Rolling Thunder 3

From Sega Retro

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RollingThunder3 title.png

Rolling Thunder 3
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Namco Hometek
Developer:
Sound driver: Now Production/Masakatsu Maekawa
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$59.9559.95[3] T-14096

Rolling Thunder 3 is the sequel to Rolling Thunder 2 and was released exclusively for the Sega Mega Drive in North America in 1993.

Story

Rolling Thunder 3, Introduction.png

Jay

Taking place at the same time as Rolling Thunder 2, players will take control of "Jay", an Interpol operative tasked with eliminating Dread, second-in-command of the Geldra terrorist organization, who is believed to be somewhere in southern California.

Gameplay

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapon Select.png

Weapon select

The game is an action platformer like its predecessors. The player can controls Jay, who walks with Left and Right and crouches with Down. He jumps with C and jumps higher with Up+C. His high jump can be used to jump up to a higher platform; he can jump back down from the platform with Down+C. He can enter doors by holding Up while standing in front of a doorway; he comes back out when Up is released. Doors can contain special items, including weapons and ammunition, or can be used to evade enemies. There are also numerous objects that can be used as cover by either the player or an enemy.

Jay is armed with a revolver, which is fired with B. He can shoot while jumping or crouching. He can aim in an upward diagonal direction with Up+B. The revolver has limited ammunition. When it runs out of ammo, it can only shoot slow "chaser" shots; only one can be on screen at a time. Jay can also equip a special weapon before each round begins, which is fired with A. It can be fired while crouching, but unlike the revolver, special weapons cannot be fired while jumping or aimed diagonally. The special weapon also has limited ammunition; it is replaced with a knife if it runs out of ammo (or if the player chooses not to equip a special weapon for the mission). Some rounds contain a specific special weapon, which replace the current special weapon.

Two rounds are auto-scrolling with Jay riding a vehicle. In these rounds, Jay slows down and speeds up with Left and Right, moves between the background and foreground layers with Up and Down and can jump higher with Up+C. Jay has his revolver but does not have a special weapon in these rounds.

Jay starts with three hit points. Hits from bullets and other projectiles such as lasers cost two hit points. Running into an enemy but not being attacked knocks Jay back but does not cost hit points. Jay loses a life when he runs out of hit points, but he revives in place momentarily, retaining his weapon ammo. Some doorways contain extra hit points. Hit points and weapon ammo do not carry over to the next round.

The game has a password system for continuing. Similar to the previous game, the player is given a password for a higher difficulty level ("RISKY") after completing the game.

Unlike the previous entry, there is no two-player mode. Though there is normally only one playable character, the player can play as Ellen, an Interpol operative who is Jay's handler in the standard game, by entering a special password ("GREED"). She plays identically to Jay, but the game does not play cutscenes while playing as Ellen.

Special weapons

Before most rounds, the player can choose a special weapon to equip. Each weapon can only be selected once.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Knife.png

Knife
High damage melee weapon. The knife is equipped if the special weapon runs out of ammo or if the player chooses not to equip a special weapon.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Full Auto.png

Full Auto
Rapid-firing assault rifle. It can fire continuously by holding A. 60 rounds.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Bazooka.png

Bazooka
Powerful rocket launcher. Capable of causing massive damage, but slow rate of fire. 10 rounds.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Grenade.png

Grenade
Anti-personnel hand grenade thrown in a slight arc. It can bounce from obstacles. If the player is standing under a higher platform, holding Up and A hurls the grenade to the higher platform. Throwing a grenade on a higher platform while crouched makes it land on the lower ground. 30 rounds.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Shotgun.png

Shotgun
Pump-action shotgun. Fires 4 bullets in a conical spray. 30 rounds.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Cannon.png

Cannon
Incendiary grenade launcher fires napalm grenades in a slight arc. It causes a small fire when detonated, which hits enemies multiple times and can harm the player. 20 rounds.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Flash.png

Flash
Flashbang. Stuns all regular enemies for a few seconds but does no damage. 20 rounds.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Laser.png

Laser
Prototype optical energy weapon. Streams pass through enemies, hitting multiple targets. 20 rounds.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Fire.png

Fire
Flamethrower. Fires streams of fire rapidly. Short range and low capacity. 60 rounds.

Rolling Thunder 3, Weapons, Cracker.png

Cracker
Powerful hand grenade that causes a large explosion. 20 rounds.

Items

These items are found in doors marked with signs.

Rolling Thunder 3, Items.png
Bullet
Gives the player 50 more rounds for the revolver.
Rolling Thunder 3, Items.png
S
Gives the player 20 more rounds for the current special weapon. If no special weapon is selected, it will give a extra hit point, or recover any hit points lost.
Rolling Thunder 3, Items.png
Auto
Acquires the Full Auto special weapon.
Rolling Thunder 3, Items.png
Bazooka
Acquires the Bazooka special weapon.
Rolling Thunder 3, Items.png
Shot
Acquires the Shotgun special weapon.
Rolling Thunder 3, Items.png
Cannon
Acquires the Cannon special weapon.
Rolling Thunder 3, Items.png
Flash
Acquires the Flash special weapon.
Rolling Thunder 3, Items.png
Laser
Acquires the Laser special weapon.
Rolling Thunder 3, Items.png
Fire
Acquires the Fire special weapon.

Rounds

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 1.png

Oil Refinery

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 2.png

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 2 Boss.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 2.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 2 Boss.png

The Factory

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 3.png

Highway

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 4.png

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 4 Boss.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 4.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 4 Boss.png

Las Vegas Night

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 5.png

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 5 Boss.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 5.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 5 Boss.png

Dread's Building

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 6.png

The Pacific Island

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 7.png

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 7 Boss.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 7.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 7 Boss.png

Easter Island

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 8.png

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 8 Boss.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 8.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 8 Boss.png

Underground Base

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 9.png

Hijack

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 10.png

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 10 Boss 1.png

Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 10 Boss 2.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 10.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 10 Boss 1.png

  • Rolling Thunder 3, Stage 10 Boss 2.png

Castle of Dread

Passwords

Main article: Rolling Thunder 3/Passwords.

Production credits

  • Producer: R2-Unit
  • Planner: Rairu 1 Go !
  • Programmer: Paddock Tondabayashi
  • Object Design: Issiy, Rairu 1 Go !, Yossy MK2
  • Back Ground: Yossy MK2
  • Demo Graphic: Rairu 1 Go !, Yossy MK2
  • Sound Programmer: Senkan Kiyoshi
  • Music Composer: Rose & Dick Boy !!!
  • Sound Effect: Rose & Dick Boy !!!
  • Special Thanks: Masami.F, Kunfu-Man, Oja, Yuko, Mokkun
  • Presented by Namco
Source:
In-game credits
Rolling Thunder 3 MD credits.pdf
[4]

Magazine articles

Main article: Rolling Thunder 3/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) #54: "July 1993" (1993-0x-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[8]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
64
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[10]
Game Power (IT) NTSC
86
[11]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
78
[3]
GamesMaster (UK)
56
[12]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
56
[13]
Power Unlimited (NL)
40
[14]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
37
[15]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
76
[16]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
81
[17]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-U
70
[18]
Sega Mega Drive
64
Based on
12 reviews

Rolling Thunder 3

Mega Drive, US
RollingThunder3 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
RollingThunder3 MD Cart top.jpg
RollingThunder3 MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Rollingthunder3 md us manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Rolling Thunder 3/Technical information.

References


Rolling Thunder 3

RollingThunder3 title.png

Main page | Passwords | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information


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Rolling Thunder games for Sega systems
Rolling Thunder 2 (1991) | Rolling Thunder 3 (1993)