Rolling Thunder 2 is a run and gun arcade game that was released by Namco in 1990. It runs on Namco System 2 hardware, and as the name suggests, it is the sequel to Rolling Thunder, which was released 4 years earlier. Unlike the original, it features a more contemporary setting to go along with its more futuristic character designs.
Story
The Geldra organization, now known as "Neo-Geldra" and led by a new leader named "Gimdo", thought to have been destroyed at the end of the first game, has returned and is destroying several of the world's satellites in outer space. As in the original game, the player must take control of a member of Interpol's fictional "Rolling Thunder" task force. Two players can now play the game simultaneously, while a single player now has a choice between former damsel-in-distress "Leila Blitz" (Player 1) or returning hero "Albatross" (Player 2). Apart from their different visual appearances (including different handguns), the two characters play exactly the same.
Differences from the original
The graphics are noticably improved from the original game and have a decidedly more futuristic look to go along with the game's modern setting. The game's most common enemy characters, the Maskers, which were previously designed to look like hooded terrorists or Ku Klux Klan members, are now cyborgs. Like wise, the game has more varied stage designs, with the first four stages taking place in a seaside resort in Florida and the last four stages in a pyramid in Egypt (both locations are actually camouflaged Neo-Geldra bases).
Leila and Albatross are armed with a default pistol that has only limited ammo. When their bullets run out, their guns will fire a slow chase bullet instead. The players can also upgrade to a semi-automatic rifle by entering marked doors. When entering one of these marked doors, a counter will appear showing the remaining bullets left to be picked up (allow one player to leave ammo for the other). There are also hidden power-ups such as time extension and life recovery behind certain unmarked doors. Special weapons such as flame throwers and "spread lasers" are available in certain missions.