Virtual Console Releases for 12/3/07. ( ZANAC ! ! ! )

WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLAS-SIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL

Dec. 3, 2007

Sometimes the Wii-kly Updates have a nice, unifying them. Sometimes they don't. This week we scoured the recesses of the clas-sic games vault to come up with some interesting, if unrelated, gems. You can fight mechanized forces, battle with a bunch of fighters in the afterlife or play the role of a heroic regal bug. Like we said: Sometimes they don't.

Three new clas-sic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the WiiTM Shop Channel every Monday. WiiTM owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii PointsTM to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:

ZANAC (NES®, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): ZANAC is a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up game that was released in November 1986. Take control of the state-of-the-art fighter, ZANAC, with the objective of destroying the bases of the mechanized enemy forces. Use your full array of regular weapons as well as eight special weapons to clear the 12 intense areas of the game. Be careful, though, as the game changes the degree of difficulty in real time based on how well you play. This ensures that it feels like you're experiencing a new game every time you play.

Eternal ChampionsTM (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen - Animated Blood, Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): This 2-D fighting game introduces a cast of different characters that met untimely deaths in their lives on Earth. Now they have been given a chance to compete against each other, with the winner taking on the Eternal Champion, the ultimate fighter in the universe. The reward for defeating the Eternal Champion is a return to Earth for the opportunity to avenge death and restore balance to the universe. Choose from nine unique characters with a variety of fighting sty-les, and bring your best moves to defeat all comers in your quest to topple the Eternal Champion.

The Dynastic Hero (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Comic Mischief, 800 Wii Points): The Dynastic Hero is an action RPG featuring a cast of insect characters. The story begins with the invasion of their peaceful homeland of Tarron by the evil Drilkor Empire. Rushing to the insects' aid is Dyna, the prince of Beetras. Take control of Dyna as he battles through action-filled stages. Equip weapons and items to vanquish the relentless foes, and acquire special items that enable you to brave the journey across the perilous desert or open sea. But it's not just all action. Correctly answer multiple-choice quizzes, and play the ocarina to find the right melody to open doors. Plus, there are countless traps and other puzzles packed into this fun game to keep you entertained and ensure you continue coming back for more.

I remember Eternal Champions. I had a lot of fun with it back in the day because it was the first fighting game I ever played that included an ability to taunt the opponent. That was pretty cool then, but aside from that it was just a grade B fighting game. I can't see that one little thing making this worth picking up again. So it looks like a pass for me all the way around this week. Pity too since I just finished Galaxy and need something else to play.

Every once in a while I get depressed at the state of the videogame industry and a good majority of the people and players out there. For every GamingGeek and SteelAttack, there's 1000 faceless, nameless adolescent destructoids who's sole purpose is to cheat in online games, complain about "unfair" review scores, download games rather than buy them, or simply perpetuate internet drama...

I wonder why I still game and call myself a gamer sometimes.

Then a little reminder comes along and makes everything OK.

Storytime!

I was on my way back to college after a Holiday break. There was a "Nobody Beats the Wiz" near the Bus Stop. I stopped in to check out the latest and greatest Nintendo Entertainment System releases. I saw nothing new at first, but this oddly titled game caught my eye. Zanac? Never heard of it.

I looked at the back of the box and it didn't quite "do it for me" at first. Looked like a Galaxian or Galaga type of game. It looked very, very brown, and I was kinda unimpressed. Then I read "Advanced Artificial Intelligence" and got intrigued.

This was the NES we are talking about, remember. Artificial Intelligence was absolutely unheard of at the time!

But, being the gamer that I was back then, I was immediately challenged by the "Adjusts the Difficulty of the Game Automatically" and decided to give it a try.

All I remember after that was a blur of a weekend of top-down shooting action unlike I had ever experienced up to that point! It was like a strange, strange dream, involving Spaceships, Brown Canyons, Fairies, and Googly-Eyed Alien Creatures...

...Oh, and I was cleanly getting my arse kicked by the game!

I LOVED it!

By today's standards, people are going to look at the game and pass it up, and that would be a real shame! It's a bit of shooter history any REAL fan should already know about. It's actually got quite the fan following still and has seen a few sequals in Japan. (Anyone ever hear of Space MegaForce for SNES? Same developers!)

Oh, and by the way, a certain Ex-GameSpot Editor who's initials were G.K. was also a huge fan! If that isn't testament enough, I don't know what is!

Oh man, Eternal Champions...I hope nobody downloads that. Zanac...I remember that game. It's been ages since I played it. I also played a game called Power Strike, which is similar to Zanac. I'm not sure which game came first...probably Zanac. That last game looks very similar to Monster World.King9999

It's pretty much identical with a few graphical changes. This HAS to be the oddest VC release choice yet! It's two versions of the same game! I would have preferred Y's, for example, over this for a TurboCD release!

Then I read "Advanced Artificial Intelligence" and got intrigued.

This was the NES we are talking about, remember. Artificial Intelligence was absolutely unheard of at the time!

But, being the gamer that I was back then, I was immediately challenged by the "Adjusts the Difficulty of the Game Automatically" and decided to give it a try.

Phantom_Leo

It's called rank and it's used in most shoot em' ups. How does rank work? It's simple,the rank adjusts to how well you play. The better you are the higher the rank will be. You can counter the rank system by implementing a kamakazi tactic which resets the rank, in other words you klll yourself.

SinceGradius is the greatest game ever! I just wanted to point out that Gradius did it first:D Thats why it has it's very own suicide code in future releases.

Anyway, Zanac is an awesome game. Since Zanac is developed by Compile you can expect other excellent games such as Gunac and The Guardian Legend to be released on the VC.

Now that we have Zanac, I demand Recca to be released on the import shop. If your impressed by the rank in this game for being in NES game, then wait until you experience the manic speed of Recca.

[QUOTE="Phantom_Leo"]

Then I read "Advanced Artificial Intelligence" and got intrigued.

This was the NES we are talking about, remember. Artificial Intelligence was absolutely unheard of at the time!

But, being the gamer that I was back then, I was immediately challenged by the "Adjusts the Difficulty of the Game Automatically" and decided to give it a try.

Spirit_of_87

It's called rank and it's used in most shoot em' ups. How does rank work? It's simple,the rank adjusts to how well you play. The better you are the higher the rank will be. You can counter the rank system by implementing a kamakazi tactic which resets the rank, in other words you klll yourself.

SinceGradius is the greatest game ever! I just wanted to point out that Gradius did it first:D Thats why it has it's very own suicide code in future releases.

Anyway, Zanac is an awesome game. Since Zanac is developed by Compile you can expect other excellent games such as Gunac and The Guardian Legend to be released on the VC.

Now that we have Zanac, I demand Recca to be released on the import shop. If your impressed by the rank in this game for being in NES game, then wait until you experience the manic speed of Recca.

Whoa. That's interesting.

Do modern shmups use rank too?

Whoa. That's interesting.

Do modern shmups use rank too?

SteelAttack

Of course, Ibara is the most recent game (on a home system) where the rank system was an integral part on how you play the game. But of course, 99.9% of the latest shmups never reach this side of the ocean unless you import.

Zanac gameplay video

Wow! I just finished a session of Zanac and this game definitely punishes you once you reach the later levels. Especially if you lose all your power ups. On the flip side, it is extremely generous with extra lives.Zanac is perhaps the first manic shump ever. Lots of power ups and different weapons add some strategy to the game play. A must have for anyones VC collection.

Wow! I just finished a session of Zanac and this game definitely punishes you once you reach the later levels. Especially if you lose all your power ups. On the flip side, it is extremely generous with extra lives.Zanac is perhaps the first manic shump ever. Lots of power ups and different weapons add some strategy to the game play. A must have for anyones VC collection.

Spirit_of_87

I've always wanted to get into shmups, but my amoeba reflexes have prevented me from getting any good at them. How can a shooter n00b like yours truly can grasp the concept of strategy in a shoot-em-up? All I do is mindless shooting and eating all powerups in front of me.

[QUOTE="Spirit_of_87"][QUOTE="Phantom_Leo"]

Then I read "Advanced Artificial Intelligence" and got intrigued.

This was the NES we are talking about, remember. Artificial Intelligence was absolutely unheard of at the time!

But, being the gamer that I was back then, I was immediately challenged by the "Adjusts the Difficulty of the Game Automatically" and decided to give it a try.

SteelAttack

It's called rank and it's used in most shoot em' ups. How does rank work? It's simple,the rank adjusts to how well you play. The better you are the higher the rank will be. You can counter the rank system by implementing a kamakazi tactic which resets the rank, in other words you klll yourself.

SinceGradius is the greatest game ever! I just wanted to point out that Gradius did it first:D Thats why it has it's very own suicide code in future releases.

Anyway, Zanac is an awesome game. Since Zanac is developed by Compile you can expect other excellent games such as Gunac and The Guardian Legend to be released on the VC.

Now that we have Zanac, I demand Recca to be released on the import shop. If your impressed by the rank in this game for being in NES game, then wait until you experience the manic speed of Recca.

Whoa. That's interesting.

Do modern shmups use rank too?

Shmup. . . boy that's fun to say. Shmup, shmup, shmup.

Shmup. . . boy that's fun to say. Shmup, shmup, shmup.Robio_basic

It's the sound you make when pulling a toadstool from the ground.

*shmup*

[QUOTE="King9999"]Oh man, Eternal Champions...I hope nobody downloads that. Zanac...I remember that game. It's been ages since I played it. I also played a game called Power Strike, which is similar to Zanac. I'm not sure which game came first...probably Zanac. That last game looks very similar to Monster World.Phantom_Leo

It's pretty much identical with a few graphical changes. This HAS to be the oddest VC release choice yet! It's two versions of the same game! I would have preferred Y's, for example, over this for a TurboCD release!

Ys? That game was awful. It falls into the Superman 64 range.

[QUOTE="Spirit_of_87"]

Wow! I just finished a session of Zanac and this game definitely punishes you once you reach the later levels. Especially if you lose all your power ups. On the flip side, it is extremely generous with extra lives.Zanac is perhaps the first manic shump ever. Lots of power ups and different weapons add some strategy to the game play. A must have for anyones VC collection.

SteelAttack

I've always wanted to get into shmups, but my amoeba reflexes have prevented me from getting any good at them. How can a shooter n00b like yours truly can grasp the concept of strategy in a shoot-em-up? All I do is mindless shooting and eating all powerups in front of me.

Well there are four ways that you can approach a shoot em' up. You can play for high score, 1cc (One credit clear) or Perfect play, no miss.The fourth one would be a combination of all three. There is a fifth way, you can credit feed (continue) but that defeats the purpose of playing a shmup and is frowned upon.

Strategy depends on the game that you are playing. Some shmups have a more complex scoring system, others are more space confined: not only are you shooting down swarms of enemies but sometimes you are evading living enviornments. While some have you concious of your bomb stock, hypers, or combo chaining. Of course some of it is just knowing the patterns of the bosses and enemies, your own hit box, and stage layouts.

I suggest you pick one of the many great shoot em' ups already available on the VC and continue to pratice and practice. Never continue, because it really doesn't help in your progression of becoming a better player. The whole point is to finish the entire game with one credit.

Great VC shmups: (Pick Your Poison)

Gate of Thunder

Gradius III

Zanac

Axelay

Blazing Lasers

Soldier Blade

Galaga 90'

R-Type

Gradius

Air Zonk

Zanac? Hmm,*quickly adds another VC game to my to-buy list* I'll have to give Zanac a try when I get my new wireless router (my last router died a few weeks ago).*looks at VC game to-buy list again*Shoot, there's a whole bunch of VC games I still need to get soon! :)

Oh damn. I just forgot. I have no wireless connection. Is there an ethernet adaptor for teh Wii?

Oh damn. I just forgot. I have no wireless connection. Is there an ethernet adaptor for teh Wii?

SteelAttack

If the instruction manual was accurate, yes there is. But if nothing else you can get that Wii USB wireless adapter thing.

[QUOTE="SteelAttack"]

Oh damn. I just forgot. I have no wireless connection. Is there an ethernet adaptor for teh Wii?

Robio_basic

If the instruction manual was accurate, yes there is. But if nothing else you can get that Wii USB wireless adapter thing.

The Nintendo USB WIFI adpater has been discontinued by Nintendo. They're still pretty easy to find, but there won't be any more software updates for it. I've read the PC compatibility is questionable at best (you have to disable your firewall and antivirus software; it also won't work with Zone Alarm installded)too. I was considering buying one off ebay, but decided against it.

However, Nintendo does make a USB Lan adapter for Wii ($24.99 USD)

[QUOTE="Phantom_Leo"]

Then I read "Advanced Artificial Intelligence" and got intrigued.

This was the NES we are talking about, remember. Artificial Intelligence was absolutely unheard of at the time!

But, being the gamer that I was back then, I was immediately challenged by the "Adjusts the Difficulty of the Game Automatically" and decided to give it a try.

Spirit_of_87

It's called rank and it's used in most shoot em' ups. How does rank work? It's simple,the rank adjusts to how well you play. The better you are the higher the rank will be. You can counter the rank system by implementing a kamakazi tactic which resets the rank, in other words you klll yourself.

SinceGradius is the greatest game ever! I just wanted to point out that Gradius did it first:D Thats why it has it's very own suicide code in future releases.

Anyway, Zanac is an awesome game. Since Zanac is developed by Compile you can expect other excellent games such as Gunac and The Guardian Legend to be released on the VC.

Now that we have Zanac, I demand Recca to be released on the import shop. If your impressed by the rank in this game for being in NES game, then wait until you experience the manic speed of Recca.

yes bring me Gunac please lol.

Let me know when they have Blaster Master available.Gammit10

That will be the day i poop my pants! I love that game!