Thunder Force V: The Lost Mega Drive Prototype and the Untold History of Technosoft's Shmup Legacy

The Thunder Force series from Technosoft stands as a cult favorite among fans of the shoot 'em up (shmup) genre, even if it hasn’t achieved the mainstream recognition of franchises like Gradius, R-Type, or Darius.

Central to its legacy is Thunder Force V, a game that debuted on the Sega Saturn in 1997 before being released for the PlayStation (PS1) in 1998.

Recently, new insights have emerged about Thunder Force V's development, revealing that its origins reach back to Sega's iconic 16-bit platform, the Mega Drive. A Resurfaced Prototype from Technosoft's Archives The revelation comes courtesy of former Technosoft staff member Naosuke Arai, who detailed the game's early days during an interview with gaming historian John Szczepaniak, as published in The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers Vol.3.

According to Arai, Thunder Force V was initially conceived and developed for the Mega Drive, following in the footsteps of the trilogy that had brought critical acclaim to the platform.

"Our intention was to continue the Mega Drive legacy with Thunder Force V, expanding on previous titles by experimenting with pseudo-3D graphics reminiscent of polygons," Arai explained.

However, the team found that the visual fidelity fell short of expectations, especially after Thunder Force IV had set a high bar.

"Even though we made a playable first level, the pre-rendered 3D graphics just didn’t meet our standards, and so development shifted to the Saturn, which could better realize our ambitions." The Mega Drive prototype was reportedly abandoned after completing just one stage.

Nevertheless, Arai notes that the project wasn’t entirely lost to time.

By 1999, Technosoft was routinely backing up development data onto CDs, preserving even the Mega Drive code.

"The prototype should still exist, archived somewhere, likely transferred along with Technosoft’s assets through various ownership changes," Arai commented.

In 2001, pachinko manufacturer Twenty-One acquired Technosoft and its game library.

Later, in 2016, Sega purchased these assets from Twenty-One, which likely included early builds such as this elusive prototype. Creative Insights from Technosoft Staff Graphic designer Yōichi Kubo, whose credits include both Thunder Force IV and Thunder Force V, has also shared insights about the canceled Mega Drive version.

According to Kubo, the game’s development spanned from 1993 to 1994, culminating in a single, playable level.

"The action opened with a golden sky over a moon before transitioning into an icy planet and a boss encounter with a new, non-textured 3D version of Gargoyle, a familiar foe from earlier entries," Kubo wrote on social media.

The 3D elements were pieced together using specialized software running on the Sharp X68000 computer, resulting in a low-resolution pseudo-3D experience.

Unlike Thunder Force IV, vertical scrolling was notably absent, aligning more with the design direction of the Saturn release. Legacy and Historical Preservation The intrigue surrounding the Mega Drive version of Thunder Force V continues to captivate the gaming community.

In 2018, developer UMMO_CHAN released a rare black-and-white printout of the prototype’s sprite sheet on social media, though their account has since been deleted.

Meanwhile, some fans recall seeing footage of the abandoned "Thunder Force 3D" during early development. While Sega now holds the rights to Technosoft’s catalog, including any long-lost prototypes, there’s hope that one day this piece of shmup history may be unearthed for preservation or public viewing.

For now, the unfinished Thunder Force V Mega Drive prototype remains an intriguing chapter in the legacy of Technosoft’s innovative contributions to the shooter genre, exemplifying both their technical ambition and the risks of creative evolution in the 16- and 32-bit eras.

PlayStation Mega Drive Saturn developers Technosoft Thunder Force V Sega Saturn VGdensetsu John Szczepaniak Naosuke Arai Yōichi Kubo Twenty-One sega