Fire LEO-02 "Exceliza"

Fire LEO-02 "Exceliza"
Pilot	Reid A. Jupiter
Navigator	Diana Lynn
Games	Thunder Force II

The Fire LEO-02 "Exceliza" (FIRE LEO-02 エクセリーザ, Fire LEO-02 Ekuserīza^?) (A.K.A. "Excelizer") is the player ship from Thunder Force II.

Storyline

Fire LEO-02 sprite

The Galaxy Federation comes to the discovery that the ORN Empire houses a superweapon known as "Plealos" deep below a planet's surface. As a result, the Federation attempts to destroy it via a sneak attack from the next starfighter of the Fire LEO production series: Fire LEO-02 "Exceliza". Despite the strenuous obstacles the spacecraft encounters through its journey, it eventually tracks down and destroys Plealos, putting the Galaxy Federation one more step ahead against the ORN Empire's quest for total organic extermination in the universe. Since then, the starfighter is never used again in the series.

Weapons

Weapon inventory window compared side by side

The Exceliza boasts a large assortment of weapons, but they differ among versions and stage types.

• Twin Shot(X68/MD, Top/Side): A twin stream of rapid firing energy shots are unleashed directly in front of the fighter. This is one of the initial weapons and cannot be lost upon death.
• Back Shot(X68/MD, Top/Side): A single stream of rapid firing energy shots are unleashed in front and back of the fighter. This is one of the initial weapons and cannot be lost upon death.
• Laser(X68/MD, Top/Side): Powered up Twin Shot, this shoots two lasers that move a short distance up/down then move to the front and shoot forward. In top-view, the laser is a continuous stream.
• Mega Flash(X68/MD, Side): Powered up Back Shot, this shoots three shots ahead, with 2 going 45 degrees up/down, one straight, and two at the rear at 30 degree angles.
• Wide Shot(X68/MD, Top): Powered up Back Shot, this shoots three shots ahead, with two going 60 degrees left/right, one straight, and one to the rear.
• Wave Shot(X68/MD, Side): Shoots streams of small waves in circles, similar to that of the Anti-Air Laser from R-Type. Penetrates through terrain, but not enemies.
• Five Wave(X68/MD, Top): Shoots five shots, the right/leftmost going back a short distance then straight, the next two left/right ones shooting 45 degrees a short distance then moving forward, and one directly ahead.
• Side Blaster(MD, Side): Shoots two streams of waves directly above and below.
• ATM (Atomik)(X68, Side): Shoots bombs above and below at a curving 90 degrees. Similar to the 2-Way Missiles from the Gradius series.
• D.E.S. (Destroy)(X68/MD, Top): Shoots three bombs on the ground, with 2 going 45 degrees left/right ahead.
• Nova(MD, Side): Shoots three ring lasers that are aimed in the direction opposite of the ship's movement. Two aim 45 degrees above/below the main line. Similar to the All Range Weapon from Zanac, Free way of IV, Free Range of V.
• Side Winder(X68, Side): Shoots a rapid stream of rockets.
• Clash(MD, Top): Shoots a rotating energy shot that moves away in a circular motion straight ahead. Similar to the Repeller from Guardian Legend.
• MCM (Manual Control Missile)(X68, Top): Shoots missiles that can be controlled by ship movement.
• Hunter(X68/MD, Top/Side): Shoots energy shots that home in on enemies. Can only hit air targets in top-view.
• CLAW: Up to two units orbit and fire regular shots. Can block some enemy shots. Getting Revolve (JP: Roll) makes them temporarily orbit x2.5 faster.
• Barrier (JP: Breaker): Creates a temporary shield that protects against shots. Lasts about 7 seconds. This became the basis for Shield in the succeeding games.

Gallery

Trivia

• In the North American manual for the Sega Genesis version of the game, the ship is referred to as Thunder Force II, to make it sound as if the game was named after it.