Operation Thunderbolt (Arcade)

Operation Thunderbolt
Developer: Taito Publisher: Taito Platform: Arcade (Custom) Released internationally: March 1989 This game has unused text. This game has a hidden level select. This game has revisional differences.

Operation Thunderbolt isn't about playing as a thunderbolt, but it's a cool name. Also, how would that even work?

Round Select

This game uses the Taito Code: While the game boots up, hold the Service Coin button until a "SERVICE SWITCH ERROR" message pops up on the screen. Then, press 1P Start (x3), Service Coin, 1P Start.

This prompts a stage select menu. Press 1P Start to select a mission, and 2P Start to start that mission.

Unused Copyright Text

The word at address 0x3FFFE in the sub-CPU controls the game's region and copyright text. This is either 01 in the Japanese version, 02 in the US version, or 03 in the World version.

The unused value 04 sets the publisher to a placeholder "Licensed To" message. Taito self-published the game in all regions, so this string was never used.

Place the following code in any of the Operation Thunderbolt xml cheat files to switch between publishers:

  <cheat desc="Publisher">
    <parameter>
      <item value="0x0001">Taito Corp.</item>
      <item value="0x0002">Taito America</item>
      <item value="0x0003">Taito Japan</item>
      <item value="0x0004">Licensed to</item>
    </parameter>
    <script state="run">
      <action>sub.mw@3FFFE=param</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

Revision Differences

Intro

Old US Version

New US Version

AN AIRPLANE WHICH IS CARRYING AMERICAN PEOPLE IS HIJACKED. THE TERRORIST GROUP NOTIFIES AUTHORITIES THAT IF TERRORIST PRISONERS ARE NOT RELEASED WITHIN 24 HOURS, AMERICAN HOSTAGES WILL BE PUNISHED BY DEATH. THE HIJACKED PLANE LANDS AT KARUBIA AIRPORT IN AFRICA, AND AMERICAN HOSTAGES ARE HIDDEN IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES. THE HEAD OF THE C.I.A. CALLS ON ROY ADAMS, THE MAN WHO PERFORMED THE "OPERATION WOLF" MISSION IN SOUTH AMERICA ONE YEAR AGO, TO RESCUE THE AMERICAN HOSTAGES. ROY GOES INTO ACTION AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH A FELLOW GREEN BERET, HARDY JONES.

AN AIRPLANE WHICH IS CARRYING THE PEOPLE IS HIJACKED. THE TERRORIST GROUP NOTIFIES AUTHORITIES THAT IF TERRORIST PRISONERS ARE NOT RELEASED WITHIN 24 HOURS, THE HOSTAGES WILL BE PUNISHED BY DEATH. THE HIJACKED PLANE LANDS AT KARUBIA AIRPORT, AND THE HOSTAGES ARE HIDDEN IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES. THE MILITARY AUTHORITIES CALL ON ROY ADAMS, THE MAN WHO PERFORMED THE "OPERATION WOLF" MISSION ONE YEAR AGO, TO RESCUE THE HOSTAGES. ROY GOES INTO ACTION AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH A FELLOW, HARDY JONES.

The initial US version is identical to the World and Japanese version, save for the aforementioned region value at 0x3FFFE. The updated US version censored the game's text to remove all mentions of real world countries and organizations. Apparently, having the game's plot be loosely based on a real life hostage situation didn't sit well with Taito America Corp.

Old US Version	New US Version

All of the labels on the map of North Africa were removed as well, including "Kalubya", aka Libya.

Start Screen

Old US Version
New US Version

The CIA files were changed to ordinary files, both characters are now formerly from a naval brigade instead of the Green Berets, and all countries were removed from the war career section. Hardy Jones didn't get to keep anything!