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Zone of the Enders Complete Collection
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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.
-mike-
Films Included:
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