you’ll find Zone of the Enders: The Second Runner to be an innovative and tense action game. Enjoy!


Did you enjoy this article? Stinger Magazine and its forum are run by one guy in his free time outside his regular job as an art-director. If you care to help him out, or thank him, consider clicking the button below:
Become a Patron!

6 Comments

Leave a Reply