Gun-nac [nes]


AXNJAXN

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So the other day I was playing through the goodNes romset on my dreamcast, checking out each game to see what would be good for my GP32 on a trip. I got to the G section, and there I found a wonderful gem of a game called GUN-NAC.

Here's the idea - it's an old-school vertical shooter with a fairly generic story, but a great execution.



PREMISE:

In a solar system of seven planets orbitting an artificial sun, things go a little caca and some evil presence makes all the machinery go nuts. Somehow, blowing up a whole bunch of stuff sounds like a good idea to the government, and they look to you, a space pilot codenamed Gun Nac to do the job.

FEATURES:

Four types of screen-clearing bombs: water, fire, lightning, and plasma (these are probably not the real names, but i don't care). They level up if you collect several of the same type, or you can go for quantity and grab everything. Four levels of each bomb exist.

Five weapons: Vulcan, ball lightning, chaser, flamethrower, and laser (once again, names are made up.) They level up eight times a piece, increasing number of shots fired, fire rate, direction of fire, and intensity.

Also, there are ship upgrades: turbo boosts and a wing upgrade that boosts all weapons by changing the way they fire.

After each area, there is an item shop where you can spend money that you pick up in the levels on weapon upgrades, run by a VERY perky saleswoman.

GRAPHICS (4/5):

It's NES, so you're looking at low color depth and a limited number of items onscreen. Fortunately, the limitations are handled really well, and so you'll have a lot thrown at you in each level. This feels very arcade-like, with graphics to match.

Sprites are crisp and a little cartoony by comparison to other shooters.

SOUND (3/5):

Once again, think eight bits. The gunfire sounds like arcade noise, which is quite tolerable and fits the graphical style. The music is nothing special, but mostly benign. The level music is stereotype (no pun intended) for an NES game, but the item shop music is really annoying. Really.

Overall, nothing terrible, nothing great.

PLAYABILITY (4.5/5):

This is a shooter that is made for play. First off, there is a throttle that lets you adjust ship speed to how you like it that is accessed by pressing select. The default speed (i think it's 2) works well, and the handling feels just right.

The weapons are managable, the bombs are managable, and dodging bullets is a skill that can be acquired without tearing one's head out in frustration. Difficulty is fairly easy, but not too easy. It's enjoyable.

I play mine in Little John GP, and it runs at full 60fps like most other games. No compatibility issues that I know of.

OVERALL (11.5/15):

I gave it four stars: it's an excellent game. If you enjoy shooters that aren't too serious, this one's for you. It certainly is worth a look.
 
"It's NES, so you're looking at 256 colors"

If only! LOL!

The NES didn't have even close to that. Just 16 from a 52 color palette, 4 colors per sprite.

And yes, Gun Nac is a superb SHMUP. But what else would you expect from Compile. :)
 
It looks very much like compiles SMS games like power strike / aleste2, i'll give this a go as the SMS ones are excellent.

-Craig

www.gbax.com
 
Another recommendation if you like compile stuff would be MUSHA (might be listed as musha aleste) on sega genesis. That's the shmup that started it all for me. And the soundtrack is my all time favorite for any sega game.

Update: I posted the review to GameFAQs under my name. Share the wealth, ya know?
 
This one is the most addicted game I've ever played. I still have somewhere a pirated famicon cart ;) of this game. In my opinion on of the best NES games. Maybe because of gameplay maybe gfx and music. I dont know. If i'd like to judge them (gfx,music,gameplaye) separetely i would just say they are good but not great, but combined together... mmmmmm delicious ;)
 
this game hit a soft spot for me when i tried it out for the first time ... a solid shooter AND it's got rabbits all over the place :D

i'll have to check out compile's other SHUMPS :ph34r:
 
This game is great! Can't recall having this much fun playing a vertical shooter... I tend to like vertical shooters better.
The the action on screen is very impressive... No way was something like this possible on C64.

It is fairly easy though - But that actually makes it a bit more acceptable by todays impatient standards. Ideal for playing on the train I would figure - I guess I better install Little John on my GP now.
 
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