Sunday, 5 July 1993
As the event wrapped up and Sunday dawned, viewers across Japan who had watched the E-Sports broadcast on TV Tokyo were still buzzing with excitement. Families, teenagers, and even some older folks who had tuned in out of curiosity were surprised at how engaging the show had been. It was unlike anything they'd seen before on television. The entire broadcast was energetic, suspenseful, and emotional.
People were particularly amazed by how the 32 players were treated like genuine professional athletes. The post-match interviews, the medal ceremonies, the fan chants—all of it felt like watching an Olympic event. The fact that even those who lost early still received prize money stunned viewers. A player who lost in the top 16 walked away with 25,000 yen, and those in the top 8 received even more. The level of respect given to each participant resonated with many families watching from home.
"E-sports," a term most hadn't heard before this broadcast, now had real meaning. For many, this was their first glimpse into competitive gaming, and it was an eye-opener. The comeback victories, emotional reactions, crowd responses—it made people cry, laugh, and cheer. What began as a simple TV event turned into a cultural moment.
But what truly stunned the audience was the final segment. Zaboru, the founder of ZAGE, stepped in to battle the reigning champion, Endo—known in-game as Hayabusa. And then he won. Not just won—dominated. It sent shockwaves through the nation. The player began calling Zaboru the "True Final Boss," and office workers were overheard debating whether anyone could ever beat him.
Now, fans speculated wildly. What would happen if someone finally defeated Zaboru? What was the secret prize he hinted at? Who would be the next player to rise up to the challenge? And perhaps most importantly: what game would be used in the next ZAGE E-Sports competition?
Meanwhile, social circles began forming around favorite players. Forums and schoolyard conversations lit up with debates over who had the best gameplay, who had the flashiest combos and playstyle, and who should've advanced further. Everyone had an opinion, and everyone had a favorite.
But then came the twist that sent anticipation into overdrive.
During the event, a brief teaser played: Marvel vs. ZAGE. It was only a few seconds, but it was enough. People wanted more. And Zaboru had promised that the full ad would air the following day.
Now, in Bakudan Arcade, the main crew—Sakaki, Rikki, Sawada, and Kumogi—were hanging out, reliving the excitement. They were gathered around a small CRT television set placed on top of the change counter, where they always watched big game reveals.
"Dude, it's okay. You did great," Sakaki said, clapping Rikki on the back.
Sawada nodded in agreement. "Seriously. You went up against Ougi. That guy made even Endo sweat. You've got nothing to be ashamed of."
Rikki slouched a bit but managed a smirk. "Yeah… I guess. Just wish I could've done more."
Kumogi laughed and elbowed him. "Man, you got 40k yen just for making it into the top 8. That's like a week of arcade money!"
Rikki's smirk turned into a full grin. "Yeah… okay, you got me there."
Then his eyes lit up. "But now, more importantly... when does that Marvel vs. ZAGE ad air? I'm dying to see it."
Sakaki checked the wall clock and took a sip of melon soda. "TV Tokyo said 11:00. We've got about thirty minutes."
"Still 30 minutes?" Kumogi groaned. "I feel like time is crawling."
The boys hung out, snacking and arguing over what Marvel heroes might appear in the game and talking about random things to pass time.
Finally, the clock struck 11:00.
11:00 — The screen went black. A moment later, the shimmering ZAGE logo appeared, followed by the bold red Marvel Comics logo. Dramatic, energetic rock music kicked in. Then came the text:
"WHICH is Stronger!? MARVEL!?"
The screen exploded with fast-paced 2D fighting game footage. Spider-Man launched a web attack against Z-Red. Wolverine clashed his claws to Samus Aran. Iron Man unleashed his repulsor beams to RoboCop. The Marvel roster looked powerful, flashy, and explosive.
Then, another screen:
"OR ZAGE!?"
This time, the tables turned. ZAGE characters retaliated with their signature styles. Z-Red ignited his sword, Mario stomped on a shielded Captain America, and Hermione Granger from Magical Chase cast a flurry of spells that disrupted Magneto's magnetic field , SpongeBob fired a bubble rocket at Moon Knight, sending him tumbling backward in a burst of foam. Meanwhile, Chun-Li launched into her signature flurry kicks, striking Storm with rapid precision, each blow landing like a drumbeat then Megaman shot his cannon to Iron-man The screen lit up with the impact animations, fueling the crowd's growing excitement.
"HEY! Z-RED!" Sakaki shouted.
"Is that MEGAMAN!?" Kumogi grinned.
Rikki pointed at the screen. "Hermione just nuked that guy with weird helmet! That was wild!"
Then came the character selection screen—filled with dozens of fighters, from both universes.
"YOU DECIDE!"
Then the trailer showcased gameplay once more, revealing that players could select up to three characters per match to form a team. These teams would be able to perform combination attacks, allowing for creative strategies and powerful tag-team combos that merged Marvel and ZAGE styles. The fluid transitions between characters and the possibility of chaining special moves together sent fans into a frenzy.
The trailer ended with the message:
"Marvel vs. ZAGE arcade coming to your nearest arcade 11 July 1993. Get ready to fight!"
The arcade erupted with cheers. Other patrons came rushing over.
Kumogi nearly leapt off his stool. "No way! We can play as both sides!?"
Sakaki nodded eagerly. "I'm going full ZAGE team. Z-Red, Mario, and Samus. No question."
"I want to try Spider-Man and Iron Man!" Sawada added. "Their moves look insane."
Rikki then said, "The only Marvel hero I really know is Spider-Man, but now I'm super curious about the rest."
Kumogi nodded. "Same here. I only know Spider-Man too, but the other heroes look pretty interesting. I wonder what their stories are like? They must be famous in the U.S. or something. Maybe we'll learn more about them through the game."
Toki Bakurou, the grizzled owner of Bakudan, looked over from the counter where he was sipping tea and puffing a cigar. Sawada turned to him.
"Boss, you're getting the Marvel vs. ZAGE cabinet, right?"
Toki grinned. "Already got two on the way. Zaboru promised Bakudan gets 'em first."
The boys whooped with joy.
All across Japan, fans were losing their minds over the reveal. Kids begged their parents to visit the arcade. Older players called their friends. Word spread fast. Even with no internet, hype traveled through arcades, school halls, and even offices
Marvel vs. ZAGE was coming—and it was going to be a war.
To be continued
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