Super Thunder Blade

From Sega Retro

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Super Thunder Blade
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Steam, Virtual Console
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Original system(s): Sega X Board
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥5,8005,800 G-4003
Sega Mega Drive
US
Sega Mega Drive
EU
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
CA
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Mega Drive
KR 		GM4006JG
Wii Virtual Console
JP ▼ 		600pts600[7]
CERO: A
Wii Virtual Console
US ▼ 		800pts800[3]
ESRB: Everyone
Wii Virtual Console
EU ▼ 		800pts800[4]
Wii Virtual Console
AU ▼ 		800pts800[8]
OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Super Thunder Blade (スーパーサンダーブレード) is a shooter for the Sega Mega Drive console published by Sega. It was one of two launch titles for the console in Japan (the other being Space Harrier II) and is a follow-up to the arcade game Thunder Blade.

Gameplay

As in its predecessor, the player takes control of an helicopter which is used to attack a group of guerrillas. The helicopter itself uses guns and missiles (A and C, respectively), and can also air brake (hold B). A distinctive feature that also appears in the arcade game is the use of different viewpoints during the entire game; during normal gameplay and when fighting sub-bosses, the game utilizes a third-person perspective from behind the helicopter, similar to Space Harrier, but the camera changes to a top-down perspective when fighting bosses.

Levels

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Stage 1
Stage 1 takes place in a straight-line city environment, with tanks on the streets and planes flying overhead. After a halt, the stage's mid-level boss, an oversized tank, appears; destroy the turrets on its sides and main gun to clear it. From there, the stage switches to an overhead perspective as it flies over an aircraft carrier. Avoid the cannons on the carrier's floor and destroy the grounded planes for more points.

Supthunbld stage2.png

Stage 2
Stage 2 is located in a mountainous area with wooded landscapes. One of the major features of the level is a stone structure with two holes (presumably for the tanks) cut out of it; the player must navigate their way through these openings. These openings fly into caves with pillars, stalagmites and stalactites, which must be avoided. The mid-boss for this stage is helicopter which fires from its wings, but in the middle, shoots missiles. Destroy all three firing areas to proceed. The overhead boss of the level is a massive tank. It fires from its cannons in the middle. Move to the near-ends of the right and left of the screen while shooting to take out any cannons and avoid fire.

Supthunbld stage3.png

Stage 3
Stage 3 takes place on the seas with battleships and helicopters, which departs from the Stage 3 of Thunder Blade. The battleships are large but can be out-maneuvered easily. During the now-familiar pause in action, the mini boss will show his ugly head. Watch out for the chain of fire as it emerges from the distance. An oversized stealth flyer serves as the overhead boss for this level and aside from the cannon fire, it shoots out green balls of pain.

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Stage 4
Stage 4 is similar to Stage 1, though it takes place at night and the player moves at a slightly faster pace than before. In addition, the roads now have horizontal barriers in them that need to be flown over, under or through a gap between two. The midbosses are two robotic vehicles; it is advised to concentrate on dodging their attacks versus an outright assault. The final overhead area is a military base, and the final boss is a large cannon located in the middle of the base.

Bosses

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Stage 1 Mid-Boss
Maneater Sub-Commander (TM-91B2) in western manual or MANEATER [TM-91B2] in japanese manual. Exclusive to Super Thunder Blade. A large tank with three missile launchers and a High-Power Mason Cannon. Easy to avoid by circle motion.

Supthunbld Boss1.png

Stage 1 Boss
Seaminer Commander (CVA-65) in western manual or SEAMINER [CVA-65] in japanese manual. It's actually a different kind of ship than the one in Thunder Blade, being aircraft carrier. Thus much wider, carries aircraft and missile launcher are placed on the sides.

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Stage 2 Mid-Boss
Fujii Sub-Commander (TU-027) in western manual or FUJII-027 [Tu-027D] in japanese manual. Exclusive to Super Thunder Blade. Attack aircraft. Hovers in front of player and shoots at him with missiles out of rear. May hit player while entering the screen despite doing circle motion.

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Stage 2 Boss
Land-Buster Commander (TFA-001A) in western manual or LAND-BUSTER [TFA-001A] in japanese manual. Huge strategic tank with nuclear engine. Somewhat different from Thunder Blade counterpart including missile launchers placement.

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Stage 3 Mid-Boss
Aqua-Lyzer Sub-Commander (SSA-01N) in western manual or AQUA-LYZER [SSA-01N] in japanese manual. Exclusive to Super Thunder Blade. Nuclear submarine that arrives from underwater. Circle motions still work against it.

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Stage 3 Boss
U-JAC-001 Commander in western manual or U-JAC-001 [SRS-UJ-001] in japanese manual. Space aircraft. Somewhat different from Thunder Blade counterpart in missile launchers placement.

Supthunbld MiniBoss4.png

Stage 4 Mid-Boss
Sigma-01 Sub-Commander (S-01) and Sigma-02 Sub-Commander (S-02) in western manual or SIGMA-01 [Σ-01] and SIGMA-02 [Σ-02] in japanese manual. Exclusive to Super Thunder Blade. 25 feet of mechanical armor for infantry, aka mechs. Sigma-01 will stand and shoot at you from a single spot while Sigma-02 hovers around and shoots as well, the latter usually taking longer to defeat. There are chances that he will hit player despite the circle motion.

Supthunbld Boss4.png

Stage 4 Boss
Simply called Guerilla Basement in western manual. Exclusive to Super Thunder Blade. A top-down perspective boss zone that replaces behind-the-view perspective guerilla base boss fight in Thunder Blade. The only top-down perspective boss where it's mandatory to destroy a certain target. Make use of air brakes to slowly move backward and not fly past the target.

History

Sequels and re-releases

It was released for the Virtual Console on September 17, 2007. It was also included in the Sega Mega Drive Collection for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable in 2007 and in Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Versions

Differences from Thunder Blade

The Mega Drive programmers' solution to the scaling in the overhead stages of Thunder Blade was to simply cut them out completely. Instead, each stage starts off in the over-the-shoulder segment. To make up for this, these stages now have a new mid-boss, similar to the one fought at the end of the arcade version. After defeating this, the helicopter goes into an overhead view, but there's no scaling at all (which makes sense, as players couldn't change altitude in these scenes either.) These play out pretty much the same as the arcade game.

Once again, there are only four stages, with the first, second and fourth being roughly identical to the arcade game, and the third being a brand new level that takes place over the ocean. There's also a new final boss, fought in the overhead perspective.

Production credits

Source:
In-game credits


Digital manuals

  • Steam manual

Magazine articles

Main article: Super Thunder Blade/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #111: "February 1991" (1991-01-16)
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #0: "Extra issue of Beep!" (1989-04-27)
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Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
88 №26, p144[11]
50 №1990-02, p69[12]
51 №, p85[13]
80 №1, p74[14]
69 [15]
60 №3, p13[1]
78 №62, [1]
76 [16]
70 №8, p71[17]
75 №6, p100[18]
59 №5, p94
41 №9, p22
69 №1, p80/81[19]
75 №3, p66[2]
40 №23, p54
83 №6, p30[20]
73 №18, p68
37 №8, p25[21]
Sega Mega Drive
 65
Based on
18 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[22]
ACE (UK) PAL
88
[11]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
50
[23]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
80
[24]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
69
[15]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
69
[25]
Console XS (UK) PAL
79
[26]
Cool Gamer (RU)
60
[27]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)
60
[1]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
49
[28]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
78
[29]
The Games Machine (UK)
82
[16]
Games Preview (DK)
70
[17]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
75
[18]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
59
[30]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
65
[31]
Mega (UK) PAL
18
[32]
Mega (UK) PAL
41
[33]
MegaTech (UK)
69
[19]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
60
[34]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
69
[35]
Raze (UK) PAL
75
[2]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
25
[36]
Sega Pro (UK)
83
[20]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
73
[37]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
37
[21]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
51
[38]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
63
[39]
Sega Mega Drive
 62
Based on
28 reviews

Super Thunder Blade

Mega Drive, US
Supthunbld md us cover.jpg
Cover
Supthunbld md us cart.jpg
Cart
Super Thunder Blade MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
Supthunbld md eu cover.jpg
Cover
Supthunbld md eu cart.jpg
Cart
Supthundbld MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega Drive, JP
Supthunbld md jp cover.jpg
Cover
SuperThunderBlade MD JP CartTop.jpg
Superthunderblade md jp cart.jpg
Cart
Superthunderblade md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
Superthunderblade md br cover.jpg
Cover
SuperThunderBlade MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, CA
SuperThunderBlade MD CA Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, KR

SuperThunderBlade MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, PT

Super Thunder Blade MD PT Manual.pdf
Manual

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,

SuperThunderBlade MegaTech Cart Back.jpgSuperThunderBlade MegaTech Cart.jpg
Cart

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September/October 1989" (US; 1989-0x-xx), page 13 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 003.pdf_p13" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:EGM US 003.pdf_p13" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 File:Raze UK 03.pdf, page 66 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 03.pdf_p66" defined multiple times with different content
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/8hO0xYK4iTB74yiySsy0qXkXApMa3kco (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-23 02:21)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/super_thunder_blade (Wayback Machine: 2017-07-04 17:12)
  5. ↑ https://archive.is/nLoAk
  6. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/04.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-05 23:40)
  7. ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_thunderblade/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-10-13 05:43)
  8. ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19780&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 03:22)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 https://steamdb.info/app/34314/ (Wayback Machine: 2017-05-24 23:30)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 http://steamdb.info/app/34314/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 19:39)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 File:ACE UK 26.pdf, page 144 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 26.pdf_p144" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ File:BeepMD_JP_1990-02.pdf, page 71
  13. ↑ File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 87
  14. ↑ File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf, page 74
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 36
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 The Games Machine, "June 1989" (UK; 1989-05-18), page 19
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 File:GamesPreview DK 08.pdf, page 71 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamesPreview DK 08.pdf_p71" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 File:HobbyConsolas ES 006.pdf, page 92 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 006.pdf_p92" defined multiple times with different content
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf, page 80 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MegaTech UK 01.pdf_p80" defined multiple times with different content
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 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
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf, page 25 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 08.pdf_p25" defined multiple times with different content
  22. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 231
  23. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1990" (JP; 1990-01-08), page 71
  24. ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 74
  25. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 50
  26. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 135
  27. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 214
  28. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 102
  29. ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1988-1x-xx), page 1
  30. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 94
  31. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "November 1989" (JP; 1989-10-07), page 49
  32. ↑ Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 60
  33. ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 21
  34. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Enero 1991" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 36
  35. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
  36. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  37. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  38. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  39. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 192


Super Thunder Blade

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Main page | Comparisons | Credits | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


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