SEGA AGES Thunder Force IV

Thunder Force IV debuted in 1992, fresh on the heels of the almost-as-popular third installment. The series is known for its harsh difficulty, rocking music, and slick presentation, and this fourth game is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the 2D entries. You control the game by selecting the starting sequence of the first four levels before progressing to the more difficult final stages. Your spacecraft has a configurable rate of speed, and collecting unique symbols throughout gameplay offers access to a variety of armaments that may be cycled through at will.

Then there are the features that, presumably, will be shared by all Sega Ages titles, such as save states, adjustable controls, screen filters, and replaceable boarders. Thunder Force IV also has an online ranking option that lets you download and watch replay data collected by other players - a nice addition that helps you to learn from the top Rynex pilots in the world (or Styx, as you can unlock the ship from Thunder Force III as well).

Genre: Shoot 'em up

Release date: 1992

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