Zanac

Infobox VG
title = Zanac


caption= Box art of Zanac for the NES
developer = Compile
publisher = vgrelease|JP=Pony Canyon|NA=FCI
designer = Masamitsu "Moo" Niitani (designer)
"Janus" Teramoto (designer, graphics)
"Jemini" Hirono (designer, programmer)
Wao Isee (tester)
engine =
released = vgrelease|Japan|JP|1986
vgrelease|North America|NA=October 1987
genre = Shoot 'em up
modes = Single-player
ratings = vgratings|ESRB|ESRB=Everyone
platforms = MSX, Famicom Disk System, NES
media =
requirements =
input = Gamepad

"Zanac" is an arcade–style shoot 'em up video game designed by Compile and published in Japan by Pony Canyon and in North America by FCI. It was released for the MSX computer, the Famicom Disk System, the Nintendo Entertainment System, and for the Virtual Console. It was also reworked for the MSX2 computer as "Zanac Ex" and for the PlayStation as "Zanac X Zanac". The game features a lone starfighter, dubbed the "AFX-6502 Zanac", in a quest to destroy the System — a part-organic, part-mechanical entity bent on destroying Mankind.

"Zanac" was developed by main core developers of Compile, including Masamitsu "Moo" Niitani, "Janus" Teramoto, and "Jemini" Hirono. All of these developers went on to make other popular similarly-based games such as "The Guardian Legend", "Blazing Lazers", and the "Puyo Puyo" series. The game is known for its intense and fast-paced gameplay, level of difficulty, and music which seems to match the pace of the game. It has also been praised for its unique adaptive artificial intelligence, in which the game automatically adjusts the difficulty level according to the player's skill level and rate of fire.

Gameplay

Gameplay in "Zanac" is similar to other vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up games. The player controls the "AFX-6502 Zanac" as it flies through various planets, space stations, and outer space and through an armada of enemies which comprise of the defenses of the main antagonist — the "System." The goal is to fight through twelve levels and to destroy the System.Instruction Manual, p. 1.]

The objective is to shoot down enemies and projectiles to accumulate points which lead to extra lives. The player loses a life by getting hit by an enemy or projectile; gameplay continues with the player losing all accumulated power-ups. Players start with three lives, and the game ends when all their lives are lost or after the twelfth and final area.Instruction Manual, p. 3.] However, "Zanac" also has a continue option which allows players to restart the game from the level in which they lost all their lives.

The player operates a rapid–fire main cannon, which can be upgraded by collecting power-ups found in blue boxes.Instruction Manual, pp. 10–11.] As the main cannon's power level is upgraded, the number of bullets fired from the ship as well as their speed increases. The player can also operate a specialty weapon, which is operated separate from the main cannon. There are eight different specialty weapons, contained in numbered power-ups. The player can change the type of specialty weapon equipped by collecting a differently–numbered power–up. These weapons range from directional bullets to shields to indestructible projectiles. Enemies include meteors, various bullet-shooting enemy aircraft, bullet-resistant disks, ground turrets, and reconnaissance planes. [Instruction Manual, pp. 7-9.]

The bosses in "Zanac" consist of stationary fortresses consisting entirely of ground turrets.Instruction Manual, p. 10.] The player must destroy all these turrets within a specified time limit to score bonus points. Every stage has one or more of these types of bosses. In addition, large enemy ships acting as "mini–bosses" appear throughout the game. These ships are more resistant to the player's weaponry; all bullets inflict minor damage and are repelled off the mini–bosses, which change color as they become more damaged.

The distinguishing aspect of "Zanac"'s gameplay is its unique enemy artificial intelligence. The System's aggressiveness and the game's difficulty depend on the actions of the player, such as attack pattern and skill level.Instruction Manual, p. 4.] The game increases the difficulty for experts but decreases it for inexperienced players. For instance, shooting the main cannon frequently, collecting power–ups, and failing to destroy bosses within the specified time limit makes the System more aggressive, resulting in a greater number of tougher enemies appearing on screen. However, actions such as losing lives, starting a new level, or destroying reconnaissance planes decrease the System's aggressiveness, resulting in fewer on-screen enemies.

Plot

The plot of "Zanac" revolves around the "System" — a device figuratively similar to Pandora's box. The System was created millennia ago by an unknown alien race. It contains boundless wisdom and knowledge, but also vast destructive potential. If properly opened it would grant access to untold wisdom and technology, but if improperly accessed it would unleash almost unlimited destruction. Mankind attempted to access the System and failed, causing the System spread throughout space and to exert mass destruction on all forms of life, including the human race. Mankind then discovered how to properly access the knowledge and technology within the System, but could not shut its destructive expansion down because of its vast tactical systems.

Moreover, the defenses of the System are designed around destroying and overcoming entire fleets. Mankind hopes that a lone starfighter may be able to slip through and penetrate the defenses of the System, allowing such a ship to fight its way into the heart of the System and destroy it. The "AFX-6502 Zanac", the most advanced starfighter ever produced, is launched on a desperate mission to fight its way to the heart of the System and shut it down.

Development

"Zanac" was initially released in 1986 for the MSX computer by the Japanese video game company Compilecite web |url= http://www.generation-msx.nl/msxdb/softwareinfo/754 |title= Zanac (MSX) at GenerationMSX |accessdate= 2008-06-10 |date= 2008-01-26] — the same company responsible for other games such as "Blazing Lazers", "Devil's Crush", and the "Puyo Puyo" series.cite web |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/company/10638.html |title= Compile Game Company Information |accessdate= 2008-06-24 |publisher= GameFAQs] Compile then re-released the game for the MSX2 computer later that same year as "Zanac Ex", which featured improved graphics and sound over the original MSX version. "Zanac" was then ported and heavily reworked again for release on the Famicom Disk System in Japan on Start date|1986|11|28, and then in North America for the NES in October 1987. The NES version was later re-released for Wii's Virtual Console service on Start date|2007|12|3 and published by D4 Enterprise. This version is identical to the NES version released in 1987.cite web |url= http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/zanac/news.html?sid=6183568&om_act=convert&om_clk=gsupdates&tag=updates;title;2 |last=Mangrino |first= Tom |title= Shippin' Out December 3-7: "Golden Compass", "Alvin and the Chipmunks" |accessdate=2008-06-23 |date= 2007-12-03 |publisher=GameSpot]

Compile released a compilation titled "Zanac X Zanac" for Sony's PlayStation console in Japan on Start date|2001|11|29 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the original. [cite web |url= http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/zanac10zanac/index.html |title= "Zanac X Zanac" PlayStation |accessdate=2008-06-23 |publisher=GameSpot] This compilation included several versions of the original NES version as well as an original sequel titled "Zanac Neo" developed specifically for the PlayStation. Although very similar to the original "Zanac" in general gameplay concepts, "Zanac Neo" featured two player co-operative gameplay, 32–bit graphics, and an expanded storyline featuring brief cutscenes.Fact|date=June 2008 There has been no North American or European release of "Zanac X Zanac".

Reception

VG Reviews
IGN = 6.5cite web |year = 2007 |url= http://wii.ign.com/articles/839/839646p1.html |title= "Zanac" Review: Ask Your Doctor if Prescription "Zanac" is Right for You |accessdate= 2008-06-08 |last= Thomas |first= Lucas M. |date= 2007-12-07 |publisher= IGN]
GSpot = 7.5cite web |year = 2007 |url= http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/zanac/review.html |title= Wii "Zanac" Review |accessdate= 2008-06-14 |last= Provo |first= Frank |date= 2007-12-10 |publisher= GameSpot]
Allgame = 4/5cite web |last=Weiss |first=Brett Alan |title="Zanac" > Review |publisher= Allgame |url= http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:14948~T1 |accessdate= 2008-07-01] "Zanac", in retrospect, has been considered a unique shoot 'em up game, combining gameplay elements from games such as Gradius and Xevious, mainly in the extensive power-up system and vertical-scrolling gameplay, which features both air and ground targets. It has also been considered an extremely fast-paced shooter in which the player is almost completely surrounded by enemy ships and bullets. In addition, "Zanac" has been praised for its music which seems to flow along with the action of the game; one reviewer puts the music as "at least as close as you can get to a Zen moment while playing a shooting game on the NES."

"Zanac" has been lauded by various reviewers for its difficulty level, its ability to handle many, many sprites on the screen without slowdown or other glitches, and its unique AI, which placed this game in a sub-genre of its own. However, criticisms include mediocre and primitive music and sound, a steep learning curve in gameplay and difficulty level, and, most notably, presence of Engrish in the game itself and in the game's instruction manual. In addition, enemies in "Zanac" have been said to exhibit a "lack of personality," despite the fact that they can be rather formidable enemies.

References

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External links

*StrategyWiki