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|followed by=[[Zanac X Zanac]]
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'''Zanac''' is a vertically scrolling shooter. It was designed by [[Compile]] (who went on to develop a number of classic shooters). It follows [[E.I. - Exa Innova]], a similar, yet primitive game released in 1983; also programmed by Compile when it went by the name Programmers-3, it depicts some common enemies with Zanac and a cruder version of Zanac's famous artificial intelligence.  Zanac was published by [[Pony Canyon]] in Japan, and by [[FCI]] in North America.


'''Zanac''' is a vertically scrolling shooter. It was designed by [[Compile]] (who went on to develop a number of classic shooters). It follows [[E.I. - Exa Innova]], a similar, yet primitive game released in 1983; also programmed by Compile when it went by the name Programmers-3, it depicts some common enemies with Zanac and a cruder version of Zanac's famous artificial intelligence.  Zanac was published by [[Pony Canyon]] in Japan, and by [[FCI]] in North America.
Zanac was initially released for the [[MSX]] computer in Japan. It was then ported and heavily reworked for release on the Nintendo [[Famicom Disk System]] in Japan on November 28, 1986, and in the United States as an [[NES]] cartridge in October, 1987. This version was then reworked further, recolored, and released for the MSX2 system as '''Zanac EX'''. Zanac EX plays very similarly to the Famicom version, albeit with different colors, and at a noticeably slower pace.  The NES version was later re-released for the [[Wii Virtual Console]] on December 3rd 2007.


Zanac was initially released for the [[MSX]] computer in Japan. It was then ported and heavily reworked for release on the Nintendo [[Famicom Disk System]] in Japan on November 28, 1986, and in the United States as an [[NES]] cartridge in October, 1987. This version was then reworked further, recolored, and released for the MSX2 system as '''Zanac EX'''. The NES version was later re-released for the [[Wii Virtual Console]] on December 3rd 2007.
Zanac is notable for its unique AI programming. Player actions (including, but not limited to: firing weapons, gaining power-ups, and destroying enemy fortresses) would increase or decrease the number and difficulty of the enemies on-screen. The AI was reset at the beginning of each of the 12 levels, or when a particular enemy (the "Sart") was destroyed.  Zanac is also noted (on the Famicom and NES) for it's extremely high quality background scrolling and high number of visible sprites. At time, the game scrolls the background by at a lightening quick pace, and can pack the screen full of enemies and bullets, with no apparent deficit to the speed or functioning of the game.


A compilation entitled [[Zanac X Zanac]] was released for [[PlayStation]] in Japan on November 29, 2001, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the original. The compilation included several versions of the original as well as an original sequel titled Zanac Neo developed specifically for the PlayStation. There was no North American/European release of this, nor was there a stand-alone version of Zanac Neo.
A compilation entitled [[Zanac X Zanac]] was released for [[PlayStation]] in Japan on November 29, 2001, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the original. The compilation included several versions of the original as well as an original sequel titled Zanac Neo developed specifically for the PlayStation. There was no North American/European release of this, nor was there a stand-alone version of Zanac Neo.
Zanac is notable for its unique AI programming. Player actions (including, but not limited to: firing weapons, gaining power-ups, and destroying enemy fortresses) would increase or decrease the number and difficulty of the enemies on-screen. The AI was reset at the beginning of each of the 12 levels, or when a particular enemy (the "Sart") was destroyed.
Zanac, like many video games of the era, is also notable as an example of Engrish, owing to its numerous translation, grammatical and spelling errors in both the manual and the game itself. For instance, on the title screen, the word "designed" is spelled "desinded" in the NES version (but not in the MSX version). Also, at the start of levels the game says "ARER" followed by the area number instead of "AREA," although the similarity between the A and the R in the font used keeps this from sticking out too much.


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