Thunderforce IV opinions

[PooshhMao]

I never really had the fortune of playing a Thunderforce game back when they came out, being a (poor) Nintendo fanboy. Most people here seem to regard Thunderforce 3 as their favourite, it was supposedly really popular in Japan too which the conversion to arcade proves.

I fail to see the appeal in it though - it's got that very ugly first-gen megadrive look, a very generic design style, boring weapons, and flawed play mechanics.

Thunderforce IV impresses a lot more - it really pushes the system's capabilities and is beatifully designed, reminds me somewhat of Axelay in the sense that it out-techs every other shooter on the machine, but generally lacks thrill and enjoyment - I'm not a fan of the weapons system, or the way huge bosses have a tiny vulnerable spot, do not blink when hit, or the way you can't fall back on a powerful secondary weapon so boss fights take aaaaages when you had the misfortune of dying, and end up with the default peashooter.

Come to think of it now, after the first four levels you get the powerful beam weapon, but that's a couple of levels too late

When it comes to Thunderforce discussion, it's nearly always about either 3 or 5, 4 seems somewhat taboo

What are your people's opinions about it?

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

Haven't played 5 or 1 but 4 is what I consider to be the best of the ones I have played. The only thing that lets it down is the stupid Blade weapon.

[~Kid Icarus~]

I was gobsmacked when I registered on here and it seemed that most people prefer 3. I must have missed something when playing that game.

For me, TF4 is one of the best MD games ever. The graphics were very arcade like for the time, so many sprites at one time and all that paralax scrolling. Was the first shooter I played that had cool cut scenes like the bit where you get the beam weapon and the alien that blows up the ship from the water stage. I love the strategy of getting the right weapon for paticular bosses, To me it just always felt like a kind of R-Type on steroids. And I haven't mentioned the music yet. Mmmmmmmm

or the way huge bosses have a tiny vulnerable spot, do not blink when hit,

Just so you know, when you are hitting an enemy or boss correctly the bullet explosion is red instead of blue.

[PooshhMao]

Just so you know, when you are hitting an enemy or boss correctly the bullet explosion is red instead of blue.

I know, but it... doesn't feel right. Dunno, it's hard to describe.
And mr Cherry Chunks, you're right, the Blade weapon is rather stupid.

Effective though they may be, but the game just lacks any satisfying weaponry in general. Then again, the game came out in '92, 13 years ago, and most of us have been treated to the purple sticky Raiden laser or massive Donpachi energy death stick which puts... other weapons in perspective

[~Kid Icarus~]

Strange, I love the Blade weapon.

But yeah, I guess you're right. It's one of those games that is probably mostly liked by those that played it first all those years ago (Damn I'm feeling old!)

[Sly Cherry Chunks]

My main strategy involves starting on level 2, grabbing the hidden shield and hunter and then just breezing through the game using only hunter, switching to more other weapons for bosses only. The Thunder Sword is sweet.

[FRO]

^^I think that's the general strategy most people use, though I find that there are instances where you need the power of the Blade or the Snake where the Hunter just isn't strong enough.

I personally think 4 is the best. I've played 3, and though I enjoy it, I think it's a bit rough at times (again, that early Genesis/Megadrive feel), and 5 was pretty cool but just didn't have the same appeal to me as 4. I'm w/ Icarus, I actually like the Blade weapon.

Most on this forum know I'm a TF4/Lightening Force fanboy. I guess it's likely a case of right place/right time where I purchased the game at the right point in my life that it just clicked w/ me. It's been my fav shmup for some time (though several others have come close), and definitely is on my top 5 or top 10 list of all-time favorite games.

[zaphod]

for starters, whoever said dying left you with a peashooter is wrong, you only lose your currently equipped weapon and your CRAWs.

thunderforce III is a good game, it just has't agged as well as IV.

[Turrican]

I never really had the fortune of playing a Thunderforce game back when they came out, being a (poor) Nintendo fanboy. Most people here seem to regard Thunderforce 3 as their favourite, it was supposedly really popular in Japan too which the conversion to arcade proves.

I used to be an N fanboy in my youth. I too discovered these games later, and of course at first I was blown away by IV because of the eye candy. However, playing them both extensively I came to conclusion that Three is indeed... Well, let's not say better. But at least let's say that it did pretty much everything IV does well before it. Plus, it's more balanced.

I fail to see the appeal in it though - it's got that very ugly first-gen megadrive look, a very generic design style, boring weapons, and flawed play mechanics.

First gen megadrive look... Err... you still a fanboy? Okay, so it doesn't look cool enough for you despite the very R-typeish mech design and the cool flame stage. But, flawed gameplay? Evidence, please.

[ROBOTRON]

I guess I'm one of the few people that didn't care for T4. Out of all the TF 4 is the least play...its not bad mind you, its just my least fav. 2, 3 and 5 blew me away.

[CIT]

Thunderforce IV is my favorite in the series (although I have yet to play V). The game really pushes the Megadrive hardware to its limit, graphics, music, gameplay, it's all just outstanding. It's true, that it doesn't really do anything III didn't also do, but IV does it all better. For one it's harder and the boss battles are more intense, and the multi-tierd level design feels absolutely fantastic.
The weapons may not be all that exciting, but rather than the weapons themselves, I think the ability to switch between guns at will is what makes the TF gameplay so unique and excellent.

Definitely one of the alltime great shmups, IMO.

[Turrican]

Thunderforce IV is my favorite in the series (although I have yet to play V). The game really pushes the Megadrive hardware to its limit, graphics, music, gameplay, it's all just outstanding. It's true, that it doesn't really do anything III didn't also do, but IV does it all better. For one it's harder and the boss battles are more intense, and the multi-tierd level design feels absolutely fantastic.
The weapons may not be all that exciting, but rather than the weapons themselves, I think the ability to switch between guns at will is what makes the TF gameplay so unique and excellent.

Definitely one of the alltime great shmups, IMO.

Yes, yes... Really, the reason my previous post stays in the ambiguity is because I can't really decide myself... III, IV, V... I love each of them for some reason.

But I refuse your harder=better equation, btw.

Besides, I can understand why TF III gets more votes in the annual best 25 poll. I think that my vote would go to III too. It really set the standard for the upcoming ones. Maybe IV does everything better, but it also came two years later.

[SuperNoodle]

I'm torn, personally.

On one hand, it's quite beautiful for its hardware, as many have noted. The music's mighty catchy, when one can make it out over the deafening sound effects of asplozhuns and stuff. On the other hand, those aesthetics and multilayered levels work against it when the so-tall-it-scrolls vertical playing field obscures very real threats just offscreen (See the above-water water and desert stages out of the initial rotation for an example). Perhaps a candidate for a TATE remake?

Gameplay's intense when done it's right: holy-smokes-there's-so-many-targets-and-theyjustwontDIEDIEDIESWEETBEJEEBUS! However, as others have beat me to the punch on, dying and losing decent weapons before those super-resilient bosses makes for one heck of a fight. Personally, I like my bosses beefy, with intensifying odds against me, and so I found those pea-shooter experiences bizarrely more satisfying than the "park-in-the-corner-with-the-Hunter" method that was so much more effective (and of course, required specific stage selection and craftiness to gain and retain). Still, dropping three or four lives at a pop on a boss due to iffiness on where those moves are going and weird movement/hit detection/something were common experiences.

The mega-laser doodad from level 6 onward is most amusing, but creates an imbalance in your favor when you've got it, and an imbalance in the enemy's favor when they deprive you of it. Makes the difference between a ten-second or an eight-minute boss battle.

That of course, views the game in a bubble on its own. Compared to TF3, TF4 has more stuff, more beauty, and more variety. TF5, well, TF4's just got that different vibe. Tough to place. But, anyway.

And so, it's a flawed, fun one for a burst of variety from the top-down stuff that's so popular today. Y'know, that Axelay comparison is eerily accurate. Hah.

In my defense (or is it offense against me? Ha!) I haven't made it through on the Maniac mode. I was plenty satisfied with my month of effort finangling Normal. Are there any significant changes gameplay-wise that could influence this fuddy-duddy's opinion? Because everyone does know that Axelay doesn't really pick up until the loop AFTER Hard mode, now, and so might this.

[Icarus]

I love TFIV. I find the balance perfect in all aspects, from the stages of long length and many hazards, to the exceptionally difficult screenfilling bosses, to the range of weapons you need in all situations. TFII, III and V are okay to meh, fun to play in their own right, but nothing compared to the infinite replayability of IV.

I still come back to IV, even now, just for the challenge.

[ROBOTRON]

My favorites go like this:

TF3 - The best music, balance...best TF game.

TF5 - Awesome

TF2 - I even liked the overhead stages!

TF4 - Great, but missing something.

[Rob]

Are there any significant changes gameplay-wise that could influence this fuddy-duddy's opinion? Because everyone does know that Axelay doesn't really pick up until the loop AFTER Hard mode, now, and so might this.

It ups the difficulty considerably. I haven't been able to make it through Maniac in the 15 or so lives, but can 1 life normal. There are more bullets, enemies, extra attack patterns, certain things get faster (like the bouncing ball sub boss).