Thunder & Lightning (set 1)

Thunder & Lightning is a two-player ball and paddle game released by Seta in 1990. Players use eight-way joysticks to control paddles at the bottom of the screen, attempting to deflect a ball upwards and break blocks arranged above. The objective is to clear all the formations while preventing the ball from passing your paddle – failure results in loss of a life. The game challenges players with increasingly complex block arrangements as they progress through levels. Two buttons are available for each player, though their function isn’t detailed in readily available information. Thunder & Lightning marked the beginning of a series that later included Block Carnival. Initially released in Japan, the title was subsequently licensed to Romstar for distribution within the United States. A version of the game appeared on the Japanese Famicom console as Family Block shortly after its arcade debut.