Thunder Blade

From Sega Retro

For the Western home computer versions, see Thunder Blade (home computers).

n/a

  • X Board
  • Master System
  • PC Engine
  • X68000

Thunder Blade Title.png

ThunderBlade SMS Title.png

ThunderBlade PCE Title.png

ThunderBlade X68000 Title.png

Thunder Blade
System(s): Sega X Board, Sega Master System, X68000, PC Engine
Publisher:
Developer:
Distributor:
Arcade (X Board)
Unidesa (ES)
Peripherals supported:
Sega Master System
FM Sound Unit
Genre: Shooting[1], Arcade[2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (X Board)
JP
(Upright)
¥? ?
Arcade (X Board)
JP
(Deluxe)
¥? ?
Arcade (X Board)
US
$? ?
Arcade (X Board)
UK
£? ?


























PC Engine
JP
¥¥7,200 NAPH-1015

{{#ifeq: 0 | 0 |

Sega Master System
JP
¥5,5005,500 G-1360
Sega Master System
US
7011
Sega Master System
EU
MK-7011-50
Sega Master System
PT
Sega Master System
UK
£24.9524.95[8][9] MK-7011-50
Sega Master System
BR
Sega Master System
KR
GB-2360
X68000
JP

Thunder Blade (サンダーブレード) is a 1987 Sega X Board arcade rail shooter game developed by Sega R&D 1. Putting players in the cockpit of an advanced military helicopter, the game uses extensive sprite scaling to simulate three-dimensional gameplay, and was very well-received by the gaming public. It has since been regarded as a classic and seminal Sega arcade game, and has been re-released on a number of home systems.

Gameplay

Thunder Blade has the player pilot a helicopter which can fire with either its machine gun or missile launcher to destroy various enemy vehicles.

The game was notable for its differing view changes and sprite scaling techniques. Though the game starts off as a top-down shooter, the player can adjust his/her height, zooming in and out of battle while doing so. Half way through the level, the viewpoint changes to a third-person perspective, creating a game that is similar to Space Harrier or After Burner (though with improved graphics as the technology is more advanced).

History

Legacy

The game was ported to a variety of platforms including the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC, MSX, Sega Master System, X68000, PC Engine and ZX Spectrum. Surprisingly most of these ports retain the sprite scaling, albeit with less detailed graphics, but often require the user to manually adjust the speed of the helicopter (unlike in the Arcade game where it was done for you). The Sega Master System version of the game omits the overhead scaling entirely.

Thunder Blade was followed by Super Thunder Blade, a launch title of the Sega Mega Drive which is essentially the same game but without the overhead segments.

Development

Thunder Blade takes notable inspiration from the 1983 film Blue Thunder, going so far as to feature a digitized screen capture of the movie for its title screen.[10]

Versions

Comparisons

Main article: Thunder Blade/Comparisons.

Production credits

Main article: Thunder Blade/Production credits.

Magazine articles

Main article: Thunder Blade/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

ThunderBlade XBoard US Flyer.pdf

PDF
X Board US flyer
ThunderBlade XBoard US Flyer.pdf

ThunderBlade XBoard JP Flyer.pdf

PDF
X Board JP flyer
ThunderBlade XBoard JP Flyer.pdf
ThunderBlade XBoard JP Flyer.jpg
X Board JP flyer (?)
ThunderBlade XBoard JP Flyer.jpg

ThunderBlade XBoard EU Flyer Deluxe.pdf

PDF
X Board export flyer (deluxe)
ThunderBlade XBoard EU Flyer Deluxe.pdf

ThunderBlade XBoard EU Flyer Upright.pdf

PDF
X Board export flyer (upright)
ThunderBlade XBoard EU Flyer Upright.pdf

ThunderBlade XBoard ES Flyer.pdf

PDF
X Board ES flyer
ThunderBlade XBoard ES Flyer.pdf
SMS ES promo 3.jpg
ES advert (1990)
SMS ES promo 3.jpg
Logo-pdf.svg
Master System print advert in Electronic Game Player (US) #4: "September/October 1988" (1988-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Master System print advert in Tilt (FR) #60: "Jeux et Micro Guide 1989" (1988-11-16)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Pixel (GR) #66: "Máios 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

X Board version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Commodore User (UK)
90
[13]
Power Play (DE)
85
[14]
Arcade (X Board)
88
Based on
2 reviews

Thunder Blade

X Board, US (deluxe)
ThunderBlade XBoard US Manual.pdf
Manual
X Board, US (upright)
ThunderBlade XBoard US Manual Upright.pdf
Manual
X Board, JP (deluxe)
X Board, JP (upright)

Master System version

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
[15]
ACE (UK)
64
[16]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
79
[17]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
80
[18]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
80
[19]
Computer Action (DK)
100
[20]
Console XS (UK) PAL
65
[21]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
80
[22]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
53
[23]
The Games Machine (UK)
76
[9]
Génération 4 (FR)
62
[24]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
70
[25]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
80
[26]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
86
[27]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[28]
Sega Pro (UK)
70
[29]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
65
[30]
Soft Today (DK)
100
[31]
Software Gids (NL)
88
[32]
Sega Master System
74
Based on
19 reviews

Thunder Blade

Master System, JP
Thunder Blade SMS JP Box Back.jpgNospine.pngThunder Blade SMS JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
Thunder Blade SMS JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, US
ThunderBlade SMS US cover.jpg
Cover
ThunderBlade SMS US Cart.jpg
Cart
Thunderblade sms us manual.pdf
Manual
SegaAdventure SMS US Poster Back.jpgSegaAdventure SMS US Poster Front.jpg
Poster
Master System, EU
ThunderBlade SMS EU cover.jpg
Cover
Thunder Blade SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU (Sega®)
ThunderBlade SMS EU R cover.jpg
Cover
Thunder Blade SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Thunder Blade SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU ("No Limits")
ThunderBlade SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Master System, PT (Black & white manual)
ThunderBlade SMS PT bw cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, PT (Colour manual)

Master System, BX
ThunderBlade SMS BX Box.jpg
Cover
Master System, SE

Master System, AU (NIAL sticker)
ThunderBlade SMS AU nial cover.jpg
Cover
ThunderBlade SMS AU cartback.jpgThunderBlade SMS AU cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (OziSoft sticker)
ThunderBlade SMS AU os cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU (Classics)
ThunderBlade SMS AU classics back.jpgNospine.pngThunderBlade SMS AU classics cover.jpg
Cover
ThunderBlade SMS AU cartback.jpgThunderBlade SMS AU cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
ThunderBlade SMS BR cover.jpg
Cover
ThunderBlade SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
ThunderBlade SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, KR
Thunderblade SMS KR cover.jpg
Cover
ThunderBlade SMS KR Cart Top.jpg
ThunderBlade SMS KR Cart Back.jpgThunderBlade SMS KR Cart.jpg
Cart

PC Engine version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK)
46
[33]
Génération 4 (FR)
69
[34]
Joystick (FR)
67
[35]
Power Play (DE)
61
[36]
Raze (UK) NTSC-J
72
[37]
PC Engine
63
Based on
5 reviews

Thunder Blade

PC Engine, JP
Thunder Blade PCE HuCard Back.jpgThunder Blade PCE HuCard Spine.jpgThunderBlade PCE JP Box Front.jpg
Cover

X68000 version

X68000, JP
Thunder Blade X68000 JP Box.png
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 ae920e4b
MD5 70dcee3c77e95d83fcf6df0dae30a4a8
SHA-1 c38f3eea4e7224bc6042723e88b26c85b1a56ddc
256kB Cartridge (EU/US)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 c0ce19b1
MD5 a03bbd3c75e736ce378f2c3fe47f5579
SHA-1 535dbd339f4b5c5efd502cffbbe719d7b3e7f1c3
256kB Cartridge (JP)
PC Engine
 ?
CRC32 ddc3e809
MD5 b4bf32b4d986fa5f53115c3f361a8679
SHA-1 553f8026dd68e85cd17855adbf920b3971acfdc4
512kB Card (JP)

References

Necretro-round.svg
NEC Retro has more information related to Thunder Blade
  1. 1.0 1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segamark3/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-11-14 21:32)
  2. File:ThunderBlade SMS EU cover.jpg
  3. Mega Drive Fan, "May 1992" (JP; 1992-04-xx), page 103
  4. Mega Drive Fan, "June 1992" (JP; 1992-05-08), page 75
  5. Computer & Video Games, "March 1988" (UK; 1988-02-15), page 90
  6. Computer Entertainer, "October 1988" (US; 1988-10-15), page 08
  7. File:BristolEveningPost UK 1988-11-04 Page 80.jpg
  8. ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 167
  9. 9.0 9.1 The Games Machine, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-17), page 39
  10. File:ThunderBlade BlueThunder.png
  11. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "1989 Buyer's Guide" (US; 1989-xx-xx), page 57
  12. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1989" (US; 1989-0x-xx), page 49
  13. Commodore User, "March 1988" (UK; 1988-02-26), page 105
  14. Power Play, "Ausgabe 5" (DE; 1988-05-24), page 100
  15. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 311
  16. ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 76
  17. Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 74
  18. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 109
  19. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 62
  20. Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 34
  21. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
  22. Computer & Video Games, "November 1988" (UK; 1988-10-15), page 131
  23. Famitsu, "" (JP; 1988-xx-xx), page 1
  24. Génération 4, "Décembre 1988" (FR; 1988-1x-xx), page 58
  25. Micromanía (segunda época), "Enero 1990" (ES; 19xx-xx-xx), page 27
  26. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  27. S: The Sega Magazine, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-06), page 24
  28. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
  29. Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 30
  30. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  31. Soft Today, "Januar 1989" (DK; 1988-12-xx), page 20
  32. Software Gids, "Nov./Dec. 1990" (NL; 1990-11-xx), page 41
  33. Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 93
  34. Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 89
  35. Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 98
  36. Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 150
  37. Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 79


Thunder Blade

Thunder Blade Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Credits | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Merchandise | Bootlegs


Music: Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade Original Sound Track (2007)

No results



Games in the Thunder Blade Series
Thunder Blade (home computers) (1987) | Super Thunder Blade (1988) | Electronic Thunder Blade (1989) | 3D Thunder Blade (2014)
Thunder Blade related media
Music
Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade Original Sound Track (2007) | Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade (2017)