Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (Thunder Force IV) question

[Edmond Dantes]

I know that the story really isn't the most important part of horizontal shooters, but I can't help being curious and I couldn't find the manual online:

What is the "Darkstar" and why are you questing for it?

Also, what was the plot in the Japanese/European version?

Thanks

[Emperor Megas]

I don't actually have the answer to your question. I just wanted to mention you're screen name is awesome. I love that book. :)

[Oldskool]

Back of the Box:

You must lead the battle against the evil Lohun Empire. Their computer system is poised to destroy your Galaxy Federation's defenses. Lead the attack on their heavily defended military planet. Knock out the planet's command center to pave the way for the invasion force.

Take the fight underwater to destroy massive marine battle cruisers. Launch magnetically charged photon blasts at alien bio-machines. Twist through the labyrinthine structure of the enemy's Bio-Base. There you'll meet your final objective, the destructive regenerating computer. Cut loose with the Thunder Sword, your most powerful energy beam, as you battle this ultimate weapon.

Instruction Manual

Dark Storm

In the Galactic Standard Year of 980, The Lohun Emperor declared war on the Unified Federation of Galaxies, known as the Galaxy Federation. After a long struggle against the Lohun Empire, two extraordinary pilots, in the legendary Stukks Fighter, managed to destroy the Lohun Control Ship and stop the Empire in its tracks.

The Lohun Empire's Main computer system, supposedly destroyed in the battle, was actually only damaged. The still-functioning mainframe data was retrieved by one of the Lohun's allies, the Kha-Oss Legion, and is being rebuilt on the planet Vios.

Should the information in the computer be analyzed, it may show weak points in the Galaxy Federation's defenses. If this happens, the Lohun Empire and the Kha-Oss Legion will certainly move against the Galactic Federation again.

You have been chosen to lead the battle against the forces protecting the Lohun computer's mainframe data, in a desperate attempt to save the Federation from destruction. You mustn't fail!

Your mission has two sections: First, you have to lead the attack on the main military planet of the Kha-Oss Legion. Once this planet's offensive weaponry has been destroyed, the Galactic Federation will be able to launch an offensive against the inner planets in the Kha-Oss system, knocking out their command center. Their military will be at a disadvantage if they lose their main computer banks.

Your next mission will be to travel to Vios and search for the Lohun Empire's main battle computer. Knocking out the military planet will make it easier to penetrate the inside of Vios. If the Federation is able to destroy the Lohun's main computer database, peace in the galaxy can be assured.

There are four areas in the first part of your mission. Destroy the military equipment that the Kha-Oss Legion is building up, and then take on the main battle cruiser. There will be other Federation spacefighters there to help you.

Well, I see nothing that mentions what the "Darkstar" is. I'm guessing that's what they are calling the military planet?

[Edmond Dantes]

Must be.

[Oldskool]

I should check my other Thunderforce games and see if the stories make any sense on those. I never really payed attention to the story, but like R-Type - apparently it has one.

[Tempest]

Who plays a shmup for the story? The only one I can remember that had a semi-coherent story was Radiant Silvergun.

Tempest

[maxlords]

I don't actually have the answer to your question. I just wanted to mention you're screen name is awesome. I love that book. :)

This! Best handle on a forum in a LONG time :)

[fahlim003]

Regarding this, I'd be interested to see if the UK/European Thunder Force 4 manual differs from Lightening Force. Anyone have access to one of those?

[Oldskool]

Who plays a shmup for the story? The only one I can remember that had a semi-coherent story was Radiant Silvergun.

Tempest

True, but it's fun to see what kind of a "story" they try to whip together. R-Type actually does have a decent story that's evolved over several years.

[Edmond Dantes]

Regarding this, I'd be interested to see if the UK/European Thunder Force 4 manual differs from Lightening Force. Anyone have access to one of those?

I'm interested in this too.

[HappehLemons]

I always thought it was strange that we have almost every game dumped into a rom (a process that is costly and time consuming) But when it comes to copys of manuals there's hardly any and it's something that anyone can do and it's not really all that hard to do.

[Oldskool]

True. I can copy the manual if anyone is interested.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Have you seen The Last Starfighter? You don't need to know much more than that.

[Dire 51]

I'm of the opinion that Sega of America just made up this whole "Darkstar" thing.

[mobiusclimber]

I don't know what the story is regarding Darkstar, but it goes on forever: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Star_%28song%29