Thunder Cross (サンダークロス), is a horizontally scrolling shoot 'em up arcade gamereleased by Konami in 1988. It used a "layered scrolling" background, a new 2D graphics technique at the time. The game spawned a sequel, Thunder Cross II, in 1991. Owing to several similarities, Space Manbow (1989) may also be considered a spin off. In 2007, Thunder Cross was included as part of the Oretachi Geasen Zoku Sono budget series on the PlayStation 2 in Japan. 10 years later, it was re-released for PlayStation 4 on June 8, 2017 in Japan as Arcade Archives.
Gameplay
Thunder Cross is a classic horizontal shooter with 7 stages. Players control the Thunder fighter with up to four "options", which arrange up and down vertically and attack at the player's will. Three weapons are selectable ranging from the Vulcan shot to the Laser and the Boomerang shot (which doubles as a ricochet weapon). End-of-level bosses were present and, typical of a Konami shooter, Thunder Cross forced the player to beat the game twice in a harder Loop of the first seven levels.
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 (player 1) and its earlier make the Red Thunder M-24 (player 2).
Soundtrack
- Thunder Cross Konami Arcade Game Soundtrackwas released for Soundtrack CD on May 21, 1989 in Japan, and it also contain Ajax, Salamander, Hot Chase and Gradius II. It was also reprinted on May 21, 1993.
- A Ending Music for Arcade Thunder Cross was a part of Konami Ending Collection, Which was released for CD Soundtrack on October 21, 1991.
- The Tracks 30 to 42 from Thunder Cross, was contain an CD Soundtrack MIDI POWER ver.4.0 on March 24, 1994 in Japan.
- In addition, disc 5 of Konami Music Masterpiece Collection, which was released on October 1, 2004, is devoted to Thunder Cross.