An extremely solid representative of the shooter genre, although it certainly doesn't deliver anything you haven't experienced countless times before. Innovation-wise it gets a below average score, but in terms of enjoyment it's a winner. It's fun, it's furious, and it's highly recommended.
Until you begin to understand how each of the weapons work and learn when and where to use them, the game just seems outrageously difficult and often frustrating (on the Normal or Hard difficulties, that is). Once you figure out which weapons work best in given situations however, things begin to get much more tolerable and you start enjoying the game a lot more. [Oct 1998]
Definitely for the hard-core shooting fan, as most will find it very difficult. No matter how futile it can seem, though, Thunder Force V is a solid, fun game that never makes you feel like you're wasting your time playing it. [Oct 1998]
Thunderforce's control is perfect; it is neither too sensitive, nor too sluggish. Plus, the player can adjust the speed at anytime. Trust us, without a perfect speed, Thunderforce V is nearly impossible. [Sept 1998]
Suffers a bit in comparison to other recent releases in the genre, but is redeemed to a large extent by its excellent control and playability. [Oct 1998]
The highly-detailed graphics create a cluttered screen, making it difficult to locate potential threats, so your success relies more on memorization than skill. [Oct 1998]