ZAS (or Chikyuu Kaihou Gun ZAS if you want the full mouthful) is one of those Game Boy shooters that actually tries to do something different. Yeah, it's vertical scrolling—standard stuff—but the way it handles transparency and layered backgrounds is wild for an 8-bit handheld. You're not just flying over static space; the parallax scrolling gives it this weird sense of depth, like you're actually moving through layers of clouds and terrain.

It's got that classic T&E Soft vibe—not as punishing as some shooters, but still throws enough bullets and weird enemy patterns at you to keep things tense. The first stage alone has these floating fortress bits that break apart as you shoot them, and the way the screen scrolls makes dodging feel way more dynamic than most Game Boy shmups. Definitely a hidden gem if you're into retro shooters with a little extra flair.