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Rolling Thunder 2
European arcade flyer for Rolling Thunder 2.
Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	Namco/Sega (Virtual Console)
Designer(s)	H. Kuwabara
Composer(s)	Ayako Sakata
Native resolution	288 x 224
Platform(s)	Arcade, Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console
Release date(s)	Arcade 1990 Sega Mega Drive/Genesis NA November 18, 1991 JP November 19, 1991 PAL 1992 Virtual Console JP October 27, 2009
Genre(s)	Run and gun
Mode(s)	2 players can play simultaneously
Input methods	4-way Joystick; 2 button
Cabinet	Upright, cabaret, and cocktail
Arcade system	Namco System 2

Rolling Thunder 2 (ローリングサンダー2 ^?) is an arcade game by Namco released in 1990. It is the sequel to 1986's Rolling Thunder and retains the same run and gun gameplay of its predecessor, adding cooperative gameplay for 2-Players and improved graphics. Unlike the original Rolling Thunder, which was set in the 1960s, Rolling Thunder 2 features a more contemporary setting to go along with its more futuristic designs. A Mega Drive port was released in 1991. Both, the coin-op game and the Mega Drive version, were released for the Wii Virtual Console.

Gameplay

Set sometime during the 1990s, the Geldra organization (now known as Neo-Geldra and led by a new leader named Gimdo), thought to had been destroyed during the first game, returns and are destroying several of the worlds' satellites in outer space. Like the previous game, the player takes control of a member of the Interpol's fictional Rolling Thunder task force. Up to two players can now play simultaneously, while a single player now has a choice between returning heroes Leila (as Player 1) or Albatross (as Player 2). Although outside their different visual appearance (including different handguns), the two characters otherwise play the same.

The graphics are noticeably improved over the previous game and have a decidedly more futuristic look to go along with the game's modern setting. The game's common enemy character, the Masker, which were previously designed to look like hooded terrorists, 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 Geldra bases).

The player's character are armed with a default pistol that has only limited ammo. When bullets run out, the player's gun will fire a slow chase bullet instead. The player can also upgrade to a semi-automatic rifle by entering marked doors. When entering one of these marked doors, a counter will displayed 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. Specific weapon like flame thrower and a "spread laser" is available at certain mission.

Home version

Cover artwork of the Sega Genesis version.

The Mega Drive ports differs from the arcade original by its inclusion of cut scenes before each stage consisting of a single static images displayed above a scrolling text that narrates the story's progression.

There are also three additional stages not found in the original arcade version that take place between the arcade's original stages. These stages stand out from their arcade counterparts due to the presence of different upgradeable weapons (either, a flamethrower or a laser shot) and stage bosses.

Like in the NES port of the first game, Namco added a password feature which used words instead of letters (such as A Private Thunder Created the Powder) and a harder second quest. The third Rolling Thunder game (Rolling Thunder 3) would be developed exclusively for the Mega Drive rather than being ported from the arcades.

Soundtrack

Namco Game Sound Express Vol. 5 ~ Rolling Thunder 2
Soundtrack by Ayako Saso
Released	June 21, 1991
Recorded	Unknown
Genre	Video game soundtrack
Length	31:55
Label	Victor Entertainment

A soundtrack album of the arcade version, Namco Game Sound Express Vol. 5: Rolling Thunder 2 was released by Victor Entertainment in 1991 under the catalog number VICL-15005. It contains unused tracks from the arcade version, which were later used in the Mega Drive version of the game. It was composed and arranged by Ayako Saso.^[1]

References

1. ^ Chudah's Corner - Namco Game Sound Express Vol. 5 Rolling Thunder 2

External links

• Rolling Thunder 2 at Sega's Virtual Console site (Japanese)

See also

• Rolling Thunder
• Rolling Thunder 3

From StrategyWiki, the free strategy guide and walkthrough wiki

Rolling Thunder 2
Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	Namco
Japanese title	ローリングサンダー2
Release date(s)	1990
Genre(s)	Run and gun
System(s)	Arcade, Sega Genesis, Wii Virtual Console
Players	1-2
Followed by	Rolling Thunder 3
Series	Rolling Thunder

Wikipedia has an article about:

Rolling Thunder 2

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.

Japanese cover art.

Table of Contents

• How to play
• Walkthrough