Thunder Blade

n/a

Thunder Blade

System(s): Sega X Board, Sega Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, MSX, Sharp X68000, TurboGrafx-16, ZX Spectrum

Publisher: Sega,

NEC Avenue,

US Gold

Developer: Sega,

Nova,

Tiertex (MSX at least the disk version),

SPS

Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

Release	Date	RRP	Code

JP	1988-07-30	¥5,5005,500	G-1360
US	1988-10		7011
EU	1988-11-05		MK-7011-50
BR	19xx
KR	19xx		GB-2360
US	1988	$49.9549.95 ^[4]
UK	1988	£24.9924.99 ^[2]^[3]
UK (Kixx)	199x	£7.997.99 ^[5]
US	1988	$49.9549.95 ^[4]
UK	1988	£19.9919.99 ^[2]^[3]
UK (Kixx)	199x	£7.997.99 ^[5]
UK (Disk)	1988	£14.9914.99^[3]
UK (Cassette)	1988	£9.999.99 ^[2]^[3]
US	1988	$34.9534.95 ^[4]
EU	1988
UK (Cassette)	1988	£9.999.99 ^[2]^[3]
UK (Disk)	1988	£14.9914.99^[3]
UK (Disk)	1988	£12.9912.99^[3]
UK (Cassette)	1988	£8.998.99 ^[2]^[3]
US	1989
EU	1989
EU	1989

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

Source:

In-game credits

Gallery

Deluxe cabinet
Upright cabinet

Magazine articles

Main article: Thunder Blade/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

X Board US flyer
X Board JP flyer (?)
X Board EU flyer (deluxe)
X Board EU flyer (upright)
ThunderBlade SMS FR PrintAdvert.jpg

Master System FR print advert
Home computers UK print advert
Kixx 16bit UK PrintAd.jpg

Home computers UK print advert (Kixx)
Home computers FR print advert
Home computers FI print advert
ZX Spectrum ES print advert

Home computers print advert in Electronic Game Player (US) #4: "September/October 1988" (1988-xx-xx)
also published in:

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #bg89: "1989 Buyer's Guide" (1989-xx-xx)^[6]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #1: "May 1989" (1989-0x-xx)^[7]

Home computers print advert in ACE (UK) #14: "November 1988" (1988-xx-xx)

Home computers print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #85: "November 1988" (1988-10-15)

Home computers print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #86: "December 1988" (1988-11-xx)

Home computers print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #86: "December 1988" (1988-11-xx)
also published in:

ACE (UK) #15: "December 1988" (1988-xx-xx)^[8]

Home computers print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #87: "January 1989" (1988-12-16)
also published in:

Computer & Video Games (UK) #88: "February 1989" (1989-01-xx)^[9]

Home computers print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #87: "January 1989" (1988-12-16)

Home computers print advert in ACE (UK) #17: "February 1989" (1989-xx-xx)

Physical scans

X Board version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Thunder Blade

X Board, US (deluxe)

Manual

X Board, US (upright)

Manual

X Board, JP (deluxe)

X Board, JP (upright)

Master System version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

60

^[19]

ACE (UK)

64

^[11]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

79

^[20]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

80

^[12]

The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)

PAL

80

^[13]

Computer Action (DK)

100

^[21]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

65

^[22]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

80

^[14]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

53

^[23]

The Games Machine (UK)

76

^[15]

Génération 4 (FR)

62

^[24]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

70

^[25]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

80

^[16]

S: The Sega Magazine (UK)

PAL

86

^[26]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

50

^[27]

Sega Pro (UK)

70

^[17]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

65

^[28]

Soft Today (DK)

100

^[18]

Software Gids (NL)

88

^[29]

	74
Based on 19 reviews

Thunder Blade

Master System, US
Cover
Cart Manual Poster

Master System, EU
Cover

Master System, EU ® variant
Cover

Master System, EU "no limits" variant
Cover

Master System, JP
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, KR
Cover
Cart

Master System, SE

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Thunder Blade

Amiga, US
Cover

Amiga, UK

Amiga, UK (Kixx)
Cover
Disk

Amstrad CPC version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Thunder Blade

Amstrad CPC, UK (disk)
Cover

Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette) (Kixx)
Cover
Cassette

Amstrad CPC, ES (cassette)
Cover

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Thunder Blade

Atari ST, US
Cover

Atari ST, UK
Cover
Disk 1 Disk 2 Counterpoint Counterpoint Manual

Atari ST, UK (Kixx)

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Thunder Blade

Commodore 64, US
Cover

Commodore 64, UK
Cover

Commodore 64, UK (Kixx)
Cover

DOS version

DOS, US (5.25-inch)
Cover
Disk 1

DOS, US (3.5-inch)
Cover
Disk

MSX version

MSX, ES
Cover

PC Engine version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Computer & Video Games (UK)

46

^[36]

Génération 4 (FR)

69

^[37]

Joystick (FR)

67

^[38]

Power Play (DE)

61

^[39]

Raze (UK)

NTSC-J

72

^[35]

	63
Based on 5 reviews

Thunder Blade

PC Engine, JP
Cover
Card File:Thunder Blade PCE HuCard Manual.pdf Manual

Sharp X68000 version

Sharp X68000, JP
Cover

ZX Spectrum version

Sega Retro Average

Publication	Version	Score

	N/A
Based on 0 reviews

Thunder Blade

ZX Spectrum, UK
Cover
Cassette

ZX Spectrum, UK (Kixx)
Cover

ZX Spectrum, ES
Cover

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Thunder Blade

↑ File:ACE UK 16.pdf, page 167
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 ^2.6 File:CVG UK 087.pdf, page 22
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 ^3.6 ^3.7 ^3.8 File:CVG UK 085.pdf, page 147
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 File:CGW US 060.pdf, page 7
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 File:Kixx 16bit UK PrintAd.jpg
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "1989 Buyer's Guide" (US; 1989-xx-xx), page 57
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1989" (US; 1989-0x-xx), page 49
↑ ACE, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-xx-xx), page 68
↑ Computer & Video Games, "February 1989" (UK; 1989-01-xx), page 2
↑ File:PowerPlay DE 005.pdf, page 100
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 File:ACE UK 16.pdf, page 76 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 16.pdf_p76" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 109 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p109" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^13.0 ^13.1 File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf, page 62 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf_p62" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^14.0 ^14.1 File:CVG UK 085.pdf, page 131 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 085.pdf_p131" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^15.0 ^15.1 File:TGM UK 13.pdf, page 39 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 13.pdf_p39" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^16.0 ^16.1 File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf, page 136 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p136" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^18.0 ^18.1 File:SoftToday DK 01.pdf, page 20 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SoftToday DK 01.pdf_p20" defined multiple times with different content
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 311
↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 74
↑ Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 34
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1988-xx-xx), page 1
↑ Génération 4, "Décembre 1988" (FR; 1988-1x-xx), page 58
↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Enero 1990" (ES; 19xx-xx-xx), page 27
↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-06), page 24
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
↑ Software Gids, "Nov./Dec. 1990" (NL; 1990-11-xx), page 41
↑ File:ACE UK 17.pdf, page 68
↑ ^31.0 ^31.1 ^31.2 ^31.3 ^31.4 File:TGM UK 15.pdf, page 56
↑ File:ACE UK 20.pdf, page 78
↑ ^33.0 ^33.1 File:ACE UK 16.pdf, page 56
↑ File:CVG UK 112.pdf, page 77
↑ ^35.0 ^35.1 File:Raze UK 05.pdf, page 79 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 05.pdf_p79" defined multiple times with different content
↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 93
↑ Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 89
↑ Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 98
↑ Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 150

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
	Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade Original Sound Track (2007) \| Galaxy Force II & Thunder Blade (2017)

[:File:ACE_UK_16.pdf_p167-1] File:ACE UK 16.pdf, page 167

[:File:CVG_UK_087.pdf_p22-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 ^2.6 File:CVG UK 087.pdf, page 22

[:File:CVG_UK_085.pdf_p147-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 ^3.6 ^3.7 ^3.8 File:CVG UK 085.pdf, page 147

[:File:CGW_US_060.pdf_p7-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 File:CGW US 060.pdf, page 7

[:File:Kixx_16bit_UK_PrintAd.jpg_p-5] 5.0 ^5.1 File:Kixx 16bit UK PrintAd.jpg

[:File:EGM_US_BuyersGuide_1989.pdf_p57-6] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "1989 Buyer's Guide" (US; 1989-xx-xx), page 57

[:File:EGM_US_001.pdf_p49-7] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1989" (US; 1989-0x-xx), page 49

[:File:ACE_UK_15.pdf_p68-8] ACE, "December 1988" (UK; 1988-xx-xx), page 68

[:File:CVG_UK_088.pdf_p2-9] Computer & Video Games, "February 1989" (UK; 1989-01-xx), page 2

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_005.pdf_p100-10] File:PowerPlay DE 005.pdf, page 100

[:File:ACE_UK_16.pdf_p76-11] 11.0 ^11.1 File:ACE UK 16.pdf, page 76 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 16.pdf_p76" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CGtC_UK_04.pdf_p109-12] 12.0 ^12.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 109 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p109" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:TheCompleteGuideToSega_UK.pdf_p62-13] 13.0 ^13.1 File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf, page 62 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TheCompleteGuideToSega UK.pdf_p62" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CVG_UK_085.pdf_p131-14] 14.0 ^14.1 File:CVG UK 085.pdf, page 131 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 085.pdf_p131" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:TGM_UK_13.pdf_p39-15] 15.0 ^15.1 File:TGM UK 13.pdf, page 39 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 13.pdf_p39" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p136-16] 16.0 ^16.1 File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf, page 136 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p136" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf_p30-17] 17.0 ^17.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SoftToday_DK_01.pdf_p20-18] 18.0 ^18.1 File:SoftToday DK 01.pdf, page 20 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SoftToday DK 01.pdf_p20" defined multiple times with different content

[19] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 311

[:File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf_p74-20] Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 74

[:File:ComputerAction_DK_01.pdf_p34-21] Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 34

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p146-22] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146

[23] Famitsu, "" (JP; 1988-xx-xx), page 1

[24] Génération 4, "Décembre 1988" (FR; 1988-1x-xx), page 58

[:File:Micromania2_ES_020.pdf_p27-25] Micromanía (segunda época), "Enero 1990" (ES; 19xx-xx-xx), page 27

[:File:StheSegaMagazine_UK_11.pdf_p24-26] S: The Sega Magazine, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-06), page 24

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p60-27] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p72-28] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72

[:File:SoftwareGids_NL_04.pdf_p41-29] Software Gids, "Nov./Dec. 1990" (NL; 1990-11-xx), page 41

[:File:ACE_UK_17.pdf_p68-30] File:ACE UK 17.pdf, page 68

[:File:TGM_UK_15.pdf_p56-31] 31.0 ^31.1 ^31.2 ^31.3 ^31.4 File:TGM UK 15.pdf, page 56

[:File:ACE_UK_20.pdf_p78-32] File:ACE UK 20.pdf, page 78

[:File:ACE_UK_16.pdf_p56-33] 33.0 ^33.1 File:ACE UK 16.pdf, page 56

[:File:CVG_UK_112.pdf_p77-34] File:CVG UK 112.pdf, page 77

[:File:Raze_UK_05.pdf_p79-35] 35.0 ^35.1 File:Raze UK 05.pdf, page 79 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 05.pdf_p79" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CVG_UK_112.pdf_p93-36] Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 93

[:File:Generation4_FR_030.pdf_p89-37] Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 89

[:File:Joystick_FR_013.pdf_p98-38] Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 98

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1991-03.pdf_p150-39] Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 150

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[24]

[25]

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[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

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[35]

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[37]

[38]

[39]

Thunder Blade

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

History

Legacy

Production credits

PC Engine version

Gallery

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

X Board version

Master System version

Amiga version

Amstrad CPC version

Atari ST version

Commodore 64 version

DOS version

MSX version

PC Engine version

Sharp X68000 version

ZX Spectrum version

References