I was totally unprepared for the level of awesome this game has. It blew me away. The graphics, the control, and the MUSIC!!!! Just plain amazing. The thing is, I can't believe this is the same series as the horrendous TFII which bores me to tears.
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I was totally unprepared for the level of awesome this game has. It blew me away. The graphics, the control, and the MUSIC!!!! Just plain amazing. The thing is, I can't believe this is the same series as the horrendous TFII which bores me to tears.
I agree. This game is a lot of fun playing it on the DS! (Too cheap to get it for real :P)
I know it's technically a good game, but I never could really 'connect' with it.
Also, could they not have just called it TF4 like everywhere else? There's no 'e' in lightning.
...yes, I know, and I'm sorry. But I never said it anywhere before. And it's still a valid complaint, as long as it remains annoying...
I think they meant "Lightening" as in the opposite of "Darkening" (which is retarded, especially since lightning has lots to do with thunder... thunder force, lightning force, rain force, windy force, hail force, tour de force etc). Melf really needs to ask a Sega of America exec in an interview why the name Thunder Force 4 was not used.
Cool, I didn't even realise Thunder Force 4 was worth anything, just checked Ebay and it's £20 2nd hand, glad I've got 2 copies :D and one of them I bought mint for 30p last year LOL.
I really need to learn what games are worth money.
Thunder Force 4 is IMHO the genesis shooter with the best graphics and music, technically-wise
However the game is too hard for me and the enemies have many cheap tricks to kill you..
I think a lot of people may have complained that TF3 was too easy. Technosoft responded with "You thought that was too easy, eh? Well try THIS!" and released Thunder Force 4. Apparently that game wasn't difficult enough, because TF5 on the Saturn is even harder.
I can play TF4 no hits to 8th stage, then it slowly starts going downhill...
I've beaten Thunder Force IV and to me level eight with its four mini-bosses and big boss was hardest. It took some time for me to figure out how to kill that boss, but after I killed him the game got easier. I don't even know how I killed the last boss, I shot the blue balls he threw around and all of a sudden he was dead in no time.
there is this one ball you have to shoot... its pain to shoot when its so easy to die.
Lightening Force is awesome. Yeah it's challenging but it all comes down to acquiring the skill and knowledge of enemy placement/patterns to succeed.
Agreed. The "Quest for the Darkstar" due to the "Dark Storm" was just as meaningless as the name change to “Lightening Force”. I do believe that Melf could have success in obtaining the reasoning behind this name change from SOA. The complete disregard in bringing Pulseman to the States and Europe is another mystery that must be solved someday.
Another question that needs an answer is why they changed the cover art? It looks like there is a bloody Star Destroyer below the Sega Genesis emblem on the front! Then there is the Ship. This rendition is so poorly presented it makes me wonder if SOA wanted to erase the memory of the Thunder Force Series. It’s apparent that the pilot sitting in the back of the ship has the worst possible viewing range due to the fact that there is no way the two missiles being fired below can be visible. The Title screen has the ship from the European and Japanese Thunder Force IV cover art which is a 1000x superior. Even though I own Lightening Force I still desire a European copy because the SOA art direction is insulting.
I read on Wiki that the European cart plays at NTSC speed. Can someone confirm this? Also, is there considerable slowdown during the Strite Stage boss battle?
I also noticed on Wiki that this game can be controlled with two controllers. So, I just fired up the cart and the two player support for one ship is a pleasant surprise indeed.
Thunder Force IV is one of the greatest shmups of all time. Its appearance has been disregarded in the USA for far too long. I’m hoping that someday we will know why it was given the Target Earth title renaming and cover art treatment.
I am one of six people to not understand why this game is so amazing and TF II sucks. My local video store had TF II when I was little and I would always get that game, but I had never heard of Lightening Force and there were at least 12 kids with Sega's on the block.
The slowdown when you have a powered up "star throwing" weapon is irritating to me in this game. It mars an otherwise outstanding game.
Make that seven. Not that I think TF2 is on par with TF4, but it seems to get picked on just for trying something new.
I think TF4 has the least pick up and play value of the three, because the initital 4 levels are too easy, the later levels too hard (that is in relation to the early levels), and some of the bosses take way too long to destroy.
I have TF3 and TF4 (and even a copy of TF5 for the PS), but have yet to track down TF2. I want to get it just for completism, whether it sucks or not:)