Thexder

Thexder
File:Thexder cover.png Cover for the DOS version
Developer(s)	Game Arts Game Arts Bits Laboratory (NES) Compile (MSX) Synergistic Software (Apple II)
Publisher(s)	Game Arts Game Arts (PC88/98, FM) Square (X1, NES) D4Enterprise,Inc. (PC-8801) Sierra On-Line (Apple IIgs, DOS) Activision (Amiga)
Designer(s)	Hibiki Godai, Satoshi Uesaka
Composer(s)	Hibiki Godai
Platforms	NEC PC-8801 NEC PC-8801, NEC PC-8001, NEC PC-9801, FM-7, Sharp X1, Famicom, Sharp MZ, MSX, Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, MS-DOS, Mac OS, TRS-80
Release date(s)	April 1985 PC-8801mkII SR PC-8001mkII SR PC-8801mkII (Game Arts) FM7/77/77AV Famicom/NES X1 MZ PC-9801/M/F/U MSX PC-8801 (D4Enterprise) Apple II & DOS TRS-80 Amiga Mac OS
Genre(s)	Run-and-gun shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player

Thexder (テグザー, Teguzā) is an arcade-style run-and-gun shooter action game from Game Arts, originally released as a PC game for the NEC PC-8001 in 1985 and subsequently ported to a number of other personal computer platforms throughout the 1980s and 1990s as well as the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Gameplay

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

Release

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, 128K Tandy Color Computer 3, Apple II, Apple IIgs, Apple Macintosh, and Tandy T-1000 computer and became the company's best-selling title of 1987. In 1988, Activision released the game in Europe on the Commodore Amiga. By 1990, the game had sold over one million copies worldwide.

Reception

Thexder quickly became a best-selling hit selling over 500,000 copies. The PC8801 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 east European countries) it became an international hit. Compute! praised the Apple IIGS version of Thexder as the computer's "first true arcade game" with "excellent play value for your dollar". In 1988, The Games Machine gave the Amiga version a 74% score. In 1991, Dragon gave the Macintosh and PC/MS-DOS versions of the game each 4 out of 5 stars. The game went on to sell over one million copies worldwide, becoming Game Arts' biggest selling title of 1987. 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.

Other games in the series

Title	Details
Thexder 2 Original release dates: (MSX/PC-8801, Game Arts release) 1990-12-30 (DOS) 2003-03-10 (PC-8801, D4E release) UK: 1990-12-30 (DOS) (DOS)	Release years by system: 1989 – MSX/PC-8801
	Notes: Thexder 2, also known as Fire Hawk and Fire Hawk: Thexder - The Second Contact, was released in 1989 on MSX2 and 1990 on DOS. It retained the same concept as the original Thexder but added many improvements. The Fire Hawk robot had the same design as the Thexder: the main laser, shield, and ability to transform into a jet. It also had upgrades to allow it to launch guided missiles, and use special weapons found throughout the game. Obtaining special weapons caused a weapon carrier droid to be deployed, and if positioned correctly, would act as a shield against enemies. Graphics were improved from the original game, and game play was divided into sub-levels, with the fourth sub-level containing a "boss" enemy. It was also possible to restart later games at the beginning of a level previously visited.
Thexder 95 Original release date(s): 1995	Release years by system: 1995 – Windows 95
	Notes: Thexder 95 (also called Thexder for Windows 95) is a Windows 95 remake of the original Thexder game, which was built with Microsoft's Game SDK (precursor of DirectX). In this game, Thexder can become a tank and jet, and has a large number of new weapons, from grenades to thermal bombs. The game runs in multiple windows: the main view, and several smaller windows each having a different function, e.g., ammo count, map, and actual game, that the gamer could open and close at will during play. Computer Games Magazine rated it 2.5/5. It was also one of Sierra's showcase games at the launch of Windows 95.
Thexder & Fire Hawk Original release date(s): (PC-8801, D4E release)	Release years by system: July 15, 2005 – PC-8801
	Notes: Thexder & Fire Hawk is a compilation that includes the MSX versions of Thexder and Thexder 2. The compilation was designed by Hibiki Godai and Satoshi Uesaka, and was released in 2005 for the PC–8801.
Thexder Neo Original release dates: October 1, 2009 (PSP) January 28, 2010 (PS3)	Release years by system: October 1, 2009 – PlayStation Portable (PSP) January 28, 2010 – PlayStation 3
	Notes: Thexder Neo is a complete rework of the original PC game from 1985, released by Square Enix. In early 2009, it was reported that Square Enix sent an application to the ESRB to receive a rating for a game titled "Thexder Neo". Later that year, the game's existence was confirmed by Square Enix through an announcement at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show. It was released worldwide on the PlayStation Network on October 1, 2009 as a download for the PlayStation Portable and on January 28, 2010 for the PlayStation 3.

External links

• Thexder series at MobyGames

Thexder

• Official website (D4Enterprise/Project Egg)
• Thexder at MobyGames
• Thexder guide at StrategyWiki
• The MS-DOS version of Thexder can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
• Thexder Apple IIGS manual

Thexder 95

• Thexder 95 at MobyGames