I totally, and THOROUGHLY LOVE THIS GAME!!!!
I remember EGM flipping out over gates Of Thunder,a nd YES it IS a good game, but what got me was that they said the music was heavy metal, and being a HUUUUUGE shooter freak,a nd LOVING metal alot, i was bummed out when the music wasn't slamming and pumping me up for the game. I still dig the game though, but Lords trumps it BIGTIME!!!! If Yngwie (i'm a dickhead egomaniac) Malmsteen went metal, then this would be his signature.
I prefer the Japanese Winds Of Thunder, as it has dialogue in the cinema's, and the shop keeper speak, albeit all are in Japanese, but it adds to the game. We got the voice back in the Sega C.D. botch job, but it isn't worth it really. They tampered with the music and other sound effects.
Lords cranks bigtime, and is WORTHY of a sequel!
Maybe Chris Covel(sp?) will take that challenge on?! (HINT, HINT, WINK, WINK!!!!!)