Zan was the main character in Rising Zan, a video game for the Sony Playstation published by Agetec Inc and developed by UEP Systems in 1999. The game featured a lot of action, adventure and some zany enemy designs.
Zan used to be known as Johnny, a young man from America's pioneer days who dreamt of being the greatest hero that ever lived. He accompanied the sheriff in the gold mining town where he lived, carrying with him the six-shooter his father gave him. But he never got the chance to do anything heroic because the town was peaceful most of the time.
The fateful day came when Johnny investigated reports of people disappearing near a ravine. When he found nothing after a long search, he began his journey home but was attacked by ninja. Firing off his pistol, he did not manage to hit any of his targets before he was struck down by a mysterious dual sword wielding samurai, leaving a cross-shaped scar on the bridge of his nose.
It turned out that Johnny was rescued by Suzuki, a longtime friend of his father's. Suzuki took him to Zipang, where he spent years teaching him a legendary swordfighting technique which Johnny learned to combine with the use of his gun, holding one weapon in each hand. Johnny returned to his hometown for revenge, introducing himself to old friends as "Zan", the Super Ultra Sexy Hero.
Zan found the town overrun by the same ninja he encountered many years ago. They were from an organization called The Jackal, and had arrived for the town's gold mine. Zan began his mission to rid the town of the invaders, culminating in a duel with the samurai who nearly killed him at the ravine, followed by a showdown with the midget leader of The Jackal.