Classic Game Room - ZANAC for NES review

[@viktorm231]

Zanac for sure is in my top5 fav NES games and top2 in shooters (with Super Spy Hunter). It has amazing atmosphere, gameplay and ofc music. Good old days, miss them

[@xxcrysad3000xx]

Zanac is one of the best and more overlooked shooters for the NES. The "adaptive" enemy AI based on what power-ups you've picked up was pretty ingenious for it's time.

[@mtiller2006]

About the Artificial Intelligence part you said about in this game, yes it actually does have that. If you do super well like beat the fortresses in a small amount of time and rack up so many points, the "System" increases the difficulty. Believe me when I say this, if you get to the final Area in the game, which is Area 12, it is not a walk in the park. My tip there, watch out for the 5 powerup, then look for one of the two Eye-Eyes and shoot it to get the laser, which is a huge help. I must warn you about the two Eye-Eyes in Area 12, they'll go by extremely fast so keep a really sharp eye out for them. But overall, this is a fast-paced rack-em-up, shoot-em-down NES shooter game that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a lot of fun to play in my personal opinion.

[@DeadThumbGamer]

mtiller2006 I haven't made it that far but I thought the short tips were a good remark to the comments section.

[@allnamesaretakenful]

I used to play this game when I was 10 and I didn't know about the A.I. back then and wondered why it got harder the better that I did. It was a tough game, but I loved it.

[@havanaradio]

hope someone sees this.... but at the very beginning of the game if you hit the camera thing with the secondary weapon without firing the main gun it will drop a blue lander. shoot it 5 more times to convert to red lander and grab it. turbo fire for the entire playthru, no button mashing.

[@indalecio539]

Zanac's a blast! You should give The Guardian Legend a shot. It's been my favorite space shooter since 1990.

[@SensatoKuro]

Went through this game recently and I must say that I am glad I did. I've read a few reviews stating Zanac as one of the NES' best shoot'em up. I now have to agree. A game with an impressing depth and tons of hidden stuff I didn't expect.

[@duketogo1300]

I think Mark oversells the difficulty of ZANAC. It's not quite as approachable as GUNNAC, but still has a good feel. It isn't one of those early shooters that immediately crushes you, and is quite a bit easier than games like Guardian Legend or Star Soldier. I think it should be recommended wholeheartedly, and I really do think it holds up well along-side the next wave of great 16-bit shooters. Maybe Mark just used the wrong approach. I personally never warmed up to the shield power-up.

[@xXJacobBuckXx]

I could die to that track all day.

[@arwanny]

coming home from work and seeing that a new classic game room review is up makes me want to grab a beer from the fridge and sit down to watch the best show on youtube

[@GreatLakesDrifta]

I dig the music on the intro screen; it gets you pumped up for the frantic gameplay that follows. Glad I found this review I had forgotten the name of this game.

[@kellymoses8566]

My Uncle came to my house and played this game for many hundreds of hours when I was a kid. After a LOT of cursing he eventually did beat it. He really loved the number 6 weapon. Man that music is so nostalgic.

[@allnamesaretakenful]

The better you play, the faster the game gets. I thought I was imagining it as a kid, but then found out 20+ years later that the game will increase in difficulty the better you perform.

[@saigokun]

Thanks for posting this review. Zanac is one of my favorite shooters. I played it many times on the MSX system (where it was released as Zanac EX:). On the MSX Zanac was released before both Aleste Games.

[@KMJ187]

One of my all time fav shmups!!!!!!!!!! Played this for hours at a time as a kid on the NES! Just fantastic. Zanac Neo on the PSX is a fantastic follow up keeping the same theme and adding two player mode.

[@iglooproductions]

I collected for Colecovision, Intellivision, Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Sega Master System and Sega Genesis since 1999. I have thousands of games. I quit for a few years, but your vids have got me back into collecting and playing again...thanks!....I think.

[@TheChristianCollector]

One of my favorite nes games of all time. And everything you said describes it especially the wanting to smash the system.

[@thepariah65]

I just got this game from a pawn shop for $3 and holy shit it's amazing. I am having an eargasm from the music.

[@SnakeHiggins]

My personal favorite NES game. There's only one thing you need to know when playing this game. NUMBER 7!!!!! Get good with Number 7 and you open the door to mastering this game.

[@DeadThumbGamer]

SnakeHiggins We Zanac Players appreciate the Strategy aide/Tips.

[@charlessaints]

but then you can only shoot in the 3 front directions

[@indianwarning1]

there will never be a more challenging game than this, and when you do beat it, it does feel like you just saved the universe!!! awesome game one of the best ever made!

[@kevin12567]

This is one of my all-time favorite shooters for any system! The best part of this game starts in the middle of Area 3 where if you shoot this face statue, your primary gun becomes triple the width of your ship and whatever secondary weapon you have is instantly maxed out - makes you almost unstoppable! There are several easter eggs in this game that require you to do certain things in a certain way (one will warp you to another area).

[@professorgull2031]

Hmm compile I saw a Randar at the 1:59 mark and those were from Golvelius Valley of Doom. Did Zanac free the trapped people of that vally i wonder?

[@writeronfire]

Gun Nac is better, but the AI doesn't bother you unless you play in hard mode

[@Viewbob_True]

0 dislikes because CGR is the best show ever

[@Fluoride_Jones]

That Xanax/Zanac joke was quite funny! In the end, I guess they balance each other out. :D

[@LorenHelgeson]

It's a bit rough around the edges, but this game is really fun if you can get into it. While it does bear some resemblance to MUSHA, I'd say it closer fits the shooting segments from Guardian Legend, which was also developed by Compile.

[@Paul-qg3iw]

When I think there as around 7 years between Atari 2600 Space Invaders (my first game) and Zanac on the NES the development over that period is just mind blowing.

[@fernfernacelli]

It’s November 2020. I played this when it first came out, and have owned it ever since. Beat it numerous times. To this day, one of my top games of all time, and the standard to which I base the quality of all (...ALL) other top-down rail shooters. Cheers!

[@Thrumm]

Me and my best friend used to spend hours every weekend trying to see how far we could get in this game. Right at the beginning if you charge one of the power up blocks without shooting you immediately raise your main guns to full power, but only if you hit the block with the power up.

[@philmason9653]

I loved this game on NES. At the time, it was easily the most impressive shmup available for the platform in the West outside Life Force. Compile didn't have the rights to the Zanac name, so when Sega asked them to do a followup they went with the name Aleste instead. The console sequel to which was, of course, Musha Aleste. So Zanac & Musha are very much related; Zanac is where the Compile shmup template really began.

[@safetinspector2]

I remember figuring out that if you crash into the box with the power up before shooting you get full auto, figuring out how to pop the recon ship to get the purple smiley who fully powers up your gun, and how amazing the fully powered up version of any of the 7 secondary weapons were. and the music, which gets better as you go. I never finished this game, always dying on level 11 or 12....

[@Remeday]

This game looks pretty fun. Looks like a nice side scroller vertical shooter. I like the death animation too.

[@TotteTheBreaker]

YES finally you review some OLD games!

[@aussiedrumnerd]

Yes I agree! Bring on the master system reviews!

[@mugensl]

FIRST of all this was yet another great review

[@Syx7h]

Before i watch this video. I have to say... i really like the intro music to the gameroom.

[@Magellan6276]

Run directly into certain blocks to instantly get triple fast firing lasers! Also don't waste time with getting the number 2 power up instead go for 3, 5, or preferably 7 and you'll kick this game's ass! Many other things to figure out such as how to shoot the blue landers to permenantly increase your rate of 🔥😎. Trust me this is one of the best space ship shooters for the nes👍👍

[@CloudOfDarkness9999]

One of your better reviews :) Can't wait for more!

[@BrunoidGames]

The man, the voice and Zanac

[@charlessaints]

my first nintendo game, aside with the packed super mario bros. weapon 0 maxed out was the best for me. you could shoot double blasts in all 8 directions destroying enemy bullets. along with maxed out missiles. and the soundtrack takes me back to being 7 again . . .

[@deadmetalbr]

Ooh! i love zanac, been waiting for this since mark mentioned he was reviewing it in the retron 3 video or whichever.

[@bigdawg8412]

I've seen this game for sale before, but I didn't know what it was. Maybe next time I see it I'll pick it up.

[@JamesSkemp]

Really like the Game Over music, and it sounds so familiar ...

[@rodritejera]

help please does any of you remember a nes game that you control a schip and you can choose betewn wing/guns 1 was 2 black balls that rotate around you and you can dck under the structures thanx

[@Mahortz]

I'm going to play this tonight! Thanks for the memories :P

[@ernestonevarez8511]

I had this game as a kid my and my sister played it together a lot the second control work at the same time as the first one can shoot and the other steer ..

[@TheCRTman]

Wow, I remember watching this video like 100 times last year. :)

[@SylveonTrapito]

@Standard420247 Yeah, and Game Gear! That console rules if you have an AC adaptor of course

[@darksidealice]

@redgypsy Ahh, I thought it based its difficulty on how many enemies you killed and all that. Soukyugurentai (on of the best shmups I've played!) on Sega Saturn is kinda like that too. The boss difficulty and its pattern is based on how well you do during the stage

[@zzy4680]

beat the game when i was 10! the trick is to grab number 5 and hit the frog in level 7, and then the ball turns into a unblockable laser canon. that is insane! number 7 is second best. number 2 is useless.

[@theawesomegamr]

i cant believe i only discovered this game now!! this. looks. AWESOME! :D

[@havanaradio]

did you beat it? did you ever move on to Recca?

[@snoochieboochieshc]

WE LOVE YOU MARK !!!!

[@KingGameReview]

@gamerfranz he has the power base converter and has done some MS reviews.

[@naimina]

Watching this while on Xanax = AWESOME

[@TheFavorista]

Do you have any plans to review The Guardian Legend?

[@Suraht]

Wow. I can see where a lot of the inspiration for parts of The Guardian Legend came from.

[@zeepster]

Played this on the MSX with the original ROM from japan. Finished it too :) Yes, i'm proud haha. Btw, the way the reviewer is playing is a bad! Not using special weapon 0. Not leaving the yellow smiley turn black to Warp.. etc

[@Back0Down]

chances are ill never play this game, i just love marks reviewing skill

[@Korgi_Polymer]

I just beat this game, amazingly hilarious ending text, and i beat it the day i bought it, not bragging , i just had to say it!

[@Jesses001]

The old NES. The only game consule that did not die on me over the years, lol. I am not a gamer, but I had some old consules, but the only survivor is the NES.

[@VecTron5]

The music in battle kid: fortress of peril kinda reminds me of zanac's music.

[@packpock4369]

I'm suprised you were on the fence with this. Compile put out some of the best running shumps..

[@pcostel1]

I would like to see a review of the sequel for the PSX ZanacXZanac

[@shootshoot]

New viewer, lovin your stuff, thanks!

[@VanArtic]

@VanofArtic2 by the way Mark, try Summer Carnival '92 - RECCA; it's probably the best space vertical shooter available for the NES, it's rare to find nowadays but it's really worth all the money you spend on it

[@TheLastLineLive]

this one looks like its well ahead of its time, its the earliest "bullet hell" shmup I've ever seen. And make has the Power Convertor thing for the Sega Genesis, so he has Master System reviews, look' em up.

[@manfish12]

whats the song between 3-8 seconds

[@TKnightcrawler]

Seeing this video, I can definitely see the similarities (and a few of the same exact weapons, sound effects, bullets) with The Guardian Legend, my favorite NES game period. You should really check out The Guardian Legend, Marc. You'll find it interesting, and maybe even better than Zanac. :)

[@jetjeti5682]

I loved the hell out of this game

[@Lupucillo]

There are a few sequels to this game. GunNac on NES and ZanacXZanac on PlayStation are two I know.

[@frigginjoe]

I found some pretty awesome glitches by "toasting" this game when I got it. (clicking the cart in and out of the NES to produce weird bugs). I recall having it so that I would start on what I think was otherwise an inaccessible level and making upgrade 6 into a juggernaut tool to destroy everything on screen by spamming it.

[@SwordianAtwight]

First time I played this game was in 1989 and was BRUTAL, few shooters even new ones are as brutal as this one, and we are talking about a very old game. Its hard to believe someone could finish it the very first time bought since enemies are not fixed at all but the AI is variable and almost every time you play the game is like a different challenge, you cannot memoriza patterns and keep the rage AI under control is pretty difficult.

[@TheRunefox]

I've always seen Zanac as a part of the Aleste series - Power Strike on the SMS over here (with a Game Gear sequel), going up to the oft-mentioned M.U.S.H.A. (which is called Musha Aleste: Full Metal Fighter Ellinor in Japan). Gun Nac on the NES is another one, which is actually a lot better than Zanac and also more like Aleste / Power Strike. There was also an Aleste game on the SNES/SFC called Super Aleste, or as it was titled in North America, Space Megaforce.

[@gunma747j]

Runefox same thought~

[@gunma747j]

Runefox also,zanac must be the prequel of aleste series

[@dmf13]

shooters desinded by compile are awesome!

[@KollisionBR]

You shouldn't take the weapon 2 (the shield), it makes the game a lot more difficult. And it's also full of secrets. If you know them it gets pretty manageable actually.

[@SurgeCess]

Whoa, this looks even crazier than Starship Hector

[@dfortaeGameReviews]

Best shooter game EVER MADE.

[@Ioshyriku903]

I wonder how would mark review a bullet hell like touhou or Mushihimesama

[@therangersrule68]

@gamerfranz he has a Power Base Converter for his Genesis

[@iglooproductions]

@eklipsegirl I would, I have allot of doubles for Atari 2600 carts especially, but I am away from my collection in another country working. I am however, not far from you!.

[@KiraSensei1]

Awesome game.

[@FinchPG]

very nice mark!

[@Korgi_Polymer]

I have beaten gradius in 1 life, and all i have to say is , damn this looks hard!!!

[@wolfenjosh]

After reviewing this game, you HAVE to review the Guardian Legend!

[@Vampier]

yeah... Zanac is the best space-shoot-em-up and later came Aleste :)

[@gunma747j]

VampierMSX I thought it is the prequel of aleste 1 cuz the pilot are same

[@supermahmoud]

I didn't play this but I have "Zanac X Zanac" for the PlayStation 1 and it's a remake, but not as hard as this !

[@cloob1863]

Some of the sound effects and even some of the sprites come from The Guardian Legend. What's up with that?

[@orionpax55]

@gamerfranz He's done Master System reviews.

[@IIIJFRIII]

this game looks amazing.

[@hualni]

Have you ever done a review of "Dragon Spirit" for the NES? It was a fantastic game that I believe you would fine joy playing. It wouldn't be your favorite. That honor belongs to TRUXTON!!! Sorry, I thought you had to yell TRUXTON!!!!

[@ptwob]

looks like chaos, kinda reminds me of recca summer carnaval 92

[@BF-Gator]

Insane that only 8 years ago Zanac was an affordable game

[@jasonz7788]

Thanks mark

[@SoldatCrinale]

@shaurz Gun Nac is basically the polished up sequel to Zan Nac. Both done by Compile. And i 100%. Gun Nac is 10000x better.

[@VanArtic]

Zanac was very weird for it's time, it had some dinamic difficulty degree on it if you destroy the bosses quickly, the game gets easier; something like that

[@CodedErrors]

@gamerfranz he has a power base coverter,he has some reviews

[@cosmic25sheep]

this looks very similar to powestrike for the sega master system. anyone agree with me on this?

[@gunma747j]

nick clark yes

[@YU7TB]

power strike was supposed to be zanac 2, so yes, it's the same developers

[@Quadraxis14]

I always preferred Gunac to Zanac, if there's one particular reason why I liked Gunac, it's because it's just as fun as Zanac, but it's a spoof, so instead of fighting random space fighters and such, you're fighting evil bunnies and shooting face craters... I don't know, it's a weird game, but I enjoy it. XD

[@andersdenkend]

Great music!

[@MarneusAndMilkyBlood]

I do miss the simplicity of these kind of reviews. The new Classic Game Room isn't bad at all, it's just not as focused.

[@slimmer11]

I guess now that Marvel Vs Capcom 3 is out you gonna review it? ;)

[@PersonaBrazil]

Oh yeah...i remember this game... =)