Thunder Force IV

n/a

NTSC-J/PAL NTSC-U
Thunder Force IV
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Technosoft (Japan), Sega (US, Europe)
Developer: Technosoft
Distributor: Hent Gruppen (SE rental) Samsung (KR)
Sound driver: T.S v1.31 (Technosoft)
Genre: Shooting
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1992-07-24 ¥8,800 (9,064)8,800e T-18063 US 1992 $29.9929.99 1143 EU 1992 1143-50 UK 1992-12-10 £49.9949.99 1143-50 SE (Rental) 199x AU 199x KR 199x GM8055JT

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 Technosoft released for the Sega Mega Drive. It is the fourth game in the Thunder Force series.

Story

Stage select

Shortly after defeating the ORN Empire in Thunder Force III, the Galaxy Federation comes under attack by survivors of the Empire, who have gathered their remaining forces on the planet Vios. This new faction has been biding its time and developing weapons even more deadly than those used by its predecessors. The Galaxy Federation must again scramble a new small craft, the Fire LEO-04 Rynex, to counter this emerging threat.

Gameplay

The game is a side-scrolling shooter like its predecessor. The Rynex is moved in any direction using the D-Pad. The screen scrolls horizontally automatically. Stages are significantly taller than in previous games, and the player can travel to the upward and downward edges of the screen to reveal a larger playing field. The player can change the movement speed of the ship with . Pressing the button adds 25% (or loops back to 25% if already at 100%); holding the button adds 1% at a time.

The Rynex shoots with , which can be held for continuous fire. It is equipped with multiple weapons, which are switched with . The player starts with two default weapons and acquires more by collecting items. The player can change the speed or the equipped weapon while the game is paused. The player can also equip two Claw add-ons, which are two small satellite drones. The Claws block weak incoming bullets and provide extra firepower by firing single, normal shots. Midway through the game, the Claws are upgraded and acquire the Thunder Sword ability. This allows them to charge up when the player is not firing and then release a powerful beam attack with .

The Rynex is destroyed in one hit from an enemy or an obstacle. Losing a life loses the Claws and the equipped weapon (unless it is a default weapon). The player gains an extra life at 10,000 and 100,000 points and then every 100,000 points after that.

There are four selectable difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, Hard, and Maniac). The options menu is accessed by holding , , or when pressing  START  on the title screen.

Weapons

	Twin Shot
	Fires two streams of parallel bullets.
	Back Shot
	Fires one stream of bullets to the front and one stream to the back.
	Blade
	Replaces the Twin Shot with large orange blades. A strong weapon, but the size of the blades make it difficult get through the armor of some bosses to hit their weak spots.
	Railgun
	Replaces the Back Shot with powerful, long lasers behind the Rynex. The strongest weapon for shooting enemies from behind.
	Snake
	Drops bombs above and below the Rynex at an angle. When this weapon is equipped, rather than providing support fire, Claws leave shadows that provide additional protection.
	Hunter
	Fires blue energy balls that seek enemies. Less powerful than other weapons but does not need to be targeted.
	Free Way
	Launches missiles in a conical spread in the opposite direction of the ship's travel.
	Thunder Sword
	Acquired in the Vios stage. Allows Claws to charge up when the Rynex is not firing; the next shot releases a powerful sword beam, which penetrates through multiple targets, with two additional angled lasers (regardless of which weapon is selected).

Items

	Item Carrier
	Shoot to release an item.
	Claw
	Equips two Claws, fighter drones that orbit the Rynex and provide support fire and protect it from damage.
	Thunder Sword
	Equips two Claws, which have been upgraded to use the Thunder Sword in addition to their standard functionality.
	Shield
	Surrounds the Rynex in a shield that renders it invulnerable to damage, but it dissipates after sustaining too many hits.
	1-Up
	Awards the player with an extra life.
	Blade
	Acquires the Blade weapon.
	Railgun
	Acquires the Railgun weapon.
	Snake
	Acquires the Snake weapon.
	Hunter
	Acquires the Hunter weapon.
	Free Way
	Acquires the Free Way weapon.

Stages

The player can choose the order of the first four stages upon starting the game using the D-Pad (or press  START  to accept the default order). The remaining stages are played in sequence.

	Strite
	A world of clouds, mountains, and waters.
	Ruin
	A blue ruin facing the void of space.
	Air Raid
	Fly through a large Vios fleet mobilized for an assault on the Federation.
	Daser
	A desert sandstorm.
	Vios
	Volbados
	Desvio
	Bio-Base
	Wall
	Versus

Versions

Localised names

Also known as

Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	Thunder Force IV	Thunder Force IV
English (US)	Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar	Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar
Japanese	サンダーフォースIV	Thunder Force IV

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

Source:

In-game credits

Digital manuals

• 

  Mega Drive Mini 2 US manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini 2 EU manual

• 

  Mega Drive Mini 2 JP manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Thunder Force IV/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Thunder Force IV/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) NTSC-U 40 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 60 Alaab Alcomputtar (SA) 90 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 88 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 73 Console Mania (IT) 98 Computer & Video Games (UK) 91 Computer & Video Games (UK) 93 Digitiser (UK) 80 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) 93 GameFan (US) NTSC-J 97 Game Mania (UK) 93 Game Power (IT) 93 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 93 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 80 HiScore (DK) PAL 73 Hobby Consolas (ES) 95 Joypad (FR) PAL 94 Joypad (FR) NTSC-J 97 Joystick (FR) NTSC-J 97 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) 94 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-J 94 Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J 82 Mega (UK) NTSC-J 81 Mega Action (UK) 92 Mega Force (FR) 90 Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-J 92 MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J 94 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 80 Mean Machines (UK) NTSC-J 87 Marukatsu Mega Drive (JP) NTSC-J 86 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 89 Player One (FR) 94 Play Time (DE) 91 Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J 91 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 92 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J 92 Sega Force (SE) 92 Sega Force (UK) NTSC-J 88 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 86 Supergame (BR) NTSC-J 90 Supersonic (FR) 93 Tricks 16 bit (RU) NTSC-U 65 Tricks 16 bit (RU) NTSC-J 88 Video Games (DE) 85

	87
Based on 45 reviews

Thunder Force IV

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, SE (rental; Hent; orange)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Thunder Force IV/Technical information.