Gate of Thunder

[Kostantiniyya]

I'm sure you guys have discussed Gate of Thunder numerous times on this board, but since I'm relatively new here, I thought I'd hear your opinions on it.  I wrote a review of it for a site called honestgamers.com.  Here's the link if any of you are interested in reading it:

http://www.honestgamers.com/systems/content.php?review_id=6641&platform=Turbografx-CD&abr=TGCD&gametitle=Gate+of+Thunder

[nodtveidt]

IMO, one of the best shooters available on the system, if not THE best. It's very solid and balanced, something a lot of shooters lack, and the soundtrack is just perfect for the various scenes. I've yet to discover a single glitch or flaw in the game, not even slowdown or flicker, and I've played it hundreds of times. I think it's about as close to a perfect shooter as you can get.

[Joe Redifer]

There is a little flicker if you look hard, but it's certainly nothing worth mentioning.  Fantastic game and fairly tough, in my opinion!

[Tatsujin]

best consoles-only shmups ever.
best BGM on consoles ever.

[rag-time4]

What I like about Gate of Thunder is that is mixes excellent graphics and sound presentation with an interesting gameplay dynamic: the ability to change the direction of your "options": those little guys above and below your ship that shoot when you shoot.

Many shooters limit you to only facing and shooting in one direction as you go through the game, but Gate of Thunder gives you a little more freedom than 90% of the other shooters and to me it makes a huge difference.

As an overall package, Gate of Thunder is a masterpiece.

[SignOfZeta]

As the others have said, its fantastic. Since GoT was a pack-in here in the US, that means I basically paid more for all my other shooters on PCE, but I still like the "freebie" Gate of Thunder best.

[Turbo D]

GoT kicks ass! 

[Kitsunexus]

How can you make a Gate Of Thunder? Thunder is the SOUND that accompanies LIGHTNING...it should be LIGHTNING GATE.

[Joe Redifer]

Perhaps it's a gate that plays back recordings of thunder.

[geepee16]

Well, the "gate of thunder" idea is a japanese one that makes sense to them.  in asakusa-tokyo, there is a famous gate called kaminari-mon, the thunder gate.  plus, how much sense need a title make? if it helps you, imagine there is a god of thunder who passes through a gate.

silliness aside, GOT is, even to this day, one of the most solid shooters ever.  15 years on, the soundtrack and gameplay are exciting as hell. the level 5 boss music in 5/8 time and the level 6 main stage tunes are just perfect! the difficulty is just right- not too easy but not impossible either though it took me a while to beat it.   

generally, as far as the big three 16bit consoles are concerned, the duo had most of the best shooters.  the SFC'S macross:scramble valkyrie and starfox are great. the Genny had a few greats (cotton, silpheed, and a few others). i know i'm leaving a few out but GoT outdoes all but one or two SNES/Genny shooters.

[spenoza]

I think GoT outdoes any shooter I've ever played. The Genesis and SNES had some interesting shooters, but the TG/PCE was really the home of the best, and GoT rules from the top-most throne.

[Tatsujin]

so much word!

[D-Lite]

The best part for me is how Bonk says "Gate of THUN-DA!" on the 3-in-1.

[Kostantiniyya]

That is an interesting bit of trivia about GoT, geepee16.

[malducci]

Another bit of info about GOT. There's an unfinished level in both the JP and US version. You can't access it of course. There's also another secret level that was modified in both versions. It appears to be a some sort of debug level.. I'm not really sure of its purpose. I wrote a graphics decompressor for GOT, maybe when I get some free time I'll check out what tiles/sprites the unfinished and debug level have packed away.