Thunderforce VI announced by Famitsu for PS2 in 2008

adversity1 · Post by **adversity1** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 3:12 am

Earlier I noted that the game is not very hard, but there is a Hard mode and also a Maniac mode. I believe that the faster you get your speed up the harder the game gets as well, so certainly there's plenty of challenge there for people that want it.

I mainly switched between the spread shot, the homing shot and the net-looking weapon, but the latter I found very hard to aim. It moves weird...

You can select the order you want to play the first three stages in.

About to play the game with some co-workers who are TF veterans so maybe they'll have some comments.

BIL · Post by **BIL** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 3:13 am

Turrican wrote:Since Cenes Crawford is another mom, of course

You know, despite being very fond of TFV's backstory and OST, I'd completely overlooked that significance.

Well spotted!

I'm looking forward to seeing that particular "biomechanical" concept on the PS2, if it's returned. TFV's iteration already had a real atmosphere, in spite of the limited graphics.

adversity1 · Post by **adversity1** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 4:13 am

Ok so the speed thing is actually for the speed of your ship, and you can adjust its speed by pressing L1 and L2. Not sure why you'd want it low, probably for precision dodging in danmaku.

The one-ups I've found so far: 2 in stage 2, one in stage 5.

When you pick up an S item, you get a shield that will absorb some bullets.

I am not sure how to select the other ship? I believe there are other ships you can unlock as well.

Turrican · Post by **Turrican** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 4:49 am

adversity1 wrote:Ok so the speed thing is actually for the speed of your ship, and you can adjust its speed by pressing L1 and L2.

Does holding L2 down increase speed in small percentage points?

(such a classy thing

)

Rai82 · Post by **Rai82** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:06 am

Got some screens from an uploaded Japanese video:

Rai82 · Post by **Rai82** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:09 am

If you have access to nicovideo (free register), you can get to watch these two clips:

TFVI Opening: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5084607
TFVI Stage 1 Jungle: http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/1225272461

Opening shows the ship Phoenix in its Brigandine space mode leaving Earth while the Unified Earth Fleet is trying its best to repell the Orn forces. I love it when the opening showed bits of footage from previous games near the end.

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:31 am

Ghegs wrote:Just got a message from P-A saying they've shipped my order. With some luck I'll be playing the game this week as I opted for the fastest shipping available.

My game shipped today! can't wait.

it290 · Post by **it290** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:30 pm

Woot! Mine as well. Can't wait to play this. Hopefully it will be a pleasant October surprise.

The Coop · Post by **The Coop** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:38 pm

Mine shipped as well. I'll have to wait until the middle of next week though, as $20 was just too much to spend on shipping. Hopefully I'll have it in my hands come Wednesday.

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:06 am

The Coop wrote:Mine shipped as well. I'll have to wait until the middle of next week though, as $20 was just too much to spend on shipping. Hopefully I'll have it in my hands come Wednesday.

I ordered mine Next Day saver (UPS) or something like that.

I just checked my tracking # and it says it is waiting in customs inspection.

Pfft....A small item like that, theres no bombs or drugs in that package.

HURRY UP!

Zeether · Post by **Zeether** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:36 am

I'm still holding out for a US release, I'm not going to import...

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:40 am

PAL release, please. Come on 505 Gamestreet.

Rai82 · Post by **Rai82** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:13 am

Found these videos:
TFVI gameplay 1 (Kids mode): http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5091547
TFVI gameplay 2 (Kids mode): http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5091707

Starts from Stage 1 and covers up to Stage 6 mid-boss.

Stage 1: Jungle, Boss: Gargoyle Perfect
Stage 2: Flame, Boss: Flame Maiden
Stage 3: Ocean, Boss: Cherub Purple
Stage 4: Federation, Boss: B3 (Barbaric-Berserk Beast)
Stage 5: Battleship, Mid-boss: Orn Faust, Boss: Vasteel Nocht
Stage 6: Fortress, Mid-boss: Orn Faust x 2, Boss: ???

Thunder Force · Post by **Thunder Force** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:22 am

Mine shipped as well, so I'll be posting impressions early next week.

Observer · Post by **Observer** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:07 am

Rai82 wrote:Found these videos:
TFVI gameplay 1 (Kids mode): http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5091547
TFVI gameplay 2 (Kids mode): http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm5091707

The first thing I thought was "FREE RANGE POWERS COME TO ME". Then, "shit, the music reminded me of RefleX" and, finally, "Damn this looks awesome."

Thus, we conclude: shit, this is awesome! (I assume the flak and its speed increases in higher difficulties, right?)

The boss theme(s) are absolutely badass. Can't wait to see how that will sound on a good set of speakers.

Hovering mecha with screen-filling beam is for glory.

Things get far better on the second video and shows the PS2 still had ammo left.

SEGA PC PORT RIGHT NOW. I know, won't happen =P

edit: post was way too long.

J-Manic · Post by **J-Manic** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:22 am

ZeetherKID77 wrote:I'm still holding out for a US release, I'm not going to import...

Same here. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, though.

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:59 am

Guess I'm the first to receive TFVI

Rai82 · Post by **Rai82** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:04 pm

Difficulties: Kids, Easy, Normal, Hard, Maniac.

Some tips:
- Play through Hard mode using Phoenix and Rynex-R to unlock the Syrinx. (not so confirmed, as someone also said clear with 1 coin)
- Play through Hard mode with all 3 ships to unlock Time Attack.
- Clear Time Attack to unlock Neo Style.
- Play through Phoenix: unlock Reports 1-5, Rynex-R: unlock Reports 6-10, Syrinx: unlock Reports 11-15.
- 1UPs: Stage 1, 2, 5, 6: 1 live. Stage 3: 2 lives. Stage 4: ?

DBH87 · Post by **DBH87** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:08 pm

Mine shipped today, cant wait

Post by **Shatterhand** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:42 pm

I played the game today. Just one game of it because I had to come to work. I'll try to play more when I get home today.

I lost 2 lives on boss 2 because he had some cheap attacks that I couldn't avoid.

Yeah, it looks pretty good. I guess most people already know what to expect seeing from the videos. The game is pretty fast, with hectic action. You always have 5 weapons, and never lose them. The free range does less damage than in TF5, but still felt a little overpowered. Unlike previous TF games, the hectic speed doesn't make things hard to see, all lives I lost I knew exactly what happened, the enemy bullets are very clear to see.

Who said there are ships to select? I didn't see any place to select ships;

I couldnt get much of a impression from the game, as I only played it for like 5 minutes, but I like what I see so far.

And if anyone noticed, yeah, I went away for sometime, and probably will stay away for a couple of weeks yet. My life went completely crazy the last 2 months, I'm leaving my current work and I'm starting my own bussiness.. so it's kinda hard to have much free time right now (Still on the old job while doing stuff for the new bussiness), but TFVI deserved some time

Kiken · Post by **Kiken** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:08 pm

So has anyone transcribed the vocal warning message yet? I'm going to assume it's a Sanskrit prayer (much like in Ikaruga's written warning message). It sounds like: Uche, Uche! On-Geze-Gu-Gara!

Also, in regards to the stage names... it sounds like Mandarin or Cantonese...?

Rai82 · Post by **Rai82** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:41 pm

Kiken wrote:So has anyone transcribed the vocal warning message yet? I'm going to assume it's a Sanskrit prayer (much like in Ikaruga's written warning message). It sounds like: Uche, Uche! On-Geze-Gu-Gara!

Also, in regards to the stage names... it sounds like Mandarin or Cantonese...?

I think what the vocal warning was saying is "Danger, danger! Orn signal approaching!" Language for the Galaxy Federation (the ones you hear and see at the start and end of stage, plus the vocal warning) is the tangut script: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangut_script For Orn Empire, the language used is Mongolian: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_language

Btw I got off the TFVI soundtrack list, kindly supplied from the Japanese bulletin boards:

表ステージ曲 Stage tracks (Normal version)
1.RUINED GREEN / TAMAYO
2.BIO FLAME / TAMAYO
3.EVER BLUE / TAMAYO
4.ORBITAL G / TAMAYO
5.CERBERUS 2 / TAMAYO
6.ORN MANTRA / TAMAYO

裏ステージ曲 Stage tracks (Invert version)
1.STAGE01-B / TAMAYO
2.STAGE02-B / TAMAYO
3.STAGE03-B / TAMAYO
4.STAGE04-B / TAMAYO
5.FULL-SPEED / 古川もとあき
6.FULL-THROTTLE / 古川もとあき

ボス曲 Boss tracks
1.GARGOYLE PERFECT / 佐藤豪
2.FLAME MAIDEN / 佐藤豪
3.CHERUB PURPLE / 佐藤豪
4.B3 / 佐藤豪
5.KIN3-COOL / 金子剛　←これと
　KIN3-CERB / 金子剛　←これはなんだろ
　ORN STYX / 金子剛
　ORN RYNEX / 金子剛
　ORN GAUNTLET / 金子剛
6.ORN EMPEROR / 金子剛
　ORN EMPEROR2 / 金子剛

システム系 System
・STAGE CLEAR / 金子剛
・STAFF ROLL / 金子剛
・RANKING / 金子剛
・GAME OVER / 金子剛
・OPTION / 金子剛
・SELECT / 金子剛

デモ曲 Demo
・TITLE / 金子剛
・TAKE OFF / 金子剛
・OPENING / BETTA FLASH
・ENDING / BETTA FLASH
・BAD ENDING / BETTA FLASH
・GOOD ENDING / BETTA FLASH

postman · Post by **postman** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:43 pm

First Impressions:

Bad news - slowdown. There is some, but it's not all that bad....

When using the overweapon now, you can just hold the button down. Triggering it makes you use one full bar (this might have been mentioned already), and you can't switch weapons when in over-mode. This really changes some gameplay fundamentals.......

The length: It feels really short. The first 4 levels fly by....then 5 and 6 feel like regular sized levels. It's a bit unbalanced in that respect.

The last boss: Huge disappointment. Belongs in Contra, not TF series.

Good news - the music, the feel, the style, is all Thunderforce. There is a lot of fan service, from old enemies to screenshots of previous games. They really did this as a fan project, and the love of the series shows......

I only played through on kids mode so far (and another ship unlocks, to answer the previous questoin), so opinion might change as I mess with it more.....

Post by **Ghegs** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:12 pm

Random thoughts after two runs:

Dude, where's my direct control over each five weapons? I loved that in TFV.

On my first run I go to Stage 4, on my second I no-missed to Stage 5 and died on the boss. Definitely on the easy side, at least on Normal. First Maniac run ended on Stage 3, doesn't feel terribly hard, just need to learn how to dodge some fast shots you barely have time to see coming.

The first four stages do feel short but I don't mind that, I like shorter stages anyway.

I used Free Range 99% of the time and didn't feel the need to change weapons at any point. Seems its range is a bit shorter than in TFV though, so you can't hang back at the edge of the screen and kill baddied on the other end.

kozo · Post by **kozo** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 5:18 pm

Thrilled for it. I think opinions will change when people start playing on the harder modes.

Vids look hawtness too. LOVE those voice bits and the music is all around slick.

Varuga · Post by **Varuga** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:29 pm

I totally love how the Sega-ga-ga boss uses Free Range on you...made me think it was revenge for whoring it up with that weapon.

Overall, after a couple of plays, I am really pleased with it. I also like some of the subtle background effects (esp on the fire planet when zooming through the tunnels).

I don't like how you have all the weapons at all times though. It makes sense to have all of them, but I miss the desperation of losing Free Range or Homing when you would need them the most.

I put it on Hard Mode for kicks and man, they kick some good bullets out there. I think I might stick with Hard and go from there.

postman · Post by **postman** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:18 pm

I think you only keep weapons on kids mode.........I played through easy and was losing weapons when I died........

It does feel much better on harder modes.......

I still feel the final sequence is a total letdown......

Anybody translating the logbook entries? I unlocked 1 and 7 so far.....

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:39 pm

Anyone have any tips how to avoid the suction from the Cherub Purple on NORMAL mode ?

rtw

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:04 pm

Speed up

Fastest speed, and don't use the power weapon.

Kaiser · Post by **Kaiser** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 5:31 am

I just 1cc'd the game on Normal (Unlocked Rynex-R afterwards),[spoilers] last boss is damn good imo, he's like a whole tribute to all previous TF final bosses, in first form, he's like final boss from III (Orn Core) but whatsoever he doesn't harm you at all, in second form, he's like final boss from V except more attacks.... final form is the best one, he changes into a giant spider and starts walking up (ala final boss IV) then he starts spamming you with danmaku patterns[/spoiler]

My score: 19,708,500