Mitsu Tadano is currently working on a review for ZAGE's latest video game releases this month, joined by his best friend and fellow enthusiast, Ishiki Nakaga. Even though Mitsu has already established himself as the proud owner of ZEMITSU—one of Japan's leading independent video game review companies—he remains deeply passionate about gaming. His love for video games, especially those produced by ZAGE, hasn't waned despite his professional success.
Mitsu isn't just a reviewer; he's a lifelong gamer. And Ishiki, who has been his close friend since their school days, shares the same passion. The two of them often spend hours testing games together, dissecting mechanics, analyzing stories, and sharing laughs—even when the games aren't great. What makes them unique is their optimistic approach: even if a game is flawed or poorly received, they still try to find redeeming qualities. Whether it's a soundtrack, a character design, or an innovative idea that didn't quite land, Mitsu and Ishiki always manage to pull something positive from the experience. Their reviews reflect this balanced mindset, which has earned ZEMITSU a loyal following among gamers who appreciate thoughtful critique over harsh judgment.
Ishiki said with a laugh, "This month ZAGE is dropping three games, huh? Elder Scrolls III: Daggerfall, Super Mario RPG, and Dragon Quest Monsters. And all of them are RPGs! Man, ZAGE really knows how to feed RPG fans—they're going all in!"
He leaned back in his chair, amused. "It's kinda wild when you think about it. Three completely different takes on RPGs from one company, all in the same month. It's like they're putting out a buffet for gamers who love deep stories and turn-based battles."
Mitsu shrugged. "What can you say? ZAGE basically invented most major genres—including RPGs—with their first Dragon Quest. And now, they've released three solid RPGs in a single month? That's insane. What really surprises me, though, is seeing Super Mario get the RPG treatment. I honestly never imagined that would happen, but here we are, and it works!"
He laughed, clearly impressed. "It's like they're just out here making genre history all over again."
Ishiki nodded and said, "That's ZAGE for you. They're always innovating, always willing to take a chance. That's one of the reasons I've always loved the Elder Scrolls series. In the first two installments, the games were titled Elder Scrolls: Arena, focusing mostly on combat and dungeon crawling. There are some aspects other than that. But now with the third entry, Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall, it feels like we've stepped into something much bigger."
He flipped through a game booklet on the table. "The game is literally named after the continent you're playing in, which shows they're leaning heavily into world-building. It's not just about fighting anymore—it's about politics, lore, and exploration. It feels way more immersive."
Mitsu grinned and nodded. "Dude, come on. You said Elder Scrolls: Arena 1 and 2 were just about combat and dungeon crawling, but they had way more going on than that! The stories were actually pretty solid—sure, not as deep as Daggerfall, but still compelling. What I really love is how they took what worked in Arena and refined it in Daggerfall. It's like they leveled everything up. I mean, riding a proper horse through open terrain? That blew my mind. And the first-person combat—it actually feels responsive now. I seriously love how far it's come."
Ishiki nodded, laughing. "Yeah, they really made the towns feel alive, and the quests? Way more interesting this time around. The Daedric quests are always my favorite, though—especially the one with Malacath. And man, you remember when you stumble across Zabo-man during that questline? That was such a weird and cool surprise. Totally caught me off guard."
Mitsu nodded. "Yeah, it's so good. I really loved that feature. The fact that you can choose to become a Vampire or a Lycanthrope—and not only that, but the gameplay actually changes based on that decision? That's the kind of depth I live for in RPGs. It's not just cosmetic; it adds new mechanics, new challenges, and even alters how NPCs react to you. That kind of dynamic gameplay is next-level."
Ishiki nodded with a smile. "Yeah, Elder Scrolls III: Daggerfall is a rock-solid RPG. Between the branching paths, the faction systems, and all those immersive details, it really stands out. I'd easily give it a 9.0. It's one of those games where you keep discovering new stuff even after hours of play."
Mitsu nodded. "Well, that's quite a high score. What about Super Mario RPG? What do you think of that one?"
Ishiki paused for a moment, thinking. "Honestly, I never imagined there would ever be a Mario RPG, but here we are—and the quality is outstanding. What really caught me off guard was the combat system. It's not your typical 'select and wait' style. If you press the button at just the right moment, Mario actually does more damage. That timing mechanic completely changes the feel of the battles. It keeps you engaged, and I've never seen that in an RPG before. It was a total game-changer for me. I absolutely loved that system."
Mitsu grinned. "Yeah, that's good stuff. And I agree—the way they mixed traditional platforming into the RPG mechanics was brilliant. It gives the game this unique rhythm that feels both familiar and fresh. And I still can't get over the fact that Peach and Bowser are part of your team. Seeing Bowser fighting alongside Mario after all these years of rivalry? That blew my mind. It's funny, weird, and awesome all at once."
Ishiki nodded. "Yeah, that game is superb—another 9.0 from me, easy. And as for ZGB's title Dragon Quest Monsters, I've gotta say, it really hit the spot. It's like the perfect blend between Pokémon and Dragon Quest. You get the classic monster-collecting gameplay, but with that distinct Dragon Quest flavor, and honestly, that's exactly what I've been looking for."
He leaned back, clearly excited. "I didn't think I'd get this hooked, but the charm is undeniable. The art, the music, the world design—it all just works. And the fact that it uses familiar monsters from the mainline Dragon Quest series makes it feel nostalgic without being a copy-paste."
Mitsu grinned. "Yeah, and the monster breeding system? That's straight-up pulled from Megami Tensei-style mechanics, and it works really well here. You can experiment and discover all these different combinations—it's super addictive. Even though the game isn't doing anything radically new, what it does, it does really well. It's polished, it's fun, and it's got that just-one-more-battle feeling. I'd give it a solid 8.0 for sure—hahaha."
Ishiki nodded. "Honestly, ZAGE always delivers, man. When have they ever truly failed?"
Mitsu tilted his head, thinking. "Maybe during the Base War era on the original ZEPS? That wasn't exactly a smash hit."
Ishiki shook his head. "Nah, not even close. Base Wars didn't sell well, yeah, but that was mostly because of the backlash from hardcore basketball purists. People weren't ready to see basketball reimagined with mech suits and sci-fi weapons. But if you actually played it? The gameplay was tight. The mechanics were ahead of their time. It just didn't get the credit it deserved."
He leaned forward, getting more animated. "Honestly, that game had some of the most underrated strategy systems of that generation. The fusion between sports and tactical elements was gutsy—and I respect the hell out of that. It wasn't a failure in terms of design. It just got misunderstood by the market at the time."
Mitsu chuckled and nodded. "Well yeah, let's get to it—time to start writing the article for our next issue of Famitsu."
Ishiki grinned, grabbing his notepad. "Sure thing! Hahaha, let's make this one the best yet."
To be continue
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