Thunder Force IV - The Greatest SHMUP of the 16-bit Generation

[parallaxscroll]

Saw this post on Shmups.com forum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUltIpGreIs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUltIpGreIs

Absolutely awesome.

[George]

I only had access to III growing up and played the shit out of it. I should totally go back and play this one.

[Berto]

*¨.:｡+ﾟ*•.¸ Today is SEGA Mega Drive's Birthday. Happy Birthday! *ﾟ+｡:.ﾟ•.¸¸

It was released on October 29th, 1988.
37 years ago today, the MEGADRIVE launched.
Happy birthday, SEGA MEGA DRIVE / GENESIS!🎂

Source: https://x.com/SEGA_OFFICIAL/status/1983187079514468808

[Berto]

"SEGA AGES Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar" / "SEGA AGES Thunder Force IV" is only $2.39 now in the Nintendo eShop (70% off)!
Sale ends on November 01, 2025.







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSZwFvMzw2E

From the legendary game developers at Technosoft! Battle against the Vios forces and fly as RYNEX in this side-scrolling shmup that enthralled the world with its innovative ideas, beautiful pixel graphics, and a rocking soundtrack. After beating the game, unlock "STYX" Mode and jump in the cockpit of the distinguished FIRE LEO-03 "STYX" from Thunder Force III. Take the STYX’s full arsenal from the previous game in this mode, but will this older model be able to survive?

Links :
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/sega-ages-lightening-force-quest-for-the-darkstar-switch/
https://archives.sega.jp/segaages/tf4/

[Berto]

SEGA Talk #178: US Box Art Design (1989-2001)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b8-5qwZYQA

In this episode of Sega Talk, we track the radical evolution of SEGA’s North American branding, from the clinical “graph paper” grids of the Master System to the high-tech “black box” era of the Genesis. We dive deep into why Sega abandoned its uniform look for the iconic red-stripe rebrand of the 90s, the switch to the massive plastic long-boxes of the Saturn, and finally, the Dreamcast’s sleek transition from bright orange swirls to the edgy “SegaNet” black. It’s a nostalgic look at how Sega used graphic design as a weapon in the console wars, shifting from a toy company aesthetic to a lifestyle brand that defined a generation.

Article: https://segabits.com/blog/2026/01/23/sega-talk-178-us-box-art-design-1989-2001/

[Berto]

Nintendo Switch Blockbuster Sale is here!

Save on select top-rated digital Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch games including :

Switch 2

Persona 3 Reload – $35.99 (was $59.99)
Persona 3 Reload Digital Premium Edition – $15.99 (was $39.99)
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S – $53.99 (was $89.99)
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army - Digital Deluxe Edition – $35.79 (was $64.99)
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage 30th Anniversary Edition – $29.99 (was $49.99)
Yakuza Kiwami & Yakuza Kiwami 2 Bundle – $29.99 (was $49.99)
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Deluxe Edition – $37.49 (was $74.99)

Switch

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim – $14.99 (was $59.99)
Alien: Isolation – $14.99 (was $19.99)
Catherine: Full Body – $9.99 (was $49.99)
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! – $17.99 (was $59.99)
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles – $29.99 (was $59.99)
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Deluxe Edition – $27.99 (was $69.99)
Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection – $27.99 (was $79.99)
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix – $19.69 (was $39.39)
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix Mega Pack – $29.99 (was $59.99)

Persona 3 Portable – $9.99 (was $19.99)
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax – $8.99 (was $29.99)
Persona 4 Golden – $9.99 (was $19.99)
Persona 5 Strikers – $17.99 (was $59.99)
Persona 5 Tactica: Digital Deluxe Edition – $19.99 (was $79.99)
Persona Collection – $26.99 (was $89.99)
Puyo Puyo Champions – $3.99 (was $9.99)
Puyo Puyo Tetris – $1.99 (was $12.99)
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 – $15.99 (was $39.99)

SEGA AGES Alex Kidd in Miracle World – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Columns II: A Voyage Through Time – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Fantasy Zone – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Gain Ground – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES G-LOC AIR BATTLE – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Herzog Zwei – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Ichidant-R – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar / SEGA AGES Thunder Force IV – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Out Run – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Phantasy Star – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Puyo Puyo – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Puyo Puyo 2 – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Sonic The Hedgehog – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Sonic The Hedgehog 2 – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Space Harrier – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Thunder Force AC – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Virtua Racing – $2.39 (was $7.99)
SEGA AGES Wonder Boy: Monster Land – $2.39 (was $7.99)

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army - Digital Deluxe Edition – $35.79 (was $64.99)
Samba de Amigo: Party Central Digital Deluxe Edition – $9.99 (was $49.99)
Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster Digital Deluxe Edition – $20.99 (was $69.99)
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Digital Deluxe Edition – $20.99 (was $69.99)
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance – DLC All-in-One – $5.99 (was $14.99)
Sonic Colors: Ultimate – $11.99 (was $39.99)
Sonic Origins Plus – $11.99 (was $39.99)
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Digital Deluxe Edition – $31.99 (was $79.99)
SONIC SUPERSTARS Deluxe Edition – $20.99 (was $69.99)
SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS – $17.49 (was $49.99)
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD – $5.99 (was $29.99)
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Digital Deluxe Edition – $12.49 (was $49.99)
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble – $14.99 (was $49.99)
Unicorn Overlord – $17.99 (was $59.99)
Valkyria Chronicles + Valkyria Chronicles 4 Bundle – $9.99 (was $39.99)
Valkyria Chronicles 4 – $5.99 (was $29.99)
Valkyria Chronicles 4 DLC Bundle – $9.99 (was $24.99)

now through Sept 9 at 11:59pm PT.

See the deals: https://ninten.do/6016aOWxs