Zaku (video game)

Last updated

Zaku
Zaku Cover.jpg
Developer(s) PenguiNet
Publisher(s) Super Fighter Team
Producer(s) Brandon Cobb
Designer(s) Andrew Chan
Deven Gallo
George Astafurov
Programmer(s) Osman Celimli
Artist(s) Amilcar Parra
Evan Doody
Nick Moy
Composer(s) Evren Celimli
Platform(s) Atari Lynx
Release
  • WW: 24 October 2009
Genre(s) Scrolling shooter
Mode(s) Single-player

Zaku is a homebrew scrolling shooter video game developed by PenguiNet and published by Super Fighter Team exclusively for the Atari Lynx on 24 October 2009. [1] [2] Taking place on a futuristic setting where Captain Bran and his minions plan to oversaturate the worldwide market with poor quality software using the "Rarity 9" programming tool, players assume the role of the titular character in an effort to retrieve the stolen tool from Bran.

Contents

Zaku was conceived by Osman Celimli at a young age during his time working at PenguiNet, who wanted to create a project for a handheld game console, initially focusing on the Game Boy before shifting towards the Atari Lynx and was influenced by Air Zonk , lasting over a course of six years under development prior to release. The game was met with positive reception from reviewers since its initial release, with praise towards the presentation, audio, plot and gameplay, but criticism pointed to its length and some of its design aspects. As of 2018, the title has sold over 1,000 copies in total.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot LYNX Zaku (Turtle Zone).gif
Gameplay screenshot

Zaku is a futuristic science fiction-themed scrolling shoot 'em up game reminiscent of Air Zonk, where players take control of the titular character through sixteen stages across five worlds, each with a boss that must be fought to retrieve the "Rarity 9" programming tool from Captain Bran. [3] [4] [5] At the title screen, players have access to the options menu where various settings can be changed such as the difficulty. [3] Players are free to proceed with the game's worlds in any order. Zaku can charge her shots to fire a more powerful attack and charging longer causes to activate a force field capable of damaging enemies. Zaku is also equipped with rear thrusters to attack enemies from behind. [3] There are no power-ups to acquire besides capsule-shaped items. [3] Zaku can sustain a number of hits before her health depletes and the game is over but players can choose to continue playing after dying. [3]

Development and release

Zaku was in development for the Atari Lynx over the course of six years. Atari-Lynx-I-Handheld.jpg
Zaku was in development for the Atari Lynx over the course of six years.

Zaku was the creation of programmer Osman Celimli, who started development of the project in 2003 at the age of 14 working at PenguiNet. [6] [7] [8] Both Celimli and PenguiNet wanted to make a game for a handheld game console, initially targeting the Game Boy for development but focus was shifted towards the Atari Lynx instead due to the former platform's lack of documentation and programming tools, while the Lynx had an already established homebrew community. [6] [7] [8] Super Fighter Team founder Brandon Cobb wanted to work on a project for the Lynx that showcased the system's technical capabilities and after being impressed with an early build of the project, contacted PenguiNet for a production and publishing arrangement. [6] [7] [8]

Zaku was created over a six-year period using an official Lynx development kit, consisting of an Amiga 2000, as well as Microsoft's Paint and Notepad programs for pixel art and coding respectively, among other tools. [6] [7] [8] Celimli stated that the team at PenguiNet finalized the gameplay mechanics and general plot before completing the first and last stages. [6] [7] Environments and enemies were first designed as hand-drawn sketches before being transposed to pixel graphics. [6] [7] Celimli also stated that Air Zonk played an important role during development due to being a favorite of him and wanting the project to resemble it. [6] [7]

Zaku was first showcased to the public as a playable demo at the 2007 Retro-Gaming Connexion convention in Congis-sur-Thérouanne, France. [1] [6] [7] The finished game was published on 24 October 2009 by Super Fighter Team. [1] [2] [4] [9] [10] The title was the first new release for the Atari Lynx whose game cartridge has an authentic "curved lip" plastic shell, reminiscent of officially licensed Lynx titles. [11] [12] It shipped with a packaging mimicking those of licensed Lynx releases. [11] [13] A second print run was launched in May 2012, while a third print run occurred in August 2016. [1] [14]

Reception

Zaku received positive reception from reviewers since its initial release. Heiko Poppen of German website neXGam noted the game's comical plot, controls, graphics and music as positive points but criticized various design aspects. [16] Travis Fahs of gaming website The Next Level praised the presentation and gameplay but criticized the repetitive boss patterns. [17] Olivier Blaszczyk of Pockett Videogames praised the presentation, visuals, audio and gameplay but noted the short length to be the title's only negative point. [18] ReVival magazine's Kiwi and Cyril Denis gave it a 9 out of 10 score. [20] Retro Gamer score Zaku with an overall 75% score. [19]

Zaku has sold over 1,000 copies as of 2018, according to Super Fighter Team's Brandon Cobb. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atari Lynx</span> Handheld game console

The Atari Lynx is a 16-bit fourth-generation hand-held game console released by Atari Corporation in September 1989 in North America and 1990 in Europe and Japan. It was the first handheld game console with a color liquid-crystal display. Powered by a 4 MHz 65C02 8-bit CPU and a custom 16-bit blitter, the Lynx was more advanced than Nintendo's monochrome Game Boy, released two months earlier. It also competed with Sega's Game Gear and NEC's TurboExpress, released the following year.

The fifth generation era refers to computer and video games, video game consoles, and handheld gaming consoles dating from approximately October 4, 1993, to March 23, 2006. The best-selling home console was the Sony PlayStation, followed by the Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn. The PlayStation also had a redesigned version, the PSone, which was launched on July 7, 2000.

<i>Qix</i> 1981 video game

Qix is a 1981 puzzle video game developed by husband and wife team Randy and Sandy Pfeiffer and published in arcades by Taito America. Qix is one of a handful of games made by Taito's American division. At the start of each level, the playing field is a large, empty rectangle, containing the Qix, an abstract stick-like entity that performs graceful but unpredictable motions within the confines of the rectangle. The objective is to draw lines that close off parts of the rectangle to fill in a set amount of the playfield.

<i>Air Zonk</i> 1992 video game

Air Zonk, known in Japan as PC Denjin, is a horizontally scrolling shooter released for TurboGrafx-16 in 1992. Air Zonk was an attempt to update the company's image via a modern, punkish character called Zonk, who bears a purposeful resemblance to the TurboGrafx-16's caveman mascot, Bonk.

Homebrew, when applied to video games, refers to software produced by hobbyists for proprietary video game consoles which are not intended to be user-programmable. The official documentation is often only available to licensed developers, and these systems may use storage formats that make distribution difficult, such as ROM cartridges or encrypted CD-ROMs. Many consoles have hardware restrictions to prevent unauthorized development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atari Flashback series</span> Line of dedicated video game consoles

The Atari Flashback series are a line of dedicated video game consoles designed, produced, published and marketed by AtGames under license from Atari SA. The Flashback consoles are "plug-and-play" versions of the Atari 2600 console. They contain built-in games rather than using the ROM cartridges utilized by the 2600. Most of the games are classics that were previously released for the 2600, although some Flashback consoles include previously unreleased prototype games as well.

<i>Gates of Zendocon</i> 1989 video game

Gates of Zendocon is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Epyx and published by Atari Corporation in 1989 in North America and Europe for the Atari Lynx. It was released in Japan on December 23 of the same year, where it was distributed by Mumin Corporation. One of the first games written for the platform, it was one of the launch titles that were released along with the system in North America.

<i>BattleSphere</i> 2000 video game

BattleSphere is a space combat simulation video game developed by 4Play for the Atari Jaguar. The game was released in 2000, with the enhanced edition BattleSphere Gold released in 2002. Set during a future war between seven alien races, the factions agree to confine their hostilities to a tournament with the galaxy at stake. Gameplay consists of five modes, each featuring distinct scenarios and objectives. Up to 16 players can participate in a deathmatch mode via local area network (LAN) play.

<i>Halo 2600</i> 2010 action-adventure game

Halo 2600 is a 2010 action-adventure game developed by Ed Fries and published by AtariAge for the Atari 2600, a video game console released in 1977 that ended production in 1992. Inspired by the Halo video game series, the game sees players control Master Chief and fight through 64 screens with varied enemies. Completing the game once unlocks a tougher "Legendary" mode.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atari 2600 homebrew</span> Homebrew video games on Atari 2600

The first hobbyist-developed game for the Atari 2600 video game console was written in 1995, and more than 100 have been released since then. The majority of games are unlicensed clones of games for other platforms, and there are some also original games and ROM hacks. With only 128 bytes of RAM, no frame buffer, and the code and visuals closely intertwined, the 2600 is a difficult machine to program. and many games were written for the technical challenge. Emulators, programming tools, and documentation are available.

<i>Fast Striker</i> 2010 Video game

Fast Striker is a video game developed and published by German developer NG:Dev.Team in 2010 for the Neo Geo MVS. The player flies a space fighter craft through vertically scrolling levels to shoot waves of enemies. The game was later ported to Dreamcast, iOS, Neo Geo AES, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.

<i>Nightmare Busters</i> 2013 video game

Nightmare Busters is a 2013 run and gun action video game developed by Arcade Zone and Super Fighter Team for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the first new game for the console in North America since Frogger (1998), fourteen years after being discontinued in North America. A mobile phone version called Flynn's Adventure was released in 2004. A revival titled Nightmare Busters: Rebirth was announced in 2021 for consoles and PC. The game follows the leprechaun twin brothers Flynn and Floyd on their journey to stop Tyrant from infiltrating and turning children's dreams into nightmares. The player is tasked with fighting off enemies by using playing cards and magic attacks across six stages, populated with an assortment of obstacles.

<i>Protector</i> (Atari Jaguar video game) 1999 video game

Protector is a scrolling shooter video game developed by Bethesda Softworks for the Atari Jaguar. The game was released in 1999, with the enhanced edition Protector: Special Edition released in 2002 and the Atari Jaguar CD expansion pack Protector: Resurgence released in 2014. Set in a future where an interstellar war broke out when alien forces arrived on Earth, the player controls the Starblade ship to defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting the inhabitants of Haven-7.

<i>Mad Bodies</i> 2009 video game

Mad Bodies is a homebrew Breakout-style/shoot 'em up video game developed and published by FORCE Design exclusively for the Atari Jaguar on May 2, 2009. It is the first and only title to be released for the platform as of date by FORCE Design.

<i>Championship Rally</i> (2000 video game) 2000 video game

Championship Rally is a homebrew racing video game developed and published by Songbird Productions exclusively for the Atari Lynx on December 15, 2000. Themed around rallying, the players compete with either AI-controlled opponents or against other players in matches across various locations.

<i>Batman Returns</i> (Atari Lynx video game) 1992 video game

Batman Returns is a 1992 side-scrolling action-beat 'em up video game developed and published by Atari Corporation in North America and Europe for the Atari Lynx. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is inspired by the Warner Bros.'s 1992 film of the same name. In the main storyline, Batman must confront both Catwoman and the Penguin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evercade</span> Handheld game console

The Evercade is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by UK company Blaze Entertainment. It focuses on retrogaming with ROM cartridges that each contain a number of emulated games. Development began in 2018, and the console was released in May 2020, after a few delays. Upon its launch, the console offered 10 game cartridges with a combined total of 122 games.

<i>Frog Feast</i> 2005 video game

Frog Feast is a 2005 action homebrew video game developed by Rastersoft and originally published by OlderGames for the Neo Geo CD and Sega CD. It was later ported to Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, X68000, CD-i, Atari Jaguar CD, Atari Jaguar, Amiga CD32, Dreamcast, and FM Towns Marty. Gameplay is similar to Frog Bog (1982), revolving around players controlling frogs on lilypads attempting to eat more flies than the other as the objective under a set time limit.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "News". Super Fighter Team. 2020. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  2. 1 2 Hawken, Kieren (May 2014). "Lynx Awakening: An Atari Lynx Retrospective". Retro Gamer . No. 129. Imagine Publishing. pp. 48–55.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Zaku game manual (Atari Lynx, US)
  4. 1 2 Cifaldi, Frank (April 2009). "Heads-Up Display: Older Consoles Revisited - Five Newly-Released Games For Classic Systems -- Zaku". Game Developer . Vol. 16, no. 4. UBM Tech. p. 5.
  5. ↑ Caoili, Eric (13 August 2009). "New Screenshots For Upcoming Lynx Shoot'em Up". GameSetWatch . UBM plc. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Denis, Cyril (Summer 2010). "Interview - Zaku (Lynx)". ReVival (in French). No. 44. ABCD Dire.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Denis, Cyril (15 August 2010). "[Interview] Osman Celimli et Brandon Cobb, géniteurs de Zaku sur Atari Lynx". Pockett Videogames (in French). ACBM. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Kromin, Igor (8 October 2018). "Interview with Super Fighter Team, publisher for Zaku on Atari Lynx". AtariGamer.Com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  9. ↑ Caoili, Eric (29 October 2009). "Best of GameSetWatch: From Zaku to Silent Hill". Gamasutra . UBM Technology Group. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  10. ↑ Trew, James (30 August 2019). "The Atari Lynx's 30th birthday gift is a bunch of new games - The forgotten hand-held is still going (relatively) strong". Engadget . Verizon Media. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  11. 1 2 Caoili, Eric (28 October 2009). "New Shoot'em Up Released For Atari Lynx". GameSetWatch . UBM plc. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  12. ↑ Crawley, Dan (3 May 2013). "Consoles that won't die: The SNES in 2013". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  13. ↑ Leray, Joseph (14 August 2009). "New game for an old console: Zaku coming to the Atari Lynx". Destructoid . Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  14. ↑ Buchanan, Adam (26 May 2012). "Atari Lynx Shmup 'Zaku' From Super Fighter Team Back In Stock". RetroCollect. RetroCollect LLP. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  15. ↑ Lindquist, Tim (2010). "Review: Zaku". Hardcore Gamer. Prima Games. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  16. 1 2 Poppen, Heiko (7 August 2009). "Zaku im Test" (in German). neXGam. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  17. 1 2 Fahs, Travis (2 December 2009). "Zaku (Atari Lynx) - Time to stock up on AAs". The Next Level. GameZone. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  18. 1 2 Blaszczyk, Olivier (1 November 2009). "Zaku (par PVG24)". Pockett Videogames (in French). ACBM. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  19. 1 2 "Retro Rated: Zaku". Retro Gamer . No. 73. Imagine Publishing. February 2010. p. 93.
  20. 1 2 Kiwi; Denis, Cyril (Winter 2009). "Test - Zaku (Lynx)". ReVival (in French). No. 42. ABCD Dire. pp. 23–25.
  21. ↑ Fennimore, Jay (Spring 2010). "Homebrew Reviews: Zaku - For the Atari Lynx". Video Game Trader Magazine. No. 15. Video Game Trader. p. 15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.