Thunder Force (video game)

Thunder Force (サンダーフォース, Sandā Fōsu) is a free-roaming scrolling shooter computer game released by Technosoft in 1983. It is the first game in the Thunder Force series. It was initially released for the X1 computer, and later appeared on the Sharp MZ-1500, PC-6001 mkII, and in 1985 on the PC-8801 mkII. In 1984, it was released for the FM-7 and PC-9801 computers as Thunder Force Construction, featuring an add-on that allowed players to create custom made areas, like a level editor or game creation system.[2]

This article is about the first game in the series. For the series as a whole, see Thunder Force.
Thunder Force
X1 cover art
Developer(s)Technosoft
Publisher(s)Technosoft
Designer(s)Kotori Yoshimura[1][2]
Platform(s)X1, PC-8801 mkII, FM-7, Sharp MZ-1500, PC-6001 mkII, PC-9801
ReleaseX1
  • JP: December 1983
Sharp MZ-1500
PC-8801
  • JP: January 1984 (V1)
  • JP: March 1985 (V2)
FM-7
  • JP: February 1984
PC-9801
  • JP: October 1984
PC-6001
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

The structure of the game consists of overhead, free-directional scrolling areas and the player's ship is armed with main shot to shoot airborne targets and a bomb shot to shoot ground enemies. Gameplay consists of flying the FIRE LEO over ORN occupied areas while destroying enemy base installations and turrets. Each area has a certain number of shield generators hidden under the ground-based, enemy targets; in order for an area to be completed, the shield generators must be found and destroyed. After doing so, the Dyradeizer will temporally appear and the player must destroy a certain section of it. Once this section is destroyed, the Dyradeizer will disappear and the player will be taken to the next area to repeat the process.

Plot

The ORN Empire (antagonists of the game) has built a large asteroid fortress named the Dyradeizer to oppose the Galaxy Federation. In addition to its high firepower capabilities, Dyradeizer is supported by shield generators hidden in various locations by ORN, which render the fortress invisible. In an attempt to destroy Dyradeizer, the Galaxy Federation sends their specially designed fighter, the FIRE LEO (controlled by the player), to locate and destroy the shield generators and defeat Dyradeizer.

Development

The original Thunder Force was created by Kotori Yoshimura in 1983. She later left Technosoft and founded Arsys Software in 1985.[1] In 1984, Technosoft released a level editor, or game creation system, entitled Thunder Force Construction, created by Yoshimura for the FM-7 computer.[2]

Legacy

The success of the game led to a number of sequels in the Thunder Force series.

References
  1. "Wibarm". Oh!FM. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2012. Alt URL
  2. "Thunder Force Construction". Oh!FM. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2012. Alt URL
  • Forgotten Franchises: Thunder Force (from Sega-16) - In depth article about the Thunder Force games. Also contains some media (the Thunder Force VI video mentioned above can be found here).
  • (in Japanese) ThunderForce Forever - Contains artwork/renderings, fanfiction, story information related to Thunder Force. It is also the homepage of Thunder Future, a fan made Thunder Force game currently in development, and contains information about its progress.
  • (in Korean) Thunderforce Cafe - Fanlisting dedicated to Thunder Force. Contains artwork, music, video, merchandise pictures, etc.
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