Introduce
Thunder Cross is a classic horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up (shmup) developed by Konami. Players control a combat spaceship, navigating through various stages filled with enemies and obstacles.
The core highlight of Thunder Cross is its unique "Option" system. These are small auxiliary units that follow the player's main ship and fire alongside it. What makes it special is the ability for players to change the formation of these Options. By pressing a button, players can arrange the Options in various ways – for instance, spreading them out to cover a wider area, or grouping them together to concentrate firepower on a single point. This customizable formation ability adds significant strategic depth, allowing players to adapt to different combat scenarios.
Throughout the game, players can collect power-ups including speed boosts, main weapon upgrades (such as spread shot, laser), and Option enhancements. Effectively managing and utilizing these Options is key to overcoming challenging stages and defeating powerful end-of-stage bosses.
The game features a two-player cooperative mode, allowing two players to team up against enemies, combining their firepower and Option formations for synergistic power. Stages are diverse, featuring distinct environments and enemy types, providing a continuously fresh and challenging experience.