Thunder Cross
Is a horizontally scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Konami for arcades. It was released in October 1988 in Japan and January 1989 in North America. A sequel, Thunder Cross II, was published in 1991.
Thunder Cross
- Date
- 1988
- Publisher
- Konami
- Genre
- shoot 'em up
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Is a horizontally scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Konami for arcades. It was released in October 1988 in Japan and January 1989 in North America. A sequel, Thunder Cross II, was published in 1991.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Thunder Cross. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q7798969
In this article
The object
The object
Owing to several similarities, Space Manbow (1989) may also be considered a spin-off. Hamster Corporation released the game as part of the Oretachi Geasen Zoku Sono budget series for the PlayStation 2 in Japan in 2007. It was later released as part of the Arcade Archives series for the PlayStation 4 in 2017 and Nintendo Switch in 2021. This version was added to Konami's Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows and Xbox One in 2019.
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Thunder Cross • Developer — Konami • Publisher — Konami • Genre — Scrolling shooter • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer • Platforms — Arcade
Gameplay
Gameplay
Thunder Cross is a classic horizontal shooter with seven stages. Players control the Thunder fighter with up to four "options", which arrange up and down vertically and attack at the player's will. Three weapons are selectable ranging from the Vulcan shot to the Laser and the Boomerang shot (which doubles as a ricochet weapon). End-of-level bosses are present and, typical of a Konami shooter, Thunder Cross has the player to beat the game twice in a harder loop of the first seven levels.
Plot
Plot
Taking place in the future of space colonization, the planet Haniamu IV is under attack from a relentless, unknown military force known only as Black Impulse. The strongest Earth ships capable of stopping the total conquering of the planet are the Blue Thunder M-45 (player 1) and its earlier make the Red Thunder M-24 (player 2).
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- Japan
Named but not plotted · 1
Thunder Cross is associated with Japan.
Country
Reception
In Japan, Game Machine listed Thunder Cross on their December 1, 1988 issue as being the second most-successful table arcade unit at the time.
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Collectables
20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- ThumperWork
- Thunder BladeWork
- Thunder BrigadeWork
- Thunder CeptorWork
- Thunder Dragon 2Work
- Thunder ForceWork
- Thunder Force IIWork
- Thunder Force IVWork
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a copy of Thunder Cross?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.