Thunder Blade

From Sega Retro

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Thunder Blade Title.png

Thunder Blade
System(s): Sega X Board, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, MSX, Sega Master System, Sharp X68000, TurboGrafx-16, ZX Spectrum
Publisher: Sega
TurboGrafx-16
NEC Avenue
Amiga
MSX
US Gold
Developer:
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Release Date RRP Code

Thunder Blade (サンダーブレード) is a 1987 arcade shoot 'em up game designed for Sega X Board hardware. It is heavily inspired by the Blue Thunder franchise of the early 1980s.

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, DOS, MSX, Sega Master System, Sharp X68000, TurboGrafx-16 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.

Production Credits

PC Engine Version

Executive Producer: Makoto Sakio
Producer: Toshio Tabeta
Director: Takashi Ozama
Programmer: God Hand
Graphics: Nori-P Hide
Sound: Funky
Assistant: Quite Person, C. Willow
Special Thanks To: K. Matsuda, Tacs Tax and other staff
© Sega 1988
Reprogrammed Game © NEC Avenue, Ltd. 1990

Gallery

  • Deluxe cabinet

  • Upright cabinet

Promotional Material

  • ThunderBlade SMS US PrintAdvert.jpg

    Master System US print advert

  • Home computers UK print advert

  • Home computers FR print advert

  • ZX Spectrum ES print advert

Physical Scans

X Board Version

X Board, US (deluxe)
X Board, US (upright)
X Board, JP (deluxe)
X Board, JP (upright)

Master System Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
64 №16, p76
79 №1, p74
80 №4, p109
80 №85, p131
76 №13, p39
70 №2/20
86 №11
60 №23, p60
70 №6, p30
Sega Master System
 74
Based on
9 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[1]
ACE (UK)
64
[2]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
79
[3]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
80
[4]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
80
[5]
Computer Action (DK)
100
[6]
Console XS (UK) PAL
65
[7]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
80
[8]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
53
[9]
The Games Machine (UK)
76
[10]
Génération 4 (FR)
62
[11]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
70
[12]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
80
[13]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
86
[14]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[15]
Sega Pro (UK)
70
[16]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
65
[17]
Soft Today (DK)
100
[18]
Software Gids (NL)
88
[19]
Sega Master System
 74
Based on
19 reviews

Thunder Blade

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 Front.jpg
Poster (front)
SegaAdventure SMS US Poster Back.jpg
Poster (back)
Master System, EU
ThunderBlade SMS EU cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
® variant
ThunderBlade SMS EU R cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
"no limits" variant
ThunderBlade SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
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, 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

Amiga Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
85 №15, p56/57
Amiga
 85
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Amiga
 N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Thunder Blade

Amiga, US

Amiga, EU

Amiga, EU (Kixx)

Amstrad CPC Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
78 №20
54 №15, p56
Amstrad CPC
 66
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Amstrad CPC
 N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Thunder Blade

Amstrad CPC, EU (disk)
ThunderBlade CPC EU Box.jpg
Cover
Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette) (Kixx)
ThunderBlade CPC EU Box Cassette Kixx.jpg
Cover
ThunderBlade CPC UK Cassette Kixx.jpg
Cassette
Amstrad CPC, ES (cassette)
ThunderBlade CPC ES Box Cassette Erbe.jpg
Cover

Atari ST Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
66 №87
84 №15, p56/57
Atari ST
 75
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Atari ST
 N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Thunder Blade

Atari ST, US
ThunderBlade ST US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngThunderBlade ST US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Atari ST, EU

Atari ST, EU (Kixx)

Commodore 64 Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 №16
65 №15, p56/57
72 №75
Commodore 64
 72
Based on
3 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Commodore 64
 N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Thunder Blade

Commodore 64, US
ThunderBlade C64 US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Commodore 64, EU

Commodore 64, EU (Kixx)
ThunderBlade C64 EU Box Kixx.jpg
Cover

DOS Version

DOS, US
ThunderBlade DOS US Box Front.jpg
Cover

MSX Version

MSX, EU

MSX, ES (Erbe)
ThunderBlade MSX ES Box Erbe.jpg
Cover

TurboGrafx-16 Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
67 №13, p98
PC Engine
 67
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK)
46
[20]
Génération 4 (FR)
69
[21]
Joystick (FR)
67
[22]
Power Play (DE)
61
[23]
Raze (UK) NTSC-J
72
[24]
PC Engine
 63
Based on
5 reviews

Thunder Blade

TurboGrafx-16, JP
<div style="margin:auto; max-width:Expression error: Unexpected < operator.px"> 320x80px
Cover
50x50px
HuCard

Sharp X68000 Version

Sharp X68000, JP
Thunder Blade X68000 JP Box.png
Cover

ZX Spectrum Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
79
82 №87
87 №15, p56
ZX Spectrum
 83
Based on
3 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
ZX Spectrum
 N/A
Based on
0 reviews

Thunder Blade

ZX Spectrum, UK
ThunderBlade Spectrum EU Box.jpg
Cover
ThunderBlade Spectrum UK Cassette.jpg
Cassette
ZX Spectrum, UK (Kixx)
ThunderBlade Spectrum EU Box Kixx.jpg
Cover
ZX Spectrum, ES
ThunderBlade Spectrum ES Box Erbe.jpg
Cover
  1. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 311
  2. ↑ ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 76
  3. ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 74
  4. ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 109
  5. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 62
  6. ↑ Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 34
  7. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
  8. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1988" (UK; 1988-10-15), page 131
  9. ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1988-xx-xx), page 1
  10. ↑ The Games Machine, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-11-17), page 39
  11. ↑ Génération 4, "Décembre 1988" (FR; 1988-1x-xx), page 58
  12. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Enero 1990" (ES; 19xx-xx-xx), page 27
  13. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  14. ↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-06), page 24
  15. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
  16. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 30
  17. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  18. ↑ Soft Today, "Januar 1989" (DK; 1988-12-xx), page 20
  19. ↑ Software Gids, "Nov./Dec. 1990" (NL; 1990-11-xx), page 41
  20. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 93
  21. ↑ Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 89
  22. ↑ Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 98
  23. ↑ Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 150
  24. ↑ Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 79
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