Sega's 3D Classic range shows no sign of slowing down, with Japanese gamers still getting to grips with Fantasy Zone II Double's new Link Loop Land mode while looking forward to this latest announcement - 3D Thunder Blade.
Originally released in arcades back in 1987, Thunder Blade was another game to use Sega's impressive "Super Scaler" hardware, generating beautiful "3D" environments from scaled sprites. Due to this unique and hi-tech approach none of the home ports bar the incredibly obscure X68000 (an expensive Japanese computer) came close to matching the thrill of the real thing.
Details are scarce at the moment, but they do at least include a mention of the now-obligatory "special mode" that will no doubt include some fresh take on the helicopter-flying arcade hit, as well as the ability to use the gyro sensor to control the action.
The game is due to hit the Japanese eShop on the 20th of August - is this the next title you were hoping to see? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source archives.sega.jp]
Comments 27
This isn't Sonic 2
I hope this is the Arcade Version and not the p1ss poor Megadrive Version
Still waiting on update for Western Release for Outrun, any news Nintendolife?
Nice!!Getting this when it comes out, i love Sega's 3d classic games.
This is indeed the arcade version, not Super Thunder Blade that was made for Genesis.
And none that didn't come to the west yet!
Sadly,Super Thunder Blade on Mega Drive / Genesis probably gives it a bad name because that game was bad. It was made in 1988 for MD's launch in Japan along with Space Harrier II.
It's also on the Wii U Virtual Console.
Here's Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of Super Thunder Blade from 1989 http://i29.tinypic.com/3443950.jpg
If 3D Thunder Blade does happen to come out for 3DS eShop in North America and Europe, don't let your memories of Super Thunder Blade cloud your judgement. Arcade Thunder Blade was extremely smooth and the graphics were great. It ran on the same super-scaler board as After Burner.
Dual 68000 CPUs (each 12.5 MHz) - 256 sprites - 4 background / tile layers
http://system16.com/hardware.php?id=698
No problem for 3DS though, as M2 already brought us Galaxy Force II
which ran on an even more powerful Sega super-scalar board.
Should look pretty good on 3DS. I'm down.
M2 is awesome. Money at screen.
This has been talked about for a while as Okunari loves ThunderBlade. Glad it's on the 3D list as the only way to really play this version was on MAME.
I can see these being released week by week leading upto Christmas like the furry wave of SEGA 3D games
Atleast SEGA gives me reasons to purchase VC games on the 3DS
Super Monaco next please
SEGA please jump on wii u vc!! What in the world are you waiting for??? Take my money!!
Sega was doing some VERY impressive sprite layering and scaling work to create that early 3D effect in their arcade games back in the day.
So where is Super Hang On for the US?
@Whopper744 Super Hang-On is available in the US.
Thunder Blade is number 5 in Sega's second seires of 3D Classics.
Stop doing this, NintendoLife. Sega doesn't see these as viable western releases, so don't give them the press. It has been nearly a year since After Burner 2 was released in Japan; I'm sure the lengthy translation and localizing process is all that is holding it back..
Wow, great to see these SEGA classics which were never given justice with their home ports.
I wish they would also put them on home consoles, I'd like to see other arcade games like Golden Axe 2, Turbo Outrun and OutRunners. Or later ones like SEGA Rally, Daytona USA 2 and Scud Race.
What about all of the other Sega 3D releases that have yet to come out in the US?? Where's OutRun?!
@Technosphile I wouldn't say that is true. Last time they waited until the series of 8 was finished to announce it. (They also seperately announced they were pleased with how it the first ones had done).
Good choice, but how about some Geneses and Master System games now? Sonic 2, Ristar, Ranger-X, and Gunstar Heroes deserve the honors.
Now if Sega of America/Europe could get off of their ass and release these internationally.
I'm only interested in Sega bringing more of their arcade games home, I've had my fill of MegaDrive / Genesis ports.
Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder has never been brought home. That game was amazing, and nothing to do with Golden Axe 2 (or 3) on Genesis/MD/
Revenge of Death Adder had 4-player play, like the two Capcom
Dungeons & Dragon's arcade games (both ported to consoles including Wii U last year)
I'd like the arcade version of Super Monaco GP as well. The Genesis port was very good for the time but obviously couldn't have the scaling and highly detailed graphics,
Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II on Genesis was also good, but again, lacks the scaling and detail of the 1989 arcade game.
@ScrollingLayers
You are a man of good tastes. I have the arcade pcb and a stripped 4 player cabinet for Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder. My goal is to restore it someday. Also since we are discussing some sweet MD/Genesis titles how crazy would a 3D version of Herzog Zwei be?
(Techno Soft i know but man it would be sweet!)
@SparkOfSpirit Gunstar Heroes, Sonic 2 and Rocket Knight Adventures would be amazing 3D classics. As for Thunder Blade, I think my only experience with this game was on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection on PS3.
Herzog Zwei (Japan 1989, U.S. early 1990) was so very addictive - And far ahead of its time, the forerunner of all RTS games.
Herog Zwei come out 5-6 years before Westwood Studios Command & Conquer (1995) and still a few years before Westwood released its first RTS game, Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty on DOS PCs in 1992 It was renamed Dune: The Battle for Arrakis on Genesis in 1993,
The relatively recent F2P game, AirMech by Carbon Games, a playable beta on Chrome browsers was directly inspired by Herzog Zwei. Just released this month on Xbox 360 / XBLA as AirMech Arena — I hope they bring it to WiiU
Oh, HELL yes! That game looks awesome!
M2, PLEASE, I beg you, release Outrun and 3D Thunder Blade in North America, P-L-E-A-S-E!
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