Zanac
A lone starfighter battles the System's adaptive defenses.
Zanac is a fast-paced scrolling shooter from Compile, published by Pony Canyon in Japan and FCI in North America. It appeared on the MSX, Famicom Disk System, NES, and Virtual Console. Players control a lone starfighter, the AFX-6502 Zanac, through twelve levels to destroy the part-organic, part-mechanical System. The game is noted for its adaptive AI, which changes the difficulty based on the player's skill, firing rate, and ship defenses.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Compile
- Publisher
- Pony Canyon (JP); FCI (NA)
- Designer
- Masamitsu Niitani
- Takayuki Hirono
- Koji Teramoto
- Programmer
- Takayuki Hirono, Masamitsu Niitani
- Artist
- Koji Teramoto
- Composer
- Masatomo Miyamoto
- Platforms
- MSX
- Famicom Disk System
- Nintendo Entertainment System
- PlayStation
- Genre
- Scrolling shooter
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The player controls the spaceship AFX-6502 Zanac through planets, space stations, and outer space, fighting enemies that defend the System. The goal is to shoot down enemies and projectiles to accumulate points across twelve levels. Players start with three lives; losing a life costs all accumulated power-ups, though the player reappears with temporary invincibility. Extra lives are earned by reaching high point scores, and a continue option lets players restart from the level where they lost all lives. The main cannon fires rapidly and can be upgraded by collecting blue boxes that descend from the top of the screen, increasing bullet count and speed. Eight specialty weapons, each represented by numbered power-ups, can be swapped or upgraded by collecting matching numbers. Enemies include meteors, bullet-shooting aircraft, bullet-resistant disks, ground turrets, and reconnaissance planes. Bosses are stationary fortresses of ground turrets that must be destroyed within a time limit for bonus points. Large mini-boss ships resist damage, change color as they take hits, and repel bullets.
Plot
The System is a device created millennia ago by an unknown alien race, containing boundless wisdom and vast destructive potential. Mankind attempted to access it and failed, causing the System to spread through space and unleash destruction. Although humanity later learned how to properly access its knowledge, they could not stop its expansion due to its tactical systems. The System's defenses are designed to destroy entire fleets, so mankind launched the lone starfighter AFX-6502 Zanac to slip through and destroy the System at its heart.
Release history
Zanac first appeared in 1986 for the MSX computer, developed by Compile. Later that year, Compile released Zanac EX for the MSX2, with improved graphics and extended music. The game was ported and reworked for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan on November 11, 1986, and for the NES in North America in October 1987. A PlayStation compilation titled Zanac X Zanac was released in Japan on November 29, 2001, featuring an updated version called Zanac Neo and three versions of the NES game, including one with enhanced graphics and sound, plus two-player cooperative play and a remixed soundtrack. A version appeared on the Nintendo Switch via the G-Mode Archives series in January 2021.
Reception and legacy
Zanac has been considered a unique shoot 'em up, combining elements from games like Xevious with an extensive power-up system and vertical scrolling featuring air and ground targets. Brett Alan Weiss of Allgame praised its fast pace and music that flows with the action. Frank Provo of GameSpot lauded its difficulty, sprite handling without slowdown, and unique AI. Criticisms include mediocre music and sound, a steep learning curve, and poor translation in the game and manual. Weiss also noted that enemies, while fearsome, lack personality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is Zanac available on?
Zanac was released for MSX, Famicom Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment System and PlayStation.
Who designed Zanac?
Zanac was designed by Masamitsu Niitani, Takayuki Hirono and Koji Teramoto.
Who composed the music for Zanac?
The music for Zanac was composed by Masatomo Miyamoto.
Is Zanac single-player or multiplayer?
Zanac offers single-player play.
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