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^[1]^[2]^[3]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1992-07-24^[3]	¥8,800 (9,064)8,800e^[4]	T-18063
US	1992	$29.9929.99^[5]	1143
EU	1992		1143-50
UK	1992-12-10^[6]^[7]	£49.9949.99^[8]	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^[9]

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

Version

Score

(RU)

NTSC-U

40

^[10]

(RU)

60

^[11]

(SA)

90

^[12]

(DE)

88

^[13]

(JP)

NTSC-J

73

^[14]

(IT)

98

^[15]

(UK)

91

^[8]

(UK)

93

^[16]

(UK)

80

^[17]

(UK)

93

^[18]

(US)

NTSC-J

97

^[19]

(UK)

93

^[20]

(IT)

93

^[21]

(US)

NTSC-U

93

^[5]

(JP)

NTSC-J

80

^[22]

(DK)

PAL

73

^[23]

(ES)

95

^[24]

(FR)

PAL

94

^[25]

(FR)

NTSC-J

97

^[26]

(FR)

NTSC-J

97

^[27]

(UK)

94

^[28]

(UK)

NTSC-J

94

^[29]

(JP)

NTSC-J

82

^[30]

(UK)

NTSC-J

81

^[31]

(UK)

92

^[32]

(FR)

90

^[33]

(DE)

NTSC-J

92

^[34]

(UK)

NTSC-J

94

^[35]

(ES)

80

^[36]

(UK)

NTSC-J

87

^[37]

(JP)

NTSC-J

86

^[38]

(UK)

89

^[39]

(FR)

94

^[40]

(DE)

91

^[41]

(UK)

NTSC-J

91

^[42]

(UK)

PAL

92

^[43]

(UK)

NTSC-J

92

^[44]

(SE)

92

^[45]

(UK)

NTSC-J

88

^[46]

(JP)

NTSC-J

86

^[47]

(BR)

NTSC-J

90

^[48]

(FR)

93

^[49]

(RU)

NTSC-U

65

^[50]

(RU)

NTSC-J

88

^[51]

(DE)

85

^[52]

	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.

References

↑ File:ThunderForce4 MD JP Box.jpg
↑ File:ThunderForceIV MD KR cover.jpg
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1992" (JP; 1992-06-08), page 146
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 GamePro, "August 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 68
↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-23), page 18
↑ Sega Pro, "Christmas 1992" (UK; 1992-12-10), page 14
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 Computer & Video Games, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 106
↑ File:Thunder Force IV MD credits.pdf
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 116
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 243
↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 73
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Oktober 1992" (DE; 1992-09-11), page 126
↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 26
↑ Console Mania, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 86
↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-15), page 36
↑ Digitiser (UK) (1993-02-03)
↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 108
↑ GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 1: October 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 6
↑ Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80
↑ Game Power, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 30
↑ Hippon Super, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-04), page 37
↑ HiScore, "15 Juli - 15 September" (DK; 1993-07-15), page 19
↑ Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 26
↑ Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 159
↑ Joypad, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 54
↑ Joystick, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 172
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 24
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
↑ Mega Drive Fan, "October 1992" (JP; 1992-09-xx), page 67
↑ Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 48
↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65
↑ Mega Force, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 68
↑ Mega Fun, "08/92" (DE; 1992-08-18), page 16
↑ MegaTech, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-20), page 30
↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 50
↑ Mean Machines, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-27), page 84
↑ Marukatsu Mega Drive, "September 1992" (JP; 1992-08-xx), page 119
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
↑ Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 64
↑ Play Time, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-09), page 95
↑ Sega Power, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-01), page 54
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
↑ Sega Pro, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-13), page 64
↑ Sega Force, "5/93" (SE; 1993-08-26), page 18
↑ Sega Force, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 54
↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
↑ Supergame, "Janeiro 1993" (BR; 1993-01-xx), page 12
↑ Supersonic, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 22
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 151
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27
↑ Video Games, "9/92" (DE; 1992-08-26), page 52

Thunder Force IV

Music: (2019) | (2021)

Thunder Force games for Sega systems / developed by Sega
	Thunder Force II (1989) \| Thunder Force III (1990) \| Thunder Force IV / Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (1992)
	Thunder Force AC (1990)
	Thunder Force: Gold Pack 1 (1996) \| Thunder Force: Gold Pack 2 (1996) \| Thunder Force V (1997)
	Thunder Force VI (2008)
	Sega Ages Thunder Force IV (2018) \| Sega Ages Thunder Force AC (2020)
Thunder Force related media
	(1997) \| (2008) \| (2019) \| (2020) \| (2021) \| (2022)

[:File:ThunderForce4_MD_JP_Box.jpg_p-1] File:ThunderForce4 MD JP Box.jpg

[:File:ThunderForceIV_MD_KR_cover.jpg_p-2] File:ThunderForceIV MD KR cover.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200702232146.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware_l.html-3] 3.0 ^3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-07.pdf_p146-4] Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1992" (JP; 1992-06-08), page 146

[:File:GamePro_US_049.pdf_p68-5] 5.0 ^5.1 GamePro, "August 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 68

[6] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-23), page 18

[:File:SegaPro_UK_15.pdf_p14-7] Sega Pro, "Christmas 1992" (UK; 1992-12-10), page 14

[:File:CVG_UK_151.pdf_p106-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Computer & Video Games, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 106

[:File:Thunder_Force_IV_MD_credits.pdf_p-9] File:Thunder Force IV MD credits.pdf

[10] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 116

[11] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 243

[:File:AlaabAlcomputtar_SA_2.pdf_p73-12] Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 73

[:File:ASM_DE_1992-10.pdf_p126-13] Aktueller Software Markt, "Oktober 1992" (DE; 1992-09-11), page 126

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1992-08.pdf_p26-14] Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 26

[:File:ConsoleMania_IT_012.pdf_p86-15] Console Mania, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 86

[:File:CVG_UK_131.pdf_p36-16] Computer & Video Games, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-15), page 36

[digitiser1993-02-03-17] Digitiser (UK) (1993-02-03)

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p108-18] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 108

[:File:GameFan_US_0101.pdf_p6-19] GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 1: October 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 6

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p80-20] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80

[:File:GamePower_IT_10.pdf_p30-21] Game Power, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 30

[22] Hippon Super, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-04), page 37

[:File:HiScore_DK_01.pdf_p19-23] HiScore, "15 Juli - 15 September" (DK; 1993-07-15), page 19

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_016.pdf_p26-24] Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 26

[:File:Joypad_FR_016.pdf_p159-25] Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 159

[:File:Joypad_FR_012.pdf_p54-26] Joypad, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 54

[:File:Joystick_FR_030.pdf_p172-27] Joystick, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 172

[:File:MDAG_UK_02.pdf_p24-28] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 24

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p95-29] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95

[:File:Mdfan_JP_1992-10.pdf_p67-30] Mega Drive Fan, "October 1992" (JP; 1992-09-xx), page 67

[:File:Mega_UK_01.pdf_p48-31] Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 48

[:File:MegaAction_UK_01.pdf_p65-32] Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65

[:File:MegaForce_FR_10.pdf_p68-33] Mega Force, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 68

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1992-08.pdf_p16-34] Mega Fun, "08/92" (DE; 1992-08-18), page 16

[:File:MegaTech_UK_09.pdf_p30-35] MegaTech, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-20), page 30

[:File:Micromania2_ES_057.pdf_p50-36] Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 50

[:File:MeanMachines_UK_24.pdf_p84-37] Mean Machines, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-27), page 84

[:File:MarukatuMD_JP_01.pdf_p119-38] Marukatsu Mega Drive, "September 1992" (JP; 1992-08-xx), page 119

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p142-39] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_025.pdf_p64-40] Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 64

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1993-01.pdf_p95-41] Play Time, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-09), page 95

[:File:SegaPower_UK_36.pdf_p54-42] Sega Power, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-01), page 54

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p68-43] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68

[:File:SegaPro_UK_11.pdf_p64-44] Sega Pro, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-13), page 64

[:File:SegaForce_SE_1993_05.pdf_p18-45] Sega Force, "5/93" (SE; 1993-08-26), page 18

[:File:SegaForce_UK_10.pdf_p54-46] Sega Force, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 54

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p85-47] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85

[:File:Supergame_BR_18.pdf_p12-48] Supergame, "Janeiro 1993" (BR; 1993-01-xx), page 12

[:File:Supersonic_FR_04.pdf_p22-49] Supersonic, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 22

[50] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 151

[51] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1992-09.pdf_p52-52] Video Games, "9/92" (DE; 1992-08-26), page 52

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Thunder Force IV

From Sega Retro

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Weapons

Items

Stages

Versions

Localised names

Production credits

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Technical information

References