Thexder – Wikipedia

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1985 video game

Thexder
Thexder cover.png
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Designer(s) Hibiki Godai
Satoshi Uesaka
Composer(s) Hibiki Godai
Platform(s)
  • NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-8001, NEC PC-9801, FM-7, Sharp X1, Famicom, Sharp MZ, MSX, Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, MS-DOS, Macintosh, TRS-80 Color Computer 3
Release
  • PC-8801mkII SR
    PC-8001mkII SR
    PC-8801mkII
    FM7/77/77AV
    Famicom
    X1
    MZ
    PC-9801/M/F/U
    MSX
    PC-8801
    Apple II, MS-DOS
    Color Computer 3
    Amiga
    Classic Mac OS
Genre(s) Run-and-gun shooter, platformer
Mode(s) Single-player

Thexder (テグザー, Teguzā) is a run-and-gun platform game from Game Arts, originally released for the NEC PC-8801 in 1985. It was subsequently ported to many other systems, including the Famicom.

Gameplay[edit]

In Thexder, the player controls a fighter robot that is able to transform into a jet.

Release[edit]

The game was originally released in 1985 for the NEC PC-8801 platform in Japan. Game Arts licensed Thexder to Square in order to develop a conversion for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game console. In 1987, Game Arts also developed a Thexder conversion for the MSX platform. The game was licensed to Sierra Entertainment for release in the United States. In 1987, Sierra ported the game to multiple platforms, including the IBM PC, Tandy Color Computer 3, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Apple Macintosh, and Tandy 1000. In 1988, Activision released the game in Europe on the Commodore Amiga.[1]

Reception[edit]

Thexder quickly became a best-selling hit, selling over 500,000 copies in Japan by 1987.[2][3] The PC-8801 platform was only popular in Japan and, despite home market success, Thexder garnered little attention abroad initially. With the conversion for the MSX (the best-selling platform in Brazil and many Eastern European countries), it became an international hit. It became the company’s best-selling title of 1987. By 1990, the game had sold over one million copies worldwide.[4]

Compute! praised the Apple IIGS version of Thexder as the computer’s “first true arcade game” with “excellent play value for your dollar”.[5] In 1988, The Games Machine gave the Amiga version a 74% score.[1] In 1991, Dragon gave the Macintosh and PC/MS-DOS versions of the game each 4 out of 5 stars.[6] The game went on to sell over one million copies worldwide, becoming Game Arts’ biggest-selling title of 1987.[4]Thexder is considered an important breakthrough title for the run-and-gun shooter game genre, paving the way for titles such as Contra and Metal Slug.[7]

Other games in the series[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b The Games Machine 7, page 68.
  2. ^ “THEXDER Coming from Sierra” (PDF). Computer Entertainer. Vol. 6, no. 5. August 1987. p. 1.
  3. ^ Storer, Andy (July 1988). “Thexder”. ST/Amiga Format (1): 55. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b “Back Cover”, Fire Hawk: Thexder The Second Contact, Game Arts & Sierra On-Line, 1990, retrieved 2012-02-10
  5. ^ Trunzo, James V. (March 1988). “Thexder“. Compute!. p. 21. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  6. ^ Lesser, Hartley; Lesser, Patricia & Lesser, Kirk (December 1991). “The Role of Computers”. Dragon (176): 57–62.
  7. ^ Travis Fahs. “The Leif Ericson Awards – Retro Feature at IGN”. Retro.ign.com. Retrieved 2011-09-06.
  8. ^ “Thexder”. Next Generation. No. 16. Imagine Media. April 1996. p. 95.
  9. ^ a b c “Thexder NEO: Information”. Square Enix. Retrieved 16 October 2009. Thexder NEO for the PlayStation Portable: October 1, 2009 […] Available worldwide via the PlayStation Store
  10. ^ “Square Enix Ltd. announces Thexder NEO available exclusively for download via PlayStation Network”. Square Enix. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009. Now you can experience the excitement of the original, complete with revamped graphics, a novice mode, six-player online races, and a host of other all-new features in Thexder NEO.
  11. ^ “Square Enix revives “THEXDER”, 80’s robot action for PS3 and PSP – GIGAZINE”. En.gigazine.net. 2009-08-24. Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  12. ^ “Sony TGS lineup includes unannounced games, newly announced games”. Joystiq.com. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2015-11-07.

External links[edit]

Thexder
Thexder 95