One of the boons of owning a Playstation 3 is access to the
PSone classics section. Several of the best games
ever made – such as Vagrant Story – are readily available at affordable prices. However, I’m always on the lookout for something different. Therefore I made up a JPN account, just so I could access Japan’s PSone library. This requires a few more
hoops to be jumped through, but it’s very much worth it. There are a plethora
of unique gems such as Vanguard Bandits, The Adventures of Little Ralph, and
Harmful Park. GungHo Online Entertainment America is offering a taste of the
PS1’s extensive import library, through the recent release of six games. There is
one game in particular that stands out. Zanac X Zanac is a title deserving of a
place in any 2D shooter fan’s library.
Zanac X Zanac is comprised of two games. One is the original
Zanac, which saw release on platforms such as the MSX/MSX2, the Famicom Disk
System, and the NES. Zanac Neo, the other game in the set, is a sequel
developed exclusively for the Playstation 1. Even for their respective times,
neither game is much to look at. Also due to their nature as a 2D shooter, the
stories may as well not even exist. The mission is to destroy anything that
threatens earth. So get in the prototype ship that explodes from contact with a
single bullet or enemy craft, and hope for the best. In a genre as overloaded
as the 2D shooter, what does Zanac do that helps it stand apart?
As it turns out, Zanac does things very differently. This
game employs a system known as “Auto Level Control” (ALC). Depending on the
level of difficulty, the amount of shots the player fires, their sub-weapon,
and a handful of other seemingly minor factors, the opposition changes. No two
levels are ever really the same, because the enemies adapt to every change of
play-style. Lasers are effective against frontal assaults, but the AI will
respond by attacking from the sides. Weaker weapons that cover a wider range
will be counteracted by enemies that can take more punishment. When the
player’s ship is destroyed, the AI will take a step back. This is both good and
bad, since while the reprieve is appreciated, it also means missed points. This
makes Zanac a fascinating 2D shooter, since unlike most similar titles,
memorization isn’t helpful. In Zanac, raw skills, reflexes, and the right
amount of recklessness is how players save the Earth, and beat their high-scores.
Zanac Neo is a substantial upgrade in every way. Three
playable ships are available, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and
sub-weapons. Each ship is also equipped with a charge meter. This meter is filled by grabbing
power-ups and destroying enemies. The energy can then be
expended in a single shot; or up the ship’s offensive capabilities for a few
seconds, via something known as "blast mode". The charged shot is useful for scoring as it builds combos, the blast
mode helps with survival since it can eliminate enemy bullets. Zanac Neo also
employs a combo system. As long as the player doesn’t allow enemies to fly
off-screen the combo will build, awarding more points for each kill.
In keeping with the spirit of the original, the ALC is
constantly monitoring every decision. Certain enemy-types become more
prevalent, depending on the type and frequency of subweapons that are used. On
the harder difficulties, a number of strategies are required to stay alive.
Power-ups award precious seconds of invulnerability, the blast mode is great
for panic situations. Even
though the enemy-type can’t always be accounted for, their movements and attack
patterns are roughly the same It's mostly just a matter of destroying everything in sight.
Due to the generous scoring system, skilled-players will be able to accumulate a lot of extra lives. Rather than let them gather cobwebs, one can utilize suicidal tactics to
reach mind-boggling high-scores. This method involves crashing into the
power-up boxes that appear when the player’s ship respawns. It requires a
really high combo counter, and is largely useful at the end of the game. Personally,
that style of play is boring to me. Zanac Neo offers more than enough ways to
stay challenging. Aside from the three available ships, there is a
hidden fourth one that offers a very different style of play. Also there are
in-game “achievements”, though figuring out what they are and how to get them
will require a guide. There is a cooperative mode as well, though friends with
an interest in 2D shooters are almost impossible to come by. The original Zanac
is no slouch either.
The philosophy behind Zanac x Zanac is simple, design a game
that grows with the player and continually challenges them. While these games don’t offer the depth and complexity of some other 2D shooters, they are also
much more approachable in their design. Players of all skill levels can pick up the basics and start having fun. After awhile, they can start learning the more complex aspects, such as scoring. There are a large variety of
sub-weapons and enemy variations that will attempt to counter them. The
emphasis on reflexes and split-second decisions are also a welcome change from
memorizing safe-points in complicated bullet-spreads. All in all I highly
recommend checking this collection out.
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