Thunder Force IV Mega Drive
Recent eBay Listings
- Thunder Force IV 4 Sega Mega Drive UK PAL Cartridge Only TESTED £28.00
- Thunder Force IV 4 Sega Mega Drive UK PAL Cartridge Only £26.69
- Thunder Force IV 4 Mega Drive Pal with Manual Tested Read Description £68.30
- Thunder Force IV 4 Sega Mega Drive Complete No manual £47.99
- Sega Mega Drive Video Game - Thunder Force IV (4) £25.00
- Thunder Force 4 Sega Mega Drive £30.85
Price History
| Date | Avg Price | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | £47.55 | £25.00 | £78.70 | 10 |
| 2026-04-04 | £47.55 | £25.00 | £78.70 | 10 |
| 2026-04-03 | £43.69 | £25.00 | £78.70 | 10 |
| 2026-04-02 | £43.61 | £25.00 | £71.73 | 10 |
| 2026-04-01 | £51.73 | £25.00 | £78.70 | 10 |
| 2026-03-31 | £57.44 | £13.44 | £159.99 | 10 |
| 2026-03-30 | £61.37 | £25.00 | £159.99 | 10 |
| 2026-03-29 | £60.79 | £25.00 | £159.99 | 10 |
| 2026-03-28 | £60.72 | £25.95 | £159.99 | 10 |
| 2026-03-27 | £72.92 | £26.50 | £159.99 | 10 |
| 2026-03-26 | £61.21 | £24.62 | £159.99 | 10 |
| 2026-03-25 | £71.97 | £24.62 | £159.99 | 10 |
Screenshots
Game History
Thunder Force IV was developed and published by Technosoft for the Sega Mega Drive, representing the fourth major installment in the Thunder Force shoot-em-up series. The game was released in Japan on May 24, 1990, followed by a North American release later that same year.
The development team at Technosoft built upon the horizontal scrolling shooter formula established by previous Thunder Force games, but with significantly enhanced graphics and gameplay mechanics made possible by the Mega Drive hardware. The game featured multiple selectable weapons, a shield system, and detailed sprite work that showcased technical prowess for the system at the time.
Thunder Force IV received strong critical acclaim upon its North American release, where it became one of the notable shoot-em-ups in the Mega Drive library. Critics praised its challenging difficulty, visual presentation, and gameplay variety. However, commercial performance was modest, as the shooter genre faced declining arcade-style game sales in the early 1990s home console market.
Today, Thunder Force IV is historically significant to video game collectors as a defining title of the Mega Drive's library and one of the finest horizontal shooters on the system. The game has achieved cult status, particularly among shmup enthusiasts who regard it as a classic example of the genre's technical and design standards. Original cartridge copies command premium prices in the collector's market, reflecting its rarity and desirability.
Interestingly, Thunder Force IV was later ported to other platforms, including releases in compilations that introduced the game to new audiences. The game's legacy was further cemented through its influence on subsequent shoot-em-up development and its inclusion in retrospectives of 16-bit gaming. Technosoft continued to support the Thunder Force franchise, though Thunder Force IV remains one of the series' most celebrated entries due to its technical achievements and balanced difficulty curve that challenged players while remaining accessible to those willing to practice.