Thunder Force IV

From Sega Retro

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  • NTSC-U

ThunderForceIV MDTitleScreen.png

LighteningForce MD TitleScreen.png

Thunder Force IV
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Tecnosoft (Japan), Sega (US, Europe)
Developer:
Genre: Shooting[1][2][3]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥8,800 (9,064)8,800e[4] T-18063
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$29.9929.99[5] 1143
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		1143-50
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£49.9949.99[6] 1143-50
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
KR 		GM8055JT

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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 Tecnosoft released for the Sega Mega Drive. It is the fourth game in the Thunder Force series.

Story

Shortly after defeating the ORN Empire in Thunder Force III, the Galaxy Federation comes under attack by survivors of the empire, who have banded together to form a new threat, Vios. Vios turns out to be more powerful than ORN ever was, and the Galaxy Federation must again use a new small craft to destroy their base on the planet Aceria.

Gameplay

Gameplay is almost identical to III: B shoots (you have rapidfire), A changes speed by 25% while holding the button down constantly adds 1%, C changes weapon, and powerups are collected from enemies. Unlike III, however, you are not fixed to the camera motion; holding Up and Down will take you higher/lower than the screen limits (as in II).

Weapons

  • Blade: Update of the standard shot. Destructive but big bullets, sometimes too big (see Strite boss)
  • Railgun: Update of the rear shot
  • Freeway: Small rockets that fire in the opposite direction of the ships movement
  • Snake: Bombs that travel along the ground/ceiling
  • Hunter: Homing orbs

Stages

The first four stages can be played in any order; the order listed here is the default.

Notavailable.svg Strite
A world full of clouds, mountains, and waters. You spend two "days" on this planet, primarily shooting down basic enemies that either just attack, shoot homing missiles at you, or worse. A giant serpent-like creature will come at you several times. A train-like underwater being will send smaller enemies hurling at you while trying to hit you with a large laser, and the rising boss ship will make it easier for homing missiles to hit you...
  • Boss: A giant ship with a fin on the bottom that shoots fireballs at you. Hit it enough and it will detach from the ship, revealing a free-moving sub-ship that will attack you in a variety of ways. Due to collision detection on the boss' weak spot, it's very difficult to damage him with the "Blade" weapon.
Notavailable.svg Ruin
A blue ruin facing the void of space. Here you face larger robots on pedestals that are hard to defeat, pairs of laser-shooting shark-like beings, barriers that form as you move, and small, immobile enemies that generate themselves int he least convenient places. Halfway though you fight a giant robot that spams loads of bullets at you at once.
Notavailable.svg Air-Raid
Possibly better called an outer space raid: you fly through an asteroid belt, avoiding the (multiple) turrets that constantly send bullets your way and follow your every move. You also have to dodge the regular enemies (they come fast) and avoid crashing into an asteroid. Halfway through, the astroids start moving at very high speeds, so pay attention to survive!
Notavailable.svg Daser
Fly through a desert sandstorm. Some enemies can take massive damage before going down.
  • Boss:Formalhaut
Notavailable.svg Vios
Battle the boss ship from stage one in space
Notavailable.svg Volbados
Water and Ice themed world, with the path over and under water being almost completely different play experiences
Notavailable.svg Desvio
Lava themed world with a cameo boss
Notavailable.svg Bio-Base
A stage in a bio-mechanic environment which consists mainly of miniboss fights
Notavailable.svg Wall
Last "proper" stage with moving walls and traps
Notavailable.svg Versus
Final confrontation

Tips and tricks

  • The game has at least two score exploit points. The first is at the enemy just before going underwater in Strite. I constantly releases small enemies. The second is in the final stage, Versus. Keep playing until you reach the large cannon, which you normally must destroy to proceed. Power up items and 1UPs will keep respawning forever. Whether this was by design or an oversight is not clear.

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

Magazine articles

Main article: Thunder Force IV/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Thunder Force IV/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
92 [7]
93 [8]
91 [9]
98 [10]
87 №13, p84-86
80
93 [11]
97 [12]
93 [13]
93 [14]
95 [15]
97 [16]
94 [17]
97 [18]
94 [19]
81 [20]
92 №1, p65
94 №9, p30-33
87 [21]
94 [22]
91 [23]
91 №36, p54/55
92 №11, p64-65
92 №18, p68
88 [24]
90 [25]
85 [26]
Sega Mega Drive
 92
Based on
27 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) NTSC-U
40
[27]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[28]
Alaab Alcomputtar (SA)
90
[29]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
88
[30]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[31]
Console Mania (IT)
98
[32]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
91
[6]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
93
[33]
Digitiser (UK)
80
[34]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
93
[11]
GameFan (US) NTSC-J
97
[35]
Game Mania (UK)
93
[13]
Game Power (IT)
93
[36]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
93
[5]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
80
[37]
HiScore (DK) PAL
73
[38]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
95
[39]
Joypad (FR) PAL
94
[40]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
97
[41]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
97
[18]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
94
[42]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-J
94
[43]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
82
[44]
Mega (UK) NTSC-J
81
[45]
Mega Action (UK)
92
[46]
Mega Force (FR)
90
[47]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-J
92
[48]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J
94
[49]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
80
[50]
Mean Machines (UK) NTSC-J
87
[51]
Marukatsu Mega Drive (JP) NTSC-J
86
[52]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
89
[53]
Player One (FR)
94
[54]
Play Time (DE)
91
[23]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
91
[55]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
92
[56]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
92
[57]
Sega Force (SE)
92
[58]
Sega Force (UK) NTSC-J
88
[59]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
86
[60]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-J
90
[25]
Supersonic (FR)
93
[61]
Tricks 16 bit (RU) NTSC-U
65
[62]
Tricks 16 bit (RU) NTSC-J
88
[63]
Video Games (DE)
85
[64]
Sega Mega Drive
 87
Based on
45 reviews

Thunder Force IV

Mega Drive, JP
ThunderForce4 MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
ThunderForce4 MD JP CartTop.jpg
ThunderForce4 MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, US
ThunderForce4 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Thunderforce4 md us cart.jpg
Cart
Thunder Force IV MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
ThunderForce4 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
ThunderForceIV MD EU Carttop.jpg
ThunderForceIV MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Thunder Force IV MD EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)
TFIV MD SE rental cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, KR
ThunderForceIV MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
ThunderForceIV MD KR cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 c8f8c0e0
MD5 bb6b10927e6238206e9a7ba8c7d91a14
SHA-1 ab5bd9ddbfc07d860f44b9c72d098aef2581d1d8
1MB 1992-08 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 e7e3c05b
MD5 66cac77bb663a6951c942b0722232a03
SHA-1 ecbc2bfc4f3d8bbd46b398274ed2f5cc3db68454
1MB 1992-08 Cartridge (EU)
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 8d606480
MD5 c0c59e835ca2cfba29f4c0f5293986f6
SHA-1 44be21dead3b55f21762a7c5cf640eec0a1769d9
1MB 1992-07 Cartridge (JP)

References

  1. ↑ File:ThunderForce4 MD JP Box.jpg
  2. ↑ File:ThunderForceIV MD KR cover.jpg
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  4. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "July 1992" (JP; 1992-06-08), page 146
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 GamePro, "August 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 68
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Computer & Video Games, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 106
  7. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Oktober 1992" (DE; 1992-09-11), page 126-127
  8. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-15), page 36-37 (36)
  9. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-15), page 106/111 (106)
  10. ↑ Console Mania, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 86-89/91 (86)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 108
  12. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 1: October 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 6/18 (6)
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 80
  14. ↑ GamePro, "August 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 66 (68)
  15. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 26-29 (26)
  16. ↑ Joypad, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 54-56 (54)
  17. ↑ Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 158
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Joystick, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 172
  19. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 24-27 (24)
  20. ↑ Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 48-49 (48)
  21. ↑ Mean Machines, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-27), page 104-106 (104)
  22. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 64-67 (64)
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Play Time, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-09), page 95
  24. ↑ Sega Force, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 54-56 (54)
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Supergame, "Janeiro 1993" (BR; 1993-01-xx), page 12
  26. ↑ Video Games, "9/92" (DE; 1992-08-26), page 52-53 (50)
  27. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 116
  28. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 243
  29. ↑ Alaab Alcomputtar, "" (SA; 1995-08-xx), page 73
  30. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Oktober 1992" (DE; 1992-09-11), page 126
  31. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-08), page 26
  32. ↑ Console Mania, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 86
  33. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-15), page 36
  34. ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1993-02-03)
  35. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 1: October 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 6
  36. ↑ Game Power, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 30
  37. ↑ Hippon Super, "August 1992" (JP; 1992-07-04), page 37
  38. ↑ HiScore, "15 Juli - 15 September" (DK; 1993-07-15), page 19
  39. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 26
  40. ↑ Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 159
  41. ↑ Joypad, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 54
  42. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-xx-xx), page 24
  43. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  44. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "October 1992" (JP; 1992-09-xx), page 67
  45. ↑ Mega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-17), page 48
  46. ↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 65
  47. ↑ Mega Force, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 68
  48. ↑ Mega Fun, "08/92" (DE; 1992-08-18), page 16
  49. ↑ MegaTech, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-20), page 30
  50. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Febrero 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 50
  51. ↑ Mean Machines, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-27), page 84
  52. ↑ Marukatsu Mega Drive, "September 1992" (JP; 1992-08-xx), page 119
  53. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
  54. ↑ Player One, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-11-10), page 64
  55. ↑ Sega Power, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-01), page 54
  56. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  57. ↑ Sega Pro, "September 1992" (UK; 1992-08-13), page 64
  58. ↑ Sega Force, "5/93" (SE; 1993-08-26), page 18
  59. ↑ Sega Force, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 54
  60. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  61. ↑ Supersonic, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 22
  62. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 151
  63. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27
  64. ↑ Video Games, "9/92" (DE; 1992-08-26), page 52


Thunder Force IV

ThunderForceIV MDTitleScreen.png

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Music: Thunder Force IV (2019) | Technosoft Music Collection: Thunder Force IV (2021)

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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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