/vr/ - Retro Games

[Anonymous No.4738686]

What's your opinion on the Thunder Force series?

[Anonymous No.4738702]

III and IV are fun.

[Anonymous No.4738703]

>>4738686
bad music

[Anonymous No.4738727]

>>4738686
II I didn't care for all that much, because of the overhead parts. I played III a ton when I was in college, really loved that game. V is decent. IV I've barely touched but planning on getting back to it. Bought the soundtracks for III, IV, V
>>4738703
fuck this guy

[Anonymous No.4738737]

>>4738686
III and IV are incredible.

[Anonymous No.4739098]

Definitely well known for its soundtrack. Very fun to play despite its difficulty, at least there are some weapons that are quite OP if used well like Saber on III and free range in V that can allevate the difficulty in the game.

Thunder Force is about to hit 10 years of no release again. I just wish that we actually got an actual Broken Thunder game, the opening of the said game is too good for a doujin release. I can only enjoy the album that was resulted from it.

[Anonymous No.4739183]

Pretty good series. TF III is my favorite and might be my favorite shooter of all.

TF VI isn't that great, but it wasn't made by Technosoft either.

<--- My collection. I don't have the Japanese PC exclusive Thunderforce I nor will I likely ever get it. It looks like shit.

[Anonymous No.4741294]

>>4738703
Do you have an ear problem?

[Anonymous No.4741449]

I really enjoy V, the animation is so fluid

[Kasperl No.4743402]

[Anonymous No.4744506]

>>4738686
Own thunderforce II and IV on megadrive, IV is one of the game I play the most, while II is really fun too.
>>4741294
No he's shitposting.

[Anonymous No.4745238]

Definitely one of my favourite shmup series, even if 2 and 3 are dated and poor after being used to 5 and 4.

The games are also brutally hard, so it's a bit difficult to play them just for enjoyment, I have to pay attention nonstop and get frustrated when losing lives (and critical weapons).

TFV is much easier in that regard, almost too easy. Unless you play it in Master difficulty, then it's as balls-to-the-wall difficult as TF 4 (but much shorter). I still haven't managed to beat it in Master. The second last boss (Guardians mother) uses up all my shields and lives before I can kill it, and I either don't have enough weaponry or lives to kill Guardian afterwards.

>>4743402
It took me so long to realize that the final form of Vasteel Original in TFV is basically this thing.

[Anonymous No.4745310]

>>4738686
I started with 5 and I thought it was amazing. The game disc spent more time in a CD-player than in the Saturn. My favorite stage when the ship gains a booster to escape the atmosphere, with overdriven weapons empowering the player to punch through an enemy fleet, to face off against a boss of equal capabilities was fucking epic. When I learned the song that was playing for that boss fight is a remix of the title song to 4, I had to play 4. Thunderforce 4 was just as amazing and I felt an amazing sense of accomplishment when I first beat 4. I have not really played the other titles.


>>4738703
I like it. I get that it does not jive with you, but I find the soundtracks fitting to the gameplay and are a large part of my memories of the games.


>>4738727
>>4739183
I am so jealous. Even the art on them are gorgeous to me. I still want Broken Thunder anyway, I regret passing it up.

[Anonymous No.4745318]

>>4738686
Amazing games, insanely fast and visually attractive even for casuals in the genre.

[Anonymous No.4745325]

>>4745238
III is still pretty solid, even if the "WOW!" factor is a bit lessened by 25+ years of technological advancement... or by the fact that its sequel, TF4, blows it out of the water graphically (and still "WOW"s you). I am glad that M2 is porting Thunder Force IV to the Switch with the extra ship mode from the Sega Saturn Gold Pack. It looks like it will be the definitive TF4 release - take that Saturn collectors!

Thunder Force V has a lot of polish and great moments, but man you are right... I am so bummed that the game is so easy. The over-weapons really should not have been included, as they trivialize the game. There aren't enough levels with terrain either, but I can at least overlook that if you couldn't kill all the enemies in a few seconds. I kinda wish there was a ship you could unlock without them, a la Thunder Force VI (which was lame in every other way). I know there are some different colored ships in the PS1 port but I don't know if those have different weapon loadouts.

[Anonymous No.4745543]

Nobody played TF1 and 2.

Thunder Force III was kinda neat, though overshadowed by IV.

Thunder Force IV sets the Genesis on fucking fire, although the bosses and stage designs aren't much to write home about.

Thunder Force V is much like IV, but too easy as a result of All-Range being fucking OP and the presence of Over-Weapons.

Nobody really liked Thunder Force VI, as it was directed by some casual who understood jack about shmups. The weirdest part is the soundtrack, where all the first parts of the stages have music by Tamayo Kawamoto playing from Ray series fame, which is more pensive techno jazz fusion and although good, doesn't really fit Thunder Force at all, the second part of stages have forgettable music done by some other guy, and all the boss themes are done by Go Sato of Raiden fame who hams it up with utterly fucking cheesy heavy metal. Even for Thunder Force it's so out of place and over the top, it's got nothing on Tsukumo's or Yaminishi/Yoshida's dramatic guitar melodies.

[Anonymous No.4745553]

>>4745543
>Nobody really liked Thunder Force VI, as it was directed by some casual who understood jack about shmups.
It's what happens when you get an ultimate fanboy and give him the chance to make his ultimate fan-game without thinking a whit about "how to make a good game."
>WHAT IF WE HAD GARGOYLE
>AND FAUST
>AND THE GUARDIAN
>AND RYNEX
>AND GORGON
>AND CERBERUS
>AND THE ORN EMPERORRRR!!!!1!!!1!!!!
>oh and what if Free Range was even more overpowered
>oh that stage where you shoot crates in TF5 was cool (ed.: it wasn't), let's reuse that for the last stage

R-Type Final for all its problems turned out better than TF6, sheesh.

[Anonymous No.4745554]

>>4745543
TF1 and TF2 are actually half side-scroller, half bosconian clone with overhead levels you complete by destroying enemy bases. It's pretty decent, just overshadowed by its sequels.

[Anonymous No.4745579]

My only complain about TF2 is that your ship hitboxes is a little too large (or am I misremembering?) Also I spent more time with the fun as fuck level select than playing the "proper" game

[Anonymous No.4745595]

>>4745325
>is a bit lessened by 25+ years of technological advancement

Problem is that it isn't. More like 7-8 years. Sprite art and technology basically ended in 2000. Even great looking 2d games today, like Cuphead, don't use multiple background layers or cool effects. Most 2d games from the early 2000s are high res, but are just prerenders without a great amount of animation, and a flat backdrop. (Diablo 2 and its clones, for example)

[Anonymous No.4745621]

>>4745595
>cuphead doesn't use multiple background layers
I don't want to defend a modern game on fucking /vr/ of all places, but can't you see all the fucking parallax going on here?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrEQ-R8OKX4

Come on, man.

[Anonymous No.4745627]

>>4745621
I count 3-4 layers at most. It's good be we could do better.

[Anonymous No.4745664]

Is there anything wrong with the PS1 TFV other than the worse-looking backgrounds?

[Anonymous No.4745712]

>>4745664
Wrong? Not per se. There are some minor changes.

As you note, a few backgrounds don't look as nice. Basically, this means that one particular stage (stage 3) lacks a little bit of detail over the SS original. Not a big deal. On the flip side, the PS1 can handle transparencies and polygons better, so I feel like the models and graphics on the PS1 have a slight edge overall. The audio quality is nearly identical. Minutely better on the Saturn, but you won't be able to tell the difference coming from your TV speakers.

Now, the only thing that may put you off is the WD localization. By and large you have loads of newly-added story flavor text in the options menu, which as the name implies, is optional. It's decent and well-written but its attempts at humor kinda fall flat. Whatever. More importantly, WD added a score multiplier to Free Range, getting more points for point-blank kills. This was for their "Win $10,000 contest!" gimmick.

Now obviously, it sorta sucks to give you even more incentive to use the uber-powerful free range, but let's face it. Playing TF games for score is kind of a silly thing all together. TFV especially, as you can apparently milk the penultimate boss indefinitely until you get a counter-stop, even on the Saturn version. So the multiplier ultimately doesn't matter.

On the flip side, you get some extra ships to play with on the PS1, along with some other goodies if you want them.

I'd say the PS1 version is a more polished product, though not astoundingly so.

[Anonymous No.4745739]

>>4738686
Has anyone played the unrelated Thunder Force for Commodore 64?

[Anonymous No.4745741]

>>4745739
It's mediocre.

[Anonymous No.4745919]

>>4738686
>be six
>parents divorce
>father makes mother pay child support
>mother had to join army to pay
>three years later Mom stationed in Japan
>receive Christmas box
>here anon I got u a gift for Christmas
>thunder force IV
>this looks dumb
>from the opening intro I’m Completely blown the Fuck out in terms of graphics gameplay and music
>becomes favorite game for genesis
>still is
>thanks.jpg

[Anonymous No.4746221]

>>4745739
More liek Blunder Force ayyylmao.

[Anonymous No.4746994]

>>4745664
it has ADPCM compressed music.

That alone kills it for me.

[Anonymous No.4747027]

>Thunderforce IV intro sequence

[Anonymous No.4747040]

>>4745664
The PS d-pad.

[Kasperl No.4748176]

[Anonymous No.4748875]

>>4739183
You forgot to write a gay little note..
>>4745310
Nevermind wrong guy apparently

[Anonymous No.4748891]

>>4748875
>gay little note
That cunt really is annoying

[Anonymous No.4750373]

Kek

[Anonymous No.4751075]

Found this today. Maybe one day we too can pilot the Rynex IRL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W1Aveat-CQ

[Anonymous No.4751098]

>>4738686

III and IV are the best classic Thunder Forces.
V i did not like at all.
Never Played VI

Hyper Duel is excellent, very similar to classic Thunder Force also made by technosoft.

[Anonymous No.4751123]

>>4738686
Played 3, 4 and 2. Technosoft also did Elemental Master which is mandatory if you liked any of the Thunderfoce games.

[Anonymous No.4751125]

>>4751123
>Elemental Master
This game is awesome

Also play Undead Line.

[Anonymous No.4751150]

>>4748176
neat

[Kasperl No.4752668]

[Anonymous No.4753685]

Is there any difference between lighting force and thunder force iv besides the title change?

[Anonymous No.4753847]

>>4753685
Not that I know of.

I'm currently trying to beat stage 8. Got 2 game overs at the last boss so far. Worth it for the kickass music

[Anonymous No.4755607]

>>4753685
>>4753847
There were some slight tweaks made to the overseas release of Thunder Force IV, most of which slightly toned down the difficulty.

The air raid ships would fire at you in the Japanese release, which sometimes meant a death you didn't see coming. Gargoyle Diver (Strite boss) has an orb attack that is faster in the Japanese release. Faust barely telegraphs his attacks in the Japanese release. Some of the other boss health was reduced as well.

Overall it's not a lot of huge changes, but they're there.

[Anonymous No.4755618]

>>4755607
>Faust barely telegraphs his attacks in the Japanese release.
Actually, truth be told, I cannot remember if this is the case in the Japanese or Western release. It's been a while =\

[Anonymous No.4755640]

>>4755607
>The air raid ships would fire at you in the Japanese release
They do in the yuro version too -- they have a turret on top of them, they fire a beam instead of just dropping bombs when you pass under them and depending on how loaded your fighter is the bombers will fire a missile at you when you get under their nose/in front of them.

[Anonymous No.4756382]

>>4755607
man that boss is such a dick.

[Anonymous No.4757993]

>>4756382
yo momma

[Anonymous No.4758594]

>>4747027
>Thunderforce IV intro remake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY-uH00lT_g

[Anonymous No.4759524]

I wonder if the M2 port of Thunder Force IV will ever grace us with a physical release, a la the Sega Classics releases on the 3DS. I doubt it, but it would definitely be nice to get a collection. I'm just glad the thing is getting released at all.

Anyone ever play the 3D remaster of Thunder Force III on the 3DS? IIRC that was also handled by M2 and supposed to look pretty sweet if the stereoscopic 3D is something you liked.

[Anonymous No.4759542]

>>4759524
I don't think it will get a physical release, but since it's M2 it will probably be the best releasr of TF4 outside of the Gold Pack 2 on the Saturn. Amd even then it might be better because I bet M2 will figure out how to have the original meaty sfx instead of the weak prerecorded sounds of the Saturn, AND have less slowdown too.

[Anonymous No.4759545]

>>4759524
I don't think it will get a physical release, but since it's M2 it will probably be the best release of TF4 outside of the Gold Pack 2 on the Saturn. Amd even then it might be better because I bet M2 will figure out how to have the original meaty sfx instead of the weak prerecorded sounds of the Saturn, AND have less slowdown too.

[Anonymous No.4759847]

>>4747027

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyaGImJx3ns

[Anonymous No.4759856]

[Anonymous No.4759857]

[Anonymous No.4759883]

>>4759857
That's a great image, but those are the R-Gray from RayStorm, and the Wave Rider from RayCrisis. Wave Rider does look a bit like the TF6 Rynex though.

>>4759856
TF5 and 6 aren't the best (TF5 is still good), but they definitely maintained some high quality ship design. While I prefer the round-nosed Rynex from 4 (more personality), there isn't a bad design in the series. The Gauntlet might be my favorite ship design in the series.

[Anonymous No.4760392]

I have the cart for IV, genuinely blows my fucking mind every time I play it. I've played TFII a bit, but I just remember getting stuck on the top-down section because I couldn't find what the fuck the game wanted me to shoot before I could progress. I'll have to give it another try sometime.

[Anonymous No.4760402]

What's the best way to get into this series using original hardwarw? Is it worth getting original carts or should you just snag the Gold Packs?

[Anonymous No.4760408]

>What's your opinion on the Thunder Force series?

It's not Gradius. I mean, there were a lot of horizontal shooters at the time TF started to emerge and establish a formula of its own, and it ultimately failed to innovate. I find myself more likely to be tied up in Gradius or R-Type, with all the TF games dead last on my backlog. Hell, I've barely even touched any of the Darius games. Both Darius and TF just seem like too much of the same.

[Anonymous No.4760425]

>>4753685

I seem to recall there being a rather strict region check between the two versions that would prevent you from playing the Japan cart on a US system and vice versa. I don't know why this was a thing.

[Anonymous No.4760458]

>>4760408
My admittedly hipster opinion

TF = Darius > R-Type >>> Gradius

Gradius is one of the only shmups that for whatever reason I just don't like.

[Anonymous No.4760507]

>>4760458
>Gradius is one of the only shmups that for whatever reason I just don't like.
Because you're a casual babby. Your list needs to be reversed.

[Anonymous No.4760516]

>>4738686
I like TF5 a bunch. Sure, it's loads easier, but I kinda suck anyway.
dunno if it's pseudosaturn or what, but it gets choppy as balls when anything happens, so I mostly play it on PS1
TF6 is "wew, I can't see shit: the game," way too much additive blending everywhere.

TF4 is cool, but I'm bad. Haven't really spent any time with the rest.

[Anonymous No.4760535]

>>4760402
Thunder Force 2 and 3 have no difference between thw carts and the gold pack. Whichever one is cheaper should be worth it. Note that the Japanese carts are probably cheaper. M2 (who did the amazing Battle Garegga port on the PS4) did a nice 3D port of TF3 on the 3DS for the Sega Classics series as well.

TF4 is also being ported to the Switch sometime, again by M2. This port will also include the bonus ship (from TF3) found in the Saturn Gold Pack 2. I'd probably wait for the M2 port, since that'll be top quality as well as like $8 - or find a genesis cart for as cheap as you can.

[Anonymous No.4760538]

>>4760402
Thunder Force 2 and 3 have no difference between the carts and the Gold Pack. Whichever one is cheaper should be worth it. Note that the Japanese carts are probably cheaper. M2 (who did the amazing Battle Garegga port on the PS4) did a nice 3D port of TF3 on the 3DS for the Sega Classics series as well.

TF4 is also being ported to the Switch sometime, again by M2. This port will also include the bonus ship (from TF3) found in the Saturn Gold Pack 2. I'd probably wait for the M2 port, since that'll be top quality as well as like $8 - or find a genesis cart for as cheap as you can.

[Anonymous No.4760541]

>>4738686
FUCK YEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH is my thought on Thunder Force.

[Anonymous No.4760695]

>>4760538
>This port will also include the bonus ship (from TF3) found in the Saturn Gold Pack 2

You had a bonus ship in Gold Pack 2 version of TF4?

[Anonymous No.4760869]

>>4760695
Beating the game without continues on Gold Pack 2 gave you a code to unlock the Styx from Thunder Force III (along with its unique weapons). This bonus feature will be in the new M2 port as well.

[Kasperl No.4762448]

[Anonymous No.4763843]

How come no one talks about Thunder Force 1?

[Anonymous No.4763852]

>>4763843
You can bet that almost no one here played it.

[Anonymous No.4763885]

>>4763843

Its an early Japanese PC game and it looks, sounds, and plays awful. If you want an overhead TF fix play TFII.

[Anonymous No.4764569]

I like TF V more than TF IV,mostly because the game doesn't try to fuck in me in the ass constantly.

>>4751098

[Anonymous No.4764575]

I like TF V a bit more than TF IV mostly because the game doesn't try to fuck in me in the ass constantly.

>>4751098
Thanks for reminding me of Hyper Duel,i have that and TF 1-2 on my backlog.

[Anonymous No.4766713]

>>4762448
>>4763885
TF2 is pretty underrated in my opinion. The overhead stages are a little bit better than the sidescrolling stages even. It would take till TF3 for Technosoft to get sidescrolling stages down.

What's nice about them is how fast-paced they are once you know what you're doing. They are not perfect of course (dumb cave level plus those indestructible orbs that block your ship) but the game is pretty unique on the Genesis.