The Fire LEO-02 "Exceliza" (A.K.A. "Excelizer") is the main protagonist of the 1988 Sharp X68000 shoot 'em up Thunder Force II and its 1989 Sega Genesis port of the same name. It is the second spacecraft developed by the Galaxy Federation as part of the Fire LEO Series. Compared to its predecessor, it has a much larger arsenal of weapons, improving its combat effectiveness against the ongoing conflict against the ORN Empire.
History[]
Following their defeat against the Fire LEO-01, the ORN Empire refuses to admit defeat and launches another attack against the Galaxy Federation. To do this, the empire constructs a giant battleship called the "Plealos" and uses it to destroy the Galaxy Federation-affiliated planet of Reda, and proceed to invade another affiliated planet called Nebula to use as its makeshift base. Upon learning about this scheme and the potential destruction that Plealos could cause across the galaxy, the federation attempts to destroy this machine by launching a sneak attack gains the occupied planet. To do this, they develop the second starfighter of the Fire LEO Series production line: the Fire LEO-02 "Exceliza". Compared to its predecessor, the Exceliza is built with a wider array of weapons, including the first instances of the Twin Shot, the Back Shot, and the Hunter. Upon completion, the Galaxy Federation launches Exceliza into combat.
The Exceliza travels to the surface of Nebula, where it battle heavy ORN resistance whilst tracking down and destroying four cores located at enemy bases scattered across the planet's surface. From there, it travels through a hanger-like port where it confronts more ORN forces and battles one of its commanders.
Once the first commander is destroyed, the starfighter then travels underground where it finds itself surrounded by a large, underground city. The fighter repeats its process of locating and destroying four cores scattered across the cityscape, all the while dodging attacking ORN Forces and avoiding collision with skyscrapers. It then dives to street level where it enters a high speed highway to dodge incoming ORN forces and closing gates, before coming face to face with a giant tank which it manages to destroy.
From there, Exceliza dives even deeper into the planet where it enters two different caves (one of which is exclusive to only the Sharp X6800 version), all the while battles more ORN Forces whilst once again tracking down four cores to destroy. At ground level, it battles against two different cave-dwelling monsters and destroys them.
Once both caves are cleared, the fighter then travels to a desert that is covered in ancient ruins. Once more it takes on the tedious task of locating and destroying the four cores scattered across the land. After accomplishing this, the craft descends inside one of the ruins and encounters heavy ORN resistance, all the while carefully navigating through narrow corridors. At the end of the passageway, the craft comes face to face with a giant machine that proves to be very difficult to defeat. Despite the challenge, Exceliza manages to overcome the firepower of the ORN commander and destroys it.
After overcoming all the obstacles and resistance along the way, the Exceliza eventually tracks down and Plealos hidden deep within an underground lava pit. The small, but nimble fighter navigates around the giant battleship, destroying four giant wave cannons that double as barriers that protect the inner part of the ship, once all of them are destroyed, Exceliza travels to the core of Plealos and destroys it, putting the Galaxy Federation one more step ahead against the ORN Empire's quest for total organic extermination in the universe.
Afterwards, Exceliza returns back to its spaceport and retires from service.
Weapons[]
The Exceliza boasts the largest assortment of weapons of any Fire LEO craft at the time, however upon destruction all of them save for the default two shots are lost. In the Top-View levels, all weapons except the Hunter are accompanied by a bomb that destroys ground targets.
- Twin Shot - fires a twin stream of rapid firing energy shots are unleashed directly in front of the fighter, which can easily destroy most smaller ORN forces. This is one of the initial weapons and cannot be lost upon death.
- Laser - An upgraded version of the Twin Shot, this fires two laser beams that travel up and down before moving forward. In the top-view levels, the beam is a continuous stream that can penetrate smaller enemies.
- Back Shot - fires a single stream of rapid firing energy shots are unleashed in front and back of the fighter, which can easily dispose of smaller ORN forces. This is one of the initial weapons and can not be lost upon death.
- Mega Flash - An upgraded version of the Back Shot, this fires five pinwheel-shaped shots with two traveling at a 45 degree angle upwards and downwards, one traveling straightforward, and another two traveling at a 30 degree angle upwards and downwards behind the craft (Side-View only).
- Wide Shot - An upgraded version of the Back Shot, this fires four orb-shaped projectiles, with two traveling forwards at a 45 degree angle left and right, one traveling straight, and traveling backwards behind the craft (Top-View only).
- Wave Shot - fires two streams of wave-shaped lasers in a helix pattern, with a a standard stream straightforwards (Side-View only).
- Five Wave - fires five wave shots forwards, with the outermost waves traveling a short distance to the left/right of the craft before moving forwards, the two middle waves traveling at a 45 degree angle left/right before moving forwards, and the innermost wave traveling straight (Top-View only).
- Side - fires two streams of waves love and below the craft, with a standard stream firing forwards (Side-View only).
- ATM - fires two bombs at a 90 degree arc above and below the craft (Side-View, X68000 only, replaces Side).
- D.E.S - fires three bombs instead of one, with two traveling at a 45 degree angle left and right respectively (Top-View only).
- Nova - fires three ring lasers in the direction opposite of the craft's movement, with two of the lasers angled at a 45 degree angle (Side-View only).
- Sidewinder - fires a large missile that can be controlled by the craft's movement (Side-View, X68000 only, replaces Nova).
- Clash - fires a rotating enemy shot that travels forward in a circular motion (Top-View only).
- MCM - fires a set of missiles that can be controlled by the craft's movement (Top-View, X68000 only, replaces Clash).
- Hunter - fires three orbs of energy rapidly that will home on the nearest enemies. They are not too powerful but very accurate. On Top-View levels, the shot can only hit air enemies and disables the bomb while equipped.
- CLAW - A pod support unit that enhances the Exceliza's firepower by firing regular shots and acts as a makeshift shield that is able to block some enemy shots; up to two can be obtained.
- Roll - drastically increases the rotating speed of CLAW(s) temporarily, making them more effective at absorbing incoming fire. It has no effect if no CLAW is active.
- Barrier - Creates a barrier that protects the Exceliza from all types of enemy fire for a short time before depleting.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Despite X68000 released Thunder Force II first, Sega Genesis had better sale and popularity thus people often mistakenly believe that Thunder Force II is the sole product of Sega Genesis.
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