Thunder Force Iv /lightning Strikes Again / Metal Squad S.s.h.
Thunder Force IV | |
---|---|
Developer(southward) | Technosoft |
Publisher(s) | Technosoft
|
Series | Thunder Force |
Platform(s) | Mega Drive, Sega Saturn, Nintendo Switch |
Release | Mega Drive
|
Genre(s) | Shoot 'em up |
Mode(southward) | Single-player |
Thunder Force IV ,[a] known in North America as Lightening Forcefulness: Quest for the Darkstar , is a shoot 'em up video game adult and published by Technosoft for the Mega Drive in 1992. It is the fourth installment in Technosoft's Thunder Force serial, and the third and final i created for the Mega Drive. It was developed by the team at Technosoft that ported Devil'south Crush to the Mega Drive rather than the team that developed the previous Thunder Force games. Like its predecessors, it is a horizontally scrolling shooter, but information technology also features extensive vertical scrolling with large playing fields.
The game was considered by journalists as 1 of the best shooters on the Mega Drive when it was launched. Critics especially praised the game's graphics, including the vertical and parallax scrolling for illustrating the immense environments. Some believed that underneath the graphical sheen, the gameplay was relatively boilerplate however. Thunder Force IV was rereleased on the Sega Saturn in 1996 and the Nintendo Switch in 2018.
Gameplay [edit]
Thunder Force Four is a horizontal shoot 'em up.[1] The story takes place two years after the events of Thunder Force Three. The thespian takes on the role of a fighter pilot to boxing the Orn Empire, which is plotting the extinction of the man race.[2] The first iv stages can exist selected in any gild. There are 10 stages full.[3] They scroll horizontally automatically,[iv] and the player can also explore upwards and down to scroll the screen vertically and reveal a larger playing field.[2] The player can change the speed of their ship at whatsoever time for easier maneuverability.[3] Scrolling upwardly and down will reveal different waves of enemies the player can shoot downwards, as well equally hidden power-ups.[three] [5] At the cease of each stage is a boss, and sometimes there are bosses mid-stage.[four]
Some enemies volition drop power-ups that if picked up by the player will arm the ship with new weaponry, including a diverseness of missiles and lasers that burn in different patterns.[4] Each weapon has advantages and drawbacks, and is more than or less constructive depending on the battle situation the player finds themselves in.[1] The player can concur multiple weapons and cycle through them at volition.[iii] Other power-ups include shields and satellite ships that revolve effectually their ship and multiply their firepower.[2] [5] Half-manner through the game, the role player gains a powerful "Thunder Sword" attack which deals massive damage to enemies. It requires that the role player have two satellite ships.[i]
Development [edit]
Thunder Force IV was developed in Japan by Technosoft every bit the tertiary Thunder Force game for the Mega Drive. Only the sound department was brought over from the original staff of Thunder Strength II (1988) and Thunder Strength III (1990); the rest of the squad had previously ported the pinball game Devil'south Crush to the Mega Drive. They chose to develop Thunder Force IV when given the opportunity to develop an original game. Having taken the reins for the Thunder Force series, the team felt a responsibility to surpass the quality of before series titles.[six] They borrowed code from the previous games, and built upon it using what they learned when porting Devil's Crush.[6] The composer for Thunder Force 4 previously worked on Thunder Force III and also composed some original music for Devil's Crush. The sound squad staff, lead by Naosuke Arai, were fans of heavy metal, so they worked on finding a method to create an electric guitar sound using the Mega Drive's FM synthesizer. They ran into difficulties and eventually settled on using the system'south distortion audio furnishings to positive results.[seven]
Release [edit]
Technosoft held a promotional event for the game at a convention in Tokyo on June 7, 1992.[viii] The outcome included a tournament, giving fans an early on opportunity to play the game.[8] [9] The game was released in Japan on July 24,[8] [x] and in Europe and North America in Jan 1993.[11] [12] Sega of America renamed the North American version to Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar [sic].[thirteen]
The game was ported to the Sega Saturn as a role of Thunder Force: Gold Pack 2, a compilation disc released on November 29, 1996 in Nippon.[fourteen] [15] [16] The compilation besides includes Thunder Force Air conditioning (an arcade port of Thunder Force Three).[16] This version improved on the original by eliminating sluggish frame rate issues, adding an easier mode which gives the player bonus defensive abilities, as well as calculation the fighter from Thunder Force Three as a secret playable ship.[ane] [sixteen]
In 2016, Sega acquired the rights to the Thunder Forcefulness series.[17] [18] Ii years subsequently, the game was released on September twenty, 2018 along with Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) on Nintendo Switch and other Sega games under the Sega Ages make.[19] [xx] Players can choose between the Japanese and international versions and take advantage of the improvements and other features from the Saturn port.[21]
Reception [edit]
Thunder Force Four was chop-chop identified as ane of the best Mega Drive shooters when it was released.[2] [4] [25] [22] [24] Critics agreed that the graphics were one of the game's best qualities.[ii] [3] [4] [25] [24] [23] Hateful Machines called them "state of the art" and highlighted the vertical scrolling for "evoking a sense of vastness".[ii] The vertical scrolling too impressed other journalists.[2] [22] [23] Mega wrote that the landscapes were expansive, and appreciated the parallax scrolling effects.[24] The parallax scrolling was besides picked upwardly by Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, which chosen it "the most stunning use of parallax always seen on the xvi-bit Sega". They believed the game pushed the technical capabilities of the Mega Drive.[3] Other visual aspects highlighted by critics included the large sprites and shine animation.[2] [four] Nigh critics liked the music and sound effects as well.[iii] [4] [22] [23] Mega disliked the music, calling it "aimless, twittery, Japanese meanderings".[24] GameFan chosen the graphics and sound great quality because the game was on a cartridge and non a CD.[22] The graphical quality came at a toll however, as some reviewers experienced slow frame charge per unit problems when the screen was decorated with action.[25] [23]
The high quality presentation of Thunder Force 4 was non plenty to encompass up some concerns with its gameplay. While nigh critics enjoyed the game, even calling it "addictive"[iv] and "pure adrenaline",[22] some thought the game lacked originality and felt like an average shooter.[two] [three] [24] Mean Machines wrote that it was similar to Thunder Force III and called it ""the best shoot 'em upwards you'll go on the Mega Bulldoze, but suffers from complete lack of originality. This is the genre taken to its extreme".[2] Sega Force agreed that it was similar to the earlier Thunder Force games.[23] Mega added on to this, maxim "beneath the graphical gymnastics of the surface, the game really is...decidedly average".[24] Critics that were more than receptive to the gameplay commended the level of difficulty, the ability to choice the stage order, and the variety of weapons and ability-ups.[four] [23]
Retrospective coverage [edit]
Thunder Force Iv continues to exist regarded as i of the all-time shoot 'em ups of its era.[1] [26] [27] IGN rated information technology every bit the fourth best classic shoot 'em up, calling it Technosoft's best shooter and "the pinnacle of Genesis shooters".[26] Retro Gamer placed information technology among their top ten Mega Bulldoze games, praising its sense of calibration, exotic environments, corybantic activity, and graphical allegiance.[27] In another review, Retro Gamer called Thunder Force IV "Technosoft'due south masterpiece" and an essential game for shooter fans.[28] Both USGamer and Hardcore Gaming 101 discussed the game's presentation in high regard.[one] [29] At Kotaku, Peter Tieryas described information technology as "the ultimate adrenaline blitz and hands down 1 of the all-time shooters on the Sega Genesis".[30] Paul Brownlee, writing for Hardcore Gaming 101, called it one of the all-time looking Mega Bulldoze games and said of the soundtrack: "Information technology's ane of the best on the system from both an creative and technical standpoint, continuing amongst greats such as Streets of Rage 2 and MUSHA".[ane]
Notes [edit]
- ^ Japanese: サンダーフォースIV, Hepburn: Sandā Fōsu IV
- ^ Boilerplate of two reviews: 98% and 95%
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Brownlee, Paul (April 17, 2008). "Lightening Force". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j yard "Mega Drive review: Thunder Force 4" (PDF). Mean Machines. No. 24. September 1992. pp. 104–106. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July xx, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Thunder Force 4" (PDF). Mega Drive Advanced Gaming. No. ii. October 1992. pp. 24–27. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f k h i j Rand, Paul; Boone, Tim (October 1992). "Review: Thunder Force 4" (PDF). Calculator and Video Games. No. 131. pp. 36–37. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Lightening Strength instruction manual (PDF). Due north America: Sega. 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018.
- ^ a b "『サンダーフォースIII』はいかにして『セガ3D復刻アーカイブス3』に収録されることになったのか? 元テクノソフト新井氏を交えてのスタッフインタビュー". ファミ通.com (in Japanese). October 8, 2016. Archived from the original on Apr 29, 2018. (Translation Archived June thirty, 2017, at the Wayback Machine)
- ^ Manent, Mathieu; Mellado, Fabien; Latour, Franck; Clerc-Renaud, Antoine (2014). "Naosuke Arai". PlayStation Anthology. United States: Geeks Line. pp. 193–194. ISBN9791093752327.
- ^ a b c "Be-Mega Hot Menu: Thunder Force Iv" (PDF). Beep! Mega Bulldoze (in Japanese). August 1992. pp. 44–48. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July twenty, 2018.
- ^ "Software and Hardware News: Thunder Force 4" (PDF). Sega Mega Bulldoze Avant-garde Gaming. No. 2. October 1992. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July twenty, 2018.
- ^ a b "サンダーフォースIV [メガドライブ]". Famitsu. Enterbrain Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ "Jahresüberblick 1993" (PDF). Play Time (in German). January 1994. p. 133. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Software Agenda" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. Vol. 6, no. one. January 1993. p. 42. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "Seven of the Stupidest Videogame Titles of All Time - GameZone". GameZone. May iv, 2012. Archived from the original on April 23, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ "サンダーフォース ゴールドパック2 [セガサターン]". Famitsu. Enterbrain Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- ^ "セガサターンソフトレビュー" (PDF). Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) (in Japanese). Vol. 22. December 27, 1996. p. 271. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 1, 2016.
- ^ a b c McFerran, Damien (September 20, 2016). "Feature: The History Of Technosoft's Thunder Force Series". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on July twenty, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- ^ McFerran, Damien (September 19, 2016). "Sega Has Acquired The IP Of One Of Nippon's Well-nigh Underrated Studios". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Tucker, Kevin (April 14, 2018). "Sega Ages Lineup Bringing Archetype Sonic, Phantasy Star and More to Nintendo Switch". Shacknews. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "SEGA AGES サンダーフォースIV". SEGA AGES(セガエイジス) (in Japanese). September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
- ^ Craddock, Ryan (September 20, 2018). "Sega AGES Finally Launches In The W, Sonic And Thunder Force IV Available Now On Switch". Nintendo Life . Retrieved September 22, 2018.
- ^ Wong, Alistair (July 19, 2018). "Sega Ages Sonic The Hedgehog And Thunder Force Iv To Come Out In August". Siliconera. Archived from the original on July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c d eastward f "Viewpoint, Thunder Forcefulness IV" (PDF). GameFan. Vol. i, no. 1. October 1992. pp. six, eighteen. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c d due east f thousand "Reviewed!: Thunder Force IV" (PDF). Sega Forcefulness. No. 10. Oct 1992. pp. 54–56. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f thou West, Neil (October 1992). "Game Review: Thunderforce IV" (PDF). Mega. No. ane. pp. 48–49. Archived (PDF) from the original on March v, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ a b c Helm Squideo (August 1993). "Genesis ProReview: Lightening Force" (PDF). GamePro. No. 59. p. 66. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Buchanan, Levi (April eight, 2008). "Top x Classic Shoot 'Em Ups". IGN. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ a b "Top 10 Mega Drive Games". Retro Gamer. January 7, 2014. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Thorpe, Nick (May seven, 2016). "Thunder Force 4". Retro Gamer. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ "The USgamer Community Reflects on Sega Genesis". USgamer. Oct 25, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Tieryas, Peter. "Thunder Forcefulness IV Was I Of The All-time Shooters Of The xvi-Chip Era". Kotaku . Retrieved January 31, 2021.
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External links [edit]
- Thunder Force 4 at MobyGames
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Force_IV
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