Thunder Dragon (8th Jan. 1992, unprotected)

Take to the skies in Thunder Dragon, a fast-paced vertical shooter released in 1991 under license from Tecmo. Players control advanced aircraft and cooperate against waves of enemy formations as they ascend through increasingly challenging environments. Utilizing a Motorola 68000 processor and distinctive sound chips, the game delivers intense action with vibrant graphics displayed on a vertical screen. Two players can simultaneously join the battle, coordinating their attacks to defeat powerful bosses and overcome obstacles. The controls are straightforward, relying on an eight-way joystick and two buttons for movement and firing. A hidden message and test mode can be accessed through a specific button sequence upon game startup, revealing details about the development timeline. Thunder Dragon marked the beginning of a series, with a sequel following in 1993. The game's creation involved a team including producer Yukio Tomonari, director Yosuke Ono, and programmer Lieut. Col. Ore, contributing to its unique visual and audio style.