Chapter 280 ZAGE Power Vol 2 Release! 

Saturday, May 10, 1992.

Sakaki, Sawada, Kumogi, and Rikki were now close friends. Aside from Sakaki, who was a part-time employee at Bakudan Arcade, the others were salarymen who shared a deep passion for ZAGE. They often gathered at Bakudan Arcade, where ZEPS rentals were available, to play games and discuss all things ZAGE. But today was different. Today, they were standing in a long queue outside a magazine store, eagerly waiting to buy the latest edition of ZAGE Power! Volume 2. The line stretched down the block, buzzing with excitement. Despite the store owner's assurance that they had plenty of copies, there was still a sense of urgency in the air.

"Damn, man. Look at this crowd! ZAGE Power is insane!" Sakaki said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Not that I blame them. This magazine is gonna be super insane!"

"True," Sawada nodded. "And I heard at my office that ZAGE is giving us something special this time — some kind of review paper in this issue. I don't know the full details yet, though."

Kumogi, Sakaki, and Rikki groaned in unison.

"Damn! Bro, I'm so jealous you actually landed a job at ZAGE!" Rikki complained.

"Yeah, seriously. What's this review paper about?" Kumogi asked, curiosity burning in his eyes.

Sawada grinned mischievously. "Let's just wait and see."

Sakaki chuckled. "You might be a ZAGE employee, but I know your boss, Zaboru Renkonan, personally."

Sawada snorted. "More like an acquaintance."

After what felt like an eternity, the four friends finally got their hands on four pristine copies of ZAGE Power Vol. 2. They hurried back to Bakudan Arcade, where Sakaki convinced Toki, the owner, to let them use one of the empty rooms.

"Just make sure you clean up your mess, Sakaki!" Toki called after them.

They shut the door behind them, each holding their copy like it was treasure. Sakaki flipped the magazine over to examine the cover. Mario was front and center while raising his hand mid-jump, with Android and Motorcycle robots from Base Wars in the background swinging their bat and Aiming their Guns and beside them is the beautiful Alis Landale Phantasy Star MC smiling confidently. In the corner, a small image showed Link and Spongebob playing RC Pro-AM on a ZEPS console with intense face. The cover was vibrant, charming, and bursting with personality.

"Damn, this cover is so cool! And Alis-chan is as cute as ever!" Sakaki grinned.

"Alis might be cool, but Samus is still my wife," Sawada declared proudly.

Rikki and Kumogi stared at him, dumbfounded. "The hell, Sawada..." Rikki muttered.

They burst into laughter, flipping through the pages with eager anticipation. The magazine was packed with interesting facts about the April releases, tips and tricks for recent games, and even a special section where Zaboru Renkonan shared insights on how he created games. It felt personal, like the magazine was speaking directly to them. There was also a sneak peek at six games set to release in May, which only added to their excitement.

Inside, they found a fold-out poster of Base Wars featuring the Neo-Tokio Cyber Sluggers. Rikki pouted as he held it up. "What?! Why Neo-Tokio? My favorite team is Madreed Kingdom - Neo Nebula!"

Sawada rolled his eyes. "The hell, you're Japanese. Why not Tokio?"

They bantered playfully, tossing light-hearted insults back and forth. Their laughter echoed through the room as they argued over which team was superior. It wasn't just about the games; it was about the camaraderie. They snacked on chips and soda, completely engrossed in the content.

Then they reached the end of the magazine and found something unexpected — the ZAGE Player Form. Rikki flipped through the pages. It was a detailed feedback form dedicated to each ZAGE game, with questions like:

Do you own this game?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this game?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how hard do you think this game is?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how often did you encounter bugs, glitches, or errors?

What improvements would you suggest for this game?

At the end of the page, there was a form:

"If you submit this to our ZAGE mail, there's a chance to win rare merchandise! Make sure to include your address here!"

"The voting results will be revealed in the next ZAGE Power! will you buy it?"

"Only put one favorite game in this form. Tell us why you love it!"

The four friends stared at each other, wide-eyed.

"Well... time for some reviews!" Sakaki declared.

They eagerly grabbed pens and started filling out the forms, debating passionately over which game deserved their vote. Each of them had different tastes — Sakaki favored Base Wars, Sawada leaned toward Metroid, Kumogi raved about RC Pro-AM, and Rikki couldn't stop talking about Ultimate Bunny Race.

All across Japan, similar scenes played out in homes and arcades. ZEPS players were flipping through ZAGE Power Vol. 2, excited to share their opinions and contribute to the growing community. It wasn't just a magazine — it was a movement. The players hung out together, each clutching their cherished copy of ZAGE Power Vol. 2. They eagerly discussed strategies, shared fan theories, and even organized gatherings to talk passionately about their favorite ZAGE games. It wasn't just about playing — it was about being part of a thriving community where every game sparked endless conversation and excitement.

As the evening wore on, the Bakudan arcade vacant room filled with laughter, excitement, and the sound of pens scratching paper. They were more than just gamers they were part of something bigger. And for Sakaki, Sawada, Kumogi, and Rikki, it was another unforgettable moment in their journey as ZAGE fans.

To be continued.

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