The "Third Party" equivalent of Thunder Force VI
Broken Thunder (ブロークンサンダー Buroken Sandaa) is a Doujin game released for the PC on 2007 by Factory Noise and AG. The game was only available in Japan.
Gameplay[]
The gameplay of Broken Thunder was a very basic version of is official Thunder Force counterparts, since it lacks the traditional Stage selection, but the player is able to select if he/she wants to choose from the RVR-03G1 "Bracer" or the Fire LEO-05VC "Syrex". Also, it keeps the same controls as the other Thunder Force games.
| Stage | Area | Boss | Music |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Space | Fire LEO-05P Syrinx | |
| 2 | Clouds | Full Metal Goddess | |
| 3 | Desert | Moon of Black Rain "BG-00P" | |
| 4 | Moon | Moon of Mind | |
| 5 | Boss Rush | Broken Thunder/ CODE-RVR-03G Sword Breaker | |
| Final | Enemy Base | The Justice Ray Part 3 |
Weapons[]
Twin Shot: The basic weapon of both Bracer, Broken Thunder and Syrex, it fires two parallel lasers.
Back Shot: Like its name says, it fires lasers from behind your ship. All the ships have this weapon.
Wave: First seen in Thunder Force III by the Styx, this weapon fires piercing crescent shaped lasers. This weapon is only available for the Syrex and Broken Thunder.
Free Way: First seen in Thunder Force IV by the Rynex, the Free Way fires 3 powerful lasers in a specific direction, its aim can rotate 360º. Only the Bracer & Broken Thunder can use it.
Vector Cutter Laser: This is a short-range, but quite powerful laser-blade weapon to pierce and cut your enemies in pieces. Only the Syrex and Broken Thunder can use this weapon.
Hunter: In the tradition of the Thunder Force games, the Hunter is your homing weapon, it can be used by the three ships.
Over Weapon[]
The Over Weapon is also present in Broken Thunder, but unlike Thunder Force V's CRAW controlled blast, in this game the Over Weapon burns 1/3 of a CRAW in a forced blast, like a bomb format, and it can be a waste because strong enemies and bosses just move away during a blast.
Twin Shot Over Weapon: A powerful Mega Sword cannon is shot out for about 5 seconds that can decimate targets.
Back Shot Over Weapon: Fires a spear-like version of the Mega Sword, 2 powerful spear lasers are shot behind the fighter.
Wave Over Weapon: Shoots a bigger frontal wave shot, piercing every enemy ahead of it.
Free Way Over Weapon: Shoots a Five-Shot Free Way, and increased in fire rate.
Vector Cutter Laser Over Weapon: A giant blade-laser that is shot from front and back, piercing every enemy on the screen.
Hunter Over Weapon: Shoots five streams and increased in fire rate.
Development and Reception[]
- In 2001, a video game music album was released from the band "Noise" entitled Broken Thunder: Noise Image Soundtrack Volume 3 featuring music intended to be used in the cancelled Thunder Force VI for the Dreamcast. The soundtrack is composed by Tsukumo Hyakutaro, Noise band member and music composer for many of Tecno Soft's games (including Thunder Force V).
- On December 5, 2005, the music featured in Broken Thunder: Noise Image Soundtrack Volume 3 was re-released along with other arrangements from previous Thunder Force games on an album entitled Thunder Force VI Soundtrack ~Broken Thunder~ published by Factory Noise & AG.
- Internet rumors have been floating around that Tecno Soft, who has not been heard from since the early 2000s, are currently rehiring staff and planning to release Thunder Force VI in the fiscal year of 2006 for an unnamed game system. This rumour later turned out to be Broken Thunder.
- Factory Noise & AG released a sample CD of Broken Thunder, which contained a High resolution video of the game opening, 20 wallpapers and 3 MP3 tracks. The game was later released on the PC in both a collector's edition which also contains a soundtrack CD, and a standard edition. However the game itself is generally considered an inferior and incomplete product, because the contents lack polishing (e.g. 6 out of the 7 boss models are inanimate solid objects); and a text file in the game DVD indicates that the producer himself also believes the game "does not include 1/3 of designed elements", and plans to update the content in the form of a free patch. As of May 2007, all shops have stopped selling the game and existing copies have been taken off the shelves, but you can still buy the game online in Japanese game store websites and Ebay.