Developer: Compile Publisher: Ascii Released: 09/91 Genre: Shooter
Zanac was one of the earliest NES shooters I ever played after Gradius. While Konami’s classic my introduction to the modern shooter Zanac felt like the next step with its extensive weapon system and mechanics. It was also my introduction to Compile, a name any shmup fan worth his salt knows. Without knowing it I followed their work through the years, from the Guardian Legend to M.U.S.H.A. But this one escaped me. I should have put two and two together with their names but I admit sometimes I am dumb. Gun-Nac is an underrated gem that is fantastic and one of the best 8-bit shooters you have never heard of.
Although their names are similar Gun-Nac is not a sequel to Zanac. The only thing the two games share is their developer, Compile. It is easy to spot the similarities between the two titles despite the almost five year gap in releases however. They both share the same numeral weapon system with some overlap and many of the graphic tiles are almost the same. Gun-Nac is far more advanced and refined however and shows their mastery of the hardware.
Usually in most games there is a clear favorite when it comes to weapons. This especially applies to shooters. Yet somehow Compile manage to balance every weapon so that none are overpowered. Each weapon (1=Blaster, 2=Screen Buster, 3=Search Driver, 4=Dragon Napalm, 5=Wide Beam) has a drawback that makes them less than ideal in every situation. The Search Driver is a homing shot that is incredibly weak. The wide beam is the strongest but as it powers up its shots leave wide gaps. Possibly the best and my personal favorite is the napalm. This flamethrower eventually covers the length of the screen with three streams. Its only weakness is that sometimes the flames cannot pass through background objects.
All weapons can upgrade multiple levels and even further by a wing, which boosts your firepower and protects you from a single hit. This extensive system is taken even further by multiple bomb types. Each bomb can also be upgraded for some really over the top effects. You can hold a whopping twenty bombs maximum which is a bit insane. To tie it altogether is a shop where you can spend cash to buy weapons and bombs if you do not have any. As if the game does not toss enough your way.
While it might sound you like you are overpowered in truth you need all this firepower. Gun-Nac is one of the most intense NES shooters ever. Chaotic barely describes it. The game moves at a lightning pace and is action heavy with few moments of respite. It sounds overwhelming but I love it. Weapon drops are frequent enough that you can play around with each and find your favorite. Each of the eight levels is varied and although similar to Zanac at times, is far better. At times the level design can seem similar to other great games like 1943 and Life Force yet the game still never feels derivative.
Surprisingly despite how chaotic the game frequently becomes Gun-Nac is one of the most balanced shooters for the NES. Power-ups appear so frequently you actually might die avoiding them. Death carries very little penalty as the game will provide a few power icons to boost your standard shot. In between levels you can buy weapons and bombs to give you a better start. Interestingly you can prioritize speed (less slowdown, more flickering) over graphics (slowdown with less flickering sprites) in the options menu. The difference is immediately notable, allowing you to tailor the game to your preference. Either way this is one of the more accessible shooters for the system.
Gun-Nac is one of the most technically proficient games for the NES. There are not many games that push the system harder. While it bears a resemblance to Zanac each world is much more detailed. The weird story allows for a lot of variety in its strange bosses but they actually do not match up with the game’s intensity. What truly puts Gun-Nac over the top is its performance. The game pushes a ton of sprites on screen and rarely slows down depending on the mode. As many as twenty enemies and bullets may crowd the screen and it never stops. There is some heavy flickering in these moments, especially against the Area Five boss. It is a small sacrifice for a game that shames many SNES shooters however.
In Closing
Gun-Nac is an incredible game and if you like action buy it now. It really is amazing how such a fantastic title has managed to fly under the radar all these years. Even now there are very few reviews for it. But that is why I am here to sing its virtues. This is easily one of the best shooters for the NES, both in America and Japan.
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