Chapter 766 706 Next game for ZAGE Japan.
Friday 26 Nov 1996.
Just one day before the highly anticipated release of Chrono Trigger and Starcraft, Zaboru had already returned from America and was now back at ZAGE Tokyo headquarters. He had come with a new, significant task in mind for the Tokyo team. Without wasting time, he gathered the Developers and Quality Control team in the meeting room, ready to deliver their next big mission.
Zaboru smiled and stepped forward confidently. "First of all, congratulations to everyone! Chrono Trigger is officially finished and ready for release tomorrow." The room erupted in applause, a mix of relief and pride washing over the faces of the developers and QC team members who had worked tirelessly on the project.
As the clapping died down, Zaboru raised a hand and continued, "Now, onto what I want to discuss next. I know the Tokyo and Osaka teams are currently focused on the development of our upcoming console, the ZEPS 3. It's a huge undertaking, no doubt. However…" He paused for effect, scanning the room with a confident smile. "I believe we're more than capable of handling one or two additional game projects over the next couple of months."
The room grew quiet for a second, and then heads began to nod in agreement. The developers looked at one another with knowing smirks, and a few murmurs of approval spread through the room. It was true—ZAGE Japan's team was exceptional, made up of some of the best talent in the industry, and many felt energized by the idea of taking on more.
Zaboru clasped his hands behind his back and added, "You've all proven time and time again that we don't just meet expectations—we exceed them. So let's push the bar even higher."
"For ZAGE Osaka, I've already assigned them two projects—both are fighting games designed for arcade platforms. One will be a 2d fighter with a unique concept while the other will be a 3d fighter with Transformation mechanics," Zaboru explained.
He then turned his attention to the Tokyo team, his grin widening. "As for all of you here in Tokyo, I'm assigning something closer to our roots—two full-scale ZEPS 2 titles. These won't just be any games; both will be based on one of our most important franchises."
He walked over to the table, placed two folders down, and slid them toward the team. Written across them were the titles: Final Fantasy 5 and Final Fantasy 6. The room collectively leaned in, intrigued.
"These two projects will push our storytelling, world-building, and gameplay to the next level," he continued. " And I know this team is the right one to take them on."
This would be another ZAGE's own definitive version of the Final Fantasy legacy. In this world, Final Fantasy 5 would be based on Final Fantasy 4 from Zaboru's previous life, while Final Fantasy 6 would be adapted from what used to be Final Fantasy 5. It was all part of a grand restructuring Zaboru had planned—one that aimed to preserve the spirit of the original games while optimizing their release schedule and narrative flow in this world.
Zaboru had already created Final Fantasy 3 in this timeline, inspired heavily by the Final Fantasy 6 of his previous life. That left a major gap in continuity and experience, one that only he fully understood. To fill that void and make the eventual release of Final Fantasy 7 feel earned and appropriately impactful, he planned to recreate all sixt original titles with modern refinements under the ZAGE brand.
Each game would not only honor the original but also lay down the narrative and mechanical groundwork that would feed into the next. By the time the gaming world reached the 32/64-bit era, Zaboru wanted players to feel like they had been on a complete and satisfying journey through the entire Final Fantasy 16 bit saga, building the emotional weight and hype that Final Fantasy 7 would eventually need to live up to its legendary status.
The ZAGE Tokyo participants looked surprised, glancing at one another as the weight of the announcement sank in. Yugo raised his hand and asked curiously, "Boss-sama, why do we need to develop two Final Fantasy games so quickly like this?"
Zaboru smiled, calm and deliberate in his response. "There are two reasons," he began. "First, I genuinely love the Final Fantasy series—always have. And second, I have a long-term plan. For the future of our next-gen console, I've mapped out the direction of the Final Fantasy franchise. But to get there, the seventh installment has to come at the right time, with the right build-up." He paused, then added with a grin, "So yes, it needs to be the seventh installment."
Hideo Kojima, confused tilted his head and asked, "Uhh, why does it have to be the seventh, boss?"
Zaboru grinned. "Hehehe, it's a secret."
Everyone burst into laughter, the tension in the room easing with his playful tone. Zaboru had a habit of doing things that didn't always make immediate sense to others—acting on instincts and ideas that only he could fully grasp. This moment was just one example of many. But his employees had long grown used to it. They trusted his vision, even when it wasn't yet clear to them.
Zaboru then continued, "As we all know, the core gameplay and Job system will remain similar to what we delivered in Final Fantasy 4. However, for Final Fantasy 5 and 6, we need to take it a step further. I want us to expand the Job system significantly—let's add new and unique special Jobs exclusive to each installment. These roles should offer gameplay depth, strategic variety, and visual flair to keep players engaged."
He paused briefly, making sure everyone was following. "Also, we need to rework and refine the user interface for both games. The UI should feel more intuitive,, while still fitting within the aesthetic of the ZEPS 2 hardware."
Zaboru then said, "As usual, I've already given you all the materials you'll need—character designs, the overall story, gameplay highlights, and the complete development blueprint. You're free to use those as the foundation for your work. We're currently planning to release Final Fantasy 5 in January and Final Fantasy 6 in February."
He paused and looked around the room. "Of course, if the team needs more time to polish or expand on the vision, I'll absolutely allow for that. Quality comes first. Any questions regarding this new task?"
The meeting room buzzed with a steady stream of questions and answers as the team members sought clarification on their new assignments. Some asked about specific gameplay mechanics for the upcoming titles, while others voiced their excitement about working on such beloved franchises. Zaboru responded to each question patiently, offering both direction and encouragement, making sure everyone understood their roles and what was expected.
Diagrams were sketched out on whiteboards, project timelines were discussed, and task leads were quickly assigned. The atmosphere was lively, a blend of curiosity, motivation, and focused anticipation. .
Eventually, after all concerns were addressed and notes were taken, the meeting wound down. The team began to file out of the room, energized by the challenge ahead. Zaboru, satisfied with how the session had gone, gathered his materials, gave a small nod of approval to the last few remaining staff, and headed back to his office.
Back in his office, Zaboru leaned back in his chair and grinned to himself. "With the 32/64-bit era approaching, the possibilities are endless. Finally, I can start building the kinds of groundbreaking games I always dreamed of adapting into this world," he muttered. One title echoed louder than the rest in his mind—Final Fantasy 7.
He smiled again, this time deeper, more thoughtful. To bring that monumental game into existence, he knew he first had to lay the groundwork. Without the previous six entries built with care and continuity, FF7 wouldn't carry the same weight, the same magic. In his previous life, it was a cultural milestone, one of the most iconic video games ever created. But in this world, without that shared foundation, it might feel hollow or disconnected.
Zaboru didn't want that. He wanted the fantasy, the emotion, the cinematic intensity, and raw storytelling power of the original FF7 to shine—just as it had before, only better. But it had to be earned. It had to be part of a journey, not just a standalone marvel.
"It can wait," he said quietly, locking eyes with the folder marked 'FF7' resting on the edge of his desk. "But when the time comes, the world won't be ready for what we're about to unleash." Zaboru grinned that in future ZAGE might break many people's hearts with Final Fantasy 7.
To be continue
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