Sun, 14 Oct 2007 by Damien McFerran
The legendary sci-fi shooter is back!
Playing very much like the highly regarded Thunderforce IV, Gate of Thunder represented a turning point for the PC Engine/TG-16 CD-ROM format. So long the recipient of sub-par ports and lackluster titles, the system was given a much-needed shot in the arm with this stunning shooter. Hudson and NEC promoted the game heavily when it was published in the US, bundling it with the hardware and famously declaring that Sega was ‘running scared’ because such quality games were starting to appear on a rival CD-based machine.
After sitting through the fantastic animated introduction sequence you’re thrust into one of the most intense and enjoyable blasters ever produced for NEC’s console, or any other machine for that matter. The graphics are nothing short of breathtaking; at times they even eclipse those found in Thunderforce IV (arguably the benchmark for visual splendor on the Megadrive/Genesis) and often surpassing the best the SNES has to offer (this is from what is essentially an 8-bit console, remember!)
The gameplay is fairly standard stuff – there’s nothing here that will shock or surprise veterans of the genre – but it’s the way everything to put together that truly impresses. Not a second of screen time is wasted – every encounter is challenging and demanding whilst retaining an element of fairness. You never blame the game for your mess-ups. The weapon system is balanced perfectly, too.
1. Corbie
21 Feb 2009, 19:44 GMT
Of the hundreds of shooters I own, Gate of Thunder is still my all-time favorite. This is everything a great shooter should be and more.
2. Cally
26 Feb 2009, 10:52 GMT
Gate of Thunder is remarkably evenhanded for a shooter in my experience. Ultra-methodical, going from mild to intense in such logical ways. I got such a thrill out of the faster scrolling in one of the final parts of the game . . . because, for once, I wasn't desensitized beforehand.
GoT just plain succeeds with what every other shooter tries and doesn't quite get as right. The shooting in one or several directions, however--or rather, how it's handled here--puts a compelling layer of strategy on this game.
To me, the innate lack of gameplay variety in shooters--it's largely what I'd call "button choreography," with strictness varying with difficulty--keep me from wanting to give any such shooter QUITE the same level of credit as some other genres. Nevertheless, GoT must be experienced.
3. Corbie
26 Feb 2009, 22:38 GMT
While Gate of Thunder isn't a bullet hell shooter, it features an almost non-stop intensity that never gives you a moment to slow down and gather yourself. Although I bought my TurboDuo system for Lords of Thunder, it was this game that came packed with it that took me by complete surprise and became my favorite shmup.
4. President_Leever
13 Jul 2009, 22:06 BST
While it's certainly fun to play, I found the overall presentation to be extremely bland and the music is just cheesy and grating to the ears. Much prefer Lords to this.
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