Difference between revisions of "Thunder Force IV"

Revision as of 20:36, 12 August 2015

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Thunder Force IV /
Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar

Publisher: Tecnosoft

Developer: Tecnosoft

Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

Release	Date	RRP	Code

Thunder Force IV (サンダーフォースIV), called Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar in the US, is a 1992 shoot-'em-up by Tecnosoft released for the Sega Mega Drive. It is the fourth game in the Thunder Force series.

Shortly after defeating the ORN Empire in Thunder Force III, the Galaxy Federation comes under attack by survivors of the empire, who have banded together to form a new threat, Vios. Vios turns out to be more powerful than ORN ever was, and the Galaxy Federation must again use a new small craft to destroy their base on the planet Aceria.

Gameplay is almost identical to III: shoots (you have rapidfire), changes speed by 25% while holding the button down constantly adds 1%, changes weapon, and powerups are collected from enemies. Unlike III, however, you are not fixed to the camera motion; holding and will take you higher/lower than the screen limits (as in II).

Weapons

Blade: Update of the standard shot. Destructive but big bullets, sometimes too big (see Strite boss)
Railgun: Update of the rear shot
Freeway: Small rockets that fire in the opposite directon of the ships movement
Snake: Bombs that travel along the ground/ceiling
Hunter: Homing orbs

Stages

The first four stages can be played in any order; the order listed here is the default.

Strite: A world full of clouds, mountains, and waters. You spend two "days" on this planet, primarily shooting down basic enemies that either just attack, shoot homing missiles at you, or worse. A giant serpent-like creature will come at you several times. A train-like underwater being will send smaller enemies hurling at you while trying to hit you with a large laser, and the rising boss ship will make it easier for homing missiles to hit you...
- Boss: A giant ship with a fin on the bottom that shoots fireballs at you. Hit it enough and it will detach from the ship, revealing a free-moving sub-ship that will attack you in a variety of ways. Due to collision detection on the boss' weak spot, it's very difficult to damage him with the "Blade" weapon.
Ruin: A blue ruin facing the void of space. Here you face larger robots on pedestals that are hard to defeat, pairs of laser-shooting shark-like beings, barriers that form as you move, and small, immobile enemies that generate themselves int he least convenient places. Halfway though you fight a giant robot that spams loads of bullets at you at once.
Air-Raid: Possibly better called an outer space raid: you fly through an asteroid belt, avoiding the (multiple) turrets that constantly send bullets your way and follow your every move. You also have to dodge the regular enemies (they come fast) and avoid crashing into an asteroid. Halfway through, the astroids start moving at very high speeds, so pay attention to survive!
Daser: Fly through a desert sandstorm. Some enemies can take massive damage before going down.
- Boss:Formalhaut
Vios: Battle the boss ship from stage one in space
Volbados: Water and Ice themed world, with the path over and under water being almost completely different play experiences
Desvio: Lava themed world with a cameo boss
Bio-Base:A stage in a biomechanic environment which consists mainly of miniboss fights
Wall:Last "proper" stage with moving walls and traps
Versus:Final confrontation

Trivia

The game has at least two score exploit points. The first is at the enemy just before going underwater in Strite. I constantly releases small enemies. The second is in the final stage, Versus. Keep playing until you reach the large cannon, which you normally must destroy to proceed. Power up items and 1UPs will keep respawning forever. Whether this was by design or an oversight is not clear.

Production Credits

Programmers: Indick Mst, Yotaro, Zako, Chinpui, Kwd & Edger, Fake Dwarf Giva, Godzy, Alpha
Graphics: Two Socks, Krp, Gaja, Silver Hammer, Ushimatu, Hunter, Booby Master, Tamtam, Guges.D, Unbalance, Pei Crash, No Remorse, Shion
Music: Funky Surounin, Omen, Yunker Matai
Voice: Atuko
Director: My Home Papa
Producer: Sigotonin

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

NTSC-U

40

^[4]

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

60

^[5]

Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)

90

^[6]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

88

^[7]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

73

^[8]

Console Mania (IT)

98

^[1]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

91

^[9]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

93

^[10]

Digitiser (UK)

80

^[11]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

93

^[12]

GameFan (US)

NTSC-J

97

^[13]

Game Mania (UK)

93

^[14]

Game Power (IT)

93

^[15]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

93

^[16]

Hippon Super (JP)

NTSC-J

80

^[17]

HiScore (DK)

PAL

73

^[18]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

95

^[19]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

94

^[20]

Joypad (FR)

NTSC-J

97

^[21]

Joystick (FR)

NTSC-J

97

^[22]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

94

^[23]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

NTSC-J

94

^[24]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

82

^[25]

Mega (UK)

NTSC-J

81

^[26]

Mega Action (UK)

92

^[27]

Mega Force (FR)

90

^[28]

Mega Fun (DE)

NTSC-J

92

^[29]

MegaTech (UK)

NTSC-J

94

^[30]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

80

^[31]

Mean Machines (UK)

NTSC-J

87

^[32]

Marukatsu Mega Drive (JP)

NTSC-J

86

^[33]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

89

^[34]

Player One (FR)

94

^[35]

Play Time (DE)

91

^[36]

Sega Power (UK)

NTSC-J

91

^[37]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

92

^[38]

Sega Pro (UK)

NTSC-J

92

^[39]

Sega Force (SE)

92

^[40]

Sega Force (UK)

NTSC-J

88

^[41]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

86

^[42]

Supergame (BR)

NTSC-J

90

^[43]

Supersonic (FR)

93

^[44]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

NTSC-U

65

^[45]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

NTSC-J

88

^[46]

Video Games (DE)

85

^[47]

	87
Based on 45 reviews

Thunder Force IV

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Thunder Force games for Sega systems / developed by Sega
	Thunder Force II (1989) \| Thunder Force III (1990) \| Thunder Force IV / Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (1992)
	Thunder Force AC (1990)
	Thunder Force: Gold Pack 1 (1996) \| Thunder Force: Gold Pack 2 (1996) \| Thunder Force V (1997)
	Thunder Force VI (2008)
	Sega Ages Thunder Force IV (2018) \| Sega Ages Thunder Force AC (2020)
Thunder Force related media
	Best of Thunder Force (1997) \| Thunder Force VI Soundtrack Demo (2008) \| Thunder Force IV (2019) \| Technosoft Music Collection: Thunder Force III & AC (2020) \| Technosoft Music Collection: Thunder Force IV (2021) \| Technosoft Music Collection: Thunder Force I & II (2022)

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 File:ConsoleMania IT 012.pdf, page 86 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsoleMania IT 012.pdf_p86" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:MeanMachines UK 24.pdf, page 104
↑ File:SegaForce10UK.pdf, page 54
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 116
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 243
↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 73
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Oktober 1992" (DE; 1992-09-11), page 126
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 26
↑ Computer & Video Games, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 106
↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-15), page 36
↑ Digitiser (UK) (1993-02-03)
↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 108
↑ GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 1: October 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 6
↑ Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80
↑ Game Power, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 30
↑ GamePro, "August 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 68
↑ Hippon Super, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-04), page 37
↑ HiScore, "15 Juli - 15 September" (DK; 1993-07-15), page 19
↑ Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 26
↑ Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 159
↑ Joypad, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 54
↑ Joystick, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 172
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 24
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "October 1992" (JP; 1992-09-xx), page 67
↑ Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 48
↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65
↑ Mega Force, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 68
↑ Mega Fun, "08/92" (DE; 1992-08-18), page 16
↑ MegaTech, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-20), page 30
↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 50
↑ Mean Machines, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-27), page 84
↑ Marukatsu Mega Drive, "September 1992" (JP; 1992-08-xx), page 119
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
↑ Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 64
↑ Play Time, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-09), page 95
↑ Sega Power, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-01), page 54
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
↑ Sega Pro, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-13), page 64
↑ Sega Force, "5/93" (SE; 1993-08-26), page 18
↑ Sega Force, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 54
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
↑ Supergame, "Janeiro 1993" (BR; 1993-01-xx), page 12
↑ Supersonic, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 22
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 151
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27
↑ Video Games, "9/92" (DE; 1992-08-26), page 52

[:File:ConsoleMania_IT_012.pdf_p86-1] 1.0 ^1.1 File:ConsoleMania IT 012.pdf, page 86 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ConsoleMania IT 012.pdf_p86" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_24.pdf_p104-2] File:MeanMachines UK 24.pdf, page 104

[:File:SegaForce10UK.pdf_p54-3] File:SegaForce10UK.pdf, page 54

[4] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 116

[5] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 243

[:File:AlaabAlcomputtar_SA_2.pdf_p73-6] Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 73

[:File:ASM_DE_1992-10.pdf_p126-7] Aktueller Software Markt, "Oktober 1992" (DE; 1992-09-11), page 126

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-08.pdf_p26-8] Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 26

[:File:CVG_UK_151.pdf_p106-9] Computer & Video Games, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 106

[:File:CVG_UK_131.pdf_p36-10] Computer & Video Games, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-15), page 36

[digitiser1993-02-03-11] Digitiser (UK) (1993-02-03)

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p108-12] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 108

[:File:GameFan_US_0101.pdf_p6-13] GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 1: October 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 6

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p80-14] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80

[:File:GamePower_IT_10.pdf_p30-15] Game Power, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 30

[:File:GamePro_US_049.pdf_p68-16] GamePro, "August 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 68

[17] Hippon Super, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-04), page 37

[:File:HiScore_DK_01.pdf_p19-18] HiScore, "15 Juli - 15 September" (DK; 1993-07-15), page 19

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_016.pdf_p26-19] Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 26

[:File:Joypad_FR_016.pdf_p159-20] Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 159

[:File:Joypad_FR_012.pdf_p54-21] Joypad, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 54

[:File:Joystick_FR_030.pdf_p172-22] Joystick, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 172

[:File:MDAG_UK_02.pdf_p24-23] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 24

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p95-24] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1992-10.pdf_p67-25] Mega Drive Fan, "October 1992" (JP; 1992-09-xx), page 67

[:File:Mega_UK_01.pdf_p48-26] Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 48

[:File:MegaAction_UK_01.pdf_p65-27] Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65

[:File:MegaForce_FR_10.pdf_p68-28] Mega Force, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 68

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1992-08.pdf_p16-29] Mega Fun, "08/92" (DE; 1992-08-18), page 16

[:File:MegaTech_UK_09.pdf_p30-30] MegaTech, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-20), page 30

[:File:Micromania2_ES_057.pdf_p50-31] Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 50

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_24.pdf_p84-32] Mean Machines, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-27), page 84

[:File:MarukatuMD_JP_01.pdf_p119-33] Marukatsu Mega Drive, "September 1992" (JP; 1992-08-xx), page 119

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p142-34] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_025.pdf_p64-35] Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 64

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1993-01.pdf_p95-36] Play Time, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-09), page 95

[:File:SegaPower_UK_36.pdf_p54-37] Sega Power, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-01), page 54

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p68-38] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68

[:File:SegaPro_UK_11.pdf_p64-39] Sega Pro, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-13), page 64

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1993_05.pdf_p18-40] Sega Force, "5/93" (SE; 1993-08-26), page 18

[:File:SegaForce_UK_10.pdf_p54-41] Sega Force, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 54

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-42] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85

[:File:Supergame_BR_18.pdf_p12-43] Supergame, "Janeiro 1993" (BR; 1993-01-xx), page 12

[:File:Supersonic_FR_04.pdf_p22-44] Supersonic, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 22

[45] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 151

[46] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-09.pdf_p52-47] Video Games, "9/92" (DE; 1992-08-26), page 52

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Bob
 | bobscreen=ThunderForceIV_MDTitleScreen.png
-| title=Thunder Force IV/Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar
+| title=Thunder Force IV / <br> Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar
 | publisher=[[Tecnosoft]]
 | developer=[[Tecnosoft]]

Difference between revisions of "Thunder Force IV"

From Sega Retro

Revision as of 20:36, 12 August 2015

Contents

Weapons

Stages

Trivia

Production Credits

Physical Scans