Reply to thread

On the subject of level 1 zakos, I think it's a result of lingering hesitation from developers to put in "expendable" female goons.  The mentality is that, even if there are women in the ranks of the bad guy's posse, they are at least in positions elevated above the "front line" grunts, and therefore tend not to show up in the first level.    On a design level, zakos are put in with a certain eye towards their appeal and distinctiveness to the player; they are meant to stand out due to their femininity.  In order for them to stand out, the developers need to show a baseline from which they distinguish themselves, i.e. the first level.