Zell Condorbrave (ゼレ・コンドルブレイブ Zere Kondorubureibu ) is a mercenary captain and recurring antagonist-turned-ally in the Gungrave series.
In Gungrave: Overdose his unit was recruited by the Corsione Family for their incredible skills against Deadmen, acting as Don Corsione's own personal army. He is one of the few members of the Corsione Family's inner circle who is a pure human and is the only survivor by the end of Overdose. Returning in Gungrave G.O.R.E, Zell after being spared by Grave for the second time; ended up being allied with the El-Alcangel.
Appearance[]
Zell has a light brown complexion accompanied by cropped short brown hair and dark facial stubble. His eyes are amber in color. In Gungrave G.O.R.E, he has new facial scars on the right side of his face assumingly from his near-death encounter in Gungrave Overdose. The scars go: one on the top of his right cheekbone diagonally down to almost his nose, and one from the bottom of his cheek bone up across his eye and eyebrow, tapering off onto his forehead.
For clothing he wears a military outfit in varying shades of black, gray and white. The outfit is paired with an oversized jacket thrown over his shoulders, and black gloves and boots. He has some sort of metal attached to the right side of his vest, and on top of his head he wears a bright red militia cap. His weapon, Bloody Omen, is twice his size. It's a light greenish-gray and appears to be a grenade launcher type gun.
Personality[]
Zell is a softspoken yet very cocky individual. He is completely confident in his abilities, meticulously planning his attacks ahead of time to catch his enemies off guard. Even when he ends up losing to the player, he doesn't lose it and break down in fear or anger. Instead, he is amazed he could have even lost in the first place and compliments you on your strength. Taking his defeat lightly, he jokes around about taking a vacation.
Plot[]
Gungrave: Overdose[]
Zell appears in the castle along with Sherry MacDowell-Walken to protect the Don Denito Corsione. While Sherry takes the Don away, Zell stays behind to fight Grave, Juji or Billy depending on the protagonist you've chosen. He claims that him and his mercenary squad have previously fought and killed four (4) deadmen. After a long battle along with his men, he is defeated. On his knees and surrounded by his dead soldiers he asks to be killed, yet the player leaves him be. After the player leaves, he talks with one of his men, lighting a cigar and complimenting you. He considers a holiday in Vietnam or the Bahamas, before telling the merc to collect survivors and retreat. He is not seen again for the rest of the game.
Relationships[]
Don Denito Corsione / Garino Creale Corsione[]
Zell's employers. Aside from the contract they made, Zell shows no further loyalty or interest in them or their plans. When left alive by the player, Zell makes no move to contact either one of them and warn them, but instead takes what's left of his mercenary squad and leaves.
Beyond The Grave[]
Aside from being the target that he and his men were contracted to kill, there's not much that Zell thinks of Grave especially since they don't have back and forth dialogue with each other on the account of Grave not speaking. Zell admires Grave's strength at the end of the fight, but that is true for the other two protagonist choices as well.
Jyuji Kabane[]
Zell hints to some of what could be distaste for deadmen during the Jyuji version of his boss fight. He tells Jyuji he 'wonders how long a monster like him will last against real men' before fighting him. Once defeated, just like the other protagonists, he comments on Jyuji's strength and seems actually scared of him. Jyuji taunts him, telling him it's 'really his own fault' and when he asks if Jyuji is going to finish him off gets told 'A dog like you? It's not worth the effort to kill you. Go on, get lost." He does not mention going on vacation in either Jyuji or Billy's version of the fight.
Rocketbilly Redcadillac[]
Zell comments during the Billy version of his boss fight that he's 'fought all kinds in his line of work, but this was his first ghost'. This seems to offend Billy somewhat, with him defensively saying he's not that unusual and remarking that 'you've got all kinds of ghosts haunting you, you just can't see them.' Zell, unbothered, acknowledges his statement by saying it could be because of his high body count. Then, he proceeds to fight his opponent like a professional. Once defeated, just like the other protagonists, he comments on Billy's strength yet still doesn't seem to take him seriously. Still bothered by Zell's attitude, Billy warns him that killers always die terrible deaths, seemingly alluding to his own. He then walks away when Zell still refuses to take him seriously. Zell proceeds to break into manic laughter, finding it hilarious he was lectured by a ghost. He does not mention going on vacation in either Jyuji or Billy's version of the fight.
Gameplay[]
Gungrave: Overdose[]
Boss Battle[]
Zell starts the fight by commanding his men, shouting "C'mon men!" and pointing what appears to be a riding crop at Grave. Once the battle starts, you have to fight both Zell and his squad at the same time. During the level more and more men will pop up from grates in the castle floor. The squad members work a lot like other enemies from other levels. The only unique quality they have is the special uniform, and a move in which multiple members can throw and grab Grave with a chain effectively stopping him from moving. Once defeated Zell will fall bloody to his knees and in shock he will lament how all his previous battles with deadmen were childsplay in comparison to fighting the player. Once the player leaves effectively sparing him, he commends his squad on how well they did in battle and retreats with them, thinking about vacation while smoking a cigar.
Moveset[]
Zell's fighting style heavily relies on his men being there to back him up, and occasionally uses a grappling hook to zip around out of reach for mobility.
- Primary Incendiary Fire: Zell will shoot an explosive round at the player with Bloody Omen.
- Grenade: Zell throws a grenade that on hit stuns and knocks Grave to the ground.
- Landmines: During the second phase / health bar, Zell will lay landmines on the ground in a random pattern. They will explode on contact. If the player steps on them, they will be damaged. You can shoot these to get rid of them, and if they shoot one near Zell it will explode and damage him.
Gungrave G.O.R.E[]
TBA
Quotes[]
"Don't confuse us with men who've never faced your kind before."
"Ugn... Such strength...!"
"We did quite well, considering our opponent."
Gallery[]
Sprite Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Zell has four (4) unique sprites in game.