High-profile modern scrolling shooters or “shoot ‘em ups” consistently release to positive acclaim, and yet the genre has declined from must-have games to being known only within a relatively niche audience. Despite this, one independent developer is creating a spiritual successor that takes inspiration from a classic series SEGA fans may remember,Thunder Force.
TheThunder Forcefranchise was a series of shooters on the SEGA Genesis, Saturn and later PS2 systems known for its high difficulty, iconic music, and relatively complex gameplay compared to its contemporaries. While weaving between bullets and destroying enemies, the player is expected to switch weapons and adjust ship speed while reacting to situational hazards.
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Independent developer Terarin recently announced a new game that takes heavyinspiration from theThunder Forceseries. The game,Terra Flame, is already confirmed to have eight levels and a caravan mode for competition purposes. The horizontal scrolling, weapon switching, and speed control are very similar to mechanics present inThunder Force, but the game also includes Terarin’s signature boss defeat timers and collectible point pickups seen in previous games. Throughout the entire trailer, theThunder Forceinspiration is evident, but the added mechanics and more TurboGrafx-CD inspired music help giveTerra Flameits own flair beyond being a simple clone.
TheThunder Forceseries itself is fondly remembered by SEGA Genesis owners, but despite this, not many attempts at a similar formula exist in the modern genre space. Innovation still exists in the genre, as demonstrated byoriginal IPs likeJamestown+, but many of the classic series that made the genre what it is today are long dead; Konami’sGradiushas not seen a mainline release for almost twenty years, Technosoft’sThunder Force’s last release was in 2008, and Treasure’sRadiant Silvergunis still not available on any current-gen platform.
Despite the stagnation of many classic franchises, scrolling shooters are experiencing a resurgence recently viaPlatinumGames’ revival of theCrestaseriesand YOTSUBANE’sCrimzon Clover World EXplosionreleasing to positive acclaim. Terarin’s place in the modern shooter space is already well-established with theImageStrikerseries andRagingBlasters, soTerra Flamewill be yet another addition to the developer’s long lineup.
Despite the comeback scrolling shooters are in the midst of, the many dead franchises appear to be staying dead, as there are not evenrumors of a newGradiusorThunder Forcegame. While a stagnant franchise may frustrate fans, it also highlights the important role independent developers have in keeping niche genres alive through new and innovative games.
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