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Thunder Force Japan Cover

The beginning of Technosoft and Thunder Force

The Thunder Force series (サンダーフォース, Sandāfōsu, also spelled Thunderforce) is a series of scrolling shooter type video games developed by the Japanese software company Tecno Soft (except for Thunder Force VI, developed by SEGA). The games are known by fans of the genre for their hardcore appeal, pleasing graphics, and generally well composed synthesizer-based soundtracks.

The first game appeared in Japanese computers, such as the Sharp X1 and the NEC PC-8801 MKII. The majority of installments in the series appeared on the Megadrive/Genesis console, where the series gained much of its popularity. The most recent entry was released on the PlayStation 2.

Overview[]

The setting of the Thunder Force series (excluding the fifth chapter) are centered around the war between inhabitants of the Galaxy Federation, and the ORN Empire. The games feature the "Fire LEO" spacecraft series, developed by the Galaxy Federation under "Project Thunder Force" to be small, but maneuverable and powerful fighter craft. The Galaxy Federation feels that these ships have the best chance of defeating large forces such as the ORN empire's, as opposed to sending a host of larger ships.

Thunder Force V details the discovery of Galaxy Federation technology by Earthlings and the consequences this discovery causes, leading to a battle between Earth forces and the ORN Empire in Thunder Force VI.

Early games in the series had multi directional scrolling, overhead stages where the player would attack airborne and ground targets. These stages were later removed in favor of horizontally-scrolling stages that contained various gameplay elements derived from popular horizontal scrolling shooters like those in other well-known shoot 'em ups such as Gradius, consisting of an array of interchangeable and unique weapons, satellite turrets which provide the player additional firepower, and level design which encourages player memorization and skillful ship maneuvering and positioning in order to effectively pass.

Series[]

  • Thunder Force (1983-1984, Sharp MZ-1500, Sharp X1, Fujitsu FM-7, NEC PC-6001, NEC PC-8801)
    • Thunder Force Construction (1984, Sharp X1, Fujitsu FM-7, Fujitsu FM-16, NEC PC-6001, NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-9801) (Stage editor of Thunder Force)
  • Thunder Force II (1988, Sharp X68000)
    • Thunder Force II MD (1989, Sega Megadrive/Genesis) (Downgraded port of Thunder Force II)
  • Thunder Force III (1990, Sega Megadrive/Genesis)
    • Thunder Force AC (1990, Arcade) (Varied port of Thunder Force III)
      • Thunder Spirits (1991, Super Famicom/Super Nintendo Entertainment System) (Varied port of Thunder Force AC)
      • SEGA AGES Thunder Force AC (2020, Nintendo Switch) (Developed by M2 under license of SEGA)
    • Sega 3D Classics Collection 3 (2016, Nintendo 3DS) (Developed by M2 under license of SEGA, 9-in-1 compilation soft)
  • Thunder Force IV (1992, Sega Megadrive/Genesis) (Released in the US as Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar)
    • SEGA AGES Thunder Force IV (2018, Nintendo Switch) (Developed by M2 under license of SEGA)
  • Thunder Force Gold Pack 1 (1996, Sega Saturn) (2-in-1 Pack containing Thunder Force II MD and Thunder Force III)
  • Thunder Force Gold Pack 2 (1996, Sega Saturn) (2-in-1 Pack containing Thunder Force IV and Thunder Force AC)
  • Thunder Force V (1997, Sega Saturn)
    • Satacolle: Thunder Force V (1998, Sega Saturn) (Low-priced repackage version)
    • Thunder Force V: Perfect System (1998, PlayStation) (Power up port of Thunder Force V)
      • Tech Colle 1: Thunder Force V: Perfect System (1999, PlayStation) (Low-priced repackage version)
  • Thunder Force VI (2008, PlayStation 2) (Developed by SEGA)
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