Sega Ages - Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar

 Switch
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Sep 20, 2018
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10

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  1. johnny34
    Oct 4, 2022
    1
    Some people really claim that Thunder Force 4 (bears the idiotic name "Lightening Force" in the US) is one of the best shootemUps of the 16-bit era, which is either the incompetence of these people or the willingness to be blinded by the aesthetic qualities (graphics, sound) of a game. In this way, TF4 exhausts the technical possibilities of the Mega Drive and almost approaches the NeoGeo.Some people really claim that Thunder Force 4 (bears the idiotic name "Lightening Force" in the US) is one of the best shootemUps of the 16-bit era, which is either the incompetence of these people or the willingness to be blinded by the aesthetic qualities (graphics, sound) of a game. In this way, TF4 exhausts the technical possibilities of the Mega Drive and almost approaches the NeoGeo.

    In truth, the title can be described as an object lesson in bad game and level design, where the creators have failed in guiding the player's interpretation of what is happening on the screen. The vertical principle (several levels in TF4 consist of superimposed screens) makes it massively difficult to identify orientation points within the level structure in order to develop a successful choreography through the infamous try and error approach - the game is pure chaos. Stages 1-5 are doable without any problems, from stage 6 onwards an absurd guessing game begins, what is destructible and what is not and where the area boundaries of a level begin and end. Considering the necessity of a ShootemUp to communicate this through a clear, sensory-motor oriented structure, this is inexcusable.

    Another weighty point of criticism: Even with the weapons, it often seems to me as if they don't do any damage to the enemies, especially with the final bosses. From a purely compositional point of view, the music is cool, but the sound design is weak. Play all the Compile or Toaplan titles - here, destroying the enemy results in a satisfying bang!

    I therefore recommend Thunder Force 3 or Thunder Force AC, which was also ported from M2.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Nintendo Insider
    Oct 29, 2018
    80
    Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar will push you to your absolute limits with its cruel difficulty and chaotic action but it’s a game that rewards just as much as it can punish. If you’re a fan of arcade shooters then it goes without saying this is an essential purchase but even newcomers after a challenge should definitely check it out. Another hit for SEGA AGES.
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  2. Switch Player
    Oct 18, 2018
    70
    Thunder Force IV will continue to delight shoot-em-up fans. The concern, though, is whether you'll want to fork out for this rather than getting the more cost-effective Sega Retro system.
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  3. Digital Chumps
    Oct 4, 2018
    70
    I do appreciate the Sega Ages titles right now, and look forward to more in the future. I also think that if they start creating more additional modes to these older titles, then the series will be an easy sell. Right now, the modes are decent, especially for younger gamers out there, so they add some value to the titles, but they need a bit more to them, though, to really sell everyone on them.
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