Previous Next

Those Thunderforce lads are back, and this time they're taking no crap - especially from the massive Orn Empire task force that's taken over a whole sector of Earth Space. Since their last dangerous adventure on the Megadrive, they've upgraded their ships to carry even more weapons and thus give those Orn scum even more opportunity to have their bottoms soundly thrashed out of this dimension.

Unlike Thunderforce II, which was, for the most part, viewed from above and scrolled in eight directions, Thunderforce III is a more traditional R-Type style horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-up. As usual for this type of game, it features plenty of bolt-on weapons and massive end-of-level bosses!

The object is pretty simple. Just blast anything that moves, or anything that looks as if it's about to and if it isn't, blast it anyway because it might. Just be sure to guide that ship out of the path from the enemy flak, because those slimy Orn beings don't take kindly to you destroying all their plans for cosmic domination.

Thunderforce III certainly gives you the tools to get the job done, as it were. Included in the Thunderforce armoury are the likes of bog-standard pea-shooter weapons, powerful beam weapons, ground-hugging missiles and alien-busting ripple lasers.

Once collected the weapon remains with your craft and can be selected at will. The Thunderforce ship carries five weapons at once. However, should you lose a ship, you stand to lose one of your weapons - probably the one selected when you bit the dust. Readers of the Tips Section will probably know of the cheat that endows your fighter with all of the weapons available!

Thunderforce II was reviewed way back in issue one of Mean Machines, where it received the handsome mark of 82%. It's different from this sequel in that the action is divided between overhead scrolling action and the same type of horizontally scrolling blasting action as seen here.

If you're after a good blast it's worth a look, although you're better off going for a later game like Hellfire or Gynoug - or even Thunderforce III!

Although it's been available on import for over a year. Thunderforce III is still one of the most technically stunning Megadrive blasters around.

From the shimmering fiery backdrops of the volcano planet to the super-smooth parallax scrolling on the ice world. It's a graphical treat. It's not just a pretty face, either.

Thunderforce III is tough and challenging. Obviously not on the easy level - any half decent blasting fan should be able to shoot their way through to the end of the game in a few sessions - but on the more difficult levels, where the action is bonkers and you have to fight through a constant barrage of bullets and baddies!

If you're after a good shoot-'em-up, check this out. Along with Hellfire and Gynoug, it's one of the best blasters available on the Megadrive.

I first played Thunderforce III on import when I started at CVG, and thought it was a megablast that simply demanded purchase. Well, that was over a year ago. Since then Thunderforce has aged quite a bit and isn't quite as good as some of the shoot-'em-ups that followed (Gynoung and Hellfire spring to mind).

There's no denying that graphical quality of the game still remains superb, and the sound is pretty good, but it's playability that counts, and though Thunderforce is good, it could have been better.

People out for the best blast on the Megadrive should go for one or the other of the games I mentioned earlier, but if you can't get your hands on either. Thunderforce III is a worthwhile substitute, packing a powerful punch in the shoot-'em-up stakes.

Presentation 84%
Pretty decent levels of presentation throughout the game, including a limited level select.

Graphics 91%
Stunning graphic effects for each level and brilliant end-of-level bosses.

Sound 88%
Good explosive effects and catchy music.

Playability 90%
Fast 'n furious shoot-'em-up action that's well addictive.

Lastability 85%
Eight levels to conquer, and three difficulty levels to sustain interest.

Overall 86%
An addictive blast which features stunning visual effects. Check it out.