AH-3 Thunderstrike - Sega CD (Good)

Product Overview

• Product Name: AH-3 Thunderstrike
• New or Used: Used
• In Case or Loose: In Case
• Overall Condition: Good
• Disc Condition: Very good, a few very small light scratches
• Sega CD Case Condition: Hinges intact / Has scratches / One 3.75" crack on front (see pic)
  (Condition of Long Box Case, Cardboard Box, etc.)
• Notes:

Photos show actual product for sale — no stock images used.

What's Included

• Sega CD Game Disc: Yes
• Disc Count: 1
• Manual / Instructions: Yes
• Rear Tray Artwork: Yes
• Case Type: OEM/Original Long Box*
  (Details on case type below in “Important Information”)
• Foam Insert / Spacer: No
• Extras:

Game Description

AH‑3 Thunderstrike (known internationally as Thunderhawk) launches you into the cockpit of a fictional AH‑73M attack helicopter, tasked with ten high-stakes operations across the globe. From dense jungles to desert outposts, your mission is simple: obliterate artillery, tanks, SAM sites, gunboats, and enemy choppers in a fast-paced, first-person combat experience. Powered by the Sega CD’s scaling and rotation hardware, the game delivers smooth 3D environments with intense action and cinematic FMV briefings.

This isn’t a complex simulator—it’s a thrilling, arcade-style shooter with tactical depth. You’ve got unlimited ammo, radar to track objectives, and destructive weaponry like gatling cannons, rockets, and missiles. Each stage varies slightly—destroying bridges, escorting convoys, or clearing bases—while layers of rock-driven music and real-time voice directions heighten the drama. With over 40 missions spread across ten diverse zones, Thunderstrike delivers explosive, nonstop aerial carnage.

Gameplay Features

• First-person helicopter combat using the AH‑73M prototype chopper, fully armed with gatling cannons, missiles, and rockets
• Ten campaign zones—including jungle, desert, and coastal regions—with multiple mission objectives like destruction tasks and escort duty
• Radar and lock-on targeting system for dynamic aerial and ground engagement
• FMV mission briefings and voiceovers add a cinematic layer to the combat
• Sega CD-enhanced visuals—scaling sprites and pseudo‑3D terrain—powered by smooth frame‑rate despite heavy pixel detail

Historical Trivia or Fun Fact

Developed by Core Design—later famed for launching the Tomb Raider franchise—AH‑3 Thunderstrike was a major seller in Europe and even topped some Sega CD game charts. Its fast-paced destructiveness and clean visuals impressed critics, helping solidify the Sega CD’s reputation for delivering arcade-style action experiences at home. The game’s engine would go on to power sequels such as Battlecorps and Tomb Raider predecessor Firestorm: Thunderhawk 2, cementing Core Design’s legacy in action-powered 3D combat.

Additional Details

• Variant: Long Box
• Genre: Shoot-em-up
• Year Released: 1993
• Publisher: JVC Digital Studios
• Developer: Core Design Ltd.
• ESRB Rating: E - Everyone
• UPC: 009119930574
• SKU: 12560
• Format: Sega CD game disc
• Platform: Sega CD video game system / console
• Region: NTSC (North America, Canada)

Sega CD Game Disc Compatibility (NTSC Region)

This chart shows which systems support physical Sega CD game discs:

Important Information

• Photos show the exact item for sale — we never use stock images for used games.
• Used discs are professionally resurfaced via our commercial-grade repair system to remove scratches.
• All used items are cleaned, tested, and 100% guaranteed to work.
• Backed by Retro Game Fan’s 60-day warranty.

* Note on Case Type: The “Case Type” listed above indicates the style of packaging included with this game.

• OEM / Original Long Box – Tall plastic clamshell case used for most retail Sega CD releases.
• OEM / Original Cardboard Box – Used on select late-release retail Sega CD titles.
• Aftermarket Long Box – Replacement case with similar shape/size, but not factory original.
• Generic CD/DVD Case – Used only when original-style cases are unavailable.

If the original case is damaged or missing, we may upgrade it with a clean aftermarket replacement. These may differ slightly in color, texture, dimensions, or materials from Sega’s OEM cases. Please refer to the item description and photos above to confirm the included case type.

Shipping Note: All Sega CD Long Box games (plastic or cardboard) automatically ship in a cardboard box for protection. We never ship Sega CD Long Box games in a bubble mailer.