5

5 /5

Eleven years after the events of Thunder Force V, Earth has finally begun to recover from the berserk AI "Guardian" that nearly destroyed the planet, when a fearsome alien menace known as Orn Faust appears and attacks the Earth. Defenseless against the sheer might of this foe, the Unified Earth in a last-ditch effort turns to the mysterious Vasteel technology that had been sealed away deep underground, but has reawakened with the Orn Faust's approach. This lost technology is used to create humanity's last hope, an experimental fighter ship called Phoenix, which launches to strike back against Orn Faust at its very source.

Thunder Force VI is the first title in the legendary shmup franchise in more than ten years, and bears a close resemblance to the previous game. It is a traditional side-scrolling shooter with 3D graphics, offering six stages of action. Unlike most shooters, all weapons are available at all times, and can be freely swapped according to the situation. There is also an extra-devastating super weapon that changes depending on the selected weapon.