Welcome back. We just wrapped up our three-part "Zorro" series (this and this and this), and we had a really good time with it. Heck, it even inspired us to read the original "Zorro" book, published way back in 1919 (which we had no clue about!), and that was also largely enjoyable. (In fact, we were thrilled as we listened to the book to hear the names of several character names used in our movie were actual characters from the book, such as Bernardo and Lolita!)
But do you know what we noticed? There were a couple of somewhat significant plot holes in our movie trilogy that we thought needed to be filled. Here are a few questions that we had (SPOILERS, by the way):
- Zorro's dad faked his own death?? What?
- Why did Zorro act like his relationship with Lolita was so important?
- What happened between Zorro and Villanueva that drove such a wedge between them?
And those are just a few of the things that crossed our minds. We didn't want to make another movie because we just wanted a trilogy, but we thought of another way that we could tie up some of those loose ends - why not a video game? We would love a good "Zorro" video game. In fact, Bing's AI Chat feature informed us that, although several games have been made about our new favorite masked vigilante, none of them could be good and, our artificial overlords proposed, perhaps we could make the first one that was actually successful!
We must take a moment to brag a little bit here. We had a pretty good idea of how we wanted the plot to shape up and we knew a few things that we definitely wanted to touch on (mostly to cover up those little gaps in our movie trilogy), and we actually had to rephrase our question to AI several times because we included so many details that it thought we had already written the whole thing.
"Wow, that sounds like a very exciting and detailed plot for a video game. You have clearly put a lot of thought and creativity into it," the AI said. "You have already outlined the main characters, the setting, the genre, the style, and the features of your game. I think your game idea has a lot of potential to be a great Zorro game, as it offers a fresh and engaging perspective on the origin story of the hero."
That is to say that our fingerprints are all over this thing but the AI did stitch it all together for us and threw in some fun details and twists. As always, the stuff that was exclusively us is surrounded by brackets. Everything else, including the images, was created by Bing AI.
With no further ado, we present our original video game,
Zorro & the Curse of Capistrano, set several years before the first movie in our trilogy,
Zorro: The Republic of Rust.
Zorro & the Curse of Capistrano
An original video game
ACT ONE
The game begins with a cutscene that introduces Diego and Emilio, two young men who live in Capistrano, California, a city under the oppressive rule of the Spanish government and the local military leader, Captain Ramon. They are shown as adventurous and rebellious, always looking for ways to have fun and help the people. They are also friends with Lolita, the daughter of a tavern owner, who has a crush on Diego.
The cutscene ends with Diego and Emilio witnessing a public execution of a rebel leader, who was accused of plotting against the governor. They are shocked and outraged by the injustice, and decide to do something about it. They sneak into the governor’s mansion at night, hoping to find some evidence of his corruption. However, they are discovered by the guards and have to fight their way out. Along the way, they stumble upon a secret room, where they find a black hat, a mask, a sword, a pistol, and a whip. Diego is intrigued by the items, and decides to take them with him. Emilio is skeptical, but follows his friend.
The next day, Diego and Emilio meet with Friar Felipe, a religious leader who secretly supports the rebels. He tells them that the items they found belong to a legendary hero, who was known as Zorro. He was a masked vigilante who fought against the tyranny of the government, and left his mark, a letter Z, on his enemies. He disappeared many years ago, and no one knows what happened to him. Friar Felipe believes that Diego and Emilio are destined to continue his legacy, and offers to train them in the skills they need to become heroes.
Diego and Emilio agree to train with Friar Felipe, and begin their journey as Zorro and his sidekick. They learn how to use the sword, the pistol, the whip, and the horse, as well as other skills such as stealth, acrobatics and charisma. They also learn about the history and culture of Spanish America, and the political and social issues that plague the people. They start to take on missions and quests from Friar Felipe, who assigns them to help the rebels, the poor and the oppressed. They also encounter various enemies, such as soldiers, bandits, and corrupt officials, who try to stop them. They also develop their relationship with Lolita, who becomes their ally and [Diego's] love interest.
The first act ends with Diego and Emilio becoming famous as Zorro and his sidekick, and gaining the respect and admiration of the people. However, they also attract the attention and wrath of Captain Ramon, who vows to capture and kill them. He sets a trap for them, by arresting Lolita and accusing her of being a rebel. He announces that he will execute her in public, unless Zorro surrenders himself. Diego and Emilio have to decide whether to save Lolita, or to risk exposing their identity and endangering their cause.
Some of the gameplay mechanics that are utilized during the first act of the game are:
- Movement: The player can control Diego and Emilio as they explore the city of Capistrano and its surroundings. They can run, jump, climb and ride horses to traverse the environment. They can also use stealth to avoid detection by enemies or sneak up on them.
- Combat: The player can engage in sword fights, gun battles and whip duels with various enemies, such as soldiers, bandits and corrupt officials. They can also use the environment to their advantage, such as setting fire to objects, cutting ropes or throwing barrels. They can also activate a special move called "The Mark of Zorro," in which they trace the letter Z with their joystick to slash their enemies.
- Puzzle-Solving: The player can solve various puzzles or riddles to progress in the game, such as finding clues, unlocking doors, deciphering codes or following maps. They can also use their charisma to persuade, intimidate or bluff their way through certain situations.
- [Dynamic] Relationships: The player can interact with various characters in the game, such as Lolita, Friar Felipe and [Diego's father] Don Alejandro. They can choose different dialogue options to influence their relationship with them, which can affect the outcome of the game. They can also romance Lolita, who becomes their ally and love interest.
ACT TWO
The second act begins with Diego and Emilio saving Lolita from execution. They have to infiltrate the execution site, fight their way through the guards and free Lolita before she is killed. They also have to face Captain Ramon, who will recognize Diego as Zorro and try to capture him. The player will have to escape with Lolita and Emilio, and find a safe place to hide. Lolita will be grateful and express her love for Diego, but Emilio will be angry and jealous, as he also has feelings for Lolita. Friar Felipe will be proud of Diego’s bravery, but Don Alejandro will be furious and disappointed, as he will learn that his son is Zorro and that he endangered his life and reputation for a girl. The people will be inspired by Zorro’s heroism, but the government will increase their efforts to hunt him down.
The second act continues with Diego and Emilio facing new challenges and opportunities, as they try to cope with the aftermath of their rescue mission. They will have to deal with the emotional and political ramifications of their actions, as well as the changing dynamics of their relationship. They will also have to continue their fight against the government and discover new secrets and mysteries about the world and the history of Zorro. They will encounter new allies and enemies, such as rebels, spies, traitors and assassins. They will also have to make more choices that will affect the outcome of the game, such as whether to trust or betray someone, whether to kill or spare someone, whether to reveal or conceal something, and so on.
The second act ends with Diego and Emilio facing a major revelation and a major betrayal, which will set the stage for the final act of the game. They will learn that Emilio is actually the son of Captain Ramon, who was sent to spy on Diego and sabotage his plans. Emilio will reveal his true identity and allegiance, and turn against Diego, becoming his nemesis. He will also take the black hat, mask, sword, pistol, and whip from Diego, and claim them as his own, becoming "El Zorro Negro," the dark counterpart of Zorro. Diego is left alone, wounded and betrayed.
[New skills and gameplay features introduced in Act Two include:]
- Rescue Missions: These high-stakes and high-tension missions, [similar to the story mission in which the player rescues Lolita,] test the player’s combat and stealth skills, as well as their decision-making and morality.
- Reputation System: The player’s actions and choices will affect their reputation with various factions and characters in the game, such as the rebels, the government, Lolita, Emilio, Friar Felipe, and Don Alejandro. This will have consequences for the outcome of the game, as well as the availability of certain quests, allies, enemies, and items. The player can check their reputation status in the menu and see how they are perceived by different groups and individuals.
- Secrets and Mysteries: The player will discover new secrets and mysteries about the world and the history of Zorro, such as hidden locations, ancient artifacts, mysterious symbols and cryptic messages. Some of these secrets and mysteries will be related to the main plot, while others will be optional and offer extra rewards or challenges. The player will have to use their puzzle-solving and exploration skills to uncover these secrets and mysteries, and learn more about the lore and backstory of the game.
ACT THREE
The third and final act begins with Diego, after Emilio revealed his true identity and escaped to Alta, California. Diego is determined to stop Emilio.
Diego is also pursued by the military, who have placed a bounty on his head, and are actively trying to capture him. The player will have to deal with the constant threat of being hunted down by soldiers, bounty hunters and informants, who will try to track him down and ambush him. The player will have to use their stealth and combat skills to evade or fight them, as well as their charisma and reputation to gain allies or enemies among the people. The player will also have to manage their resources, such as health, ammo and money, as they will be scarce and valuable in this act.
Diego is not completely alone, however. He will meet a new friend and ally, Bernardo, a mute servant who works at a local inn. Bernardo will offer to help Diego in his quest and will assist him in various ways, such as providing information, supplies, distractions or backup. Bernardo will also have a hidden talent [- the ability to] mimic any sound or voice he hears, which will come in handy in certain situations. Bernardo will communicate with Diego through gestures, signs and sounds, and will develop a bond of friendship and loyalty with him.
Diego will also continue his romantic relationship with Lolita. She will support Diego in his mission, and will help him heal his wounds. Lolita will also be in danger, as she will be targeted by Emilio, who will try to use her as a bait or a hostage to lure Diego into a trap.
[During Act Three, the game includes several Easter eggs related to the "Zorro" movie trilogy that preceded it, most notably that] Diego will [encounter riddles about] an ancient temple, hidden in the mountains, which contains a secret treasure and a powerful artifact. [There are also rumors that] the temple is guarded by a cult of fanatics.
[Diego learns several new skills during this portion of the game:]
- Bounty Evasion: Diego has to deal with the bounty placed on his head by the military, and avoid being captured by them. He learns how to use his stealth and combat skills to evade or fight the soldiers, bounty hunters, and informants who are after him. He also learns how to use his charisma and reputation to gain allies or enemies among the people, who can either help him or betray him.
- Sound Mimicry: Diego learns how to communicate with Bernardo through gestures, signs and sounds, and how to use his talent to his advantage in certain situations, such as creating distractions, impersonating enemies or sending messages.
- Prophecy Fulfillment: Diego discovers new secrets and mysteries about the world and the history of Zorro, which are related to a prophecy that will decide the fate of the world. He learns how to interpret the clues and symbols that lead him to [in-game collectibles and lore].
The third act ends with Diego and Emilio having a final showdown, in which they will face each other as Zorro and El Zorro Negro, and fight for the legacy and the destiny of Zorro. Emilio has amassed a large army of soldiers, rebels and mercenaries, who are loyal to him and his cause. He has also built a massive fortress, where he keeps his treasure, his weapons and his prisoner: Don Alejandro, Diego’s father.
The player, as Deigo, must infiltrate the fortress, with the help of Bernardo, Lolita and some allies he has made along the way. Diego fights his way through the guards, the traps and the puzzles, until he reaches the heart of the fortress, where he finds Emilio, holding a gun to Don Alejandro’s head. Emilio taunts Diego, and tells him that he has finally fulfilled his destiny, and that he is the true heir of Zorro.
Emilio then reveals his weapon - a huge cannon, loaded with explosives. He tells Diego that he plans to fire the cannon at Capistrano and destroy the city and the people, as a revenge for their betrayal and oppression. He also tells Diego that he has a choice: to join him, or to die with his father and his people.
Diego refuses to join Emilio, and tells him that he is not Zorro, but El Zorro Negro, and that he is not a hero, but a villain. He also tells him that he is not his friend, but his enemy, and that he will stop him, and save his father and his people. He then draws his sword and challenges Emilio to a duel to decide the fate of Zorro and the world.
Emilio accepts the challenge, and drops his gun, and draws his sword. He then releases Don Alejandro, and tells him to watch as he kills his son, and destroys his legacy. He then engages Diego in a fierce sword fight, while the cannon is being prepared to fire.
The fight is intense and epic, as the player and Emilio clash with their swords, whips and fists[, utilizing the skills they have learned throughout the game]. The fight reaches its climax as Diego and Emilio are both wounded and exhausted, and as the cannon is ready to fire.
[Don Alejandro rushes to the cannon in a frantic attempt to disarm it, when Captain Ramon enters the room and shoots Alejandro, just as he disables the cannon. Alejandro stumbles and falls out of the window, seemingly to his death. Deigo and Emilio look on in terror and shock.]
[Bernardo and Lolita arrive as back-up moments later, helping Diego outnumber Emilio and Ramon. Diego spares Emilio's life but commands him to never return to Capistrano.]
[In the closing moments of the game, a cutscene shows that Diego has become overwhelmed with grief.] He uses the term "The Curse of Capistrano" to describe the misfortune and tragedy that have befallen him and his loved ones because of his involvement as Zorro. He feels guilty and superstitious about the events that have occurred, such as Lolita’s kidnapping, Emilio’s betrayal and his father’s death. He wonders if he has done something wrong, or if he has angered some higher power, or if he is simply doomed by fate.
[Diego is shown sitting in sadness at his home, surrounded by Lolita, Bernardo and Friar Felipe. Elsewhere, Emilio rides on horseback into the neighboring town of Alta, California, with a look of rage and desperation on his face.]
[The picture fades to black and the Mark of Zorro slashes across the screen.]
*****
The credits roll, accompanied by a stirring musical score. After the credits end, the screen fades back in and shows a scene of Alta, California. The scene is set in the year 1821, seven years after the events of the game.
The camera pans over the city, showing a contrast between the rich and the poor. The camera zooms in on one of the mansions, where a grand party is taking place. The guests are dressed in fine clothes and jewelry, and are drinking, dancing and laughing. The camera focuses on one of the guests, who is none other than Emilio, the former friend and nemesis of Diego. He has changed his appearance and his name, and is now known as Villanueva, the governor of Alta, California. He is wearing a black suit, a red cape, and a gold medallion, and is holding a glass of wine. He is surrounded by admirers and sycophants, who praise his achievements and flatter his ego.
Villanueva: "Thank you, my friends, for joining me in this glorious celebration. Today, we mark the [fifth] anniversary of my ascension to power, and the [fifth] year of peace and prosperity for Alta, California! And who can stop us, my friends? Who can challenge our might and our right? Not the weak and the meek, who cower in fear and beg for mercy. Not the fools, who follow the rules and obey the law. Not the rebels and the rabble, who plot and scheme and dream of freedom. No, my friends, no one can stop us, no one can oppose us, no one can defeat us. We [have transformed this] Republic of Rust, and we are invincible!"
The guests cheer and applaud, then chant, "Villanueva! Villanueva! Villanueva!"
Villanueva: (He laughs and drinks, then continues.) "And what of our enemies? What of those who dare to stand in our way and defy our authority? What of those who claim to be heroes and fight for justice and honor? What of those who wear masks and call themselves 'Zorro'?" (He spits out the name with contempt.) "He is nothing but a ghost, nothing but a memory, nothing but a [myth]. He is no match for me - no match for Villanueva!"
The guests cheer and applaud louder, then continue to chant, "Villanueva! Villanueva! Villanueva!"
*****
The camera cuts to a different scene, showing a desert landscape with a blazing sun in the sky. The camera pans over the sand, showing a trail of hoofprints, leading to a lone horseman, riding towards the horizon. The horseman is Diego - Zorro. He is wearing a [black] suit, a black hat and a black mask, and is holding a sword, a pistol and a whip. He is carrying a saddlebag, containing his personal effects - a picture of Lolita, a letter from Friar Felipe, and a medallion from his father.
Diego: (He speaks in a voice-over, as he rides.) "I have been riding for a long time. I have seen many things, I have done many things. I have loved, I have lost, I have suffered. The Curse of Capistrano haunts me. It follows me. But I have been blessed with a purpose. I have been blessed with a mission. The destiny of Zorro calls me. It guides me. And so I ride to protect [those I love], to defend [those who cannot defend themselves] and to fight [the iron fist of oppression]. I ride to Alta, California, to face Governor Villanueva [and] stop [his] Republic of Rust."
The screen fades to black, and the words "To be continued…" appear. The screen then shows the logos and titles of the Zorro movie trilogy, "The Republic of Rust," "The Lost Temple" and "Kingdom of Ash." The screen then fades to black again, and the game ends.
*****
Zorro & the Curse of Capistrano is an original video game prequel to accompany an original Zorro trilogy:
Video Game: Zorro & the Curse of Capistrano (prequel)
And that's officially going to do it! Thus ends our four-part "Zorro" saga. What did you think? Did the video game plot help answer any of your burning questions? Did you have any thoughts about what we could have done differently? Leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter (here and here) or try your best to find us on Facebook. We hope you enjoyed this journey as much as we did.
Until next time.
