Gun-Nac is a bizarre, fast-paced vertically scrolling shooter developed by Compile and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990. Instead of the typical sci-fi alien ships, you pilot your fighter through waves of hostile space carrots, mechanical rabbits, and flying matchboxes. The game builds on Compile’s signature shoot-’em-up formula by offering an incredibly generous power-up system and smooth, high-speed action that pushes the NES hardware.
How to Play
Your objective is to blast your way through enemy swarms, collect money and power-ups, and defeat the boss at the end of each stage. Use the Arrow Keys to maneuver your ship, press Z to fire your primary weapon, and press X to deploy screen-clearing bombs. You can pause the game with Enter and use Shift for Select.
Tips
- Stick to one weapon type: Gathering the same numbered power-up (1 through 5) multiple times will dramatically increase your weapon’s size and damage output.
- Save your money: The currency you collect during stages can be used in the shop between levels to purchase permanent wing upgrades or restock your bomb inventory.
- Upgrade your bombs: Bombs appear with letters indicating their type (e.g., F for Fire, B for Blizzard). Grabbing the same letter multiple times will increase the bomb’s destructive area and duration.
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