Monday, September 22, 1991
Sawada, a newly employed office worker, trudged down the dimly lit streets. It was 6:20 PM, and he had just finished another grueling workday. With a sigh, he popped open a can of juice, taking a slow sip as he tried to shake off the exhaustion weighing on his shoulders.
"Man, I'm really tired..."
His daily routine had become monotonous—wake up, go to work, come home, sleep, repeat. He loved arcade games, but with his current schedule, there was barely any time left for leisure. The thought of standing in a crowded arcade after work felt more like a chore than an escape.
As he continued walking, a bright banner outside Kenji Electronics caught his eye. In bold letters, it read:
"ZEPS: Bring the Arcade Home! and Enjoy the Family Computer!"
Sawada stopped in his tracks and examined the sign.
"ZEPS? A Family Computer? What is this? Home consoles are practically dead... No one sells them anymore because they were such a disappointment. But this one's being advertised so boldly? Might as well ask."
Curious, he stepped inside Kenji Electronics.
The moment he entered, the store owner, Kenji, greeted him with a cheerful smile. "Good evening, sir! Looking for something specific?"
Sawada nodded. "Yeah, I wanted to ask about the ZEPS you have on display. What exactly is it?"
Kenji's smile widened. "Ah, ZEPS is a home console! They say it brings the full arcade experience to your living room!"
Sawada's interest piqued. "So it really is a home console... How much does it cost?"
Kenji gestured towards the packages. "We have two options:
The standard bundle for 32,000 yen, which includes the console and three games.
The full package for 52,000 yen, which includes the console and all six available games."
Sawada did a quick mental calculation. "Not too expensive," he mused. "Alright, hold on a second. I'll grab some cash from the ATM."
Kenji nodded. "Take your time! I'll have everything ready when you return."
After withdrawing the money, Sawada returned and purchased the full package, wanting to experience all the games available. As he carried the box home, he couldn't help but hope this purchase would be worth it.
"If this is as good as they say, I might finally have a way to unwind without dragging myself to the arcade."
Once he got home, he went through his usual routine—washing up, eating dinner, and taking a quick bath. Feeling refreshed, he eagerly unboxed the ZEPS and carefully followed the manual to set it up. It took a bit of effort, but soon enough, the console was ready to go.
He eyed the six game boxes in front of him, each one featuring colorful and exciting cover art.
"Hmm… Which one should I start with?" His eyes landed on one in particular. "Donkey Kong, huh? interesting . Let's see what this game has to offer."
Sawada opened the game box and found four items inside:
The game cartridge
The Donkey Kong guidebook
ZEPS Volume 1
A black-and-gray Z Card
He examined each item carefully before flipping the Z Card over. A cryptic message was printed on the back:
"When you meet me, I'll help you bonk."
Sawada raised an eyebrow. "Help me bonk? What the hell does that even mean? Some kind of mystery or just a joke?"
Shrugging, he set the card aside and powered on the console, inserting the Donkey Kong cartridge. The game booted up, and he smiled as he saw Jumpman begin his quest to rescue the princess from the mighty Donkey Kong.
As he played, he quickly realized this game make himself genuinely enjoying it, the simple yet challenging gameplay bringing back the joy of arcade gaming.
Also in this ZEPS version of donkey kong Zaboru give additional stages so the game are slightly longer
However, as he reached a particularly difficult stage, he found himself struggling. Donkey Kong was relentless, hurling barrels at an almost unfair pace. Just as he was about to lose hope, something unexpected happened—
A new character appeared on the screen!
Dressed in a black coat and a gray helmet, the figure wielded a massive barrel hammer. With a single leap, he landed on Donkey Kong's platform and SMASHED the great ape on the head before disappearing just as quickly. Donkey Kong was momentarily stunned, unable to throw barrels for a few seconds.
Sawada's eyes widened in shock. "Huh!? What was that!?" Then it clicked. "Oh… wait! That must be what the Z Card was talking about! So it was an Easter egg!"
A grin spread across his face. The game had just gone from fun to amazing.
He continued playing, completely engrossed. The tiredness from work? Gone. The stress of the day? Forgotten. This was exactly what he had been missing.
"Man… I really miss this feeling," he muttered to himself. "I don't have the energy to visit the arcade anymore, but with this... I can relax and still have fun at home."
Sawada leaned back with a satisfied smile, then returned his focus to the game, determined to see how far he could go.
And just like him, many others who bought ZEPS out of curiosity found themselves completely hooked. It wasn't just a console for kids—it was a source of pure, simple happiness for adults as well.
To be continued…