When the Sega Ages lineup for Switch debuted, one of the first games to come was Thunder Force IV. It was a great port of the classic and added some interesting new features as well. Now Thunder Force AC has come to Switch as well, and M2 has once again knocked it out of the park. For reference, Thunder Force AC was a remix of Thunder Force III done for arcades, with new stages and bosses added in also. Given that Thunder Force IV’s Sega Ages port has additions added in from Thunder Force III, it should be no surprise that M2 did the opposite here. But we are getting ahead of ourselves here.
Sega Ages Thunder Force AC is perhaps one of the best ports of the classic game, and may even surpass the Saturn port of the game. It is a horizontal shoot em up and contains varied levels that managed to create a real challenge for players. The standard mode gives you the original game, and sees you set out to take on bosses and save the world. As the game goes on, you will unlock a second ship to use, coming from Thunder Force IV. This ship functions differently and making proper use of its abilities will affect your high score in the end. Its a nice touch and manages to give a nice spin on the classic gameplay. if you are extremely familiar with Thunder Force AC, then will will be a welcome change as it will add something new that you have not experienced before. It is also a great contrast to the Sega Ages port of Thunder Force IV, which brought in a ship from III.
There is also kids mode, which is an easy mode for the game. I have seen some fans complain about this but considering that the game can be a bit too intense for newcomers, I see no issue with a mode that serves as training and an introduction to get players ready for the pure experience. There are additional lives here, and weapons do more damage enemies move a bit slower and so on. While it is mainly for newcomers to get familiar with the game, it is also good for veterans who may want to just spend a few minutes at a time with the game and just blast through everything without a worry. In terms of presentation, M2 did a great job once more. The game’s visuals are retained perfectly and there are multiple border options. One of these replicates an arcade cabinet similar to how it was done in Out Run’s Sega Ages port for Switch, which is a great bonus for longtime fans.
In conclusion, Thunder Force AC is one of the best shoot em up ports to the Switch yet. A great game, with a variety of options for gameplay and presentation, this is everything classic gaming fans will love, especially fans of Sega in the arcades. I highly recommend checking this out, as you will not be disappointed.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
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