Zanac A.I. (NES)

Zanac A.I.
Developer: Compile Publishers: Pony Canyon (JP), FCI (US) Platforms: NES, Famicom Disk System Released in JP: November 28, 1986 (FDS) Released in US: October 1987 This game has unused areas. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences. This game has a notes page

Zanac A.I. is the greatest vertically-scrolling shooter ever to grace the NES, although it originated on the MSX... Oh well, it's still amazing.

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Notes

Debug Mode

The game contains a debug mode that allows you to skip levels, give yourself any weapon, or maximize your lives. The method of activating it is a real doozy: it requires the US cart, a Famicom, and a Family BASIC Keyboard!

1. Power on the console.
2. Soft reset the game 9 times.
3. Type @COMPILE and press Return. You should hear the 1-up jingle play.
4. Start the game as usual.

You should now have the full set of debugging features at your command. All of them are activated while the game is paused. The known functions are as follows:

Controller 1:

• SELECT: Select weapon.

Family Keyboard:

• CLR: 255 lives.
• INS: Warp to next area.
• DEL: Warp to the previous area (if at Area 1, warps to Area 12).

Curiously, the original Famicom Disk System release of the game contains the keyboard-reading routine, though it is not referenced anywhere else in the code. The rest of the debugging code doesn't seem to have been programmed in yet by the time of its release.

NOTE: FCE Ultra and its derivatives have a bug that prevents this code from working properly. Please see the Notes page for more details.

Area 0

Use Stage Modifier 0091000 to access Area 0. Area 0 uses Area 12's music, loops endlessly, and is devoid of the numbered weapon powerups. It appears to be either a memory filler stage or possibly a test stage. It seems like it could have been used to test enemy patterns, and in particular, the game's AI system and the effects on it caused by shooting or not shooting the Sart enemies (seen in the screenshot, to the left of the Zanac ship) that lower or raise the AI.

Area 0 became an unlockable bonus stage in the PlayStation remake on Zanac X Zanac.

(Source: GameHacking)

Sound Test

As with The Guardian Legend, another game by Compile, hold A + B and hit Reset to access the game's Sound Test. This feature is in the NES version only.

Alternatively, press Start + Select + A + B when "Game Over" appears.

Area Select

Press Reset 13 times. Press Start to go in the main game menu. Press Left or Right to choose the level, then choose the "continue" option and press Start. To start at Area 11 or 12, hold Up on Controller 2 as well. Do the same if you want to continue the game after Area 10.

Hidden Message

Famicom Disk System	NES

In the ending scene, press A + B on Controllers 1 and 2 to display "SEE YOU AGAIN IN GUARDIC". Guardic is another shooter by the same company for the MSX, released the same year as the original Zanac A.I. for the Famicom Disk System. While Compile released an NES game named Guardic Gaiden two years later (known overseas as The Guardian Legend, as mentioned before), it has no relation to this message whatsoever.

Regional Differences

Title Screen

Famicom Disk System	NES

Extra Menu

The NES version added a screen to select "GAME START" and "CONTINUE".

Music

Area 1's music is in a different tone.

Famicom Disk System	NES

The NES version also added additional music.