Thunder Force III

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ThunderForceIII MDTitleScreen.png

Thunder Force III
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Tecnosoft
Developer:
Distributor: HOT-B (US)
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code

Thunder Force III (サンダーフォースIII) is a 1990 shoot-'em-up developed by Tecnosoft for the Sega Mega Drive. It is the third game in the Thunder Force series and the first to debut on a Sega console. It was brought to the arcades as Thunder Force AC.

Thunder Force III was released in the US, Japan, South Korea and Brazil, but it is not thought to have been released in the pan-Euro area. However, the US release is known to have been distributed in limited numbers across France and Germany, with the instruction manual exchanged for localised versions[1]. Official releases in other PAL regions have not been confirmed.

Story

Immediately after the events of Thunder Force II, the Galaxy Federation discovers five cloaking devices on five planets circling the ORN Empire's main base, and that any attempt to destroy these cloaking devices will result in ORN's Cerberus destroyer — capable of detecting and destroying large fleets — to take action. With this knowledge, the Galaxy Federation builds a new ship that is both powerful enough to destroy the five cloaking devices yet small enough to avoid detection by Cerberus.

Gameplay

Unlike its predecessors, III only features side-scrolling stages. B fires; there is rapidfire. A changes speed. C changes weapons. Powerups are collected in the usual way.

Levels

You can start at any of the first five levels, skipping over ones before it.

Notavailable.svg Planet Hydra
A horizontal wilderness. Your only threats are ORN's enemies, with some enemies coming from behind, some shooting homing missiles, and some shooting lasers up at you when you cross.

Boss: Gargoyle: A chicken-like beast that shoots fireballs at you. Hi its stomach repeatedly to destroy it.

Notavailable.svg Planet Gorgon
A lava planet with rapidly rising columns of lava being the greatest natural threat. ORN has filled this planet with all sorts of laser enemies to stop you, and the balls of rock take quite a number of hits.

Boss: Twin Vulcan: Two machines that circle the screen and shoot bullets at you at intervals. Destroy them both (you won't have to worry about one coming back if you take too long; it won't).

Notavailable.svg Planet Seiren
An underwater level full of ORN enemies.

Boss: King Fish

Notavailable.svg Planet Haides
A mountainous level with terrain that rises, falls, and moves around in other ways. Think fast!

Boss: G Lobster

Notavailable.svg Planet Ellis
What appears to be an ice mountain planet full of ORN enemies.

Boss: Mobile Fort

Notavailable.svg Cerberus
Destroy the destroyer one piece at a time. Penetrate through to the inside and defeat the core to destroy the ship (regardless of how much of the outside you destroyed).
Notavailable.svg ORN Base
Enemies stand guard left and right while a number of traps block your way. Beware the doors that close in on you; you lose a life if you're on the wrong side...

Boss: ("No Data")

Notavailable.svg ORN Core
The base of operations of ORN. This is a short level where you fight a miniboss and then face the final boss.

Boss: CHA OS [sic]: It (what it was is revealed in the ending) attacks rapidly with several different types of bullets, some of which (like its wave shots) you can destroy.

Production credits

  • Program: Izumi Fukuda, Takashi Iwanaga, Haruhiko Ohtsuka
  • Graphics & Design: Osamu Tsujikawa, Yoichi Muto
  • Stage Design: Takashi Iwanaga
  • Music Compose: Toshiharu Yamanishi, Tomomi Ohtani
  • Sound Effects: Naosuke Arai
  • Voice: kaoru
  • Manual: Fumio Sugano
  • Wording: Kazue Matsuoka
  • Produce: Techno Soft

Magazine articles

Main article: Thunder Force III/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-07: "July 1990" (1990-06-08)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #2: "October/November 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
91 №35, p60[3]
91 №3, p85
89 №4, p37[4]
90 №0, p36/37
95 №105, p84/85[5]
78 №309, p39
91 №1, p54/55[6]
92 №16, p108/109[7]
85 №33, p55[8]
95 №2, p24/25[9]
94 №6, p138/139[10]
93 №8, p105
84 №1, p80[11]
85 №5, p95
89 №1, p81[12]
86 №13, p88-90[13]
97 №13, p54/55[14]
80 №23, p54/55
82 №24, p22
89 №6, p30[15]
88 №9, p28/29[16]
89 №18, p68
88 №12, p37[17]
85 №81, p58/59
94 №11, p72
Sega Mega Drive
 89
Based on
25 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[18]
ACE (UK)
91
[3]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
85
[19]
Buzz! Computers (UK)
95
[20]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
91
[21]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
89
[4]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
89
[22]
Consoles + (FR)
90
[23]
Console XS (UK) PAL
90
[24]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
95
[5]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
83
[25]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
91
[26]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
78
[27]
FX (UK)
84
[28]
Game Power (IT)
91
[6]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
92
[7]
The Games Machine (UK)
85
[8]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
95
[9]
Joypad (FR)
94
[10]
Joystick (FR)
93
[29]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
84
[11]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
85
[30]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
87
[31]
Mega Force (FR) NTSC
100
[32]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
88
[33]
MegaTech (UK)
89
[12]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
89
[34]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
73
[35]
Mean Machines (UK)
86
[13]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
89
[36]
Player One (FR)
97
[14]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC
75
[37]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
82
[38]
Sega Pro (UK)
89
[15]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
88
[16]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
89
[39]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
84
[40]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
83
[41]
Supergame (BR)
88
[17]
Tilt (FR)
85
[42]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
85
[43]
Zero (UK)
94
[44]
Sega Mega Drive
 87
Based on
42 reviews

Thunder Force III

Mega Drive, US
ThunderForce3 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Thunderforce3 md us cart.jpg
Cart
Thunder Force III MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, JP
ThunderForce3 MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
ThunderForceIII MD JP Cart Top.jpg
ThunderForceIII MD JP Cart Back.jpgThunderForce3 MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, FR

Mega Drive, DE

Mega Drive, BR
Thunderforceiii md br cover.jpg
Cover
MDCartThunderForceIII c.jpg
MDCartThunderForceIII f.jpg
Cart
Thunderforceiii md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
ThunderForceIII MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
ThunderForceIII MD KR cart.jpg
Cart

References

  1. ↑ http://www.retrocollect.com/Guides/pal-thunder-force-iii-and-the-controversial-sega-megadrive-releases.html
  2. ↑ Game Players Sega Guide!, "Vol. 1, No. 1: Fall 1990" (US; 1990-10-xx), page 23
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 File:ACE UK 35.pdf, page 60 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 35.pdf_p60" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 37 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p37" defined multiple times with different content
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 File:CVG UK 105.pdf, page 84 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 105.pdf_p84" defined multiple times with different content
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 File:GamePower IT 01.pdf, page 56 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePower IT 01.pdf_p56" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 File:GamePro US 016.pdf, page 106 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 016.pdf_p106" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 File:TGM UK 33.pdf, page 55 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 33.pdf_p55" defined multiple times with different content
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 File:HobbyConsolas ES 002.pdf, page 24 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 002.pdf_p24" defined multiple times with different content
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 File:Joypad FR 006.pdf, page 138 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 006.pdf_p138" defined multiple times with different content
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 File:MDAG UK 01.pdf, page 80 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MDAG UK 01.pdf_p80" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf, page 81 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf_p81" defined multiple times with different content
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 File:MeanMachines UK 13.pdf, page 88 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 13.pdf_p88" defined multiple times with different content
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 File:PlayerOne FR 013.pdf, page 54 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 013.pdf_p54" defined multiple times with different content
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 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
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 File:SegaPro UK 09.pdf, page 28 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 09.pdf_p28" defined multiple times with different content
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 File:Supergame BR 12.pdf, page 37 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Supergame BR 12.pdf_p37" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 243
  19. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "June 1990" (JP; 1990-05-08), page 109
  20. ↑ Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
  21. ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume III" (UK; 1990-08-xx), page 85
  22. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 50
  23. ↑ Consoles +, "Tilt Hors-Serie" (FR; 1991-07-xx), page 36
  24. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 135
  25. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 19
  26. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 108
  27. ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-0x-xx), page 1
  28. ↑ FX (UK) (+0:00)
  29. ↑ Joystick, "Septembre 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 105
  30. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  31. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "October 1990" (JP; 1990-09-08), page 79
  32. ↑ Mega Force, "Septembre/Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-09-13), page 97
  33. ↑ Mega Play, "February 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 40
  34. ↑ MegaTech, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-20), page 43
  35. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Noviembre 1991" (ES; 1991-1x-xx), page 43
  36. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
  37. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  38. ↑ Sega Power, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-04), page 22
  39. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  40. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 170
  41. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  42. ↑ Tilt, "Septembre 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 58
  43. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27
  44. ↑ Zero, "September 1990" (UK; 1990-08-09), page 72



Thunder Force games for Sega systems / developed by Sega
Sega Mega Drive
 Thunder Force II (1989) | Thunder Force III (1990) | Thunder Force IV / Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (1992)
Arcade
 Thunder Force AC (1990)
Sega Saturn
 Thunder Force: Gold Pack 1 (1996) | Thunder Force: Gold Pack 2 (1996) | Thunder Force V (1997)
Sony PlayStation 2
 Thunder Force VI (2008)
Nintendo Switch
 Sega Ages Thunder Force IV (2018) | Sega Ages Thunder Force AC (2020)
Thunder Force related media
Music
 Best of Thunder Force (1997) | Thunder Force VI Soundtrack Demo (2008) | Thunder Force IV (2019) | Technosoft Music Collection: Thunder Force III & AC (2020) | Technosoft Music Collection: Thunder Force IV (2021) | Technosoft Music Collection: Thunder Force I & II (2022)
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