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Once there was only one serious anime RPG, and that was Mekton. This is no longer true. Now Dream Pod 9 and Guardians of Order threaten to throw down Mekton from its throne as King of Anime RPGs. Before the end comes, this trend-setting RPG should receive its due.

Mekton Zeta is the last edition of the Mekton line, and it's the best version of them all. With this game, any science-fiction anime series can be reproduced. Other genres aren't so easy; the further from the tech they go, the harder it gets to make good use of Mekton Zeta.

The best part of this game is the pervasive feel that you're actually in the mythical Anime Producers Academy, with this book being both teacher and textbook. The character creation process adhears closely to the two predominant character archtypes, and the template they use. Skill resolution, as always in Interlock, is simple and effective. Combat works for personal and vehicular scale, despite a couple of wonky bits that shows the Gundam bias. It all feels just like your favorite anime series, be it "Macross" or "Neon Genesis Evangelion."

The worst part, unfortunately, is that this is really a two-book RPG. The other half is the construction system, which makes up the other book: Mekton Zeta Plus. The rulebook has a watered-down version that doesn't do justice to the full majesty (and possibility) of the MTS. The campaign section, while very helpful, doesn't refer to known anime series as previous editions did.

The ugly part is the lack of product support. Unless you're willing to spend a lot of time surfing scores of MZ sites, you'll probably have to make due with what pitiful supplimentary material there is as well as converting anything else that you want- such as the Bubblegum Crisis/Crash books, AT VOTOMS, old Mekton 2 stuff, etc. You'll also have to get around the mecha bias if you're not into that, such as if you ran a Traveller campaign with this engine.

Is it playable? Yeah! Is it fun? Yeah! Is it worth it? Only if you're into making the effort to work with an RPG on life support. It's a shame, because this is a well-made game- superior to Fuzion in every way.

Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Mekton Zeta
Author: Mike Pondsmith, Mike MacDonald and Benjamin Wright Category: game Company/Publisher: R. Talsorian Games Cost: $24.95 (US) Page count: 160 pages ISBN: 0-937279-54-4 Playtest Review by Bradford C. Walker on 03/04/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Science_fiction Modern_day Historical Horror Far_Future Space Comedy Anime Espionage Conspiracy Post-apocalypse Asian/Far_East	Once there was only one serious anime RPG, and that was Mekton. This is no longer true. Now Dream Pod 9 and Guardians of Order threaten to throw down Mekton from its throne as King of Anime RPGs. Before the end comes, this trend-setting RPG should receive its due. Mekton Zeta is the last edition of the Mekton line, and it's the best version of them all. With this game, any science-fiction anime series can be reproduced. Other genres aren't so easy; the further from the tech they go, the harder it gets to make good use of Mekton Zeta. The best part of this game is the pervasive feel that you're actually in the mythical Anime Producers Academy, with this book being both teacher and textbook. The character creation process adhears closely to the two predominant character archtypes, and the template they use. Skill resolution, as always in Interlock, is simple and effective. Combat works for personal and vehicular scale, despite a couple of wonky bits that shows the Gundam bias. It all feels just like your favorite anime series, be it "Macross" or "Neon Genesis Evangelion." The worst part, unfortunately, is that this is really a two-book RPG. The other half is the construction system, which makes up the other book: Mekton Zeta Plus. The rulebook has a watered-down version that doesn't do justice to the full majesty (and possibility) of the MTS. The campaign section, while very helpful, doesn't refer to known anime series as previous editions did. The ugly part is the lack of product support. Unless you're willing to spend a lot of time surfing scores of MZ sites, you'll probably have to make due with what pitiful supplimentary material there is as well as converting anything else that you want- such as the Bubblegum Crisis/Crash books, AT VOTOMS, old Mekton 2 stuff, etc. You'll also have to get around the mecha bias if you're not into that, such as if you ran a Traveller campaign with this engine. Is it playable? Yeah! Is it fun? Yeah! Is it worth it? Only if you're into making the effort to work with an RPG on life support. It's a shame, because this is a well-made game- superior to Fuzion in every way. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)