Zanac EX Launches on Nintendo Switch eShop: Classic MSX2 Shoot 'Em Up Returns via EGGCONSOLE

D4 Enterprise, well-known for its dedicated work in the retro gaming scene with the EGGCONSOLE series, has announced that the iconic vertically-scrolling shoot 'em up Zanac EX will be the next classic to join the Nintendo Switch eShop lineup.

Originally launched for MSX2 computers by Compile and Pony Canyon in 1986, Zanac EX will make its digital debut on Nintendo Switch on July 10th, priced at $6.49. Zanac EX is a refined version of the earlier MSX title ZANAC, featuring notable graphical enhancements thanks to the MSX2 hardware.

The upgrade delivers more vibrant colors and improved visual fidelity.

The game also removes the sidebar present in the original MSX release, following the presentation style of the Famicom Disk System (FDS) version.

This adjustment widens the main play area and shifts vital gameplay data—such as score, remaining lives, timer, and power chips—to the top of the screen, streamlining the game’s interface. According to the official description from D4 Enterprise, Zanac EX is a science fiction shooter where players pilot the advanced AFX-6502 "ZANAC" fighter ship in an ongoing battle against an organic intelligence.

The gameplay system stands out with standard shots, an array of special weapons, and collectible chips.

By obtaining these chips during gameplay, players can switch between special shots or upgrade their preferred special weapon by gathering the same chip consecutively.

Special shots range from piercing rounds that can hit multiple foes in a line, to omnidirectional shots, barriers for defense, rapid side-to-side vibrating shots, and rotating shots that orbit the player’s ship.

This system allows players to tailor their strategies and adapt their loadouts in real time for a dynamic play style. A key innovation in Zanac EX is its ALC (Auto Level Control) system.

The ALC system dynamically alters the intensity of enemy attacks based on player performance.

For instance, aggressively targeting enemy fortresses or reconnaissance units can decrease enemy offensive strength.

As a result, every playthrough becomes unique and challenging, a feature that helped Zanac EX stand out among contemporaneous shoot 'em ups. While Zanac EX’s arrival marks the latest entry in reviving the franchise for modern platforms, it's not the first time the series has been accessible to Nintendo Switch users.

In 2021, G-Mode brought the 2005 mobile adaptation of ZANAC to the console through its G-Mode Archives series.

Earlier in 2024, D4 Enterprise made the original MSX version available on Switch for the very first time as part of EGGCONSOLE’s offerings. With its enhanced visuals, gameplay refinements, and preservation of core mechanics, Zanac EX stands as an enduring example of Compile and Pony Canyon's legacy in the shoot 'em up genre.

Retro gaming fans and newcomers alike can look forward to revisiting—or discovering—the classic intensity of Zanac EX when it launches on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch on July 10th.

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