Thunder Force V

"The Ultimate Game For Shooter Fans"

Thunder Force V is a side-scrolling shooter for the Play Station that was released in 1998 in North America by Working Designs, and in Japan in 1997 by Techno Soft. How does this game fare? Read my review to find out the answer to that question.

GRAPHICS--10/10

The graphics in this game are superb. This game utilizes 3D graphics in a 2D side-scrolling view. Those 3D graphics are evident when you are facing off against bosses. The background of Stage 1 has a nice view of the ocean. You also get a FMV screen which tells the story quite well. Overall, the graphics are excellent.

SOUND--10/10

The sounds are excellent as well. The sound effects make good use of the Play Station's CD-ROM drive, with clear sounding shots and explosions. The music in this game consists of techno-pop music, making it the perfect sound track for this type of game. Overall, the sounds and music are excellent.

CONTROLS--10/10

The controls are excellent. You get to choose from two different control schemes, one for noobs and one for expert players. The controls for noobs allows for selection of weapons via the shoulder buttons, while the controls for experts allow for each weapon to be assigned to a specific button. The game also makes use of the analog thumb sticks, allowing for precise movement of your ship. Overall, the controls are excellent.

STORY LINE--10/10

The Earth spaceship discovers an alien vessel and uses it to create a technology called "Vassteel". When the computer designed from Vassteel decides to attack Earth, they call on a fleet of space pilots known as "Thunder Force" to destroy this deadly enemy. The story line fits this game very well.

GAME PLAY--10/10

The game play is excellent. Aside from the normal game play, you also have an image gallery to unlock. Is it just me, or is that woman in one of the images look like a grown-up version of Nazz (from the cartoon "Ed, Edd, n Eddy"). You can also unlock a Time Attack mode in which you must defeat all of the game's bosses in the shortest time possible. Overall, the game play is excellent.

OVERALL--10/10

This game is the ultimate game for shooter fans. You should buy this game for it's entertainment value. overall, it's an excellent video game.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/20/04