Dr. Gilbert Zan

Dr. Gilbert Zan is a cybernetic protagonist debuting in Streets of Rage 3.

Appearance
Coming soon

History
Dr. Gilbert Zan's history varies between the Japanese and western releases.

In Bare Knuckle, Dr. Zan is the person responsible for discovering the 'Rakushin' element, used in an experimental weapon that is detonated by the Syndicate at Mr. X's behest, causing the deaths of 30,000 people and wounding 80,000 more. He is also stated to have a past with general Ivan Petrov from the Lima Nation, who happens to go missing during this time, with Axel Stone framed for his kidnapping.

In Streets of Rage 3, Dr. Zan is a Robocy Corporation researcher, who ends up digging a little too far behind the scenes and is shocked to find the connection between Robocy Corporation and the Syndicate, uncovering their plans to replace key government officials with robotic replicas and distract the police with high powered explosives around the city to allow them to enact their plan unhindered.

In both versions Dr. Zan contacts Blaze Fielding, who is acting as a private detective, for help as he cannot go to the police due to his past criminal record. Blaze rounds up Axel Stone and Eddie "Skate" Hunter and joins Zan in uncovering the truth and thwarting Mr. X's plans once and for all. After defeating Mr. X, Zan begins to use his knowledge of technology to help reconstruct Wood Oak City.

Prior to the events of Streets of Rage 4, Zan comes across Floyd Iraia, a young construction worker who loses his arms in an accident. Zan gives Floyd replacement cybernetic arms, incorporating Rakushin technology into Floyd's new limbs. Afterwards Zan takes Floyd in as his apprentice. When Blaze contacts Zan for help in taking down the new Syndicate, Floyd offers to go in Zan's place, with Zan staying behind, eventually obtaining Mr. X's brain and creating a strength increasing survival programme to prepare the team should the city ever come under attack again. Zan himself is playable in his Streets of Rage 3 sprite form in the game, but appears in cutscenes with an updated look.

Trivia

 * Dr. Zan is the oldest playable character in the Streets of Rage series.
 * Both Axel Stone and Skate suspect Dr. Zan is going to betray them in Bare Knuckle III with cutscenes added in to indicate this.
 * He is the only character in Streets of Rage 3 to not have an idle animation.
 * Dr. Zan appears at the end of Streets of Rage 4, fixing up Floyd's cyborg arms.
 * Dr. Zan served in the military alongside Ivan Petrov.
 * Dr. Zan's programme using Mr. X's brain is the concept of Streets of Rage 4's Mr. X's Nightmare DLC.