Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman
Encyclopedia
Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman is an action-adventure game
developed by UEP Systems
and published by Agetec
for the PlayStation in 1999. The story (narrated by Terence McGovern
) is notable for its mix of both eastern
and western
idiosyncrasy, most notably in the protagonist Zan (voiced by Greg Weber
), who has traits of both a Japanese samurai
and a Wild West gunslinger
.
The game was also unique in that it had its own opening theme song with complete, sung lyrics, lending the game the vibe of a Western TV show from the 50s and 60s. The coda of the song also played at the end of each level.
named "Johnny No More" (also the title of the game's theme song) in his left hand and a katana
named "Demon Slayer" in his right.
The player can rescue hostages scattered around the level, perform several combos combining sword and gun attacks and make "All Button Events" in which all buttons in the controller must be pressed quickly to fill a bar in a limited time. Zan also has a bar that raises several levels, which allows him to execute "Hustle Mode" in which his sword grows to a much longer length, his attack power increases, and his speed shoots up considerably, allowing him to run and attack at extremely high speeds.
These actions, when completed successfully, reward extra score to the player, score which is summed at the end of each level and evaluates the player's performance by giving him/her a ranking. This varies form the lowest rank of "Chicken" to the highest rank of "Super Ultra Sexy Hero". If the player completes the game with a high ranking, several extra features can be unlocked.
, suggesting that it may be a cult favorite among fans despite a mostly poor critical reception.
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
developed by UEP Systems
UEP Systems
UEP Systems was a Japan-based video game developer founded in 1985. They were best known for their PlayStation-era snowboarding games, though they also released titles for PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Neo Geo Pocket, and arcades...
and published by Agetec
Agetec
Agetec is a US based video game publishing company that is best known for bringing Japanese titles to the US, including their flagship series Armored Core, and the King's Field RPG series, as well as their "designer series" of RPG Maker and Fighter Maker...
for the PlayStation in 1999. The story (narrated by Terence McGovern
Terry McGovern (actor)
Terence "Terry" McGovern is an American film actor, television broadcaster, radio personality, voice-over specialist, and acting instructor.-Personal life:...
) is notable for its mix of both eastern
Eastern world
__FORCETOC__The term Eastern world refers very broadly to the various cultures or social structures and philosophical systems of Eastern Asia or geographically the Eastern Culture...
and western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
idiosyncrasy, most notably in the protagonist Zan (voiced by Greg Weber
Greg Weber
Greg Weber is a retired Canadian association football player who earned 2 caps for the Canadian national side in 1973. He played club football for the Vancouver Whitecaps.-External links:* *...
), who has traits of both a Japanese samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
and a Wild West gunslinger
Gunslinger
Gunfighter, also gunslinger , is a 20th century word, used in cinema or literature, referring to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun...
.
The game was also unique in that it had its own opening theme song with complete, sung lyrics, lending the game the vibe of a Western TV show from the 50s and 60s. The coda of the song also played at the end of each level.
Gameplay
Protagonist Zan fights using a revolverRevolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
named "Johnny No More" (also the title of the game's theme song) in his left hand and a katana
Katana
A Japanese sword, or , is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese swords, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture.-Description:...
named "Demon Slayer" in his right.
The player can rescue hostages scattered around the level, perform several combos combining sword and gun attacks and make "All Button Events" in which all buttons in the controller must be pressed quickly to fill a bar in a limited time. Zan also has a bar that raises several levels, which allows him to execute "Hustle Mode" in which his sword grows to a much longer length, his attack power increases, and his speed shoots up considerably, allowing him to run and attack at extremely high speeds.
These actions, when completed successfully, reward extra score to the player, score which is summed at the end of each level and evaluates the player's performance by giving him/her a ranking. This varies form the lowest rank of "Chicken" to the highest rank of "Super Ultra Sexy Hero". If the player completes the game with a high ranking, several extra features can be unlocked.
Reception
As of September 2010, Rising Zan holds the average score of 68.81% according to GameRankings, with moderate praise for its original premise and quirky humor tempered greatly with rampant criticism of the game's many technical shortcomings and unpolished execution. However, it has a user review rating average of 8.0 and a 7.2 user score average at website GameFAQsGameFAQs
GameFAQs is a website that hosts FAQs and walkthroughs for video games. It was created in November 1995 by Jeff "CJayC" Veasey and was bought by CNET Networks in May 2003. It is currently owned by CBS Interactive. The site has a database of video game information, cheat codes, reviews, game saves,...
, suggesting that it may be a cult favorite among fans despite a mostly poor critical reception.
External links
- Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...
- Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman at GameFAQsGameFAQsGameFAQs is a website that hosts FAQs and walkthroughs for video games. It was created in November 1995 by Jeff "CJayC" Veasey and was bought by CNET Networks in May 2003. It is currently owned by CBS Interactive. The site has a database of video game information, cheat codes, reviews, game saves,...