Thunder Force III Classic
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Shoot 'em Up
Thunder Force II
Certified classic
| System | Sega Genesis / Mega Drive |
|---|---|
| Released | 1989 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up |
| Developer | Technosoft |
| Publisher | SEGA |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Thunder Force |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 10 |
Released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1989, Thunder Force II is a shoot 'em up developed by Technosoft and published by SEGA.
It belongs to the Genesis's earliest wave of games. Other notable Genesis releases from 1989 include Tetris, Golden Axe and Phantasy Star II. Among the 75 Genesis shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #6 by legacy score.
It is part of the Thunder Force series; on the Genesis you can also try Thunder Force III and Thunder Force IV. The series also appears on other systems with Thunder Force V (Saturn) and Thunder Force V (PS1). Technosoft also made Herzog Zwei and Elemental Master for the Genesis.
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you want to experience one of the Genesis's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Thunder Force II is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Thunder Force II cheats & codes
29 codes on file (Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:
| Do Not Lose Selected Weapons When Destroyed | 0041CE:6002 |
|---|---|
| Begins With 255 Lives | 0009D4:31FC
0009D6:00FF |
Thunder Force II walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Thunder Force II.
If you like Thunder Force II, the Matrix also picks…
Thunder Force IV Classic
Thunder Force V Classic
Sunset Riders Classic Co-op
Contra: Hard Corps Classic
Playing Genesis games today
Genesis games are fast and immediate, and many are made for two players. Official collections and Nintendo Switch Online carry a big slice of the library, and Rec0m88 can run your own Genesis backups with online netplay.
Thunder Force II FAQ
When did Thunder Force II come out on the Genesis?
Thunder Force II was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1989.
Who made Thunder Force II?
It was developed by Technosoft and published by SEGA.
Is Thunder Force II multiplayer?
No. Thunder Force II is a single-player game.
How long does Thunder Force II take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Thunder Force II typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Thunder Force II on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.