Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Full run through Zanac Neo (ザナックネオ) on the hardest difficulty (Very Hard) from the Zanac x Zanac (ザナック×ザナック) release on the PS1. This was played and captured from a real PS1, no emulation.
00:00 - Start
00:19 - Area 0 - Flash Back
03:26 - Area 1 - Star Fleet
08:40 - Area 2 - Satellite Base
14:00 - Area 3 - Cloud Kingdom
20:40 - Area 4 - Remains of an Ancient
28:21 - Area 5 - Storming Party
29:51 - Area 6 - Blizzard
36:21 - Area 7 - Hell's Gate
43:29 - Area 8 - Mystic Space
52:08 - Final Area - Core of System
1:02:09 - Final Boss + Ending
Zanac Neo is the final shmup created by Compile, and also serves as the only true sequel to the original Zanac. Coming 15 years after the original, Zanac Neo was released as part of the Zanac x Zanac collection for the PS1. Not only does this collection contain ports of the original game (several different versions actually), but the real main attraction has got to be Zanac Neo.
Zanac Neo takes what was established in the original Zanac and expands on it in nearly every facet. The graphics, music, and sound are all top notch, and many of the classic tunes re-appear in this game in newly arranged tracks. Unlike in the old Zanac where you mostly just fight immobile fortresses and a few smaller sub-boss ships, Zanac Neo has fully realized boss fights all throughout the game. Oh it has the classic fortresses too, but even those are much more sophisticated.
This time around you can select from 4 different ship types: Knife-Edge (red), Scar-Face (blue), Hammer-Duke (green), and the secret ship called FC Custom (white). The secret ship is based on the ship from the original Zanac and also very, very overpowered compared to the 3 standard ships. Use the following code on the ship select screen to get the FC Custom: Left, Left, Up, Up, L1, R1, L1, R1, L2, R2.
Each of these ship types have different main shot in addition to 8 different sub-weapons (numbered 0-7) for each ship. They also have different speeds (red=fastest, green=slowest) and playstyles as well. Here I pick the Scar-Face, which is basically the "default" ship in that it has average speed and all around usefulness compared to the other ships.
Beyond the different ship types and weapon types for each ship, you also get a charge meter. The charge meter allows you to execute two different special attacks. Press the button once for a charge shot that explodes and does massive damage to anything it hits. Press and hold the button and you will get a rapid fire attack that lasts much longer and has the ability to cancel bullets. Both of these attacks allow for increased scoring when you kill enemies. Note that the FC Custom does not have this attack, and instead has a bar that drains based on sub-weapon use.
Speaking of scoring, you will find that Neo has a much different and expanded system compared to that of the old school Zanac. This time around you must kill all enemies before they leave the screen to continue your "chain" and get extra points. You also no longer get a bonus at the end for the number of ships you beat the game with, so dying is far less costly.
The higher you score, the more extends you get, and if you are getting long chains the extends flow freely and often. You can die a lot and still easily clear the game, so the challenge on normal isn't too bad. It's really only when you play on Hard and Very Hard where the true challenge of the game comes out. Even then, if you know what to do the game can be cheesed pretty easily.
What do I mean by that? Unlike most Compile games where picking up a powerup or item will give you a brief invulnerability window, Zanac Neo takes this to the extreme. Picking up a main weapon power chip (orange sphere) grants 2 seconds of invulnerability while a sub weapon item (numbered 0-7) grants a massive 5 seconds. These are what you want to use in order to execute massive damage point blank attacks on the bosses in addition to getting out of situations where you are being overwhelmed with bullets.
Zanac Neo would turn out to be the final shmup that Compile developed before shutting down a few short years later. Personally I consider Zanac Neo to be one of the best console-exclusive shmups ever made and Compile should be proud of their legacy and what they achieved here. Not every company goes out in style like this.
Full run through Zanac Neo (ザナックネオ) on the hardest difficulty (Very Hard) from the Zanac x Zanac (ザナック×ザナック) release on the PS1. This was played and captured from a real PS1, no emulation.
00:00 - Start
00:19 - Area 0 - Flash Back
03:26 - Area 1 - Star Fleet
08:40 - Area 2 - Satellite Base
14:00 - Area 3 - Cloud Kingdom
20:40 - Area 4 - Remains of an Ancient
28:21 - Area 5 - Storming Party
29:51 - Area 6 - Blizzard
36:21 - Area 7 - Hell's Gate
43:29 - Area 8 - Mystic Space
52:08 - Final Area - Core of System
1:02:09 - Final Boss + Ending
Zanac Neo is the final shmup created by Compile, and also serves as the only true sequel to the original Zanac. Coming 15 years after the original, Zanac Neo was released as part of the Zanac x Zanac collection for the PS1. Not only does this collection contain ports of the original game (several different versions actually), but the real main attraction has got to be Zanac Neo.
Zanac Neo takes what was established in the original Zanac and expands on it in nearly every facet. The graphics, music, and sound are all top notch, and many of the classic tunes re-appear in this game in newly arranged tracks. Unlike in the old Zanac where you mostly just fight immobile fortresses and a few smaller sub-boss ships, Zanac Neo has fully realized boss fights all throughout the game. Oh it has the classic fortresses too, but even those are much more sophisticated.
This time around you can select from 4 different ship types: Knife-Edge (red), Scar-Face (blue), Hammer-Duke (green), and the secret ship called FC Custom (white). The secret ship is based on the ship from the original Zanac and also very, very overpowered compared to the 3 standard ships. Use the following code on the ship select screen to get the FC Custom: Left, Left, Up, Up, L1, R1, L1, R1, L2, R2.
Each of these ship types have different main shot in addition to 8 different sub-weapons (numbered 0-7) for each ship. They also have different speeds (red=fastest, green=slowest) and playstyles as well. Here I pick the Scar-Face, which is basically the "default" ship in that it has average speed and all around usefulness compared to the other ships.
Beyond the different ship types and weapon types for each ship, you also get a charge meter. The charge meter allows you to execute two different special attacks. Press the button once for a charge shot that explodes and does massive damage to anything it hits. Press and hold the button and you will get a rapid fire attack that lasts much longer and has the ability to cancel bullets. Both of these attacks allow for increased scoring when you kill enemies. Note that the FC Custom does not have this attack, and instead has a bar that drains based on sub-weapon use.
Speaking of scoring, you will find that Neo has a much different and expanded system compared to that of the old school Zanac. This time around you must kill all enemies before they leave the screen to continue your "chain" and get extra points. You also no longer get a bonus at the end for the number of ships you beat the game with, so dying is far less costly.
The higher you score, the more extends you get, and if you are getting long chains the extends flow freely and often. You can die a lot and still easily clear the game, so the challenge on normal isn't too bad. It's really only when you play on Hard and Very Hard where the true challenge of the game comes out. Even then, if you know what to do the game can be cheesed pretty easily.
What do I mean by that? Unlike most Compile games where picking up a powerup or item will give you a brief invulnerability window, Zanac Neo takes this to the extreme. Picking up a main weapon power chip (orange sphere) grants 2 seconds of invulnerability while a sub weapon item (numbered 0-7) grants a massive 5 seconds. These are what you want to use in order to execute massive damage point blank attacks on the bosses in addition to getting out of situations where you are being overwhelmed with bullets.
Zanac Neo would turn out to be the final shmup that Compile developed before shutting down a few short years later. Personally I consider Zanac Neo to be one of the best console-exclusive shmups ever made and Compile should be proud of their legacy and what they achieved here. Not every company goes out in style like this.
