Thunder Blade
Release Date  1988
Original Publisher  U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)
Min. Hardware  ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K
Language  English
Genre  Arcade Game: Shoot-em-up
Max. Players  1
Original Price  £8.99
Disk Price  £12.99
Features  AY Sound, Dynamic Loading Screen, Multi-loader in 128K mode, Multi-loader in 48K mode
Controls  Cursor, Kempston Joystick
Tie-in Licences  Thunder Blade (Arcade coin-op) from Sega Enterprises Ltd (Japan)
Other Platforms  Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX, Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive
Average mag. score  84.14% (9 reviews)
Martijn's WoS score  60.6% (34 votes)

Re-releases
     #1 - Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)(1988)
     * Release price: 875.00 Ptas
     #2 - Kixx (UK)(1988)
     * Release price: £3.99
     #3 - Musical 1 S.A. (Spain)(1991)

Authors/Contributors
     Mark Haigh-Hutchinson (UK)at Tiertex Ltd - ?
     Mark Tait (UK)at Tiertex Ltd - ?
     Leigh Christian (UK)at Blue Turtle - ?
     Ian Naylor (UK) - Inlay/Poster Art

Review Awards
     "Crash Smash"at Crashissue v.1 #59 - 1988/Decpage 184
     "Your Sinclair Megagame"at Your Sinclairissue #38 - 1989/Febpage 40

Remarks
     The Spectrum +3 disk version has AY music in the title screen.

Compilations
     Demo version inCrash issue 59: Sneak Preview 3(1988/Dec)by Magazine Crash - covertape from issue v.1 #59 - 1988/Dec
     Demo version inMicroHobby issue 182: Tape 1(1988/Nov)by Magazine MicroHobby - covertape from issue #182 - 1988/Nov
     Full version in2 Por 1: Thunder Blade + Cybernoid II(1988)by Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)
     Full version inCoin-Op Hits(1989)by U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)
     Full version inGenial(1990)by Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)
     Full version inSega Master-Mix(1990)by U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)
     Full version inThunder Blade + Rygar(1989)by Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)
     Full version inWinners(1989)by U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)

Main File Downloads
     FilenameReleaseMachineSchemeLanguageComments
ThunderBlade48.tap.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(???)English
 ThunderBlade.tzx.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(Alkatraz Protection System)English
 ThunderBlade128.z80.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 128K(???)English
 ThunderBlade.dsk.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 128 +3(None)English
 ThunderBlade(Fixed).dsk.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 128 +3(None)English - Fixed: corrected motor issue in Alkatraz boot loader
 ThunderBlade(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).tzx.zip#1ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(Alkatraz Protection System)English
 ThunderBlade(Kixx).tzx.zip#2ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(Alkatraz Protection System)English
 ThunderBlade(Musical1S.A.).tzx.zip#3ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(Alkatraz Protection System)English

Additional File Downloads
     FilenameSizeReleaseTypeLanguageComments
     ThunderBlade.scr6,912OriginalLoading screen
     ThunderBlade.gif4,444OriginalRunning screen
     ThunderBlade_2.jpg83,000OriginalInlay - Front
     ThunderBlade_Front.jpg1,119,633OriginalInlay - Front
     ThunderBlade_Front_2.jpg1,106,595OriginalInlay - Front
     ThunderBlade_Back.jpg714,588OriginalInlay - Back
     ThunderBlade.txt6,545OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     ThunderBlade(MULTI-LANG).pdf537,637OriginalInstructionsMulti-language: English, French, German, Italian
     ThunderBlade.jpg457,023OriginalAdvertisement
     ThunderBlade_2.jpg262,008OriginalAdvertisement
     ThunderBlade_3.jpg196,190OriginalAdvertisement
     ThunderBlade_4.jpg189,978OriginalAdvertisement
     ThunderBlade_5.jpg873,770OriginalAdvertisement
     thunderblade.rzx0OriginalRZX playback file - Recorded by Rafal (with rollback)
     Thunder Blade (1988)(US Gold).pok92OriginalPOK pokes file
     ThunderBlade(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).jpg65,925#1Inlay - Front
     ThunderBlade(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).pdf23,870#1InstructionsSpanish
     ThunderBlade(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).jpg339,694#1Advertisement
     ThunderBlade(Kixx).jpg581,509#2Inlay - Front
     ThunderBlade(Kixx)_Back.jpg270,101#2Inlay - Back

Magazine Reviews
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #16-1989/Janpage 56- Review: 793/1000
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 22- Review: 82%
     Crashissue v.1 #59-1988/Decpage 184- Review: 91%
     MicroHobbyissue #184-1989/Janpage 41- Review - Nuevo
     New Computer Expressissue #2-1988/Nov/19page 28- Review
     New Computer Expressissue #7-1988/Dec/24 special "Issues 7 & 8"page 39- Review - not a Spectrum article
     Sinclair Userissue #82-1989/Janpage 33- Review: 87%
     Sinclair Userissue #109-1991/Marpage 50- Review: 82%
     The Games Machineissue #13-1988/Decpage 39- Review - not a Spectrum article
     The Games Machineissue #15-1989/Febpage 56- Review: 87%
     Your Sinclairissue #38-1989/Febpage 40- Review: 9/10
     Your Sinclairissue #49-1990/Janpage 97- Review: 75%
     Your Sinclairissue #64-1991/Aprpage 80- Review: 84%

Magazine References
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #15-1988/Decpage 19- Preview
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #18-1989/Marpage 72- Tips
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #86-1988/Dec supplement "Christmas Crackers"page 6- Preview
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 29- CompoEntry
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #90-1989/Aprpage 8- CompoResult
     Crashissue v.1 #57-1988/Octpage 112- Preview
     Crashissue v.1 #58-1988/Novpage 120- Preview
     Crashissue v.1 #59-1988/Decpage 28- CompoEntry
     Crashissue v.1 #59-1988/Decpage 148- CoverGame
     Crashissue v.1 #59-1988/Decpage 191- Feature - The Crash arcade game Challenge
     Crashissue v.1 #62-1989/Marpage 74- CompoResult
     Crashissue v.1 #67-1989/Augpage 33- Hack/Poke
     MicroHobbyissue #182-1988/Novpage 15- Preview - Premiere
     MicroHobbyissue #185-1989/Febpage 61- Feature - Justicieros
     New Computer Expressissue #1-1988/Nov/12page 46- Feature - The Race For Christmas No.1
     New Computer Expressissue #10-1989/Jan/14page 22- Tips
     Popular Computing Weeklyissue v.7 #29-1988/Jul/28 special "week#4"page 1- News/Note
     Sinclair Userissue #78-1988/Seppage 30- News/Note
     Sinclair Userissue #80-1988/Novpage 86- Feature
     Sinclair Userissue #88-1989/Julpage 76- Offer
     Sinclair Userissue #104-1990/Octpage 15- Tips
     The Games Machineissue #13-1988/Decpage 16- Preview
     The Games Machineissue #13-1988/Decpage 87- CompoEntry
     The Games Machineissue #15-1989/Febpage 114- CompoResult
     Your Sinclairissue #36-1988/Decpage 52- CompoEntry
     Your Sinclairissue #36-1988/Decpage 126- Preview
     Your Sinclairissue #40-1989/Aprpage 40- Tips
     Your Sinclairissue #41-1989/Maypage 73- CompoResult
     Your Sinclairissue #44-1989/Augpage 32- Tips

Magazine Advertisements
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #14-1988/Novpage 29- Full-page ad
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #15-1988/Decpage 30- Advert
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #15-1988/Decpage 68- Multipage ad
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #16-1989/Janpage 92- Multipage ad
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #16-1989/Janpage 112- Advert
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #17-1989/Febpage 26- Two-page ad
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #17-1989/Febpage 44- Advert
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #18-1989/Marpage 44- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #85-1988/Novpage 147- Full-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #86-1988/Decpage 150- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 70- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 76- Two-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #88-1989/Febpage 2- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #111-1991/Febpage 72- Advert - Kixx advert
     Crashissue v.1 #58-1988/Novpage 16- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #60-1989/Janpage 2- Two-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #85-1991/Febpage 17- Advert - Kixx advert
     Sinclair Userissue #80-1988/Novpage 52- Full-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #81-1988/Decpage 6- Two-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #82-1989/Janpage 2- Two-page ad
     The Games Machineissue #13-1988/Decpage 18- Two-page ad
     The Games Machineissue #13-1988/Decpage 98- Advert
     The Games Machineissue #14-1989/Janpage 6- Two-page ad
     The Games Machineissue #14-1989/Janpage 100- Advert
     The Games Machineissue #15-1989/Febpage 6- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #35-1988/Novpage 48- Full-page ad
     Your Sinclairissue #36-1988/Decpage 10- Two-page ad
     Your Sinclairissue #37-1989/Janpage 2- Two-page ad

Related Magazine Reviews
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #97-1989/Decpage 88- Review: 87% (Coin-Op Hits)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #97-1989/Decpage 89- Review: 80% (Winners)
     Sinclair Userissue #95-1990/Febpage 74- Review - Attack of the Compilations!: 85% (Coin-Op Hits)
     Sinclair Userissue #95-1990/Febpage 74- Review - Attack of the Compilations!: 80% (Winners)
     Sinclair Userissue #107-1991/Janpage 59- Review: 93% (Sega Master-Mix)
     Your Sinclairissue #49-1990/Janpage 97- Review: 71% (Coin-Op Hits)

Related Magazine References
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #25-1989/Octpage 122- News/Note (Winners)
     MicroHobbyissue #182-1988/Novpage 21- CoverGame - MH Seleccion (MicroHobby issue 182: Tape 1)
     MicroHobbyissue #182-1988/Novpage 22- CoverGame - MH Seleccion (MicroHobby issue 182: Tape 1)
     Sinclair Userissue #96-1990/Marpage 49- Offer (Coin-Op Hits)
     Sinclair Userissue #96-1990/Marpage 49- Offer (Winners)
     Sinclair Userissue #107-1991/Janpage 36- Offer (Sega Master-Mix)

Related Magazine Advertisements
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #27-1989/Decpage 82- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #27-1989/Decpage 82- Advert (Winners)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #27-1989/Decpage 119- Full-page ad (Winners)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #28-1990/Janpage 102- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #28-1990/Janpage 102- Advert (Winners)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #30-1990/Marpage 60- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #30-1990/Marpage 60- Advert (Winners)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #96-1989/Novpage 32- Two-page ad (Coin-Op Hits)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #96-1989/Novpage 60- Full-page ad (Winners)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #97-1989/Decpage 90- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #97-1989/Decpage 90- Advert (Winners)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #97-1989/Decpage 98- Two-page ad (Coin-Op Hits)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #97-1989/Decpage 128- Full-page ad (Winners)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #98-1990/Janpage 48- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #98-1990/Janpage 48- Advert (Winners)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #98-1990/Janpage 59- Full-page ad (Winners)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #98-1990/Janpage 96- Two-page ad (Coin-Op Hits)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #99-1990/Febpage 36- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #99-1990/Febpage 36- Advert (Winners)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #100-1990/Marpage 10- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #100-1990/Marpage 10- Advert (Winners)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #109-1990/Decpage 67- Full-page ad (Sega Master-Mix)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #110-1991/Janpage 32- Full-page ad (Sega Master-Mix)
     Crashissue v.1 #71-1989/Decpage 49- Full-page ad (Winners)
     Sinclair Userissue #93-1989/Decpage 90- Two-page ad (Coin-Op Hits)
     Sinclair Userissue #94-1990/Janpage 42- Two-page ad (Coin-Op Hits)
     Sinclair Userissue #94-1990/Janpage 45- Full-page ad (Winners)
     Sinclair Userissue #95-1990/Febpage 21- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     Sinclair Userissue #95-1990/Febpage 21- Advert (Winners)
     Sinclair Userissue #96-1990/Marpage 9- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     Sinclair Userissue #96-1990/Marpage 9- Advert (Winners)
     The Games Machineissue #24-1989/Novpage 6- Full-page ad (Winners)
     The Games Machineissue #25-1989/Decpage 6- Full-page ad (Winners)
     The Games Machineissue #25-1989/Decpage 32- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     The Games Machineissue #25-1989/Decpage 32- Advert (Winners)
     The Games Machineissue #26-1990/Janpage 84- Advert (Coin-Op Hits)
     The Games Machineissue #26-1990/Janpage 84- Advert (Winners)
     Your Sinclairissue #60-1990/Decpage 100- Full-page ad (Sega Master-Mix)
     Your Sinclairissue #62-1991/Febpage 4- Advert (Sega Master-Mix)

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