AN : Happy New year guys!
Zaboru continued playing, eyes fixed on the screen of his ZEPS 2. After a short loading screen, the visuals finally came to life with a cinematic cutscene. The screen revealed a cold, dimly lit laboratory, filled with strange machines humming softly. Jasper, the protagonist, was bound tightly to a vertical steel platform, heavy reinforced metal restraints clamped around his wrists, ankles, and torso. His mouth was sealed shut with a mechanical clamp, preventing any screams or shouts. The lab was sterile but ominous, with red-coated figures moving about like cultists in a ritual.
Jasper struggled fiercely, his muscles straining against the bindings, but it was no use. The restraints were engineered for strength users like him. He could do nothing but watch as the leader emerged from the shadows — a tall, imposing figure draped in a deep scarlet robe, half of his face replaced by cybernetic implants that glowed faintly. His voice echoed as he stepped closer to the restrained Jasper.
"Code name JAZZ, from The Order — Front Line Squad 6, Jasper Craig," the man announced with slow, deliberate pacing, his voice laced with authority. "You may refer to me as SCAR." He paused, letting the name settle in the air. "Our faction is known as the Way of the Machine." With a sweeping gesture, he motioned to the red-coated figures surrounding him, each standing with eerie silence and unwavering devotion.
"We are the true saviors of humanity. While others cling to outdated fears and myths, we embrace progress. The Machine God watches over us — grants us strength, endurance, clarity, and the promise of something greater than flesh." He narrowed his eyes at Jasper. "Yet your kind — The Order — continues to hunt its divine creations as if they were mere abominations. It's foolish. Blind. We should not destroy what we don't understand. We should coexist… evolve beyond our limits — together."
He smirked, stepping even closer. "But that's not why you're here. You see, your body… it's exceptional. Strong, durable — something far beyond what any of us possess. We've spent years trying to graft the Machine God Trazack sacred components into ourselves, but no one has achieved full integration. They reject us, break us. But you... you're different. You're compatible. A perfect vessel, capable of not only surviving the fusion but fully synchronizing with Brave Steel v7. The way you handled it — flawless. It's almost as if you were made for it."
SCAR leaned in, whispering with disturbing glee, "We will graft the sacred fragments of Machine God Trazack into your brain. Slowly, your mind will shift, your thoughts will align with the will of the divine. And when the transformation is complete… you will lead us, as the avatar of the Machine God."
Jasper's eyes widened with a mix of fury and terror. He strained against the cold steel bindings with every ounce of strength he had, muscles tightening, veins bulging in his neck — but it was useless. The restraints didn't budge. He tried to scream, to protest, but the mechanical clamp sealed over his mouth reduced his voice to nothing more than a desperate, muffled groan.
A group of red-coated figures approached, each holding surgical tools and strange glowing instruments. Their movements were precise, rehearsed — devoid of hesitation. As they formed a circle around Jasper, SCAR stepped back, his expression one of deranged reverence. He raised his arms as if addressing a congregation.
"Rejoice," he declared, his voice echoing through the chamber. "For your flesh and mind now belong to the will of Lord Trazack. The Machine God accepts you."
Suddenly, the perspective shifted to Jasper's first-person view. He glanced around, his head weakly turning as the red lights above flickered. SCAR's twisted, smiling face leaned in one last time, dominating the frame. Then, slowly, Jasper's vision blurred at the edges, narrowing to a tunnel. The humming of machines grew louder, almost rhythmic — like a heartbeat forged from iron. Darkness consumed his sight entirely.
The screen faded to black, and all that remained was the cold, mechanical hum echoing in the void.
Zaboru let out a long whistle at the screen. "Damn, that's intense," he muttered, reaching for another handful of chips. The game shifted seamlessly into the next scene — a new cutscene that showed Jasper lying in a dim, sterile room. It looked like a medical facility, but with twisted machinery humming softly in the background. His eyes snapped open, and for a moment, he looked disoriented.
"W-What's happening to me? What's wrong with my voice?" Jasper asked, his voice sounding different — distorted, metallic. Every word he spoke had a faint echo of mechanical resonance. He sat up slowly, holding his head. Something was wrong. He could think more clearly than ever before, every thought sharp and calculated. But at the same time, he felt something slipping away. His emotions, once strong and instinctive, were fading like echoes in a cold room.
Then came another disturbing realization: he could hear something turning inside his head — a mechanical crank-like sound, as if gears were turning in sync with his thoughts. It was faint but constant, like a ticking reminder that he was no longer entirely human.
The screen transitioned smoothly into gameplay. Jasper now stood in the middle of the lab, and an alarm blared faintly in the distance. The environment above the facility was in chaos — Zaboru could hear explosions and shouts from the Order's troops. It seemed The Order had finally discovered that one of their top agents had been captured.
A small group of elite Order forces lead by ZOFF had launched a rescue operation. On-screen, Zaboru guided Jasper as he made his way through the facility. Red-coated enemies — members of the Way of the Machine — attempted to hold the Order off, but they were losing ground. The battle was intense. Surprisingly, SCAR was nowhere to be seen. There was no trace of the twisted leader, as if he had vanished just before the attack.
Eventually, Jasper was found and freed by a team of Order operatives. They carefully disconnected the remaining bindings and led him out of the crumbling facility. Zaboru watched with a mix of relief and curiosity. Jasper was alive, but changed. And now, with the Way of the Machine revealed, it was clear this was only the beginning of a much larger conflict.
The gameplay then shifts to introduce a new mechanic called the "Machine God Crank," a dual-mode system represented by two separate bars — Red and Blue. These bars dramatically affect Jasper's combat style depending on which one is filled. When the Blue bar is filled, Jasper enters a combat stance that emphasizes ruthless speed and precision. It contrasts heavily with his earlier fighting style — now he moves more efficiently, executing swift attacks and fluid combos. This form makes him far better at stealth, allowing him to sneak behind enemies and strike with surgical accuracy. His jump height increases, his movement speed ramps up significantly, and he becomes a blur on the battlefield. However, this comes with a tradeoff: he becomes much more fragile. High-armored enemies pose a serious threat in this form, and he can be taken down quickly if not careful.
To fill the Blue bar, players must focus on clean, tactical play — landing sneak attacks, eliminating enemies without taking damage, and maintaining full health. When these conditions are met, the Blue mode grants additional critical damage, encouraging a flawless, stealth-based approach.
On the other hand, the Red bar represents a brutal, high-risk mode. It fills when Jasper takes hits frequently or when players fight aggressively while at low health without healing. Activating Red mode transforms Jasper into a bloodthirsty force — his attacks become wild, heavy, and devastating. His defense actually improves the lower his health gets, making him a deadly brawler in clutch situations. This form rewards relentless aggression, turning damage into power, and punishes hesitation.
What makes this system engaging is its exclusivity: players can't fill both bars at once. Each combat encounter forces a choice — do you want to be a silent, evasive assassin or a reckless, high-stakes berserker? There are also rare items and upgrades that enhance either mode, allowing players to further tailor their approach. It's a beautifully designed mechanic that reflects player identity and offers deep replay value. Whether sneaking through shadows or charging headfirst into battle, the game makes both styles feel distinct, challenging, and incredibly satisfying.
To enhance the appeal and immersion, the game also features distinct visual transformations for each of Jasper's combat modes. In the Blue form, Jasper takes on a more composed, almost reserved posture. His cold, sleek mechanical armor emits a subtle blue glow, and his mechanical arm is polished and streamlined, radiating a refined sense of precision. His sword also transforms — shrinking down and reshaping into a narrow, elegant katana, perfect for his stealth-focused, high-speed strikes. His eyes turn icy blue, dim and emotionless, highlighting the detached, machine-like nature of this form.
In stark contrast, the Red form alters Jasper's appearance dramatically. His armor becomes bulkier and more intimidating, with extra plating that enhances his physical presence. His mechanical limbs grow in size and strength, with red energy pulsing beneath the surface. His sword expands and thickens, resembling a brutal, heavy blade designed for sheer destruction. Jasper's expression shifts too — he's always grinning in this form, a crazed glint in his eye, reflecting the aggressive, chaotic energy that defines the Red stance. The game makes it clear through these visual cues that each form is not just a gameplay change, but a transformation in Jasper's very identity and fighting spirit.
There are also hidden sections that can only be accessed depending on whether you're in Red or Blue form, further showcasing how thoughtfully designed the game is. These sections not only reward specific playstyles but also offer extra lore, loot, and environmental storytelling that enrich the overall experience.
"Wow! This mechanic is really good!" Zaboru chuckled. The entire system reminded him of something that could have come from the minds of Hideo Kojima and Yugo — bold, creative, and risk-taking. "Feels like they really worked well together on this one," he added, impressed by how unique the mechanic felt.
As the story unfolds, it becomes one of the most complicated and bizarre Zaboru has ever experienced in a game. After roughly ten hours of continuous gameplay, he finds himself completely immersed. Jasper, now frequently referred to by characters in-game as "Jasper Crank," has undergone noticeable changes due to the horrific experimentation done by the Way of the Machine. The name isn't just a nickname — it reflects his new identity. Every time he speaks, there's a mechanical whirring, a subtle crank-like noise, as if his vocal cords have been partially replaced by machine components. His voice carries a hollow, synthesized tone that sounds more manufactured than natural.
The choices the player is given throughout the game play a huge role in shaping Jasper's story. Zaboru suspects that every major decision may influence the ultimate outcome, possibly leading to multiple endings. Some characters treat Jasper with sympathy, seeing him as a victim robbed of his humanity. Others look at him with unease or suspicion, disturbed by how his personality has shifted. His colleagues whisper about how he's changed — how he doesn't joke anymore, how his reactions are too precise, too calculated. The emotional disconnect becomes a recurring theme, and Zaboru finds it fascinating how the narrative explores identity and transformation.
Despite spending the entire day playing, Zaboru isn't the slightest bit bored. The pacing is well-crafted, the worldbuilding is layered, and there's always something new to uncover. He isn't rushing — he's savoring the journey, exploring every hidden alley, decoding messages, listening to every NPC. He's convinced the game holds multiple endings and he's determined to see every one of them. He even begins taking mental notes on each major dialogue choice, theorizing about the branching paths.
And that wrapped up Zaboru's deep dive into Jasper Crank — at least for now. He leaned back in his chair, letting out a satisfied sigh as the clock showed it was already late into the night. With a chuckle, he muttered to himself, "Alright, that's enough Jasper Crank for today. After I beat Jasper Next up, I wanna try Dad's sequel — Lunar Knight 2. Hehehe... looks like Zaboru the Gamer is clocking in for another three-day session!"
He laughed again, tossing his empty snack wrapper aside. For Zaboru, gaming wasn't just a hobby — it was the heart of his downtime. Even though he was well-known for being a workaholic when it came to developing games, that obsession took a backseat when a new title genuinely excited him. And this one? It had completely taken over his attention.
His real passion was diving into original games born in this world — worlds Touched by his own influence, to make stories that surprised him. Jasper Crank is a prime example of this which makes him so hyped for.
Not to mention, both this month and the next, ZEPS 3's release calendar was packed with third-party titles from a wide range of talented game developers. The fact that these weren't just ZAGE exclusives but passion projects from studios all over this world made it even more thrilling. He leaned back again, a wide grin spreading across his face as he couldn't wait to play them all.
To be continue ,
AN : What do you think chapters like this are? Well i refrain to overdo it as if i cover all Jasper Crank stories it will took whole plenty of chapters but with just 2 i think you get gist of it.
Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get minimum 11 advance chapter and additional 1 chapter a week for 3 bucks considering subscribe to my patreon patreon.com/Zaborn_1997 current Patreon Chapt 878
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