Play Z.o.e. 2173 : Testament Online

Z.O.E. 2173: Testament was a Game Boy Advance release from Konami, arriving during a period when the handheld was full of ambitious action titles. It exists as a companion piece to the larger Zone of the Enders console games, translating that universe into a 2D format. This was not a simple port but a separate story built for the hardware, a common approach for franchises expanding to different platforms at the time.

You control a character navigating side scrolling environments, primarily through a large, interconnected ship. Your main goal is to explore this vessel room by room, unlocking new areas by finding specific key items or defeating bosses. The gameplay blends exploration with combat; you use a laser sword for close quarters and a ranged gun for distant enemies. A significant mechanic involves piloting a small robot, the LEV, for certain combat sequences and environmental navigation, which changes the pace and scale of encounters. The game maintains a steady, deliberate pace, with some challenging enemy patterns and bosses that require learning their movements. Progress feels tangible as you slowly map out the ship's layout and gain new abilities. Playing it feels like piecing together a large, mechanical puzzle while managing two distinct forms of combat.