Thunder Cross (サンダークロス) is a horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game released by Konami in 1988. A sequel, Thunder Cross II, was published in 1991. Owing to several similarities, Space Manbow (1989) may also be considered a spin-off. In 2007, Thunder Cross was included as part of the Oretachi Geasen Zoku Sono budget series on the PlayStation 2 in Japan. It was later released as part of the Arcade Archives series on PlayStation 4 in Japan in 2017 and Nintendo Switch worldwide in 2021, and was added to Konami's Arcade Classics Anniversary Collection for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Steam, and Nintendo Switch in 2019.

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

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).

Soundtrack

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.