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Rolling Thunder (arcade game)
Encyclopedia
is a side-scrolling action game
produced by Namco
(now known as Namco Bandai Games
) originally released in as a coin-operated arcade game
which ran on the Namco System 86
hardware. It was distributed internationally outside Japan
by Atari Games
. The player takes control of a secret agent who must rescue his female partner from a terrorist organization. Rolling Thunder was released for various computer platforms in and the Nintendo Entertainment System
in . The original arcade game has also been included in various classic game compilations as well.
.
Albatross must travel through two different segments or "stories", each composed of five stages, for a total of ten stages. Depending on the dip switch
settings, the player has the option to start the game from any point in "Story 1" (allowing to skip the player to skip any of the first four stages if desired). On each stage, the player can enter doors to hide and take cover
from enemies, as well jump over to higher or lower floors with rails, including stairs. The stages in "Story 2" are essentially harder version of their "Story 1" counterparts, featuring more traps and different enemy placement. At the end of each stage, scenes from Leila's capture and ensuing torture
are shown on a large monitor screen.
The player begins the game armed with a standard-issue pistol, which can be substituted with a fully automatic assault rifle that allows for continuous firing by holding down the shoot button. The player can find ammunition for either weapon by entering doors which are marked "bullets" or "arms". If the player runs out of machine gun ammo, they will switch back to the pistol. However, if the pistol runs out of ammo as well, then the player can only fire a single slow "chaser" bullets on-screen at a time until more ammo is acquired. Despite the presence of a life meter, the player can only take two physical hits from the enemy: a single hit drains half of the meter and the player is killed instantly when struck by a projectile attack such as enemy bullets or lasers.
The main enemies in Rolling Thunder are hooded soldiers known as "Maskers". Maskers are dressed in various outfits and colors, which determines their strength and attack pattern respectively. Some Maskers do not shoot, but throw grenades instead, while others will shoot their gun while kneeling. Other enemies includes ninjas, mutated bats known as Gelzos, panthers, shrieking yellow creatures known as Blogas and lava men. At the end of the final stage, the player must battle the Geldra leader Maboo to rescue Leila and complete their mission.
In , U.S. Gold
released home computer versions of Rolling Thunder in Europe
for ZX Spectrum
, Commodore 64
, Amstrad CPC
, Amiga
and Atari ST
. These five computer versions were developed by Tiertex. Only the Commodore 64
version had some different colors for the outfit of the Maskers: in the Amiga
, Atari ST
and Amstrad CPC
version the Maskers have all the same outfit colors. ZX Spectrum
version was almost monochrome. Slow movements and jerky scrolling affected all the versions.
On March 17, , Namco released a home version of Rolling Thunder for the Family Computer in Japan
. This version was localized in North America
by Tengen
, which released their version of the game for the Nintendo Entertainment System
as an unlicensed title without Nintendo's approval. The Famicom/NES version features a few minor changes and additions from the arcade version, such as a password feature, hidden bonuses, and a harder second mission accessible by inputting a password given to the player for completing the normal mission. Namco's Famicom version of Rolling Thunder also uses a different sound chip from Tengen's NES version that made use of the extra sound channels featured on the Famicom's cartridge slot.
An Atari Lynx conversion of Rolling Thunder was also announced in an official Lynx catalog published. The Lynx version was announced with a scheduled May 1992 release date, but was later canceled.
The original arcade version is featured in Namco Museum Encore
for the PlayStation
, Namco Museum Battle Collection
for the PlayStation Portable
, in Namco Museum Virtual Arcade for the Xbox 360
, and in Namco Museum 50th Anniversary for PlayStation 2
, GameCube
, Xbox
and PC
. The arcade version was released for the Wii
Virtual Console
in Japan on July 21, 2009 and as part of the
Pac-Man's Arcade Party
30th Anniversary arcade machine in 2010.
Interpol's global ambitions realized Gerudora (WCPO) (World Crime Police Organization) are female spies to explore its secrets, "Layla" is to send her the "Mabu" got stuck on. Without having to rescue her, and the identities of existence of ambition would Gerudora is buried in darkness.
WCPO saw heavy things, and decided to send the most powerful agents. The man's code name "Albatross". And their team name, "Rolling Thunder".
In order to prevent the ambition of Leila's rescue and Gerudora, he disappeared into the dark alone ....
in 1990. A Mega Drive version of Rolling Thunder 2 was released in , followed by a Genesis-exclusive sequel titled Rolling Thunder 3
, released exclusively in North America
in .
Action game
Action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. The genre includes diverse subgenres such as fighting games, shooter games, and platform games, which are widely considered the most important action games, though some...
produced by Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
(now known as Namco Bandai Games
Namco Bandai Games
is an arcade, mobile and home video game developer and publisher based in Japan which is the product of a merger between the video game development divisions of Bandai and Namco. Namco Bandai Games is a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings and specializes in production and sales of...
) originally released in as a coin-operated arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
which ran on the Namco System 86
Namco System 86
The Namco System 86 arcade system board was first used by Namco in 1986. It was succeeded by the more powerful Namco System 1 arcade board.-Namco System 86 Specifications:Processors:* Main CPU: Motorola 6809 @ 1.536 MHz...
hardware. It was distributed internationally outside Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by Atari Games
Atari Games
Atari Games Corporation was an American producer of arcade games, and originally part of Atari, Inc..-History:When, in 1984, Warner Communications sold the Atari Consumer division of Atari Inc...
. The player takes control of a secret agent who must rescue his female partner from a terrorist organization. Rolling Thunder was released for various computer platforms in and the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
in . The original arcade game has also been included in various classic game compilations as well.
Gameplay
The player takes control of Albatross, a member of the WCPO's (World Crime Police Organization) "Rolling Thunder" espionage unit. Albatross's mission is to save a missing female agent named Leila Blitz from a secret society named Geldra located in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Albatross must travel through two different segments or "stories", each composed of five stages, for a total of ten stages. Depending on the dip switch
DIP switch
DIP switches are manual electric switches that are packaged in a group in a standard dual in-line package...
settings, the player has the option to start the game from any point in "Story 1" (allowing to skip the player to skip any of the first four stages if desired). On each stage, the player can enter doors to hide and take cover
Cover system
A cover system is how a video game lets a virtual avatar avoid dangers usually in a three-dimensional world. This method is a digital adaptation of the real-life military tactic of taking cover to dodge enemy gunfire or explosives. Similar gameplay elements can be traced back to as early as 1986,...
from enemies, as well jump over to higher or lower floors with rails, including stairs. The stages in "Story 2" are essentially harder version of their "Story 1" counterparts, featuring more traps and different enemy placement. At the end of each stage, scenes from Leila's capture and ensuing torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
are shown on a large monitor screen.
The player begins the game armed with a standard-issue pistol, which can be substituted with a fully automatic assault rifle that allows for continuous firing by holding down the shoot button. The player can find ammunition for either weapon by entering doors which are marked "bullets" or "arms". If the player runs out of machine gun ammo, they will switch back to the pistol. However, if the pistol runs out of ammo as well, then the player can only fire a single slow "chaser" bullets on-screen at a time until more ammo is acquired. Despite the presence of a life meter, the player can only take two physical hits from the enemy: a single hit drains half of the meter and the player is killed instantly when struck by a projectile attack such as enemy bullets or lasers.
The main enemies in Rolling Thunder are hooded soldiers known as "Maskers". Maskers are dressed in various outfits and colors, which determines their strength and attack pattern respectively. Some Maskers do not shoot, but throw grenades instead, while others will shoot their gun while kneeling. Other enemies includes ninjas, mutated bats known as Gelzos, panthers, shrieking yellow creatures known as Blogas and lava men. At the end of the final stage, the player must battle the Geldra leader Maboo to rescue Leila and complete their mission.
Home versions
U.S. Gold
U.S. Gold was a British video game publisher and developer from the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, producing numerous titles on a variety of 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit platforms.-History:...
released home computer versions of Rolling Thunder in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
, Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
, Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
. These five computer versions were developed by Tiertex. Only the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
version had some different colors for the outfit of the Maskers: in the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
and Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
version the Maskers have all the same outfit colors. ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
version was almost monochrome. Slow movements and jerky scrolling affected all the versions.
On March 17, , Namco released a home version of Rolling Thunder for the Family Computer in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. This version was localized in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
by Tengen
Tengen (company)
Tengen was a video game publisher and developer that was created by arcade game manufacturer Atari Games.-History:Atari had been split into two distinct companies. Atari Corporation was responsible for computer and console games and hardware and owned the rights to the Atari brand for these domains...
, which released their version of the game for the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
as an unlicensed title without Nintendo's approval. The Famicom/NES version features a few minor changes and additions from the arcade version, such as a password feature, hidden bonuses, and a harder second mission accessible by inputting a password given to the player for completing the normal mission. Namco's Famicom version of Rolling Thunder also uses a different sound chip from Tengen's NES version that made use of the extra sound channels featured on the Famicom's cartridge slot.
An Atari Lynx conversion of Rolling Thunder was also announced in an official Lynx catalog published. The Lynx version was announced with a scheduled May 1992 release date, but was later canceled.
The original arcade version is featured in Namco Museum Encore
Namco Museum
Namco Museum refers to the series of video game compilations released by Namco for various 32-bit and above consoles, containing releases of their games from the 1980s and early 1990s...
for the PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
, Namco Museum Battle Collection
Namco Museum Battle Collection
Namco Museum Battle Collection is a collection of Namco arcade games such as Dig Dug, Pac-Man and Galaga. It was released for the PlayStation Portable in Japan on February 25, 2005 and contained eleven classic games from Namco's game history. The game was developed by Namco Tales Studio Ltd...
for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
, in Namco Museum Virtual Arcade for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, and in Namco Museum 50th Anniversary for PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
and PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. The arcade version was released for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
in Japan on July 21, 2009 and as part of the
Pac-Man's Arcade Party
Pac-Man Anniversary Arcade Machines
On special anniversaries for Pac-Man and/or Ms. Pac-Man . Namco has released compilations of their classic arcade games as arcade machines....
30th Anniversary arcade machine in 2010.
Story
1968 in New York , and "Mabu" an unknown man appeared claiming nationality and age. He has many miracles in front of people, and finally introduced himself as savior of the world to end their own words. However, his identity a secret organization "Gerudora" was the man that led to plotting world domination.Interpol's global ambitions realized Gerudora (WCPO) (World Crime Police Organization) are female spies to explore its secrets, "Layla" is to send her the "Mabu" got stuck on. Without having to rescue her, and the identities of existence of ambition would Gerudora is buried in darkness.
WCPO saw heavy things, and decided to send the most powerful agents. The man's code name "Albatross". And their team name, "Rolling Thunder".
In order to prevent the ambition of Leila's rescue and Gerudora, he disappeared into the dark alone ....
Sequels
Rolling Thunder was followed by a single sequel for the arcades titled Rolling Thunder 2Rolling Thunder 2
is an arcade game by Namco released in 1990. It is the sequel to 1986's Rolling Thunder and retains the same run and gun gameplay of its predecessor, adding cooperative gameplay for 2-Players and improved graphics. Unlike the original Rolling Thunder, which was set in the 1960s, Rolling Thunder 2...
in 1990. A Mega Drive version of Rolling Thunder 2 was released in , followed by a Genesis-exclusive sequel titled Rolling Thunder 3
Rolling Thunder 3
Rolling Thunder 3 is a 1993 run and gun game by Namco released for the Genesis. It is the second sequel to Rolling Thunder, following Rolling Thunder 2. The game was made specifically for home consoles, which allowed the developers to implement more extensive gameplay features that otherwise...
, released exclusively in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in .