As more game companies take a look back into their retro archives, Konami has decided to resurrect a classic '90s shoot-'em-up, Thunder Cross 2. While its predecessor, Thunder Cross, managed to score a few niche ports over the years, Thunder Cross 2 never made its way out of arcades - or even outside of Japan. Now, Konami has confirmed the game is available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
While Thunder Cross 2 operates in typical shoot-'em-up fashion with horizontal screen scrolling and an overwhelming amount of enemies, it improved upon the original in a myriad of ways and simply offers more action. The sequel introduced a quicker pace, a whole arsenal of new weapons and upgrades, and memorable bosses including "Ragamuffin," a strange amalgam of humanoid and cyborg parts; and "Dinosaur Junior," a gecko-like giant robot. While it remains to be seen, Thunder Cross 2 could constitute only a small part of a bunch of rumored Konami releases for the Switch.
If fans are into fast action, Thunder Cross 2 can be completed in less than half an hour. Since the title remains relatively unknown to North American audiences, playthroughs on YouTube by creators such as MamePlayer can offer a glimpse at the frenetic pace found in this oft-forgotten Konami arcade classic.
With the Atari VCS's recent releases and Konami's arcade offerings, fans could be seeing another wave in a huge retro revival. For fans of Konami games itching for a nostalgic fix, Thunder Cross 2 is going for only $8 on both Switch and PS4, with potentially more releases from Konami on the way.
Thunder Cross 2 is available now on the PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
