Thunder Blade/Gameplay

Controls
The controls for Thunder Blade will be described as they appear on the control panel above from left to right.


 * Throttle: To the far left of the control panel is a throttle which controls the speed of the helicopter. The throttle naturally comes to rest in a middle position, resulting in average speed. When pushed all the way forward, the helicopter will travel ahead at top speed.  When pulled all the way down, the helicopter will hover in place in the air.  If the helicopter is grounded, it will not move at any speed until it lifts back off the ground.
 * Flight Yolk: In the middle of the control panel is the large flight yolk. This gives you direct control over the helicopter's movements.  Pushing the yolk forward makes the helicopter dive until it lands on the ground.  Pulling the yolk down makes the helicopter climb into the air.  Pushing the yolk left or right directs the helicopter to fly in either direction.
 * Trigger: On the back of the flight yolk is a trigger, which may be pressed to fire the helicopter's primary machine gun weapon. When held down, the helicopter will fire these guns continuously.  Since the amount of ammunition the chopper carries is infinite, this trigger can be held down indefinitely without fear of running out of ammo.
 * Missile launch: On the front side of the flight yolk is a small button which, when pressed, launches missiles head. These missiles tend to be air-to-ground missiles for hitting targets below the chopper.  This button cannot be held down for continuous fire, but missiles never run out either, so the button may be pressed as many times and as frequently as you like.
 * Start: Press this button to begin a new game.

Thunder Blade
You are the pilot of the Thunder Blade throughout the game. No background is provided for this particular mission. Your only objective is to stop every hostile threat that you encounter in order to defeat a renegade military. In order to do that, you must guide the Thunder Blade through enemy territory, and utilize it's offensive capabilities to the fullest.

As you pilot the Thunder Blade, you have control over several aspects of its movement. You can guide it to the left and right as you fly forward through the skies. You can rise high into the sky, or drop low enough to land on the ground. And you can direct it to fly particularly fast through dangerous territory, or slow it down to give you more pin-point accuracy on your targets.

You have two weapons at your disposal: a Gatling Gun, and anti-tank air-to-surface missiles. You have an unlimited supply of each of these. The Gatling Gun is capable of firing a non-stop stream of bullets but does less damage. The missiles are capable of doing tremendous damage to any machinery caught in the explosion, but you must launch each pair of missiles individually.

The Thunder Blade does not possess a tremendous amount of armor. You will fall out of the sky if you are struck by an enemy projectile, or if you collide with an enemy, building, or terrain. You begin the game with two extra lives, and you can earn more by accumulating enough points. If you lose all of your lives before you complete the games four stages, you are given the opportunity to insert more money and continue.