ThunderBlade
-
Arcade Smash Hits: Limited Collector's Edition
(1990) -
Coin-Op Hits I
(1989) -
Power Crash
(1990) -
Sega Master Mix
(1990) -
Winners!
(1989)
- ThunderBlade (1989 on Dedicated handheld)
Description official descriptions
Aboard the lethal Gunship Gladiator helicopter, it is your job to ensure that a coup fails to install a dictator as leader.
The game features 12 levels split into three distinct styles. First of all you'll be flying over a city in your helicopter, shooting out tanks by ducking low enough to target them, but also climbing to avoid the skyscrapers in the area. The third section is viewed similarly, but sees you attempting to wipe out the planes mounted on an aircraft carrier.
The second section is viewed behind your helicopter in full 3D, and adds helicopters and planes to be shot, with dodging their bullets as you duck down to shoot the tanks being the main challenge.
Series +
Thunder Blade series- Next: Super Thunder Blade (1988)
Groups +
Media
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Spellings
- サンダーブレード - Japanese Spelling
Screenshots
Credits (Commodore 64 version)
| By |
Other Games
In addition to this game, these people were also credited on other games:
- Chris Butler on 20 other games
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 68% (based on 55 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.2 out of 5 (based on 54 ratings with 1 reviews)
The Good
The graphics in Thunderblade are awesome. The scenery (especially in the overhead levels) are intricately detailed and animated.
The Bad
Level 3 just plain sucks. I have owned this game for 16 years now, I bought it at Toys R Us back in 1988. I STILL have yet to complete Level 3. I have been stuck on stage 3-2 for that long, so rest assured this is a nightmare of a level.
The Bottom Line
Thunderblade is an action shooter much like Afterburner but much faster. The levels are split into 3 levels per stage, with a total of 4 stages. Level 1 introduces you to the stage with an overhead view, Level 2 is a behind-the-chopper view, much like Afterburner, and finally Level 3 is the boss battle. The Level 2 battles are difficult because the enemy is more aggressive in the behind-the-chopper levels. To make matters worse, stage 2-2 puts you through a cave. Not only do you have to dodge pillars of rock, but avoid tanks hiding in there also. The variety of scenery and beautiful graphics make Thunderblade another one of the better must-own titles for the neglected Master System.
SEGA Master System · by Ash_1 (74) · 2004
Trivia
The Commodore 64 version came with an 'Art of Noise' (electronic music) mix-tape. They were a very popular dance music collective in the eighties apparently!
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Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Martin.
Nintendo 3DS added by Michael Cassidy. Arcade added by FatherJack. DOS, Sharp X68000, SEGA Master System added by Terok Nor. MSX added by Игги Друге. TurboGrafx-16 added by Katakis | カタキス.
Additional contributors: chirinea, Ken0x, Harmony♡, Melony Fruitloop.
Game added October 11, 2004. Last modified February 3, 2025.
