Thunderhawk

From Sega Retro

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  • NTSC-J
  • NTSC-U

Thunderhawk title.png

Thunderhawk MCD JP SSTitle.png

AH3ThunderStrike MCD US Title.png

Thunderhawk
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: JVC Musical Industries (US), Core Design (Europe), Victor Entertainment (Japan)
Developer:
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Tec Toy (BR)
Peripherals supported: CD BackUp RAM Cart
Genre: Shooting[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Official in-game languages:
  • English
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
    • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Mega-CD
    JP     		¥7,8007,800 T-60134
    Sega Mega-CD
    US     		$49.9549.95[4] T-60055
    Videogame Rating Council: GA
    Sega Mega-CD
    EU     		T-115015-50
    Sega Mega-CD
    DE     		DM 99.9599.95[10] T-115015-50
    Sega Mega-CD
    FR     		T-115015-50
    Sega Mega-CD
    PT     		CD115815
    Sega Mega-CD
    UK     		£44.9944.99[6][7] T-115015-50
    Sega Mega-CD
    AU     		$119.95119.95[11]
    Sega Mega-CD
    BR     		063120
    Non-Sega versions

    Thunderhawk (サンダーホーク), known as AH-3 Thunderstrike in North America, is a helicopter combat simulator game developed for the Sega Mega-CD by Core Design in 1993. During development, the North American version was known as AH-3 Firehawk.

    Gameplay

    Thunderhawk, Briefing Room.png

    Briefing room

    In the game, the player controls a fictional AH-73M Thunderhawk (AH-3 Thunderstrike in the American version) attack helicopter in ten operations set across the world. Some operations are inspired by real events or activities in these areas (for example, escorting a UN humanitarian convoy during the Bosnian War or fighting pirates in the South China Sea). Each operation consists of four or five missions. While each mission has a primary objective that must be completed to successfully complete the mission, usually destroying a major structure like an enemy base or a bridge. A voice-acted briefing before the mission outlines the objective and discusses the threats in the area. There are other targets in the missions such as tanks and SAM launchers that can be destroyed to boost the player's score. It is often advantageous to destroy smaller targets such as communications stations and airports to soften the resistance before proceeding to the primary target.

    The helicopter flies forward with Up and backward with Down. It banks with Left and Right. It rotates with HOLD CLeft or Right. The player can change the altitude of the helicopter with HOLD CUp or Down. Flying lower helps avoid enemy radar, but flying higher avoids obstacles such as trees.

    The helicopter is equipped with a standard set of weapons: missiles, rockets, and a machine gun. Missiles and rockets have finite ammunition, restocked at the beginning of each mission, but the machine gun has unlimited ammunition. On some special missions, the rockets are replaced by a weapon that is critical to the success of that particular mission, such as a Runway Cratering System (RCS) when the primary objective is to destroy an airbase or a bomb when destruction of a bridge or submarine is the primary objective. Weapons are fired with A. The player can switch between the available weapons with B. Missiles automatically lock-on to targets as they appear on screen and seek them when fired. If there are multiple enemies on screen, the selected target can be cycled with C. Primary targets are noted when they are approached and highlighted. Some missions have friendly targets that must not be destroyed.

    The helicopter cockpit shows multiple instruments: the armor level, which shows how much damage it has sustained; a map, which shows the surrounding terrain, with ground objectives highlighted; the radar, which shows the locations of nearby threats (ground threats as red dots, air threats as yellow dots, missiles are white dots, and friendlies are blue dots); the radar detection warning light, which flashes red when an enemy has locked-on to the helicopter; the mission complete indicator, which flashes yellow when all of the objectives have been successfully completed; and the currently selected weapon. The map is also used for targeting when using bombs or the RCS. An altimeter, showing the current altitude, and a heading indicator, showing the direction of travel, are overlaid on the world view.

    Once the mission objectives have been completed, the player must fly out of the mission zone. The perimeter of the mission zone is indicated by white lines on the map. The player can choose to fly out of the mission zone before the objectives have been completed (which may be necessary if the player has low armor or has run out of ammunition). The player receives a demerit for each objective failed; receiving three demerits on a single operation ends the game. Bonus points are given for the percentage of enemy threats destroyed. After completing an operation, the player receives an operation ribbon and can save the game to the Mega-CD's internal memory.

    The player faces land (tanks, missile launchers), air (other helicopters, jet fighters), and sea (gunboats) threats. Colliding with obstacles such as trees and buildings also damages the helicopter. Expending the armor gauge crashes the helicopter and ends the game.

    There are three difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, and Hard).

    Operations

    Operations can be selected to play in any order. Each operation consists of four or five missions.

    Thunderhawk, Operations, South America, Arms Running.png

    		South America, Arms Running

    Thunderhawk, Operations, South America, Stealth Down.png

    		South America, Stealth Down

    Thunderhawk, Operations, Panama Canal, Canal Crisis.png

    		Panama Canal, Canal Crisis

    Thunderhawk, Operations, Central America, Recapture Town.png

    		Central America, Recapture Town

    Thunderhawk, Operations, Alaska, Bio-Research.png

    		Alaska, Bio-Research

    Thunderhawk, Operations, Eastern Europe, Combined Nations Convoy.png

    		Eastern Europe, Combined Nations Convoy

    Thunderhawk, Operations, Middle East, Occupied Base Liberation.png

    		Middle East, Occupied Base Liberation

    Thunderhawk, Operations, Middle East, Oil Dispute.png

    		Middle East, Oil Dispute

    Thunderhawk, Operations, South East Asia, Chemical Warfare.png

    		South East Asia, Chemical Warfare

    Thunderhawk, Operations, South China Seas, Piracy.png

    		South China Seas, Piracy

    History

    Release

    In the United Kingdom at least, Thunderhawk is thought to have been the best selling Mega-CD title released in the region[12], with an estimated 80% of Mega-CD owners also owning a copy of the game[12].

    Legacy

    Thunderhawk was followed by a sequel on the Sega Saturn, Thunderhawk II.

    Production credits

    (C)1993 Core Design Limited.
    (C)1993 JVC Musical Industries, Inc.™
    Japanese Staff
    • Executive Producer: Harunobu Komori
    • Producer: Toshiyuki Nagai
    • Director: Gaku Sato
    • Special Thanks: Takeshi Minagawa, Kaoru Tomiyama
    U.K Staff
    • Executive Producer: Jeremy Heath Smith
    • Programming: Mark Avory
    • Graphics: Jason Gee
    • Music: Martin Iveson
    • Live Guitar: Anthony Wheeldon
    Source:
    In-game credits
    AH-3 Thunderstrike MCD credits.pdf
    [13]
    U.K. Staff
    • Producer: Jeremy H. Smith
    • Programmer: Mark Avory
    • Artist: Jason Gee
    • Musician: Martin Iveson
    • Playtesting: Adrian Smith, Mark Price, Darren Price
    Japanese Staff
    • Exective Producer: Harunobu Komori
    • Producer: Toshiyuki Nagai
    • Director: Gaku Sato
    • Assistant: Ryo Misawa, Kohji Ishizeki, Takayuki Andoh
    • Manual: Rie Toshima, Comix Brand
    • Translate: Kayko Watanabe
    • Illustration: Kouichi Miyazima, CG IllustrationRio Huzuki
    • Actor Coordinator: Susumu Aketagawa
    • Actor: Yusaku Yara
    • Thanks: Takeshi Minagawa, Takeyuki Kasakura, Shunji Nishizawa, And All V.E. Staff
    • Special Thanks for: Kaoru Tomiyama
    Source:
    JP manual
    Thunderhawk mcd jp manual.pdf
    [14]

    Magazine articles

    Main article: Thunderhawk/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    Main article: Thunderhawk/Promotional material.

    Artwork

    • Thunderhawk Box Art by Koichi Miyajima.jpg

    Physical scans

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    94 №10, p54/55
    94 №15, p46-49
    Sega Mega-CD
    		 94
    Based on
    2 reviews
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
    92
    		[15]
    Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
    80
    		[16]
    Consoles + (FR)
    80
    		[17]
    Computer & Video Games (UK)
    88
    		[18]
    Edge (UK) PAL
    70
    		[19]
    Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
    80
    		[20]
    Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
    70
    		[21]
    Freak (IL)
    92
    		[22]
    Game Players (US) NTSC-U
    90
    		[4]
    GamePro (US) NTSC-U
    83
    		[23]
    Gamers (DE)
    93
    		[24]
    GamesMaster (UK)
    81
    		[25]
    Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
    75
    		[26]
    Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
    75
    		[27]
    Hobby Consolas (ES)
    88
    		[28]
    Hyper (AU)
    94
    		[29]
    Joypad (FR) PAL
    91
    		[30]
    Joypad (HU)
    94
    		[31]
    MAN!AC (DE)
    85
    		[32]
    Mega (UK) PAL
    91
    		[33]
    Mega Action (UK) PAL
    93
    		[34]
    Megablast (DE) PAL
    85
    		[35]
    Mega Force (FR)
    92
    		[36]
    Mega Fun (DE) PAL
    85
    		[37]
    MegaTech (UK) PAL
    91
    		[38]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
    84
    		[39]
    Player One (FR)
    61
    		[40]
    Power Up! (UK)
    92
    		[41]
    Power Unlimited (NL)
    90
    		[42]
    Sega Magazin (DE)
    92
    		[43]
    Sega News (CZ)
    80
    		[44]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    91
    		[45]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    76
    		[46]
    Sega Zone (UK) PAL
    92
    		[47]
    Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL
    92
    		[48]
    Sega Force (SE)
    95
    		[49]
    Sonic Mag: B.D. & Jeux-Video! (FR)
    81
    		[50]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    86
    		[51]
    Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
    93
    		[52]
    Todo Sega (ES) PAL
    90
    		[53]
    VideoGames Shopper (UK) PAL
    92
    		[54]
    Video Games (DE) PAL
    89
    		[55]
    VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
    90
    		[56]
    VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
    90
    		[57]
    Sega Mega-CD
    		 86
    Based on
    44 reviews

    Thunderhawk

    Mega-CD, JP
    Thunderhawk MCD JP Box Back.jpgThunderhawk MCD JP Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    Thunderhawk MegaCD JP SpineCard.jpg
    Spinecard
    ThunderHawk MCD JP Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Thunderhawk mcd jp manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega-CD, US
    Thunderhawk MCD US Box Back.jpgThunderhawk MCD US Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    Thunderhawk MCD US Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Thunderhawk mcd us manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega-CD, EU
    Thunderhawk MCD EU Box Back.jpgThunderhawk MCD EU Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    Thunderhawk MCD EU spinecard.jpg
    Spinecard
    Thunderhawk MCD EU Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Thunderhawk MCD EU Manual.jpg
    Manual
    Mega-CD, FR (Blister pack)
    Thunderhawk MCD FR blister front.jpg
    Cover
    Mega-CD, PT
    Thunderhawk MCD PT back.jpgNospine-small.pngThunderhawk MCD PT front.jpg
    Cover
    Thunderhawk MCD EU Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Thunderhawk MCD PT Manual.jpg
    Manual
    Thunderhawk MCD EU Manual.jpg
    EU Manual
    Mega-CD, BR
    Thunderhawk MCD BR back.jpgNospine.pngThunderhawk MCD BR front.jpg
    Cover
    Thunderhawk MCD US Disc.jpg
    Disc

    Technical information

    Main article: Thunderhawk/Technical information.

    References

    1. ↑ File:Thunderhawk MCD JP Box Front.jpg
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mcd/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2019-06-10 17:56)
    3. ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/eI0U1knpeeA/m/-lZGD60zJxsJ
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 1 January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 54
    5. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-1x-xx), page 10
    6. ↑ Sega Force Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 112
    7. ↑ Mega, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 27
    8. ↑ Select Round, "Octobre 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 2
    9. ↑ Megablast, "4/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 35
    10. ↑ Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 31
    11. ↑ Megazone, "January 1994" (AU; 1993-12-29), page 35
    12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Mean Machines Sega, "January 1996" (UK; 1995-11-xx), page 19
    13. ↑ File:AH-3 Thunderstrike MCD credits.pdf
    14. ↑ File:Thunderhawk mcd jp manual.pdf, page 13
    15. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1994" (DE; 1994-02-07), page 105
    16. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-08), page 25
    17. ↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 148
    18. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-15), page 74
    19. ↑ Edge, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-09-30), page 82
    20. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 50
    21. ↑ Famitsu, "1993-09-24" (JP; 1993-09-10), page 39
    22. ↑ Freak, "11/93" (IL; 1993-xx-xx), page 1
    23. ↑ GamePro, "October 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 84
    24. ↑ Gamers, "Oktober/November 1993" (DE; 1993-09-24), page 74
    25. ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 3, episode 2" (1993-09-16, 24:00) (+7:55)
    26. ↑ Game Informer, "November/December 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 48
    27. ↑ Hippon Super, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-03), page 41
    28. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Septiembre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 116
    29. ↑ Hyper, "December 1993" (AU; 1993-xx-xx), page 56
    30. ↑ Joypad, "Octobre 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 122
    31. ↑ Joypad, "1/1995" (HU; 1995-xx-xx), page 15
    32. ↑ MAN!AC, "11/93" (DE; 1993-xx-xx), page 35
    33. ↑ Mega, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 24
    34. ↑ Mega Action, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-07), page 38
    35. ↑ Megablast, "1/94" (DE; 1993-12-29), page 30
    36. ↑ Mega Force, "Mega-CD Force: Le Supplément Spécial Mega-CD" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 18
    37. ↑ Mega Fun, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-22), page 36
    38. ↑ MegaTech, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-20), page 54
    39. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-09-28), page 42
    40. ↑ Player One, "Septembre 1993" (FR; 1993-08-xx), page 56
    41. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, January 01, 1994" (UK; 1994-01-01), page 1
    42. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 2, Februari 1994" (NL; 1994-01-26), page 60
    43. ↑ Sega Magazin, "September/Oktober 1993" (DE; 1993-09-01), page 30
    44. ↑ Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 32
    45. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-02), page 36
    46. ↑ Sega Pro, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-09), page 44
    47. ↑ Sega Zone, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-xx), page 38
    48. ↑ Sega Force Mega, "Autumn 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 110
    49. ↑ Sega Force, "8/93" (SE; 1993-12-09), page 20
    50. ↑ Sonic Mag: B.D. & Jeux-Video!, "Avril 1994" (FR; 1994-xx-xx), page 34
    51. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
    52. ↑ Sonic the Comic, "November 27th 1993" (UK; 1993-11-27), page 10
    53. ↑ Todo Sega, "Octubre 1993" (ES; 1993-xx-xx), page 54
    54. ↑ VideoGames Shopper, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 39
    55. ↑ Video Games, "10/93" (DE; 1993-09-29), page 108
    56. ↑ VideoGames, "February 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 66
    57. ↑ VideoGames, "April 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 82


    Thunderhawk

    Thunderhawk title.png

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    Sega Mega-CD
    Demos: Thunderhawk (1993) | Thunderhawk Taikenban (1993)

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