Rolling Thunder 2

Rolling Thunder 2
a game by Namco Ltd.
Genres: Shooting Games, Platformer
Platform: Sega GenesisGenesis
Editor Rating: 7/10, based on 5 reviews
User Rating: 8.0/10 - 2 votes
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See also: Rolling Thunder Games

It's the information age, so when communications satellites start dropping out of the skies like flies, the world's in BIG trouble. The World Criminal Police Organization (WCPO) calls in its best agent -- you! WCPO HQ i.d.'s the terrorist organization Geldra and a rogue arms dealer Gimdo as the high-tech culprits. You try to ignore the goofy names, but you can't, yours is "Albatross"

Handgunner Heaven

Oil up those nine millimeters, gunfighters, Rolling Thunder is back for some hard hittin' shoot-em-up action. Rolling Thunder 2 by Namco builds on the marksman's tradition established by the coin-op and the 8-bit NES versions.

ProTips:

  • Classic Rolling Thunder tips -- You can shoot foes off-screen, and just hold down Up to hide behind doors.
  • Better practice jumping over shots.

This is an excellent sharpshooter game that rewards a keen shooting eye and quick reflexes. One or two players can partake in this shoot-out. You play either Albatross or Leila. Unlike most two-player set-ups, it takes teamwork to survive. When one agent eats it, he or she doesn't reappear until the other agent reaches a continue point on the level.

Simple, but Deadly

Game-play is undemanding and crisp. The action's spread across 11 Rounds, each with a boss and a time limit.

The concept is video game simplicity itself: shoot or be shot. Other than that you can jump up, jump down, or jump higher. There isn't too much strategy involved although beating each Round requires different tactics, and you must duck into doors to find special power-ups, weapons, and, most importantly, extra ammunition. Key factors to monitor appear at the bottom of the screen: Hit Points remaining, Ammo, Time, and Lives.

When your ammo meter runs dry, your pistol still fires single shots.

This game can be murder! Normally, you can only take two hits and power-ups help you withstand a just few more. You only get three lives, but Namco generously provides passwords as well as unlimited continues from the beginning of the lethal Round, although your penalty is seven button presses from the Game Over screen.

  • Use stealth. As soon as you see bad guys at the edge of the screen, stop walking to "freeze" them there until you figure out what to do.
  • A rolling nucleus smashes the neuron.

Pretty Places to Die

The graphics will grab ya'. They don't explore new territory, but they're nicely drawn and painted with bright colors. The main characters, Albatross and Leila, sport the classic Rolling Thunder look -- thin and leggy.

The good looking side view run and gun action scrolls horizontally for the most part, although there are multi-tiered areas and elevator rides. You encounter skullduggery in some picturesque locales, particularly in the bio-research labs, the weapons warehouse, by the Sphinx, and in the underground desert hideout.

Bring Your Own Bullets

The bad guys put together a tough team. Handgunners and grenade-pitchers make up the bulk of the criminal crew. Some foes have specialized talents for killing such as the Bomb Bowlers and the metal-shelled Roach Rollers.

  • Shoot the Gimdo agents with the force fields (first appearing in Round 4) from behind.
  • Laser snipers (first appearing in Round 5) take four pistol shots. Hide in a doorway and step out and shoot as soon as their laser blast passes by.

The mean zoo crew includes Black Leopards and the obligatory Bats. You have your hands full with the routine assassins, but you run into some cool-looking robot Round bosses, too.

When you aren't melting down your pistol barrel, you duck into the doors to search for power-ups to extend your time or life meters or weapons. Weapon selection is lean but mean. Your trusty automatic does most of the damage, but you can snatch submachine guns, Flame Guns, and Shot Clusters (a high tech weapon consisting of six pulse lasers mounted on a rifle stock) from Gimdo weapons caches behind the doors.

At the beginning of Round 8 don't go for the Flame Gun right away. You need your pistol's range at first.

Feel the Thunder

Rolling Thunder 2 keeps it simple. Shoot, duck, jump, and shoot some more -- it's a tried and true formula that scores again here. Ninja Gaiden, Strider, Shinobi - you can't keep a good action game down, they just keep rolling along -- like Rolling Thunder 2.

Download Rolling Thunder 2

Genesis

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
  • Game modes: Single game mode

Player controls:

  • Up, Down, Left, Right - Arrow keys
  • Start - Enter (Pause, Menu select, Skip intro, Inventory)
  • "A" Gamepad button - Ctrl (usually Jump or Change weapon)
  • "B" button - Space (Jump, Fire, Menu select)
  • "C" button - Left Shift (Item select)

Use the F12 key to toggle mouse capture / release when using the mouse as a controller.

Game Reviews

Grab your gun and your off on a new mission. Check doors for secrets! Great for 2 players!

Just barely in the arcades and Namco is already programming a home version. Easily one of the best playing games at the show and promises to be a hot cart this winter!

Rolling Thunder 2 is an arcade game by Namco released in 1990. It is the sequel to 1986's Rolling Thunder and retains the same run and gun gameplay of its predecessor, adding cooperative gameplay for 2-Players and improved graphics. Unlike the original Rolling Thunder, which was set in the 1960's, Rolling Thunder 2 features a more contemporary setting to go along with its more futuristic designs. A Sega Mega Drive port was released in 1991.

This game port differs from the arcade original by its inclusion of cut scenes before each stage consisting of a single static images displayed above a scrolling text that narrates the story's progession.

There are also three additional stages not found in the original arcade version that take place between the arcade's original stages. These stages stand out from their arcade counterparts due to the presence of different upgradable weapons (either, a flamethrower or a laser shot) and stage bosses.

A multi-scrolling, 2-D platform shoot-em-up. Playing as a male or female agent, take on a terrorist organization throughout eight unique levels that span the globe.

Snapshots and Media

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Screenshots

See Also

Viewing games 1 to 2
Demolition Man
Based on the Sylvester Stallone/Wesley Snipes movie. This is where the “non-stop action” description comes into play.