Thunder Blade
{{Short description|1987 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Thunder Blade
|image = Thunder Blade poster.png
|caption = Japanese arcade poster
|developer = Sega
|publisher = Arcade {{vgrelease|WW|Sega}} Computers {{vgrelease|EU|U.S. Gold}}
|designer =
|composer = Koichi Namiki
|engine =
|platforms = {{collapsible list|
| title = {{nobold|Arcade}}|Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, MS-DOS, TurboGrafx-16, X68000, ZX Spectrum, Nintendo 3DS}}
|released = {{collapsible list|
| title = {{nobold|December 1987}}
| Arcade
{{Video game release|JP|December 18, 1987{{cite web |title=Thunder Blade (Registration Number PA0000353392) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=United States Copyright Office |access-date=August 7, 2021}}{{cite book|last=Akagi|first=Masumi|url=https://archive.org/stream/ArcadeGameList1971-2005#page/n37/mode/1up|title=セガ社 (Sega); Sega; G|work=アーケードTVゲームリスト 国内•海外編 (1971-2005)|edition=1st|publisher=Amusement News Agency|date=October 13, 2006|pages=36, 131, 153|isbn=978-4990251215|language=ja}}|EU|January 1988|NA|February 1988}} Master System {{vgrelease|JP|July 30, 1988{{cite web |title=Software List |url=https://sega.jp/history/hard/segamark3/software.html |website=Sega Hard Encyclopedia |publisher=Sega Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621034428/https://sega.jp/history/hard/segamark3/software.html |access-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-date=2019-06-21 |language=ja}}|NA|October 1988{{cite news |title=Availability Update |work=Computer Entertainer |date=October 1988 |page=8 |url=http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/newsletters/video_game_update/computer_entertainer_oct88.pdf#page=08}}|EU|November 1988{{cite web|title=2 Mega Cartridges |url=https://segaretro.org/images/5/5f/1988_89_SMS_UK_Catalogue.pdf|work=The Sega Master System Games Catalogue (1988/89)|publisher=Mastertronic|accessdate=24 September 2024}}}}
Home computers {{vgrelease|EU|December 1988}} PC {{vgrelease|EU|March 1989}}
}}
|genre = Rail shooter{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Thunder Blade |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/thunder-blade/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=18 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018132251/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/thunder-blade/ |archive-date=18 October 2017 |date=28 July 2017 |quote=Tag: Shoot-Em-Up: Rail |url-status=live}}
Scrolling shooter{{cite web |last1=Town |first1=Jonathan |title=3D Thunder Blade Review (3DS eShop) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds-eshop/3d_thunder_blade |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=18 February 2023 |date=18 May 2015}}
|modes = Single-player
|arcade system = Sega X Board
}}
{{Nihongo foot|Thunder Blade|サンダーブレード|Sandāburēdo|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a third-person shoot 'em up video game released by Sega for arcades in 1987. Players control a helicopter to destroy enemy vehicles. The game was released as a stand-up arcade cabinet with force feedback, as the joystick vibrates. A helicopter shaped sit-down model was released, replacing the force feedback with a cockpit seat that moves in tandem with the joystick.{{KLOV game|10094|Thunder Blade}} It is a motion simulator cabinet, like the previous Sega Super Scaler games Space Harrier (1985) and After Burner (1987).{{cite news |title=Sega's Wonderful Simulation Games Over The Years |url=https://arcadeheroes.com/2013/06/06/segas-wonderful-simulation-games-over-the-years/ |access-date=April 22, 2021 |work=Arcade Heroes |date=June 6, 2013}} The game's plot and setting was inspired by the film Blue Thunder (1983).
Versions were released for the Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, TurboGrafx-16, X68000, and ZX Spectrum. The Nintendo 3DS remake was released as a 3D Classic in Japan on August 20, 2014,{{cite web|author1=Brian|title=3D Thunder Blade hitting the Japanese 3DS eShop on August 20|url=http://nintendoeverything.com/3d-thunder-blade-hitting-the-japanese-3ds-eshop-on-august-20/|website=Nintendo Everything|accessdate=July 4, 2015|date=August 7, 2014}} in North America and Europe on May 14, 2015,{{cite web|author1=Julian|title=SEGA 3D Classics – 3D Thunder Blade – Part 1|url=http://blogs.sega.com/2015/05/12/sega-3d-classics-3d-thunder-blade-part-1/|website=SEGA Blog|publisher=SEGA|accessdate=July 4, 2015|date=May 12, 2015}} and in Australia on July 2 of the same year.{{cite web|last1=Doolan|first1=Liam|title=3D Out Run, Thunder Blade And Fantasy Zone I & II Now Available On The eShop In Australia|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/07/3d_out_run_thunder_blade_and_fantasy_zone_i_and_ii_now_available_on_the_eshop_in_australia|website=Nintendo Life|accessdate=July 4, 2015|date=July 3, 2015}} The sequel, Super Thunder Blade, was released exclusively for the Sega Genesis.
Gameplay
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 or third-person perspective 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
The plot and setting were inspired by the 1983 film Blue Thunder, from which a digitized frame became the title screen.{{cite web |last1=Kalata |first1=Kurt |title=Thunder Blade |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/thunder-blade/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |date=July 28, 2017 |access-date=May 4, 2021}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| ARC = true
| AMI = true
| AST = true
| C64 = true
| PC = true
| SMS = true
| ZX = true
| CVG_SMS = 80%{{cite magazine |title=Mean Machines |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=October 15, 1988 |issue=85 (November 1988) |pages=130–1 |url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-085/page/n129/mode/2up}}{{cite magazine |title=Guide: Sega |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=November 1990 |issue=Complete Guide to Consoles: Volume IV |pages=108–10 |url=https://archive.org/details/Complete_Guide_to_Consoles_Volume_IV_1990_EMAP_Publishing_GB/page/n107/mode/2up}}
| TGM_PC = 54% {{small|(CPC)}}
| rev1 = Commodore User
| rev1_ARC = 9/10{{cite magazine |title=Arcades |magazine=Commodore User |date=February 26, 1988 |issue=54 (March 1988) |pages=104–7 |url=https://www.solvalou.com/arcade/reviews/265/358}}
| award1Pub = Golden Joystick Awards
| award1 = Console Game of the Year (Master System)
}}
{{Expand section|date=September 2021}}
In Japan, Game Machine listed Thunder Blade in its January 15, 1988, issue as the fourth most successful upright arcade unit of the month.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=324|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=January 15, 1988|page=21|lang=ja}} It went on to become Japan's ninth highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1988.{{cite magazine |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '88 / "Game of the Year '88" By Game Machine |magazine=Game Machine |issue=348 |publisher=Amusement Press, Inc. |date=15 January 1989 |pages=10–1, 26 |lang=ja |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19890115p.pdf#page=6}}
The arcade game was well received by critics. Clare Edgeley of Computer and Video Games called it "a helicopter simulation with several innovative features". She said it was "a brilliant game" with "superb" graphics and gameplay.{{cite magazine |title=Arcade Action |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=February 1988 |issue=77 (March 1988) |pages=90–3 |url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-077/page/n89/mode/2up}} Your Sinclair stated that "Thunder Blade is probably the game which took most of your money in the arcades this summer, probably one of the most eagerly awaited coin-op conversions".
At the 1988–1989 Golden Joystick Awards, the Sega Master System version won Console Game of the Year.{{cite magazine|title=Golden Joystick Awards 1989|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=92|date=June 1989|pages=62–63|publisher=Future Publishing|url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_092_1989-06_EMAP_Publishing_GB/Computer__Video_Games_Issue_092_1989-06_EMAP_Publishing_GB#page/n61/mode/2up}} The ZX Spectrum version also received a Crash Smash award from Crash magazine.
Notes
{{notelist}}
{{Clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10094 Thunder Blade] at KLOV
- {{moby game|id=/thunderblade|name=Thunder Blade}}
{{Golden Joystick GOTY|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Crash Smash! award winners
Category:Golden Joystick Award for Game of the Year winners
Category:Helicopter video games
Category:Nintendo 3DS eShop games
Category:Sega video game franchises
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games developed in Japan