ZANAC EX (MSX2) 2025/07/10

Nostalgic Retro PC Games are Now Available on Nintendo Switch™!

MSX2
1987
COMPILE

Release 07/10/2025

ZANAC EX

The Zanac battle, which was supposed to have ended, was not over. To suppress the reactivated organic intelligence, Zanac takes flight once again!

List price

＄6.49

*1. About keyboard

Those who had unlocked the Icon—humanity—found themselves in a dire crisis. Fortunately, the Icon functioned correctly and granted humanity the knowledge it possessed. However, as nothing more than a sensor of the system, the Icon could not provide an understanding of the system as a whole. Against the overwhelming offensive power of the system, humanity’s deployed attack forces were defeated one after another.

As humanity faced imminent extinction, a single possibility was proposed:

“The system is fundamentally a strategic machine, designed for large-scale battles. If a lone unit were to confront the system, it might be unable to respond effectively.”

It was a dangerous gamble. However, in search of possibility, this plan was executed. A new type of combat attack aircraft, AFX-5810=ZANAC, was created to infiltrate the system's core alone and destroy it. The crisis was averted. — Or so it seemed.

However, the system that suffered defeat contacted other systems about the situation, just moments before exploding. Several Colonium units had already lost communication. This system seemed to be several times more advanced than the previous one. The latest model, AFX-6502=ZANAC MkII, took off alone once again within the remaining time.

This is a vertically scrolling SF shooting game released in Japan by COMPILE in 1987.

Story-wise, it serves as a sequel to the MSX version of “ZANAC”, with players piloting the cutting-edge AFX-6502 “ZANAC” to battle against organic intelligence. The AFX-6502 “ZANAC” is equipped with both a standard shot and special weapons. By collecting numbered chips that appear during combat, players can switch special shots, and by collecting the same chip consecutively, they can enhance their special shots.

The variety of special shots includes piercing rounds that take down multiple enemies in a row, omnidirectional shots that fire in eight directions—common in shooting games—as well as defensive barriers, vibrating shots that move rapidly left and right, and rotating shots that spin quickly around the player’s ship. Whether switching between different shots depending on the situation or focusing on strengthening a preferred special shot, players can tailor their playstyle for an optimal experience.

A defining feature of this game is the ALC (Auto Level Control) system. In ZANAC EX, the intensity of enemy attacks dynamically adjusts based on how players progress through battles. Destroying enemy fortresses or shooting down reconnaissance units, for example, weakens enemy assaults. This system ensures that every playthrough unfolds differently, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.