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Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars is the Western title of the Game Boy Advance game released in Japan as Z.O.E. 2173 Testament. Its 2173 setting places this side-story spin-off between the first Zone of the Enders (set in 2172) and Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner (set in 2174). Konami’s official pages establish the franchise’s wider timeline and political backdrop; details about the GBA game’s characters and premise come from secondary game references.
What is The Fist of Mars?
The Fist of Mars is a Game Boy Advance entry in the Zone of the Enders series. The Japanese title, Z.O.E. 2173 Testament, makes its in-world year explicit, while the Western title does not. A game-specific secondary reference describes it as a strategy-RPG side story with a new cast and Orbital Frame designs, rather than a numbered mainline sequel.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Zone of the Enders HD Collection | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Zone of the Enders HD Collection (Renewed) | $24.04 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Zone of The Enders: The 2Nd Runner M∀Rs - PlayStation 4 | $41.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Zone of the Enders (Renewed) | $39.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Zone Of The Enders 2nd Runner Mars (PS4) (Renewed) | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
That distinction matters if you are following the series for its story: the game occupies a place in the shared chronology, but the available official Konami synopses do not say it is required to understand the mainline games.
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According to a secondary game retrospective, protagonist Cage Midwell works aboard the interplanetary passenger ship Bonaparte III. Cage and his friend Ares become involved in events surrounding an Orbital Frame called Testament. This is a spoiler-light outline; the Konami official pages cited here do not provide a game-specific synopsis for the GBA title.
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A game-specific reference also names Cage Midwell, Razma Cascade Jr., Myona Alderan, and Warren Lumenlux among the cast. These details, like the premise, are reported by secondary sources rather than confirmed by the official Konami pages cited for the series timeline.
Where does it fit in the Zone of the Enders timeline?
The practical in-universe order is the first game, The Fist of Mars, then The 2nd Runner. Konami dates the mainline stories to 2172 and 2174 respectively; the GBA game’s Japanese title identifies its setting as 2173.
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| In-universe year | Series event | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| 2167 | The Deimos Incident | Konami’s official chronology names this as a major early milestone in the saga. |
| 2172 | Zone of the Enders | Konami’s official story page places the story around Antilia, a Jovian colony at the L5 Lagrangian point associated with mining and transport. |
| 2173 | The Fist of Mars / Z.O.E. 2173 Testament | The Japanese title signals the year; Konami’s chronology says anti-Earth forces led by NUT attack the Earth Bloc as BAHRAM begins its unification of Mars. |
| 2174 | Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner | Konami’s official story page dates the game to 2174 and describes BAHRAM’s armed suppression and the conflict involving new Jehuty runner Dingo. |
This order follows the stated years, together with secondary identification of the GBA game’s setting. It does not by itself establish that the GBA story is necessary to follow the mainline plot.
Why are Earth and Mars in conflict?
Konami’s series chronology frames the wider setting as a divide between Earth and people living on the frontier of space. Expansion beyond Earth, unequal treatment of those frontier residents, and growing resentment underpin the rise of Ender resistance. The overview locates its beginnings in Vascilia County on Mars and traces BAHRAM’s growth amid tension with Earth.
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That political context helps situate the 2173 events: Konami’s timeline places attacks on the Earth Bloc and BAHRAM’s drive to unify Mars in the same year identified by the GBA game’s Japanese title.
Is it a sequel, and when was it released?
The Fist of Mars is best described as a spin-off side story, not the numbered sequel to the first game. Its different format—strategy-RPG rather than the mainline action games—and its new characters give it a distinct role in the series.
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A secondary game reference lists regional release dates of September 27, 2001, in Japan; February 12, 2002, in North America; and June 7, 2002, in Europe. These dates are reported by that reference, not by a current Konami product listing.
What title should you look for?
If you are searching for the original GBA game or a used copy, check both names: Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars and Z.O.E. 2173 Testament. Availability depends on the secondhand market; no current stock or price is established here.
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