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Thunder Cross (サンダークロス Sandā Kurosu?) is a horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game released in arcades by Konami in 1988. Thunder Cross used a "layered scrolling" background, a new 2D graphics technique at the time. The game spawned a sequel, Thunder Cross II.

Plot[]

Taking place in the future of space colonization, the planet Haniamu IV is under attack from a relentless, unknown military force known only as Black Impulse. The strongest Earth ships capable of stopping the total conquering of the planet are the Blue Thunder M-45 and its earlier model the Red Thunder M-24.

Gameplay[]

Thunder Cross is a classic horizontal shooter with 7 stages. Players control the Blue/Red Thunder fighter which can be equipped with up to four "options" that are arrange vertically along the player ship and attack alongside it.

The ship can be equipped with up to 4 options (in the US version, the player starts with two of them already). The ship can also be equipped with three different weapons: Vulcan (rapid-fire), Boomerang (bouncy bullets) and Tail Gun (shoots backwards and forwards).

In the European and Japanese versions of the game the player can adjust the vertical positioning of the options, adding a strategic element. The player can also equip powerful, temporary weapons once it is equipped with four options. In the US version these are replaced with a smart bomb (called, bizarrely, "Li'l Baby") which destroys everything on screen.

Stages[]

Stage Name Boss Music
1 First Attack Egger First Attack
2 Skyscrapper City Ganger Skywalker
3 Machine Graveyard Garch Jaeger Machine Graveyard
4 Great Battleship Bigger Great Battleship
5 Endless Labyrinth Bogger Endless Labyrinth
6 Fire Cavern Figger Fire Cavern
7 Final Base Machinegar Final Base

Version differences[]

There are at least three distinct versions: Japanese, US and European. The US and Japanese versions have a different level order, as well as the weaponry mentioned above.

Ports[]

The game was later included in 2007 as part of the Oretachi Gēsen Zoku series on the PlayStation 2 in Japan. It was also released in 2017 for PlayStation 4 in Japan and Nintendo Switch on February 11, 2021 as part of Arcade Archives and in 2019 as part of Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Packaging artwork[]

Promotional artwork[]

Trivia[]

  • Emon • 5 got his BGM pack from the Thunder Cross series, and inside the BGM pack from this game is also included.
  • Thunder Cross is one of the names in Latvian for the Swastika.
  • The ability to adjust the vertical positioning of options in Thunder Cross was later implemented as Spacing Options in Gradius V.

External links[]

Thunder Cross/Thunder Cross II
Ships and characters Blue Thunder M-45 and Red Thunder M-24Black Impulse
Thunder Cross stages First AttackSkyscrapper CityMachine GraveyardGreat BattleshipEndless LabyrinthFire CavernFinal Base
Thunder Cross II stages Air BattleMachine FortressSpace FortressWaste FactoryLarge BattleshipStar Light

Front Base

Thunder Cross bosses EggerGangerGarch JaegerBiggerBoggerFiggerMachinegar
Thunder Cross II bosses EggerdroidRagamuffinRedcraw MonsterDinosaur Jr.Brookrans WorksLaze ZoguylumSprouts Layber
Gradius video games
Gradius series GradiusGradius IIGradius IIIGradius GaidenGradius IV: FukkatsuGradius GalaxiesGradius VGradius ReBirthGradius: The Interstellar AssaultGradius NEOGradius NEO Imperial
Spin-offs Salamander (Life Force) (MSX ver.)• Salamander 2Nemesis 2 (Nemesis '90 Kai) • Nemesis 3Nemesis (Game Boy)Cosmic WarsSolar Assault
Parody games ParodiusParodius Da!Gokujō Parodius!Jikkyō Oshaberi ParodiusSexy ParodiusParo WarsOtomedius (Otomedius Gorgeous) • Otomedius Excellent
Other games ScrambleThunder CrossThunder Cross IISpace ManbowForce Gear
Pachislot Gradius: The SlotCR Parodius Da! EXGokuraku Parodius!
Cancelled Vic ViperGradius ArcSalamander HD Remaster
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