Lightning Fighters can be summed up as Konami's response to Seibu's Raiden and Toaplan's Twin Cobra and Fire Shark.
What, you really thought Konami just did beat-'em-ups and horizontal shoot-'em-ups?
Regional Differences#
There are four known versions of the game: the Japanese version, and the three international versions (European (World in MAME), North American, and Asian).
Region-Specific Screens#
Japan |
Asia |
US |
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The Japanese and Asian versions display a standard export copyright notice on boot, while the US version displays the (blatantly obligatory) FBI "Winners Don't Use Drugs" screen common of the era. None of these screens are present in the European version, which instead goes straight to the game's intro sequence.
Title Screen#
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Japan |
International |
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Gameplay#
In general, the Japanese and European versions have two different game modes: 1P mode and 2P mode, while the US and Asian versions have only 2P mode, even if the game is started by one player. As result, the game has a lot of differences in the gameplay.
- In the Japanese and European versions, starting the game with only one player, it will be locked in 1P mode meaning that a second player cannot join in at all. In the US and Asian versions, a second player can always join in anytime.
- In the US and Asian versions, a player can start the game even in the 2P side. In the Japanese and European versions, this is not possible.
- In the Japanese and European versions, in 1P mode, dying causes you to restart at a checkpoint. In the US and Asian versions, you simply respawn where you were and keep playing.
- In the Japanese and European versions, in 1P mode, you start (and always respawn) with no lasers. In the US and Asian versions, you start (and always respawn) with one Lightning Sword/Particle Beam.
- In the Japanese and European versions, in 1P mode, this theme is played during the continue countdown. In 2P mode, US and Asian versions, the current level theme keeps playing instead.
- In the Japanese version, the sword-shaped laser is called Lightning Sword, while in the other versions (including the European one) is called Particle Beam.
- The Single Trigon weapon is exclusive to the Japanese and European 1P mode.
- However, the other types of Trigon weapons, Twin, Hunting, and Blast, are only available in the Japanese and European 2P mode, as well the US and Asian versions.