First up is the game from Team NIWA Japan—Tales of Destiny. It's a solid JRPG with strong fundamentals, but fan expectations were unusually high, especially since just last month ZAGE's Final Fantasy 7 launched and completely dominated the market. Many fans assumed Tales of Destiny would follow a similar path and deliver an equally groundbreaking experience. But that wasn't the case. Not because Tales of Destiny was a bad game—in fact, far from it—but because it was inevitably overshadowed by the sheer magnitude and cultural impact of Final Fantasy 7's success.
The game itself remains solid, continuing to use the real-time side-scrolling combat system that players loved in Tales of Phantasia on ZEPS 2. However, this time the animations are far more fluid, the character sprites are noticeably sharper, and the overall flow of hits and combos feels much smoother and more satisfying. One of the standout features in Tales of Destiny is the introduction of the Swordians.
Swordians are sentient magical swords created by an ancient civilization, each with its own distinct personality, will, and sense of morality. Far from being mere weapons, they function as full-fledged characters, forming deep bonds with their wielders. They talk, argue, and even influence decisions throughout the journey.
In terms of gameplay, Swordians replace the traditional job system by offering customization through lens slots embedded within them. These slots determine stat growth and unlock unique artes, allowing players to tailor their party members' progression paths. This integration of character development with story elements creates a tight synergy between gameplay and narrative. Swordians serve not only as tools of combat but also as the emotional heart of the story, adding depth and personality to every battle and interaction.
The story itself is quite strong. Tales of Destiny follows Stahn Aileron, an ordinary young man who accidentally becomes the wielder of Dymlos, a sentient sword known as a Swordian. This unexpected bond thrusts Stahn into a sweeping conflict between rival nations, where ancient weapons from a long-lost civilization are being unearthed and misused for power. As he journeys with companions who each wield their own unique Swordians, the group gradually uncovers the buried truths of a cataclysmic war that once tore the world apart—and now threatens to do so again.
At its core, the narrative delves into themes of fate versus free will. The Swordians, though created with the noble intention of ending war, have ironically become instruments of new violence when placed in human hands. Throughout the journey, characters are repeatedly forced to confront the nature of power—whether it can be wielded responsibly, or if humanity is doomed to repeat its destructive cycles. The story isn't defined by a singular evil villain, but rather shaped by political tensions, betrayals, and ideological clashes that give the tale emotional and philosophical weight.
Then there's ZABO-Man, who appears in the game as a hidden boss fight. Uniquely, he is one of the rare Swordians, and his weapon—simply called "Z"—possesses extraordinary elemental abilities. The sword allows ZABO-Man to control wind, unleash flames, and summon insect-like spirit creatures to assist him in battle. He's an incredibly challenging opponent, serving as one of the game's ultimate tests of skill and strategy.
The critics rated the game quite favorably, with an average score of 8/10 across major outlets. It was a respectable achievement that most other titles would have celebrated without hesitation. However, the fan reception told a different story. Many players, having just finished Final Fantasy 7, were hungry for another monumental experience—and Tales of Destiny, despite its quality, didn't meet those sky-high expectations. The comparison was inevitable, and unfortunately, it left many fans wanting more, not because the game was lacking, but because the shadow cast by Final Fantasy 7 was simply too large at the moment.
This ongoing discourse led Zaboru himself to make a personal comment on his ZAGE Forum account. He wrote, "Final Fantasy 7 is a good game, but that doesn't mean a game that doesn't look like it is bad. At ZAGE, we never stick to one formula—hehehe." The message was short and cheeky, yet it struck a chord. Many users began to reconsider their criticism. They realized they had been unfairly judging Tales of Destiny by the standard of a completely different game, genre direction, and narrative tone. Zaboru's comment reframed the conversation: Tales of Destiny wasn't meant to be the next Final Fantasy 7—it was something different, and that difference was intentional.
The next game released during this period is also an RPG, but unlike the JRPG format seen in Tales of Destiny, this one is rooted in Western RPG traditions. Developed by Team Tempest USA, Baldur's Gate was designed specifically for PC rather than ZEPS 3, and it quickly became a phenomenal success among PC players. Even in this world, there remains a significant divide between console and PC gaming communities. Most gamers still primarily play on just one of the two platforms, with those who engage with both being relatively rare due to the cost of hardware and software. Despite this divide, Baldur's Gate became everything fans had come to expect from ZAGE's PC division. Prior to its release, ZAGE had already delivered genre-defining hits like Elder Scrolls IV: Morrowind, and now Baldur's Gate pushed the envelope even further.
In this timeline, tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons have existed and remained popular since the early 1980s—long before ZAGE was founded in 1991. As video games evolved and rose to dominance, there was always a dream among tabletop enthusiasts that one day, a game would faithfully recreate the strategic, immersive feeling of a true D&D campaign. Baldur's Gate fulfilled that dream. By closely adhering to D&D rules and systems, the game preserved the unpredictability, decision-making, and tactical depth of pen-and-paper play. It wasn't about button-mashing or twitch reflexes—it was about strategic thinking, thoughtful positioning, spell preparation, and outsmarting enemies.
The game utilized a real-time-with-pause combat system, which allowed for cinematic presentation without compromising tactical control. Players could issue commands in real time, then pause to assess the battlefield, queue up actions, and adjust tactics on the fly. This approach offered the best of both worlds, blending immersion with complexity and giving players a sense of agency that few other games matched at the time.
What truly set Baldur's Gate apart was its immersive world-building. The Sword Coast was vast, unpredictable, and often dangerous, filled with stories, characters, and quests that could be encountered in almost any order. You could wander into areas far above your level, uncover hidden narratives that had no direct connection to the main plot, or stumble across factions with their own goals and consequences. This non-linear structure made the game feel truly alive and indifferent to the player's presence—which, paradoxically, only heightened immersion. It trusted players to explore, make mistakes, and learn from them without being led by the hand.
ZABO-Man also appears in this world as an Easter egg encounter hidden in one of the city environments. Players may catch a glimpse of his iconic black coat and shining silver "Z" helmet as he dashes into a shadowy alleyway. If the player follows him, a brief cutscene is triggered: ZABO-Man turns around, points at the player with a smirk, and says, "You are very cool... but not now." Without another word, he leaps into a swirling, bizarre-looking portal that vanishes as quickly as it appeared. The moment leaves players both surprised and curious, a playful nod to ZAGE's internal mythology and a perfect showcase of the studio's love for clever Easter eggs. This cameo is a tribute to ZABO-Man as one of ZAGE's long-standing symbolic characters—an enigma within an enigma.
All of this came together to make Baldur's Gate a landmark RPG and one of ZAGE's finest PC efforts to date. While some fans might still prefer the open-world freedom of Morrowind, Baldur's Gate stood as proof that ZAGE was never content to stick to one formula. They were willing to experiment, evolve, and reimagine what RPGs could be—and this title showed just how powerful that philosophy could be in action.
And finally, rounding out the August releases is a landmark title: the very first Pokémon game on the ZEPS 3 system—Pokémon Stadium.
Pokémon Stadium is, at its core, a straightforward game, but that simplicity is precisely what makes it so powerful. It doesn't include a traditional story mode like the mainline games; instead, it focuses purely on battles. But what sets it apart—and what made it such a phenomenon—is its full 3D graphics. For the first time ever, players could see their beloved Pokémon rendered in full three-dimensional models, brought to life with smooth animations and vivid effects. It was exactly what fans had been dreaming of ever since the early days of the franchise.
The game allows players to transfer their Pokémon from the Pokémon Red, Green, or Crystal versions on the ZGB handheld into Pokémon Stadium, using a special link accessory. This meant that all the hours players spent raising their team on handheld now paid off on the big screen. Your very own Pikachu , Charizard, Gengar, or Tyranitar could now enter intense battles in full 3D glory, complete with attack animations, voice clips, and stadium backdrops.
The title offers a wide array of battle modes, from solo tournaments to team battles and challenges against Gym Leaders in one-on-one or multi-Pokémon matchups. This variety added layers of replay value while retaining the heart of what made the series great—strategic battling. The sense of ownership and pride that came with seeing your trained Pokémon performing in vibrant arenas was something fans never forgot.
ZABO-Man also exists in this world as a secret trainer like other Pokemon games. His Gengar, in particular, is notoriously powerful—strategically built with a near-flawless move set, and capable of sweeping entire teams if unprepared.
What truly surprised many, even within ZAGE, was just how well Pokémon Stadium sold. Compared to the already respectable numbers for Tales of Destiny and the excellent performance of Baldur's Gate, Pokémon Stadium blew past expectations. It quickly climbed the charts to become one of the top-selling titles on ZEPS 3's first week release. The sales figures spoke for themselves: the world wasn't just interested in Pokémon—it was obsessed. The hunger for more Pokémon content, especially in cutting-edge visual presentation, was overwhelming, and Zaboru saw that clearly.
The game's success wasn't just financial; it was cultural. It became a touchstone for the generation, a symbol of the power of connectivity between handheld and console, and a shining example of how the franchise could continue evolving across platforms and showing that ZGB still matters.
These three releases demonstrate, once again, that ZAGE refuses to stick to just one formula or genre. the company continues to prove its versatility and creativity. What's especially impressive is that even after launching a cultural juggernaut like Final Fantasy 7, ZAGE didn't fall into the trap of repeating itself or trying to chase the same success formula repeatedly.
Many industry insiders had predicted that following FF7's triumph, ZAGE would shift gears and begin churning out more games in that same mold—narrative-heavy, cinematic JRPG epics. But ZAGE defied expectations. Instead of playing it safe, they pushed forward in different directions, reminding fans and critics alike that innovation, risk-taking, and creative diversity are core to their identity. It's clear now that ZAGE's strength lies in its refusal to become predictable.
And so, that wraps up the month of August for ZAGE. As for Zaboru himself, right now he on ZAGE Tower thinking about his ZEPS 4 console design.
To be continue
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