Wednesday 19 March 1999. ZAGE Campus USA.
Zaboru had just arrived from Japan on his private jet, the night sky already blanketing Silicon Valley by the ti he touched down. Without wasting a mont, he made his way directly to the ZAGE Campus headquarters. As usual, his first stop was his personal quarters on the 15th floor—a sleek, high-tech sanctuary designed for both relaxation and creative thinking. There, waiting for him, were several brand-new gas ready for testing. He felt a flicker of excitent.
Tomorrow, he planned to assign a new task to Team Tempest, one of his most trusted developnt squads. They had just wrapped up their latest assignnt, the ambitious Rampage: Universal World Tour, which was scheduled to launch at the end of the week. For now, though, Zaboru allowed himself a rare mont of solitude and anticipation as he prepared to dive into the latest creation waiting for him in the console tray.
These gas were developed by Kogane Studio, one of ZAGE's longest-standing third-party partners. They had been producing titles since the early ZEPS 1 era and had beco known for their consistency and passion for crafting unique, robot related gas. Their latest release, titled "Heartless," had just launched, and Zaboru was eager to dive in. The premise revolved around a conflict between robots, each with distinct personalities and combat styles, set in a mysterious sci-fi world.
Zaboru smiled to himself. "The title is interesting…" he murmured, flipping the case in his hands. The cover art depicted two robotic figures locked in intense battle. The first robot had glowing red eyes and wore a motorcycle-style helt, its hand transford into a sleek sword mid-motion, deflecting a flurry of bullets with fluid precision. The second robot, its rival, bore blue eyes and a unique mushroom-like head design. It was ard with a powerful arm-mounted gatling gun, mid-burst, unleashing a barrage of fire at the red-eyed robot while also the blue eyed robot wearing so kind of blue and black coat. The contrast in their designs hinted at deeper lore and an emotional storyline beneath the flashy visuals. It was dynamic, chaotic, and instantly intriguing. Zaboru couldn't wait to see what kind of world and story this ga was about to unveil.
Without further delay, Zaboru inserted Heartless into the ZEPS 3 console. As the loading screen faded and the ga booted up, a vibrant disco-inspired soundtrack filled the room, pulsing with energy and setting a stylish, retro-futuristic tone. The main nu appeared shortly after, showcasing two simple options: "New Ga" and "Load Ga." Naturally, the "Load Ga" option was grayed out—this was Zaboru's first ti launching the title, after all. Without hesitation, he selected "New Ga," eager to begin his journey into this intriguing world of chanical conflict and stylized warfare.
Then the ga introduced a short but captivating bit of world-building, narrated in a deep, tallic voice that echoed with mystery. "The planet Steelor," the narrator began, "a world forged from iron and circuitry. It is the ho of sentient beings made entirely of steel—creatures known only as the 'Heartless.' Though they are chanical in construction, these beings possess consciousness, thoughts, emotions, and dreams. They are not mindless automatons, but living entities with culture and history. Yet, in the vast expanse of Steelor, no one truly knows the origin or aning of the word 'Heartless.' To its people, it is simply the na they inherited, a designation passed down without question, accepted as a given truth, never challenged. They live with it, identify with it, and build their stories around it... but its true aning remains buried in forgotten archives."
Zaboru leaned in slightly, intrigued by the setup. "Interesting," he mused. "So these Steelor robots don't even know why they're called 'Heartless'? And none of them ever asked where the term ca from? That ans there's sothing deeper… so kind of mystery, maybe even a forgotten past." He paused for a mont, then added with a soft chuckle, "I wonder if they were originally created by humans—maybe the na 'Heartless' is sothing left behind by their first makers. That would make a lot of sense..." With curiosity rising, Zaboru grabbed his controller and continued deeper into the story.
Then the screen transitioned smoothly, revealing a cinematic cutscene. The cara panned into a dimly lit, cyberpunk-style room where the sa robot featured on the cover—recognizable by his motorcycle-like helt and glowing red eyes—was seated on a rugged steel sofa. His chanical fingers gripped a canister with a strange, alien script printed on its label. A subtitle at the bottom of the screen translated it as "Flavoured Oil," hinting at a fictional beverage consud by Heartless beings. He took a slow, casual sip while ambient machinery humd softly in the background.
Suddenly, a nearby holo-screen flickered on, displaying a broadcast in a stylized, non-English, fictional language unique to the ga's universe. Subtitles translated the robotic newscaster's urgent voice: "Another rogue Heartless is rampaging once again. Law Enforcers are currently assisting civilians in the evacuation zone."
The broadcast cut to a chaotic scene—a different Heartless, bulkier in design, wreaking havoc in the middle of a neon-lit street. Sparks flew as the rogue used a massive electric arm to strike a storefront, sending debris flying in all directions while panicked robots fled in every direction.
Back in the apartnt, the red-eyed Heartless stood up slowly. He narrowed his eyes, watching the scene with cold amusent. Then he muttered under his breath with a smirk, "Ti for Swift Kendo to deploy." The scene then showed him grabbing tools and gadgets from his weapons rack, each one with its own unique design. With one fluid motion, his left arm transford into a sleek, sharp steel katana-like blade. Without warning, boosters on his back activated, and he shot upward, bursting through the ceiling as he launched into the night sky, headed straight for the battlefield.
The cutscene ended with an aerial shot of the futuristic city as alarms echoed and neon lights flickered—Swift Kendo soaring into the chaos below.
Zaboru smirked. "Ho..? So they used an original language? That's quite advanced," he mused, a spark of appreciation in his eyes. He had always loved when gas created their own fictional dialects or writing systems or what he called it "Bullshit Blabbering"—it added an imrsive and artistic layer to the world-building. In his previous life, many modern gas had embraced this creative approach, using entirely fabricated languages to deepen their lore. But in this world, such efforts were rare. That's exactly why it thrilled him. The audacity and creativity of it reminded him of the wild, experintal spirit of the industry he once knew.
Then the gaplay began, imrsing the player in a sprawling, neon-drenched futuristic cityscape filled with towering steel structures, holographic signs, and humming transit lines that weaved through the night sky. The player took control of the main character—Swift Kendo, a Heartless warrior ard with a chanical left arm that doubled as a versatile weapon. From the very first mont of control, the ga revealed itself as a single-player beat-'em-up title with a strong focus on fluid movent and satisfying combat chanics.
Despite being grounded in traditional beat-'em-up roots, Heartless felt fresh. The graphics were impressively detailed, especially for the ZEPS 3 hardware, with smooth animations and dynamic lighting that brought the city to life. Zaboru quickly noticed how responsive the controls were—each punch, parry, and combo chained together with precision. The ga rewarded skillful play with a stylish rating system and an upgrade tree that allowed players to customize Swift Kendo's abilities.
As Zaboru progressed deeper into the ga, he unlocked nurous enhancents for Swift Kendo's weaponized arm. Players could choose to strengthen its raw power, extend combo potential, or even imbue the arm with different elental effects—like fire, ice, or electricity—each adding unique tactical advantages against different enemy types. The arm wasn't just a weapon; it was the heart of the gaplay, evolving alongside the player's choices. The further Zaboru played, the more impressed he beca. The ga wasn't just fun—it was clearly crafted with care and ambition.
Zaboru smiled—this ga clearly contained a nod to ZAGE's Jackie Chan Stuntmaster, which had been released not long ago. While the core gaplay was entirely different, there was sothing unmistakable in how the enemies moved, how they exaggerated their attacks, and even in their comic timing. It wasn't a direct imitation, but more like a respectful homage or creative reference. The resemblance made him grin with appreciation, and not angry one bit.
Zaboru continued to play, his curiosity deepening with every passing chapter. The plot thickened as new factions and ideologies were introduced. One of the major twists ca with the revelation of a rogue Heartless syndicate known as "Ruorkorth." The ga provided a subtitle for the Steelor language term: "The Truth." This faction was portrayed as a rebel terrorist group opposing the established Heartless governnt. They weren't just random enemies—they had a cause. According to their underground broadcasts and cryptic transmissions scattered throughout the world, Ruorkorth believed that the Heartless were never originally from Steelor. They claid the Heartless were an invader race, alien to the planet, who had arrived long ago and seized control. This belief was heretical and dangerous in the eyes of the current regi.
Ruorkorth argued that because the Heartless were technologically superior, their potential far exceeded that of any native race on Steelor. However, the ruling Heartless governnt had chosen to suppress this advantage. They intentionally limited technological advancent, restricting innovation to maintain control and prevent the Heartless from expanding beyond their borders. Ruorkorth believed that such policies were cowardly and wasteful. They envisioned a future where the Heartless could colonize other worlds, spreading their influence and unleashing their full might.
Swift Kendo's mission then beca clear—he was tasked with hunting down the mbers of Ruorkorth and dismantling their operations across Steelor. But the moral lines began to blur. The ga began to present docunts, intercepted ssages, and hidden lore that made Zaboru question who was truly right. Was Ruorkorth really evil, or were they just exposing uncomfortable truths?
Five hours had flown by in what felt like minutes. Zaboru was fully imrsed, both in the gaplay and the growing ethical dilemmas the story presented. The combat was still tight and satisfying, but now it was layered with philosophical intrigue. Despite being deeply hooked, Zaboru finally decided to pause the ga. He needed at least two hours of rest before his early morning schedule. Still, as he put the controller down, his mind buzzed with questions, and he was already looking forward to continuing the story.
But Zaboru leaned back a bit, resting against the back of the leather lounge chair, his fingers interlaced behind his head. "Still beat-'em-up gas, huh?" he muttered aloud. "They've really improved this ti... no doubt about that." His eyes drifted toward the darkened ceiling as he continued in a lower tone, speaking half to himself. "Still, I've noticed sothing lately—so many developers are focusing entirely on single-player beat-'em-ups now. It's not necessarily a bad direction, and so of them are excellent... but sothing's missing."
He sighed, the weight of nostalgia subtly pressing on his chest. "There's a unique charm to beat-'em-up gas that you experience with others—shoulder to shoulder, shouting at the screen, sharing power-ups, saving each other mid-combo. That raw, chaotic fun. It's hard to replicate alone." A small chuckle escaped him. "Next week's Rampage: Universal World Tour is gonna remind people what that's like. Multiplayer madness, pure and simple."
His tone then shifted, more contemplative now. "But beyond that, you know what's really bothering ? There aren't that many gas taking bold risks these days. Not a lot of developers are experinting with entirely new genres or gaplay concepts. Sure, there are a few trying sothing different here and there... but it's nothing compared to the sheer wildness I rember from my previous life. Back then, devs just said 'Screw it' and dove into absurd ideas—gas that sounded like they'd never work on paper, but sohow beca unforgettable masterpieces."
He paused again, eyes dim with a mix of pride and disappointnt. "In this world, because ZAGE exists… because I built this company into a pillar of the industry, most developers now have too much material to rely on from ZAGE gas. Tutorials. Case studies. Proven chanics. Solid fraworks. It's like everything's already been paved for them. So instead of forging a new path, they walk the one already laid out." His voice dropped into a murmur, "Not many of them get wild anymore. Not many shout 'F*CK it' and dive into sothing beautifully insane."
He shook his head slowly, then gave a bittersweet smile. "Those absurd gas in my past life... they were beautiful. ssy. Incomplete, sotis. But they were filled with soul. With guts. With unpredictable joy."
Still, there was hope.
Zaboru's expression softened as he glanced at the stack of titles in front of him. "Even now, the number of third-party gas coming through ZAGE is increasing year after year. And that ans sothing." He leaned forward again, resting his arms on his knees. "They may not be chaotic or off-the-wall like the gas I rember, but they're trying. The developers are trying. They're pushing where they can, experinting in the little things—chanics, narrative, pacing, tone."
His eyes narrowed, yet glimred with faint optimism. "It's not the sa kind of revolution I once knew… but it's still a movent. And that, to , is everything. The ember's still burning.".
aboru then grinned, a mischievous spark flickering in his eyes. "Maybe ZAGE should make a few of those 'F*ck it's gas too, hehehe," he said aloud, clearly amused by the sudden thought. The idea of letting one of his studios go completely wild—without constraints or market research—felt both risky and exhilarating. He chuckled again, imagining what kinds of weird, brilliant chaos his teams might produce.
With that amusing thought lingering in his mind, Zaboru rose from his seat and made his way to his private quarters. The sleek, minimal design of his room reflected both serenity and efficiency. He slid under the covers of his modern bed, designed for comfort and recovery. Thanks to his enlightennt-forged body, Zaboru only needed two hours of rest to feel completely rejuvenated. As he lay there, eyes closing gently, his mind was already setting plans in motion. Tomorrow, he would awaken refreshed, and Team Tempest would receive their next challenge very important one at that.
To be continue
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