One of the standout ZAGE releases this October was none other than Harvest Moon, launched on the ZEPS console. Originally a 16-bit SNES title in Zaboru's past life, Harvest Moon was far beyond what the 8-bit ZEPS could handle natively. But Zaboru, as always, worked his magic. Through a careful demake and a few clever tweaks, he adapted the game into an 8-bit marvel that retained its charm while fitting within the ZEPS limitations.
In this timeline, the video game industry was still rebuilding itself from the crash. ZAGE stood as the leading innovator, dominating a reborn landscape that had no idea what a relaxing, slow-paced, slice-of-life farming game could even be. Most gamers were used to action-packed adventures, platformers, shooters, and beat em up thrills. So when Harvest Moon dropped, expectations were modest at best.
But what no one anticipated was just how addictive it would be.
Players who initially scoffed at the idea of planting virtual turnips or milking pixelated cows found themselves completely engrossed. The simplicity, the rhythm, the feeling of progress every in-game day—it clicked. And the version Zaboru released wasn't just a clone of the original Harvest Moon. No, it leaned more toward the PS1-era Back to Nature, albeit reimagined in 8-bit form. It included deeper storylines, multiple romance paths, and even the ability to have children after marriage, a bold feature on such limited hardware.
The game featured six love interests, five from the original series and one completely new addition from Zaboru himself:
Ann: A fiery redhead who worked in the tool shop. Ann was smart, tough, and had a passion for inventing new gadgets. Players who pursued her needed to appreciate her independence.
Nina: A flower-loving girl with a serene personality. Living with her mother in the flower shop, she was gentle and nurturing—a true nature girl.
Ellen: Friendly and cheerful, Ellen lived in the village restaurant and was always serving food and warmth.
Eve: The bar girl with a mysterious air. Elegant, mature, and sometimes flirtatious, she was a favorite among players who liked the thrill of romance.
Maria: The quiet, devout daughter of the mayor. Often found near the church, Maria represented tradition and values—the type of girl you'd bring home to your parents.
Lina (Zaboru's own addition): A shy but kind doctor, Lina became an unexpected fan-favorite. Her soft-spoken lines, dedication to helping others, and adorably awkward interactions charmed everyone.
The gameplay loop was deceptively simple: buy seeds, water crops, care for animals, gather wood, attend town events, and talk to villagers. But there was something magical about the structure. It rewarded patience and consistency, things rarely seen in games of that era.
Meanwhile, the cultural phenomenon was erupting across Japan. At the Bakudan Arcade, a fierce debate was underway.
Sakaki, who had chosen to marry Eve in his playthrough, leaned back with confidence. "Eve is the best girl. She's elegant, mature, and clearly has the most depth." He then licks his lips "And she's obviously the hottest girl!"
Kumogi, sipping juice while hammering buttons on his ZGB playing Metroid 2, scoffed. "You're insane. Eve? She's got that shady vibe she might be a bitch!. Obviously, Ann is the best—she's smart, independent, and good with tools. You know she'd have your back."
Sakaki brow rose, he was pissed then he said "What!? A bitch!? it's Ann who has no womanly charm!" Sakaki Retored.
Sawada butted in with a laugh. "Nah, you're both wrong. Lina's the best. She's a doctor! Sweet, shy, and she heals you when you pass out. That's wife material." then his smile become dangerous "Exactly a woman that i really want in real life!"
Rikki, sitting with a smug look, held up his ZGB and showed off Maria's sprite then he kissed it. "You losers don't get it. Maria is rich, religious, and elegant. She's got the whole package. Maria's not just the best girl. She's my one and only."
The others stared at him in silence.
"Dude," Sakaki said flatly, "you're too far gone." Sawada then added flatly "Wasn't your biggest crush Kim Possible last month?"
Then they bantered with each other until Sakaki decided to change the topic.
Sakaki then leaned forward, eyes shining with excitement. "Guys, did any of you beat Zabo-man in the Horse Race Festival? I found out that if you win the festival, you unlock a secret reward from him. It's in the Z-card—it literally says, 'Win me in the race and I'll give you a reward.'"
Sawada groaned. "Ugh, no way. Zabo-man's insane. I didn't even focus on raising my horse properly. I spent all my time tending chickens. Total mistake."
Rikki chimed in, slumping in defeat. "I came close. My horse almost pulled through, but in the final stretch, Zabo-man's mount just blew past me. Brutal."
Kumogi, casually sipping his juice, smirked. "Well, guess what? I actually beat him. My horse, Revenant—he's a monster. Full stamina and maxed affection. When we crossed that finish line ahead of Zabo-man, the crowd went wild! And he gave me Z-Bait as a reward. That stuff can catch the legendary fish—Zabotuna."
The others stared at him in stunned silence.
"Zabotuna?!" Sakaki shouted. "You got the Zabotuna bait?!"
Kumogi nodded smugly. "Yep. Worth every second of training Revenant."
The three who had failed looked at each other, their mouths hanging open. "No way..."
And scenes like this were happening everywhere. Schoolyards, arcades, game centers—everyone was comparing their farms, showing off their wives, and bragging about their rarest crops.
Harvest Moon was redefining what a video game could be. It introduced a peaceful genre in a world filled with combat, explosions, and power-ups. For many, it was their first taste of a game that didn't pressure them to win—just to live.
But not everyone was celebrating.
Hikaru Kurata, CEO and major shareholder of Sonaya, was having a private meltdown. Watching the soaring sales figures and the cultural buzz surrounding Harvest Moon, he gritted his teeth.
"Farming? Who the hell thought farming could be fun?!" he shouted, throwing a stack of reports off his desk. "This isn't fair!"
Kurata had long accepted that he couldn't outpace ZAGE—not with Zaboru leading them. But this? This felt like a slap in the face.
"A freaking farming sim?! And now everyone's talking about best girl debates like it's some damn dating contest! How does he keep doing this?! How can he think about this! First is robot baseball in space , then some fu*cking turtles fighting bad guys and now a farming game!?"
His executives wisely kept their distance. No one dared to say it, but they all knew the truth: Zaboru wasn't just good at making games. He was rewriting the very rules of the industry.
Back at ZAGE HQ, Zaboru sat in his office late at night, seeing his employee fighting which is the best wife in harvest moon. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He glanced at the character sprites lined up in the game engine on his computer.
"Lina seems to be the breakout favorite, in ZAGE" he murmured. "Good for her."
He turned off the monitor, satisfied. Harvest Moon had done what he hoped: it expanded what players thought games could be. and way to say that any genre of game can be good game and have huge potential
To be continued.