I’ve been writing a bit about how I imagine Holozing’s initial missions would play out assuming, of course, that it were a video game, as I’ve been describing in several of my posts: an RPG very much in the style of other games in the genre, where you catch creatures and have to battle with them.
You start in a small settlement, somewhat lost amidst strange, wild nature as if the world itself hadn't yet been fully understood. You aren't "The Chosen One" or anything special; you’re basically just another person who arrived there out of curiosity or necessity. The first thing you notice is that the people are restless.
Nothing truly serious is happening, but there are murmurs that the creatures are behaving differently more aggressively, more skittishly as if something were affecting them.
An NPC perhaps a researcher or a caretaker spots you wandering around and hands you your first task without much fanfare: go check the immediate surroundings, because something just doesn't add up.
You head out into a nearby area, and this is where the game finally sets you loose. Little by little, you learn how to move, how to interact with the environment, and how to pick up simple items. Then, suddenly, you spot your first wild Zing—but you don't fight it yet; you simply observe it. The game wants you to feel curiosity, not pressure to think: "Okay, something here"
You return to the settlement, and the... The NPC decides that, yes, you can help—and here comes the first major moment: they grant you access to choose your very first Zing. It’s not your typical obvious choice; rather, each one feels distinct—one is more aggressive, another more resilient, and another quirkier, with less direct abilities. You then engage in a short, guided combat sequence—super simple.
This serves primarily to help you understand how turns work, how energy functions, or whatever specific mechanics define the system. But the important thing here is that it doesn't feel like "capturing," but rather like forging a bond with the creature; right from the start, the game makes it clear that this relationship is key.
With your Zing ready, you are sent back outside—but this time, to accomplish something concrete: securing the area and defeating a couple of creatures that have become agitated. This is where you start fighting for real, though it remains uncomplicated; you gradually begin to grasp the rhythm of the combat.
And just when you think everything is business as usual, a Zing appears that behaves differently—more aggressive, faster, or possessing some strange ability. This leaves you with the lingering suspicion that something much bigger is going on—without explicitly explaining what that might be.
When you return with that information, the game raises the stakes a little: you are sent to investigate a specific area where there is a sort of... An anomaly—a rift or an area where everything looks different, featuring strange colors and a heavier atmosphere. Here, you enter a sort of short "mini-dungeon" where battles now demand a bit more attention; the game introduces new mechanics, such as status effects or skill interactions.
Eventually, you encounter a special creature that is clearly out of your league. You attempt to engage it—but you cannot capture it, or perhaps it simply overpowers you and flees. This moment is pivotal, as it leaves you eager to press on.
Upon exiting, you cross paths with another character—someone else just starting out, but with a different mindset. Here, you face your first battle against another trainer; it is no longer as easy as fighting against the environment. You have to think a little more strategically, and you begin to glimpse the true potential of the combat system—realizing that it isn't just about mindlessly attacking.
After that, the game gently eases you into the economic side of things without making it feel tedious, sending you out to gather specific resources. ...or complete a simple task and receive your first reward—which might be a useful item or something of value within the system. Here, you realize that your actions in the game have an impact beyond mere progression, yet without ever feeling forced to grind from minute one.
And before you know it, you’ve already experienced exploration, combat, mystery, competition, and rewards—all without the game ever feeling overwhelming. Everything flows quite naturally, leaving you with the sense that you’re just getting started, yet knowing there is something bigger lying beneath the surface that is well worth discovering.