Operation Thunderbolt (video game)
Two-player light gun sequel with scrolling 3D perspective.
Operation Thunderbolt is a 1988 light gun shooter arcade game developed and published by Taito. As the sequel to Operation Wolf, it introduced two-player simultaneous play and a forward-scrolling pseudo-3D perspective combined with side-scrolling sections. The arcade game was a commercial success, ranking among the top three highest-grossing dedicated arcade games of 1989 in both Japan and the United States.
Quick Facts
- Publisher
- Taito
- Home computers
- Ocean Software
- Designer
- Junji Yarita; Hiroyuki Sako
- Programmer
- Daisuke Sasaki
- Akira Ōtsuki
- Youzou Koma
- Tatsuo Nakamura
- Shinji Soyano
- Composer
- Shizuo Aizawa
- Artist
- Hiroyasu Nagai
- Osamu Matsuura
- Junji Yarita
- Yoshihiko Wakita
- Minori Ishino
- Taira Sanuki
- Hisakazu Kato
- Series
- Operation Wolf
- Platforms
- Arcade
- Amiga
- Amstrad CPC
- Atari ST
- Commodore 64
- ZX Spectrum
- GX4000
- Super NES
- Genre
- Light gun shooter
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Players control green berets Roy Adams and Hardy Jones, who must rescue American hostages from a hijacked airliner forced to land in the fictional African province of Kalubya. The mission involves capturing six bases, using machine guns or a grenade launcher against enemies such as soldiers, jeeps, tanks, and helicopters. In stages 4 and 6, killing a hostage reduces the player's life, and at least one hostage must be saved or the game ends. Stage 8 requires engaging the lead hijacker, who holds the pilot hostage; no continues are permitted. Killing the hijacker triggers a good ending showing the plane taking off, while the pilot's death results in a bad ending. Changes from Operation Wolf include positional gun controllers instead of light guns, two-player simultaneous play, and a forward-scrolling pseudo-3D perspective combined with side-scrolling sections.
Ports
Ocean Software published home computer conversions of Operation Thunderbolt in 1989 for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. A GX4000 cartridge version followed in 1993. The Super NES version, released by Taito in 1994, supports the SNES Mouse and Super Scope, and allows the player to choose from various characters. Its storyline was altered so that the hijackers belong to the fictional Bintazi People's Republic under dictator General Abul Bazarre.
Reception
In Japan, Game Machine listed Operation Thunderbolt as the second most successful upright arcade unit of January 1989, and it became Japan's second highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1989, below Chase H.Q. In the United States, it was the third highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1989, and it ranked eighth in Japan for 1990. The arcade game received positive reviews; Commodore User praised its two-player option, new perspective, and clever scenario ideas. Reviewing the Super NES version, GamePro commended the graphics and sound but criticized repetitive gameplay and a slow aiming reticule. Next Generation dismissed it as another shooting-gallery game. The game won Crash magazine's 1989 readers' award for best graphics, and at a British game industry awards event in late 1989, Ocean Software's home computer conversions received the award for Best 16-bit arcade license translation.
More in Taito Games of the 1980s
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