One of the very first Megadrive/Genesis releases, Super Thunder Blade is a pretty underwhelming action title that failed to get pulses racing when it was converted to the 16-bit console back in the late ‘80s – just in time for the Japanese launch.
You pilot a high-tech attack chopper with the aim of defeating an army of blood-thirsty baddies. Armed to the teeth with a wide range of deadly weapons you have to use all your skill and cunning to succeed in your sole fight against the vengeful hordes.
Graphically Super Thunder Blade tries hard to replicate the silky-smooth sprite scaling of the arcade original (which also came in a rather funky dedicated cabinet) but sadly the Megadrive hardware just isn’t up to the task; everything shambles along in a pathetically jerky fashion making it extremely difficult to string together any kind of consistency in regards to attacking the enemy or avoiding incoming bullets.
The sprites themselves are half decent but to be brutally honest if someone told you this was the Master System version you probably wouldn’t even question it. The sound is equally disappointing, lacking any kind of punch whatsoever.
With launch software like this it’s little wonder that the Megadrive struggled to gain any kind of foothold in Japan – thankfully by the time the console arrived in the West the catalogue of games was more impressive and tripe like this was quickly forgotten.
Sadly Super Thunder Blade ranks as one Sega game that isn’t really worth revisiting and it’s little wonder then that most people haven’t even heard of it. Avoid!
1. Mirokunite
12 Aug 2007, 21:26 GMT
Oh dude! I use to have this game for genesis. Wait! I think I still have this game, and system somewhere.
*goes to dig though the garage.*
2. Jazzem
19 Aug 2007, 18:23 GMT
I just had a go of this on the MD collection for the PS2. It's a slice of fun, retro Sega Arcade fun, especially if you put it on Hard. It's pretty juttery in motion, but that's part of the charm I guess!
This is really the sort of thing they should be releasing at a budget price though, there's not enough to it to make it seem worth 800 Wii Points.
3. link64
24 Aug 2007, 22:51 GMT
is this like Space Harrier if so I will skip this one since Space Harrier always gives me a headache after 5-10mins.
4. deggs
06 Sep 2007, 01:25 GMT
yeah, some of the early sega arcade translations to the genesis are extremely similar. this is basically space harrier 2 with a helicopter (and it looks even more dated that sh2 as well).
still, it is good fun. this is basically a perfect example of the arcade vibe in the late 80s. a lot of the sega arcade games back then were basically just the next extension of the atari/c64 style gaming (progressing through similar looking levels but with slightly different enemy sprites and slightly different colored backgrounds) but with much better graphics. i still play this one now and again. it is tons of fun for those who remember it fondly despite how simplistic it is and how bad it looks (especially by today's standards).
you can basically beat the whole game by moving back and forth and holding the fire button (especially since either every 3rd or 4th [i can't remember] bullet that is shot out of your cannons is heat seeking...). still, it is fairly fun and addictive in that atari type of way. Every time i finish a game, i'm always tempted to just play again and again.
also, if you grew up with these types of games in the 80s, you'll be fond of the soundtrack. it gets stuck in my head all the time. again, it just sounds like 80s video game music but i mean, that's an amazing genre in and of itself. a lot of the early genesis choons kinda sounded the same but they were sooo much fun.
all that said, i can't recommend this one for the kids of today or anyone who didn't really get into it the first time around. i realize that my love for this game is based purely in nostalgia. it's like trying to explain to kids today why pong and donkey kong and defender 2 and joust were the best games ever... if you can't appreciate that then this one definitely isn't for you (and neither is space harrier 2). lol… but if you had this one as a kid just as the genesis came out and you loved it then, you may still love it now regardless of how ridiculous the buildings in level 1 look…
5. Jazzem
17 Sep 2007, 18:22 GMT
Blimey, one star seems a little harsh!
But to be fair, my three star score was probably too fair. Not a brilliant game at all, and not worth 800 points, but it has a little bit of playability!
6. Wolf
17 Sep 2007, 18:36 GMT
I bought space harrier because of nostalgia... and I regret it. I certainly wont be making the same mistake twice. pass on this one
7. Mendez
17 Sep 2007, 19:35 GMT
Played this in a triple pack with Alien Storm and this F1 game. It's alright, certainly nothing special though.
8. PresidentLeever
18 Sep 2007, 05:05 GMT
Hey SH2 is better than this. Because it's actually playable.
This was one of the first games I got for the MD back then and I think I played it like 5 times total. I played all kinds of crap like Taz Mania back then but couldn't stand this, so it had to be really bad.
9. alexanderpas
06 Oct 2007, 14:08 GMT
Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!
(where's the zero star option...)
10. alvieao
04 Nov 2007, 01:28 GMT
This game brought the arcade experience home? The early Genesis commercial is probably misleading. It looks like the Sega arcade game Thunder Blade, but it didn't really sound or play like it. Super Thunder Blade was also on the PS2 Genesis/Mega Drive Collection, but is regardless a poor game. With Super Thunder Blade and Namco's Xevious, the only reason to download this game is the nostalgia.
11. Y0u
27 Dec 2007, 03:00 GMT
Inferior Space Harrier clone in every possible way. Really pointless with SH2 on VC.
12. Will
26 Jan 2008, 01:22 GMT
What?! Super Thunder blade was a bad game?! are ye sure? I remember this triple pack with alien storm was great craic! I spent a lot of time on this when I was small, and yeah I got great enjoyment from it. Helicopters in all old school video games are brilliant. Really cool 80s vibe.
13. Deadeyerobbie
28 Jan 2008, 19:38 GMT
I remember playing thunder blade on my C64, and that was way better than this. Do NOT download.
14. Tony
09 Feb 2008, 00:23 GMT
I wonder if Afterburner Sega Genesis was any good? This game looks like Afterburner.
15. slangman
02 Apr 2008, 17:30 GMT
Sounds like a bad arcade conversion but at least the music is catchy.
16. PuppetMasterKuruku
30 Aug 2008, 13:31 GMT
I have this on Sega Genesis Collection. If you want to play it, save your money and just play it on there. Actually, don't play it at all. It's really just not good. If you have good memories of this game, just keep them as memories. I think this game is plain awful.
17. Corbie
26 Oct 2008, 01:48 GMT
I borrowed this one from a friend back in the day and didn't spend much time with it before I lost interest. Very tough and just not enough game play to keep you interested for more than a few minutes.
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