Chapter 195: Playing RC Pro AM Together!

Friday, February 28, 1992 Night

Sakaki was busy working at Bakudan Arcade, where RC Pro AM had become the hottest game. Ever since its release, people had been flooding the arcade to rent the console and play together, taking full advantage of the ZEPS 4-Score adapter, which allowed up to four players to compete at once. The game's competitive nature had made it an instant hit, and the customization options were extensive. Players could modify their RC cars with different chassis, dynamos, tires, gears, batteries, and additional accessories like balancers and spoilers, all within a limited 30-point allocation system. This ensured that there was no ultimate build, as every player had to carefully balance their choices across five tiers of components. The game manual even contained a cheat code to unlock all collectibles, further fueling the excitement.

One of the most exciting discoveries was the presence of Zabo-Man. His Z card read: "I will join you when the time comes, and I can race with you." True to his enigmatic nature, he was a hidden racer in the game, and unlocking him added another layer of thrill for fans of ZAGE's secret challenges. His RC car, ZABO RC, had the unique ability to jump over obstacles, and if it landed on another RC car, it would destroy it instantly. However, despite its gimmick, ZABO RC was ultimately a joke vehicle—its special abilities are so poor, making it difficult to win races against serious competitors.

Sakaki grinned as he looked at his customized RC car. Originally named R. Revolver, it was a sleek silver machine with a straight-line dash special ability, much like a bullet shot from a revolver. He had fine-tuned it to perfection and renamed it Sakaki Revolver, saving it in one of the custom slots. He had spent hours perfecting the balance between speed, acceleration, and control, ensuring his car was a top-tier competitor.

Before long, his friends arrived—Sawada, Endo, and Rikki, all eager to challenge him. Sawada smirked. "Hey, Sakaki, ready to get your ass handed to you? My Rodeo Loco is going to obliterate your Sakaki Revolver!"

Sakaki scoffed. "In your dreams, Sawada. Just because you're a ZAGE employee now, don't get cocky!"

Sawada's custom car, Rodeo Loco, was originally Rodeo Flash Blue and Orange car with Style like Sleek sedan and had the unique ability to blink short distances, allowing it to phase through obstacles for a split second. Endo, the best player among them despite still being in high school, stepped forward with his usual confidence. "You guys ready? My Endo F1 is going to leave you all in the dust." His car was a modified F-Mega 001, a futuristic RC car that had a defensive shield ability. When activated, it not only protected his car but also slightly slowed down any opponent that made contact with it.

Rikki, always the wildcard, grinned. "Endo, your naming sense needs work. You should name your car like I did—Rikki Cannon Mugen!" His custom car, originally Bakuhatsu Crush, was built like a tank and came with a cannon that could shoot at other racers if aimed properly.

Sawada burst out laughing. "What the hell is that name, Rikki Cannon Mugen?! That's an ass name!"

Rikki smirked. "Heh, call it what you want, but your Rodeo Loco couldn't even pass me last time." It was true—when they raced two days ago, Rodeo Loco had consistently fallen behind Rikki Cannon Mugen. Sawada clenched his fists. "Just you wait, Rikki! I'm gonna own you tonight!"

Toki, the arcade owner, chuckled. "Relax, boys. You do remember you have to pay, right?" The four of them nodded in unison. Toki always charged extra for RC Pro AM, especially when more than two players were involved since the game required an adapter ZEPS 4 Scores which have prices of 3000 yen and additional controllers.

Endo suddenly chimed in. "Wait a bit, guys! I want to tweak my Endo F1!" He went into the game's customization menu, swapping out his tires for ones that provided maximum top speed but were extremely slippery on turns. He also adjusted his dynamo to favor acceleration over control.

Everyone watched his choices with puzzled expressions. Sawada shook his head. "What the hell, Endo? Your build is so weird."

Endo grinned. "That's the fun of it! Finding the best build is what matters, right?" Rikki and Sakaki nodded in agreement.

As they prepared for the race, the tension among them grew. Each of them had played countless hours of RC Pro AM, and no one wanted to lose. They had their rivalries, their strategies, and their pride on the line. Sakaki tightened his grip on the controller, determination flashing in his eyes.

"Alright, are we ready to race?"

Sawada, Endo, and Rikki grinned and nodded. "Let's go!"

The countdown began, and as the race started, with background noise of the arcade and other people who rented ZEPS!

to be continue 

Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get 10 advance chapter for 3 bucks considering subscribe to my patreon patreon.com/Zaborn_1997