Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars Walkthrough Help
Full walkthroughs for this Game Boy Advance mecha game are easy to find, and the game's early story and upgrade system explain what to expect. Here is what to know before you start.
In this article
You can find a Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars walkthrough on GameFAQs, which lists 5 guides and walkthroughs for the Game Boy Advance version [1]. Start there if you want full help with a mission you cannot get past.
The game is a story-oriented title built around turn-based strategic mecha combat [2]. That matters for a walkthrough, because you choose each move rather than react in real time. A guide helps most when you are stuck on a battle and cannot see how to plan your way through it.
This article covers the game's basics, then points you to where to find full guides. That way you can pick the one that matches the part of the game you are stuck on.
What kind of game is Fist of Mars?
Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars is built around turn-based strategic mecha combat. That means you choose each move rather than reacting to enemies in real time, so every battle is a series of decisions you make on your own schedule. [2]
The game is also story-oriented, so the plot runs alongside the battles. [2]
How to use a walkthrough for this style
Because the fights come down to your choices, a walkthrough for this style mostly covers which units to use and when. Read it for the reasoning behind each unit choice and the timing of each move, not for a single fixed button sequence.
Suppose a mission gives you two mechs and one tough enemy. A useful walkthrough tells you which unit to send first, why it goes first, and when to hold the second one back. That kind of guidance helps more than a list of every move, because the right answer changes with the situation on the map.
When you compare guides, look for ones that explain unit roles and turn order. A guide that only lists the result of each turn will leave you stuck the first time your plan goes differently from the one written down.
How does the story open?
The game opens with a narration sequence, and it's worth watching all the way through. It runs for just over two minutes and covers the history of space colonization from 2045 to 2173 [3]. Knowing that timeline helps you follow the story that comes after.
The story starts in deep space rather than on a planet [3]. If you expect to see a city or a planet's surface first, this opening can feel abrupt. Think of it as the game dropping you straight into the middle of the conflict.
What to do at the start
- Let the narration run to the end instead of cutting it short. You'll get the full timeline in one go.
- Pay attention to the opening scenes in space, since they set the tone for the rest of the story.
- When the narration ends, move on to the first mission with that background in mind.
The opening takes only about two minutes, and it gives every later mission more meaning.
How do upgrades and money work?
At this stage, you have quite a bit of money to spend on upgrades [4]. That makes this a good moment to decide where your money goes, instead of spreading it across everything.
The upgrades shown in this episode go to two of the Dreizehn's attacks. The Dreizehn's Laser Blade and Grenade attacks get a boost [4]. If you have been relying on one of them, it is the obvious place to start.
Where to spend first
Spend on the attacks you use most, since upgrades change how each fight goes. Think back over your last few battles and notice which attack you picked most often. If the Laser Blade carried you through close fights, it makes sense as your first purchase.
Keep a simple tally for a mission or two. Whichever attack you reach for most is the one that gets the next upgrade. This ties your spending to how you actually play, rather than to a guess about what might help.
If you still have money after that, move to the next attack you use most. Working down your list this way keeps your budget focused on the moves that matter in your own fights.
Where can you find full walkthroughs?
If you want a written walkthrough, start with GameFAQs. For the Game Boy Advance version of Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars, it lists 5 guides and walkthroughs [1]. Scan a few of them and keep the one whose layout is easiest for you to follow.
Prefer watching? A Let's Play archive series covers the game part by part, so you can follow along episode by episode [4]. Each entry is a numbered part, so you can start where you left off.
Pick the guide that matches the part of the game you are stuck on. Jump straight to that stage instead of reading from the beginning, so you don't spoil the missions you haven't reached yet. Open the GameFAQs page, find the entry for your stage, and go from there.