Friday 14 December 1997 Sonaya Offices.
At the Sonaya offices, Hikaru Kurata—the CEO and major shareholder—was feeling relaxed. The company had just launched the first phase of the marketing campaign for their latest sports title, SFG: Sonaya Football Game, set to release on their 32-bit console, the Game Station. This was just the beginning—early promotional material with no major push or media blitz yet.
Right now, Hikaru was celebrating with his engineering team. The development of SFG had officially wrapped, and as per tradition, he brought in pizzas and snacks for the entire gaming division. Spirits were high. Hikaru himself was enjoying the party, chatting and laughing alongside Junpei Hoshida, the head of the video game department, and their deputy lead, Ken Kutaragi. The TV in the corner of the office played in the background, and everything about Hikaru's demeanor showed he was in an excellent mood.
But then Junpei said, "Boss, you'll see—ZAGE has an important announcement going live today. Since you're here, want to watch it?"
Hikaru Kurata frowned. "Announcement? What's that about?"
Junpei shrugged. "No idea yet, boss. But the ZAGE forums are blowing up over it. The community's buzzing—lots of speculation. Might be worth seeing what they're planning."
Hikaru's expression tightened. The name ZAGE always triggered something in him. He respected them, sure, but they were also Sonaya's biggest rival—and their biggest big final boss. Right now, Sonaya's gaming division couldn't even compare. ZAGE wasn't just ahead—they were on another level entirely. Still, knowing what your competition is up to was essential.
"Fine," he muttered. "Let's see what they're up to."
Junpei nodded and turned up the volume on the office TV, which had been quietly playing TV Tokyo in the background. The program suddenly shifted as the screen shimmered with motion graphics—the ZAGE logo bursting onto the screen with a high-energy intro. A bright light flashed across the screen, followed by the iconic shout: "ZAGEE!"
The room fell silent as developers, engineers, and even junior staff turned to face the screen. The mood changed instantly. Every eye was locked on the broadcast.
And then, the announcement began.
First, the screen exploded with fast cuts and fiery transitions, showcasing many of ZAGE's iconic fighting games. A narrator with a deep, gravelly voice boomed over the footage: "Fighting games! The ultimate test of skill! A pure 1v1 battlefield—intense, personal, and legendary!"
The footage cut to classic arcade cabinets lit with neon, sounds of crowds cheering, and furious button mashing. The narrator continued, "ZAGE has delivered greatness in arcades for over a years—bringing the thrill of battle to the streets!"
Then came the lineup—shot after shot of gameplay clips from ZAGE's most beloved titles: Street Fighter, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, MARVEL VS ZAGE, Tekken, Dead or Alive, Soulcalibur, Guilty Gear, Nightstalker, Bloody Roar, and Fatal Fury. Each name appeared on screen with electrifying visual effects and rapid transitions, backed by a thunderous musical score. It wasn't just a name drop—each game was showcased with cinematic energy and flair.
Iconic moments flashed across the screen in succession: Ryu launching a Hadouken across a crumbling rooftop, Scorpion pulling an enemy into flame with his classic spear move, Kazuya electrifying the arena with his signature combo, and Spider-Man web-slinging mid-air before landing a slick counter. Then came Yugo transforming mid-fight and pummeling his opponent, Ivy twirling her enchanted sword-whip in a glimmering cathedral, Joe Higashi unleashing a flurry of kicks, and Kasumi stringing a combo that ended in a graceful flip. Morrigan Aensland darted through shadows in a midnight stage, and I-No shredded her guitar mid-combo, sending shockwaves that shattered the stage floor.
Each clip transitioned seamlessly to the next, the momentum never slowing. The transitions themselves were stylized—some with flame, others with digital glitch effects, and even a few dissolving into arcade CRT distortion for extra flair. The soundtrack pulsed with themes from each title.
Arcade sound effects—button clicks, announcer calls, crowd reactions—were layered perfectly with the beat, creating a soundscape that felt both familiar and fresh. By the time the last reel hit, the energy in the room was electric. This wasn't just a showcase—it was a tribute to fighting games, crafted to leave jaws on the floor.
Then, a loud crash of thunder echoed as the screen went black.
A bold title slammed onto the screen in glowing red letters: "Now, we bring you the next evolution—The King of Fighter Bundle!"
The narrator roared back in, "Twelve legendary fighting games, now fully remade for our most powerful console yet—ZEPS 3, the 64-bit beast! These aren't just ports. These are complete, high-performance remakes with enhanced visuals, new mechanics, and expanded content!"
Then, a clean list rolled in, now glowing in gold:
Street Fighter II (Remake)Mortal Kombat (Remake)Tekken (Remake)Soulcalibur (Remake)Bloody Roar (Remake)Fatal Fury (Remake)Dead or Alive (Remake)Marvel Vs ZAGE (Remake)Guilty Gear (Remake)Nightstalker (Remake)New Fighting Game – To Be RevealedNew Fighting Game – To Be Revealed
Each title flickered onto the screen alongside brief flashes of their revamped gameplay—more fluid animations, cinematic supers, updated character models, and brand-new stages. Clearly this is more than just porting!.
At Sonaya HQ, eyes widened across the entire floor—especially among the developers. Despite working at Sonaya, many of them were lifelong ZAGE fans. They fought the urge to cheer or react too loudly, trying to remain professional. But it wasn't easy. What they were witnessing was unreal.
The air was tense, not because of the trailer's intensity, but because of who was watching it with them. Their CEO, Hikaru Kurata, stood among them, staring at the screen with wide, stunned eyes. The expression on his face shifted rapidly—shock, disbelief, and then a slow, simmering rage. It was the kind of news that could break a competitor's spirit.
While Sonaya was preparing to launch just one new game as its new year title, ZAGE had dropped a bomb: twelve fully remade fighting games bundled together, complete with new content and hardware support. It was bold, brilliant, and devastating.
Kurata grit his teeth, jaw clenching tightly as he continued watching the trailer in silence. Around him, the employees tried to hide their excitement. Some had fists clenched behind their backs. Others bit their lips to suppress grins. A few snuck glances at each other, silently mouthing "Oh my god."
Everyone in the room could feel it. This wasn't just another announcement—it was a declaration of dominance. And no matter how much they tried to stay loyal to their company, the energy from that ZAGE trailer was impossible to ignore.
The ad continued with a burst of energy: "Not just casual remakes! We've added more characters, expanded storylines, enhanced gameplay mechanics, and introduced brand-new modes—exclusively for the ZEPS 3 system!" The voiceover was sharp and proud, accompanied by dramatic zoom-ins and flashing title cards.
The screen shifted to show redesigned menus and in-game UI, with sleek overlays and new features. Classic games like Mortal Kombat were shown with completely overhauled character models—more detailed, expressive, and animated with next-gen motion. New lighting effects and background environments made each fight feel more immersive than ever before.
"You can now play these classics from the comfort of your home," the narrator said. "And don't worry—if you don't have friends around, our enhanced single-player experience has you covered!" A fast-paced montage followed, showing AI rival battles, arcade mode cinematics, and cutscenes that hadn't existed in the originals.
The footage then cut to deep dives into added content: expanded training modes, challenge towers, boss rushes, and unlockable lore galleries.
Gameplay clips kept rolling, clearly showcasing the graphical leap and updated frame rates compared to their arcade originals.
The announcer grinned, his voice rising with excitement. "And now, the reveal you've all been waiting for! Our two newest fighting game titles are... Rival School and Killer Instinct! That's right! But we won't be showing more just yet—you'll have to tune in to ZAGE's massive End-of-Year Event tomorrow for the full gameplay debut and surprises we've been holding back!"
A flash of lightning cut across the screen as dramatic music swelled. "But that's not all!" the announcer continued. "ZAGE isn't just giving you games—we're giving you the tools to become a true fighter. Introducing our brand-new controller: the Z-Fight Stick!"
The camera panned over the controller like a sports car ad. Built with premium parts, the Z-Fight Stick was sleek, solid, and battle-ready. Its design echoed the arcade cabinets of Zaboru's previous world—featuring a classic joystick, eight-button layout, and fully customizable button mapping. The finish was clean black steel trims, and the ZAGE logo embossed into the wrist rest.
"This controller was made with pro players in mind," the announcer said. "If you've spent hours in arcades, this will feel like home. And if you've only used the standard ZEPS 3 controller, get ready to level up your fighting game experience!"
Side-by-side footage played of players pulling off advanced combos more fluidly with the stick. A training mode comparison showed inputs being executed faster and more consistently. It was clear this wasn't just a gimmick—it was a serious performance tool.
"And the pricing?" the announcer teased as the camera zoomed in on the controller, which glowed ominously. "You'll want to be sitting down for this one..."
For the bundle, we are pricing the base King of Fighter Bundle at 75,000 yen, which includes all 12 games. If you opt for the Z-Fight Stick combo, the total will be 83,000 yen—a perfect setup for competitive players looking to relive arcade glory in high fidelity. But that's not all. For collectors and superfans, ZAGE has one more offering: the Fighting Game Ultimate Collection, priced at 150,000 yen. This edition includes the full game bundle, the Z-Fight Stick, and a stunning set of 12 limited-edition character figures, one from each game featured in the bundle. Each figure is sculpted with high-quality materials, hand-painted, and packaged in a premium display box, making it a must-have for hardcore fighting game fans.
As for the official release date—it will be revealed during ZAGE's End-of-Year Mega Event tomorrow, so stay tuned for more surprises. The announcer shouted one last time, hyped to the max: "ROUND START—FIGHT!!"
The screen erupted in flame as the King of Fighter logo appeared in blazing glory. Then, one by one, characters emerged from the smoke. In the center, Chun-Li stood confidently, face-to-face with Mai Shiranui, both in fierce poses as sparks flared between them and their breasts pressed together, creating a charged, confident face-off that blended tension with their iconic sexual appeal. Their intense stare-down recreated an iconic versus screen from Zaboru's previous life, symbolizing the clash between the Queens of Fighters.
Behind them, a wall of legendary warriors stepped into view: Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat, Kazuya Mishima from Tekken, Yugo the Wolf from Bloody Roar, I-No from Guilty Gear, Morrigan Aensland from Nightstalker, Ivy Valentine from Soulcalibur, Iori Yagami from Fatal Fury, and Spider-Man, giving a thumbs-up while hanging upside down in the corner of the screen. The final image froze, stylized like a classic fighting game character select screen, as the crowd watching around the world collectively lost their minds.
After the full 15-minute advertisement ended, silence took over the Sonaya game room. No one said a word. All that could be heard was the low hum of electronics and the faint buzz of the television static as the ZAGE broadcast cut to black. Hikaru Kurata stood frozen in place, his jaw clenched, his forehead visibly pulsing with frustration. Within seconds, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room at a brisk pace, saying nothing to anyone. He didn't even stop to grab his coat.
He needed to cool his head.
Now sitting in the back of his sleek black company car, Hikaru stared blankly through the tinted windows as the city lights flickered past. But he couldn't hold it in any longer. Clenching his fists, he slammed one hand against the armrest and shouted, "DAMN YOU, ZABORU!!!!" The driver flinched, saying nothing, used to the occasional outburst.
Meanwhile, back at the office, the rest of the employees—many still standing around the game room—finally let loose. Laughter, excitement, and fan chatter erupted all at once. It was Friday, and tomorrow was the weekend. That meant one thing: group hangouts, arcade nights, and, most importantly, endless conversations about what they had just witnessed.
Most of them were gamers, and the ZAGE King of Fighter trailer had hit them like a tidal wave. It was flashy, powerful, and overwhelming in the best way. For many of them, it didn't even matter that they worked for a rival company—ZAGE was their best game developer, and this new project had just blown open the floodgates of hype.
Across the globe, similar scenes played out. Gamers flooded ZAGE forums. Clips The announcement—they'd shaken the entire industry like usual ZAGE Stuff.
And now, all eyes are on tomorrow's End-of-Year Event.
To be continue
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