Thunder Hoop Collection Review

Thunder Hoop Collection is a duology of Thunder Hoop and Thunder Hoop Strikes Back. Hardcore 2D action platformer/shooter where players have to survive chaotic bio-organic nightmares created by the mad scientist Professor Genbreak. The games are making their console debut as they were originally designed for arcades.

Players are put in the virtual boots of Thunder Hoop, or TH for short, who has to survive a myriad of levels to reach Genbreak. In the first game, levels are pretty straight forward; go from start to finish and kill the boss. Typical run and gun. You’ll also be able to upgrade your firepower up by picking up specific items. You can also kill/damage enemies by bouncing on their heads.

For the sequel, while the format remains largely unchanged, there’s a bit of diversity in levels. Thunder Hoop Strikes Back adds more platforming and also unique levels such moving platforms from which you need to jump over and duck obstacles. Once again, you can pick up specific items to power up your projectiles. Once maxed out, it doesn’t change much against generic cronies, but does more damage to bosses.

As with any other classic collections, Thunder Hoop Collection features a handful of quality of life improvements. You can save whenever you want, you can also rewind (with these games, especially Thunder Hoop Strikes Back, you’ll need it). And you can choose from a selection of retro CRT filters for that classic style. There are also a few cheats that will help such as unlimited lives and always on upgraded weapon.

Both games of the Thunder Hoop Collection are faithful product of their time. The first game has a Sega Master System visual style to it; levels are colorful and properly detailed. Whereas the second one is more in tune with arcade games of the time; bright, loud and bigger sprites. Also improved technology means more chaos on screen and new character movement. In both games, there’s a decent amount of enemy variety and bosses are uniquely gross monstrosities. The soundtracks are high octane rock chiptune scores fitting of the on-screen action.

The biggest problem with both games is the controls. Both games feels like you’re walking, running and jumping with cement boots that weight a ton. Each. Also the controls aren’t fully responsive; there’s a slight delay which will cause players otherwise avoidable deaths. It also takes forever to kill bosses in Thunder Hoop Strikes Back unless your weapon is maxed out. In the sequel, things can get insanely hectic to the point where enemy projectiles can get lost among a horde of enemies causing another scenario of avoidable death.

QUByte Interactive once again digging another unnecessary classic that hasn’t aged well. Thunder Hoop Collection is certainly a way to look at the past, but these games were obviously designed to squeeze players of all their coins in arcades. While the first game is a bit more fair, the sequel is a hardcore balls to the wall chaos where you’ll abuse the rewind button; not only because of chaos on sceen, but also some deaths caused by unresponsive controls. Unless these games have a nostalgic feeling for you, this is an easy pass.