Thunderforce V opinions?

[Edmond Dantes]

Opinion on Thunder Force V?

Here's one: It's a Thunder Force game. So if you don't like it, you're wrong. Okay all kidding aside, this is the one I've played least of all the ones I've owned (2-5 mainly) but its mostly because I'm trying to complete the earlier installments first. The only one I can beat at all is TF3.

and I agree with an above poster: TF2 is horribly underrated.

Sadly I have no [legal] way of playing Thunder Force I. Why wasn't it included on the Saturn compilations WHHHYYYY. Instead they included two different versions of Thunder Force III. Thanks, Technosoft.

[Captain]

The second one being Thunder Spirits, correct?

[BIL]

No, Thunder Force AC, the arcade game which Thunder Spirits was an SNES port of.

[zaphod]

If you're hugging the front of the screen, you had it coming. If you're hiding at the back like a little weenie, even moreso.

The truth is nowhere is safe, and without them, you could easily find yourself wandering over to any edge and dying cheaply, because the game is encouraging you to move around a lot and use that free range to attack enemies from all directions. Considering you have to move the opposite direction you want to shoot, it's very easily possible to end up against any edge, and NONE of them are safe in the first level... I appreciate the warnings.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

You know what would be a better alternative to stupid warning signs? terrain you could use as both a trail marker to anticipate, and as cover against enemy attacks. It could also put to use those other useless weapons you have in reserve provided it's on the same level of design Hellfire is. (lol, unlikely)

[zaphod]

Well, not very practical when you are way up in the sky, is it?

The level design at least at that point encourages going to the edges, so the warnings really do need to be there.

I won't deny they were put there for the benefit of free range users, though. without that weapon most would probably not venture so close to the edges.

[Mortificator]

Other shooting games have had enemies do a flyby in the background before entering the player's plane at the same position. That performs the same function as a danger sign in a way that's more visually appealing.

[Captain]

But theres another new stage in TF3 AC that's not from TF2.

It's a base raid with a robot boss.

[Edmond Dantes]

But theres another new stage in TF3 AC that's not from TF2.

It's a base raid with a robot boss.

And supposedly Thunder Spirits has two whole new stages as well. I guess if you're a TF3 fanatic it would be nice to have all three versions.

Personally, I'd like to be able to play TF1 legally without having to own some obscure Japanese computer. And I'll never ever understand why they would release a pair of compilations that did not include it.

For that matter, why did they include the Mega Drive version of TFII instead of the Sharp X68000 version which was slightly harder and had an extra level? Why not include both versions? And while we're at it, why did they need TWO compilations for games which could all very easily have fit on one CD? (Probably just for extra profit I'm guessing, but still)

[mjclark]

Personally, I'd like to be able to play TF1 legally without having to own some obscure Japanese computer

You can!If you buy a legitimate physical copy of the game then you'd be legally entitled to play it ,or a downloaded backup of it, on an emulator...

[Mortificator]

It, yes, but not a downloaded image. The only copy you're authorized for is one you make yourself, at least under U.S. law.

Which is idiotic.

[mjclark]

...not a downloaded image. The only copy you're authorized for is one you make yourself, at least under U.S. law.

Well I didn't know that. Wonder where British and European law stands on that one....

[Captain]

I remember Spirits having the final boss as a bio-thingy.
And i remember one of the stages being from TF2.
But whats the extra stage from the sharp version?
Video please.

[BPzeBanshee]

...not a downloaded image. The only copy you're authorized for is one you make yourself, at least under U.S. law.

Well I didn't know that. Wonder where British and European law stands on that one....

The whole lot's a legal grey area. The few people I've known that actually know anything about copyright in Australia won't even go into saying a word with me when it comes to emulation/games stuff.

[Edmond Dantes]

I remember Spirits having the final boss as a bio-thingy.
And i remember one of the stages being from TF2.
But whats the extra stage from the sharp version?
Video please.

i can't actually watch videos (slow and inconsistent connection) but there's a video series of dude playing the Sharp version of TFII:

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpHnBE5rFdY
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXCgj3_fqw0
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qXflPtPhfk

If the information I've heard is correct, the new stage should be the last level.

[evil_ash_xero]

R-Type Delta looks ugly even for early 3D. Irem didn't have a knack for polygons (just like Treasure don't have a knack for non-cartoony character designs).

You know, just about every polygonal game looks bad, on the PS now...but I think it looks alright. Especially with the PS2's filter turned on. I mean, it ain't great, but I've seen way worse. Delta's a great game, nonetheless.

[StoofooEsq]

They didn't mess with the difficulty... they messed with the scoring. In the US version of TFV Free Range adds a secondary proximity based multiplier (each of the distance reticles serves as a multiplier marker.. the values increase the closer you get to the craft) which no other weapon has. So it actually forces you to use Free Range exclusively.

So a single acquired weapon that isn't difficult to use at all actually had another multiplier to go along with the standard multiplier that depends on how fast you destroy bosses/mini-bosses? I hate Free Range even more now. Not simply because it's stupidly effective, but because TF5's scoring system essentially gravitates towards using such a boring weapon to score high. That's still my biggest issue with TF5's gameplay.

As it stands, I still don't hold TF5 especially high compared with others in the series, but I'd still play that over TF6.

[Captain]

Weird, I thought TF 3 got the sharp version.

It's much clearer now.

[zaphod]

THe copyright issue boils down to it being illegal to break copy protection in most of the world now, barring specific exceptions.

It's also illegal to make images available for download without the permission of the copyright holder.

Because the downloaded images are infringing, they will always be infringing unless the copyright holder says it's okay.

SO you really do have to make the image yourself to stay in the clear. In that case, it's arguably fair use, bcausse it does not harm the copyright holder, because you've bought the game.

That said, prosecution for thunderforce 1 is very unlikely.

[Edmond Dantes]

Weird, I thought TF 3 got the sharp version.

It's much clearer now.

There was a Sharp version of Thunder Force Three? I've only heard of them for TF One and Two.

Incidentally, I finally got to watch the videos... honestly I'm glad we got the Mega Drive version. All that extra crap going on in the background during the first side-scrolling stage would've distracted the heck out of me. (Still would like to have the Sharp version sometime though).

That said, prosecution for thunderforce 1 is very unlikely.

Even so, it would be nice to have a boxed and complete copy of it, sitting there right next to my cased-and-complete copy of Thunder Force V (I'm working on TF 2-4 as we speak).

Just imagine getting up every morning, putting on your robe that's graced with a picture of the Dobkerratops, sitting on your cushion shaped like the Core, and meditating, surrounded by Thunder Force games. The power goes through you, and when your eyes open they're glowing, and in that moment you stop being a human being, and become likened to a God...

Errr, ummm, uhh, yeah. R-Type Delta. Good game. Best PS1 shmup ever. Or something. I'm not weird!

[Captain]

can I see a picture of the copy?

[Obiwanshinobi]

You know, just about every polygonal game looks bad, on the PS now...but I think it looks alright. Especially with the PS2's filter turned on. I mean, it ain't great, but I've seen way worse.

That filter makes every PSX game I've seen with it uglier (not saying much in case of Delta). I enjoy the primordial sharpness (pixellation) of software renderings in those oldies (on a SCART-endowed CRT at least). Delta, however, doesn't have an ounce of visual charm. It's competently put together and it has some cool designs going for it, but looks lousy on the balance (and not in a good way). As if there was no true 3D artist working on it, just technicians.
I mean, Square games of the era, even pretty bad ones, seem to be made by people who were high on something about PSX hardware. Some of those graphics have aged badly, but there's something special about the looks of every Square game for that console. That's one of the reasons why Einhänder feels so epic. No such luck with Delta (it kinda just ticks some boxes and gets down to the business).

[Darkseed]

Love me some TF5. Even with the rough polygonal look, it still feels like Thunderforce. Excellent art direction keeps the game looking like a solid entry and not all 3D gimmicky. Tight level design, adrenaline pumping music, and great set pieces like the missile chase up the fun factor a bit higher than TF4 imo.

A bit of memorization but nothing near RType/Pulstar levels.

Saturn version is nice and the PSX version looks good on a CRT but my favorite way to play it is on a pspgo.

[Edmond Dantes]

can I see a picture of the copy?

I didn't say I had Thunder Force I. I said I wish I did.

If I ever get it though, mark my words I'm going to dance around town and sing the praises of God, Jesus, and Frosty the Snowman. Then upload pics.

[Captain]

^_^

[ThunderForce 222]

Did Working Designs mess with the US release of Perfect System? They were notorious for jacking up the difficulty of games for no good reason, and at the expense of playability and balance. Oh yeah, and they put "SPAZ" on the box (which is considered hate speech towards the mentally disabled in the UK).

They didn't mess with the difficulty... they messed with the scoring. In the US version of TFV Free Range adds a secondary proximity based multiplier (each of the distance reticles serves as a multiplier marker.. the values increase the closer you get to the craft) which no other weapon has. So it actually forces you to use Free Range exclusively.

HMMMMMMMMMMMM.......THAT I DID NOT KNOW!!!! Also, on the Vasteel Original, you could "roll" your score as long as you used Craw energy on the High Tempo Bonus parts that exploded. The "Sword" overweapon really juiced out some points.

[ThunderForce 222]

Thunder Force V was absolutely amazing! Granted, it was not as long as IV, it's story, ship design (Best In the series) and of course it's soundtrack were unmatched. The weapon system was fantastic, although it put alot of emphasis on the Free Range more than the other weapons. Try playing the game on Master, with only Twin/Back shot w/ out using CRAW meter...hell of a challenge. Lastly, the ability to map your weapons to their own individual buttons was long overdue. Unfortunately, that option was removed in VI, but at least you could scroll backwards through your weapons...