Thunder Blade[a]is a third-personshoot 'em upvideo game released bySegaforarcadesin 1987.[10][1]Players control ahelicopterto destroy enemy vehicles. The game was released as a stand-uparcade cabinetwithforce feedback,as thejoystickvibrates. A helicopter shaped sit-down model was released, replacing the force feedback with a cockpit seat that moves in tandem with the joystick.[11]It is amotion simulatorcabinet, like the previousSega Super ScalergamesSpace Harrier(1985) andAfter Burner(1987).[10]The game's plot and setting was inspired by the filmBlue Thunder(1983).
| Thunder Blade | |
|---|---|
 Japanese arcade poster | |
| Developer(s) | Sega |
| Publisher(s) | Arcade
|
| Composer(s) | Koichi Namiki |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Rail shooter[8] Scrolling shooter[9] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Arcade system | Sega X Board |
Versions were released for theMaster System,Amiga,Amstrad CPC,Atari ST,Commodore 64,MS-DOS,MSX,TurboGrafx-16,X68000,andZX Spectrum.TheNintendo 3DSremake was released as a3D Classicin Japan on August 20, 2014,[12]in North America and Europe on May 14, 2015,[13]and in Australia on July 2 of the same year.[14]The sequel,Super Thunder Blade,was released exclusively for theSega Genesis.
Gameplay
edit
The player controls a helicopter gunship using its chain gun and missiles to destroy enemy tanks, helicopters, and other vehicles and structures, to save their home country. Each level is in either a top-down orthird-personperspective view.
The player is given 2 "lives" as continues, used if they are killed in a level. Clearing a level allows the player to return, bypassing the levels before it.
The 3D classic release allows joystick emulation and gyroscopic controls.
Development
editThe plot and setting were inspired by the 1983 filmBlue Thunder,[7]from which adigitizedframe became thetitle screen.[15]
Reception
edit| Publication | Score | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amiga | Arcade | Atari ST | C64 | Master System | PC | ZX | |
| Crash | 91%[16] | ||||||
| Computer and Video Games | Positive[1] | 66%[17] | 80%[18][19] | 82%[17] | |||
| Sinclair User | 87%[20] | ||||||
| The Games Machine(UK) | 85%[7] | 84%[7] | 65%[7] | 54%(CPC) | 87%[7] | ||
| Your Sinclair | 9/10[21] | ||||||
| Commodore User | 9/10[22] | ||||||
| Publication | Award |
|---|---|
| Golden Joystick Awards | Console Game of the Year(Master System)[23] |
This sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(September 2021) |
In Japan,Game MachinelistedThunder Bladein its January 15, 1988, issue as the fourth most successful upright arcade unit of the month.[24]It went on to become Japan's ninth highest-grossing dedicatedarcade game of 1988.[25]
The arcade game was well received by critics. Clare Edgeley ofComputer and Video Gamescalled it "a helicopter simulation with several innovative features". She said it was "a brilliant game" with "superb" graphics and gameplay.[1]Your Sinclairstated that "Thunder Bladeis probably the game which took most of your money in the arcades this summer, probably one of the most eagerly awaited coin-op conversions ".[21]
At the 1988–1989Golden Joystick Awards,the Sega Master System version wonConsole Game of the Year.[23]The ZX Spectrum version also received a Crash Smash award fromCrashmagazine.
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^abcd"Arcade Action".Computer and Video Games.No. 77 (March 1988). February 1988. pp. 90–3.
- ^"Thunder Blade (Registration Number PA0000353392)".United States Copyright Office.RetrievedAugust 7,2021.
- ^abAkagi, Masumi (October 13, 2006).セガ xã (Sega); Sega; G(in Japanese) (1st ed.). Amusement News Agency. pp. 36, 131, 153.ISBN978-4990251215.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^"Availability Update"(PDF).Computer Entertainer.October 1988. p. 8.
- ^"Software List (Released by Sega)".セガ chế phẩm tình báo サイト(in Japanese). Sega.RetrievedMay 15,2023.
- ^https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e7/BristolEveningPost_UK_1988-11-04_Page_80.jpg
- ^abcdefg"World of Spectrum - Archive - Magazine viewer".
- ^Kalata, Kurt (28 July 2017)."Thunder Blade".Hardcore Gaming 101.Archivedfrom the original on 18 October 2017.Retrieved18 February2023.
Tag: Shoot-Em-Up: Rail
- ^Town, Jonathan (18 May 2015)."3D Thunder Blade Review (3DS eShop)".Nintendo Life.Hookshot Media.Retrieved18 February2023.
- ^ab"Sega's Wonderful Simulation Games Over The Years".Arcade Heroes.June 6, 2013.RetrievedApril 22,2021.
- ^Thunder Bladeat theKiller List of Videogames
- ^Brian (August 7, 2014)."3D Thunder Blade hitting the Japanese 3DS eShop on August 20".Nintendo Everything.RetrievedJuly 4,2015.
- ^Julian (May 12, 2015)."SEGA 3D Classics – 3D Thunder Blade – Part 1".SEGA Blog.SEGA.RetrievedJuly 4,2015.
- ^Doolan, Liam (July 3, 2015)."3D Out Run, Thunder Blade And Fantasy Zone I & II Now Available On The eShop In Australia".Nintendo Life.RetrievedJuly 4,2015.
- ^Kalata, Kurt (July 28, 2017)."Thunder Blade".Hardcore Gaming 101.RetrievedMay 4,2021.
- ^"World of Spectrum - Archive - Magazine viewer".
- ^ab"World of Spectrum - Archive - Magazine viewer".
- ^"Mean Machines".Computer and Video Games.No. 85 (November 1988). October 15, 1988. pp. 130–1.
- ^"Guide: Sega".Computer and Video Games.No. Complete Guide to Consoles: Volume IV. November 1990. pp. 108–10.
- ^"World of Spectrum - Archive - Magazine viewer".
- ^ab"Thunder Blade".Archived fromthe originalon August 1, 2015.
- ^"Arcades".Commodore User.No. 54 (March 1988). February 26, 1988. pp. 104–7.
- ^ab"Golden Joystick Awards 1989".Computer and Video Games.No. 92.Future Publishing.June 1989. pp. 62–63.
- ^"Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット hình TVゲーム cơ (Upright/Cockpit Videos)".Game Machine(in Japanese). No. 324.Amusement Press, Inc.January 15, 1988. p. 21.
- ^"Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '88/ "Game of the Year '88" By Game Machine"(PDF).Game Machine(in Japanese). No. 348.Amusement Press, Inc.15 January 1989. pp. 10–1, 26.
