For 3D Thunder Blade on the 3DS, GameFAQs has 1 cheat. Apr 26, 2016 Thunder Blade Fantasy Zone 2 (both the original Master System version, AND a new version made in the style of Sega's 16-bit arcade games) Altered Beast Maze Walker Each game makes use of the 3DS' display to enhance the sense of depth, and really makes the parallax pop when the 3D is enabled.
It’s good that Sega already has the next wave of 3D Classics lined up for the summer, as going out on 3D Thunder Blade is less than ideal. It’s not that this last entry in this second series of nostalgic gems is particularly bad, but it does, however, take the title from Fantasy Zone as the weakest link in the entire 3D Classics lineup.Thunder Blade will immediately be off-putting if players have been playing the more recent 16-bit darlings from Sega, as it lacks the vibrancy of Out Run, the charm of Fantasy Zone II W, and the graphical prowess of After Burner II. Of course, this is a top-down shooter, so there genre and design are inherently limiting to a degree. Still, it’s jarring to go from such loud, neon games like the aforementioned, to one that looks as washed out as Thunder Blade. That being said, this rendition, when compared to its original late-80s release, is the best looking version of itself. The stereoscopic 3D is superb, as one would expect from M2, who have really honed their craft by this point, and the game runs at a silky smooth 60FPS.
It comes packed with a widescreen mode, and even a simulated arcade cabinet view, the latter of which is designed to elicit warm feelings from anyone who played this in its original, arcade glory. Needless to say, the presentation, aside from the core aesthetic, is just as good as any of the previous 3D Classics titles.While its visuals are a bit of a mixed bag, its story is far easier to quantify: bland, boring, and all-around uninteresting can sum it up quite nicely. Of course, if folks are looking to play Thunder Blade for a compelling narrative, then they clearly don’t know what they’re doing. Thankfully, the game picks up the slack in its gameplay department.
As an arade game, the gameplay is what was given the most attention, and it’s obvious thanks to a challenging difficulty, slick controls and enough explosions to make Michael Bay blush. It’s not as straightforward as one would expect from a top-down shooter, though. Thunder Blade mixes up its formula by offering four stages that are divided into three sections — a vertically-scrolling shooter in the vein of Under Defeat, a more daring behind-the-copter action approach reminiscent of After Burner and then boss battles. Each of these three parts surprisingly blend together effectively, mostly because of how well the in-game camera transitions and adjusts to each section. Because there’s so many perspective shifts, it could have been easy for Thunder Blade to be a mess of a game; but its competent camera manages to keep pace, seamlessly evolving into each viewpoint. As one can imagine, levels are never boring thanks to the diversity of play. In fact, it adds to the frenetic nature of the game, as well as serves to make Thunder Blade stand out from the crowd.
This could have been just another shmup, but instead it’s unique partly because of how it handles the merging of these three very different gameplay styles.The one area that 3D Thunder Blade trumps some of its predecessors is in the domain of control. While After Burner II was kind of a hot mess to physically manipulate at times, we found ourselves shooting and dodging here without a hiccup. Of course, like After Burner, there are a few control schemes, which is nice in that if one doesn’t feel right, there’s a few more to try out. Alas, like those that came before it, movement doesn’t feel as precise as one would like it to. This can be frustrating in high-stress moments where the slightest mismanagement of the control stick can send players careening into a barrage of bullets and subsequently to their death.One should get used to death, however, in Thunder Blade because it is a hard game. At this point, one should just assume all of these 3D Classics are going to test their mettle.
Thankfully,M2 has added difficulty options, so dropping things down to the lowest level allows for a far less maddening experience, and is probably the best way to play up front and/or if throwing your 3DS against the wall is a tendency you have observed within yourself.But, this degree of challenge is offset by a super short runtime. Literally, 3D Thunder Blade can be completed in less than 15 minutes. Space flight simulator pc download.
Our best time was around 13-ish, but we’d imagine for the experts out there, this is a ten minute game. There are no branching paths or anything like that, so this linear experience is over quite quickly. Again, M2 recognized the problem in this and added a patented Special Mode that is unlocked only after clearing Arcade Mode once. Special Mode includes one extra behind-the-vehicle part as well as a boss encounter at the end of the fourth stage for an additional few minutes. In this mode, there are other small changes such as enemy placement and scoring modifications, but it’s basically the same game — so don’t expect Fantasy Zone II‘s Link Loop Land.Closing Comments:Those nostalgic for an old-school shmup with a few twists that have $5.99 just collecting dust could do worse than 3D Thunder Blade.
It’s fun, it’s mindless, and if you really hate it, it’s over in about ten minutes. In fact, that’s the game’s biggest problem; there just isn’t a whole lot here. M2 has added in an extra mode, but that’s about it. Unless you’re a score-hunter, it could be difficult to get the most bang for your buck. In the end, it’s the weakest of the 3D Classics line, but at this point, a bad 3D Classics entry is the equivalent of a pretty decent game otherwise.
Thunder Blade is an arcade game that was released in 1987. For some of you out there that means this game was conceived of, developed, and released before you were even born. It’s before I was born too. The enormity of that isn’t lost on me. The opportunity to write about the SEGA 3D Classics Collection is a treat because it provides a very real opportunity to experience and learn about a world that I never existed in. Thanks to M2 now anyone who wants to can take a trip through memory lane or an archeological expedition.Thunder Blade is a scrolling shooter where you control an attack helicopter armed with machine guns and infinite missiles.
Each level alternates between a top down bombing run and a forward facing gauntlet through heavy enemy resistance. The goal is not to defeat enemies so much as it is to reach the end of the level, but this is the sort of shooter where a best defense is a good offense. You have zero hope of avoiding every attack the game throws at you without eliminating a fair number of the enemies before they become a problem. The game isn’t a SHMUP in the traditional sense but it’s undeniably similar in scope and difficulty.Yeah, difficulty.
This game is rough. All the games in the SEGA 3D Classics Collection are, that’s just how games were back in day. Welcome to the game ii hack. Especially arcade games designed to gobble up quarters. Bullets are everywhere and any contact with a bullet or an enemy means instant death.
The difference between this game and many others in the collection is that the game saves your progress level by level. As long as you clear level one completely then if you run out of lives in level two you can choose to continue and restart from level two. This is a god send for someone like me who realistically has no chance of reaching the end of the game on a single set of lives. The 3D Classics Collection allowed me to brute force my way through this game and actually experience all the content.And this is a game where I actually wanted to get through the game and see all the content. Thunder Blade is a lot of fun!
The 3D conversion makes great sense for a game featuring both high altitude bombing and perilous high speed trench runs and the obstacles are challenging but never actually unfair. I always felt like I could have survived the sections that killed me which is doubtless why this game was such a hit in the eighties. I can definitely see myself as a child putting in quarter after quarter absolutely convinced that this was the run where I could make it.This sort of design was finely tuned to empty piggy banks back in the day, but in this collection with free continues it’s just harmless compulsive fun. The game controls really well, the 3D conversion is excellent, and there’s a great risk reward mechanic in how fast you play.
The slower you move the more time you’ll have to react to threats up ahead but the faster you move the fewer shots an enemy can get off before you’re safely past. I generally played pretty slow just because I’m terrible, but when all else failed sometimes just maxing my speed and praying to make it through worked also.I kept a tally of how many times I had to use the free continue to make it through Thunder Blade. I totaled 36 over several days of playing. On one hand that’s just a testament to my personal failings, but there’s another way to look at it.
Once upon a time playing through Thunder Blade would have cost me $9.50 (50 cents for starting, 25 cents per continue). In 2016 it’s one game out of nine included in a $30 dollar package and I can play again whenever I want. What a bargain!