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
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(back)
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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-24 • Black Impulse | |
| Thunder Cross stages | First Attack • Skyscrapper City • Machine Graveyard • Great Battleship • Endless Labyrinth • Fire Cavern • Final Base | |
| Thunder Cross II stages | Air Battle • Machine Fortress • Space Fortress • Waste Factory • Large Battleship • Star Light •
Front Base | |
| Thunder Cross bosses | Egger • Ganger • Garch Jaeger • Bigger • Bogger • Figger • Machinegar | |
| Thunder Cross II bosses | Eggerdroid • Ragamuffin • Redclaw Monster • Dinosaur Jr. • Brookrans Works • Laze Zoguylum • Sprouts Layber | |
| Gradius video games | ||
| Gradius series | Gradius • Gradius II • Gradius III • Gradius Gaiden • Gradius IV: Fukkatsu • Gradius Galaxies • Gradius V • Gradius ReBirth • Gradius: The Interstellar Assault • Gradius NEO • Gradius NEO Imperial | |
| Spin-offs | Salamander (Life Force) (MSX ver.)• Salamander 2 • Nemesis 2 (Nemesis '90 Kai) • Nemesis 3 • Nemesis (Game Boy) • Cosmic Wars • Solar Assault | |
| Parody games | Parodius • Parodius Da! • Gokujō Parodius! • Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius • Sexy Parodius • Paro Wars • Otomedius (Otomedius Gorgeous) • Otomedius Excellent | |
| Other games | Scramble • Thunder Cross • Thunder Cross II • Space Manbow • Force Gear | |
| Pachislot | Gradius: The Slot • CR Parodius Da! EX • Gokuraku Parodius! | |
| Cancelled | Vic Viper • Gradius Arc • Salamander HD Remaster | |