Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars (2001). Play online

Summary

Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars drops the sleek PS2 mecha drama onto the Game Boy Advance as a turn‑based tactical RPG. I spend each turn guiding an eclectic squad—from beefy trucks and tanks to sleek fighters and the massive LEVs—across large, grid‑style battlefields. The game is sliced into 26 anime‑styled “episodes,” each framing a single mission with a brief story cutscene before and after the combat. Between missions I can shop for upgrades, fine‑tune my units, and even save in the middle of a battle. Combat uses an Interactive Attack System that puts the action in a first‑person view, letting you line up attacks or dodge enemy fire. Different mecha have clear strengths; for instance, Mebius’s Orbital Frame Orchist nabs powerful ranged attacks like the Elfen Bow but falls apart in close quarters. The title earned mixed reviews—Famitsu gave it 28 / 40 and IGN lamented its dialogue overload—so it’s a niche gem for players who love strategy and mecha flair.

Storyline

Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars is set in 2173, when humanity’s hunt for the rare resource Metatron has pushed colonization out to Mars and the Jovian moons. Earth maintains a strict grip on the colonies, branding the settlers “Enders” and imposing food shortages, movement controls and open discrimination.

The plot follows 17‑year‑old Cage Midwell, a crew member of the interplanetary express ship Bonaparte III, and his friend Ares Enduwa. During a routine run Cage spots a mysterious woman, Myona Alderan, and the ship is suddenly assaulted by a black Orbital Frame. The pair escape in a hidden LEV, crash‑land on Mars, and are promptly arrested, with Myona suffering total amnesia. They are soon liberated by Deckson Geyse, leader of the anti‑Terrestrial League, whose BIS (Born In Space) forces pull them into the escalating Earth‑Mars conflict.