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Thunder Tier One

66%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
replayability, stability
66% User Score Based on 3,624 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindowsCloudCloudNVIDIA GeForce NOWNVIDIA GeForce NOW

About

Thunder Tier One is a top-down tactical co-op shooter set in the 1990s. Players take on the role of elite operatives tasked with defeating a global terror threat. The game features realistic weapon behavior, destructible environments, and mission planning. Work together to complete objectives, secure the area, and extract safely.

Thunder Tier One screenshot
Thunder Tier One screenshot
Thunder Tier One screenshot
Thunder Tier One screenshot
Thunder Tier One screenshot
Thunder Tier One screenshot
Thunder Tier One screenshot
Thunder Tier One screenshot

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,624 reviews
story128 positive mentions
replayability10 negative mentions

  • The game offers a unique top-down tactical shooter experience reminiscent of classic titles like SOCOM and Ghost Recon.
  • Customization options for characters and loadouts are extensive, allowing players to tailor their experience.
  • The graphics and sound design are impressive, contributing to an immersive gameplay experience.
  • The AI teammates are often unhelpful and can hinder gameplay, making solo play frustrating.
  • The game has limited content, with only a few missions available, leading to a lack of replayability.
  • The developers have abandoned the game, resulting in no further updates or new content since its release.
  • story
    828 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is described as minimal and somewhat disjointed, lacking depth and immersion, which detracts from the overall experience. While the missions themselves are varied and offer tactical gameplay, the limited number of nine missions leads to a quick sense of repetition and boredom, especially in single-player mode where AI teammates are often unhelpful. Players express a desire for more content, including additional missions and a more engaging narrative, to enhance replayability and overall enjoyment.

    • “The story may be loosely based but the gameplay is pretty hardcore and very in-depth compared to many of its top-down counterparts.”
    • “Some of the missions in the campaign are absolutely fantastic, namely the sea dryad mission that feels like a recreation of the first mission in socom 1, op sitting duck which pulls a neat surprise in where you have to go and cold stone where you get to hunt caches and rescue a vip from some terrorists that may or may not be hiding in caves.”
    • “The campaign missions are well structured and offer good variety.”
    • “The story is not immersive but missions are, trying new ways to complete.”
    • “The campaign itself was fine, the story was fine, even the ending was fine... but that was all!”
    • “It just feels like it's one of those early access titles - if they'd marketed it better, gave a few game mechanics more than a simple overhead shooter, made a storyline that could be affected by player decisions - hell, made interesting innovations in general - the good gameplay would have a 'soul' to back it up.”
  • gameplay
    382 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this title is characterized by its unique top-down tactical shooter mechanics, offering a blend of cooperative and competitive modes that many players find enjoyable. However, it suffers from a lack of content, with a short campaign and limited multiplayer activity, leading to concerns about its longevity and replayability. While the core mechanics and customization options are praised, issues with AI behavior and camera controls detract from the overall experience, leaving players wanting more depth and polish.

    • “The gameplay is very fun (especially in coop, but also in single player) and can also be very challenging, delivering in the 'milsim' aspect by providing a wide range of customization and realism.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth, fun, and I love playing co-op with my friends.”
    • “This is a great game, the idea is unique, the gameplay is very specific, and it is an amazing choice for those who are into top-down tactical shooters.”
    • “It just feels like it's one of those early access titles - if they'd marketed it better, gave a few game mechanics more than a simple overhead shooter, made a storyline that could be affected by player decisions - hell, made interesting innovations in general - the good gameplay would have a 'soul' to back it up.”
    • “There is enough base content excluding PvP for roughly 7 hours of gameplay. So it is very short content-wise and the sad thing is knowing that the developer has 'finished' his project some time ago, so any of the missing things, like simple bug fixes for placing the camera under doors, teammates crawling like possessed by a demon while being down, or just a little bit more content - all of these things make me kinda sad while playing this jewel of a game, because you know it will be over...sooner than later and there won't be anything changed about it.”
    • “The gameplay is decent with friends but only has around 3 hours of content if you don't care about the PvP modes and the AI in single-player is awful, so co-op is really the only fun time to be had.”
  • graphics
    162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the graphics of the game have received positive feedback, with many users praising the detail, visual effects, and immersive environments. The game's aesthetic, particularly its 90s military vibe, is noted as appealing, and the graphics are considered well-optimized for performance. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are good, they can feel basic or lackluster in certain aspects, particularly when compared to other titles.

    • “The graphics, in terms of lighting effects, detail in the characters and environment, as well as the general atmosphere the game creates are excellent and not just for a title in this genre.”
    • “The graphics for a top-down shooter are amazing; I have played plenty in my time, and this one is gorgeous.”
    • “Graphics and sound design are amazing, physics are incredible, and more importantly, gameplay is top notch.”
    • “☐ ms-dos has better graphics”
    • “Can run most games on high/medium graphics settings with stable 60 fps, meanwhile this game tanks to 20 fps constantly while on low settings?”
    • “Graphics are somehow very well polished but immersion is broken when you walk into a trash can and it goes flying into several pieces across the map.”
  • replayability
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag. While some players find enjoyment in the tactical gameplay and varied missions, many criticize the limited content and lack of procedural elements, which diminishes replay value. However, there is optimism that future mods and updates could significantly enhance replayability, especially in multiplayer modes.

    • “As of now, I have yet to even try multiplayer, but from my experience playing the campaign, I can assure you that the replayability is just huge there.”
    • “Once mods come into play, the replayability of this game will skyrocket.”
    • “The gameplay is highly tactical, and the missions offer a lot of replay value.”
    • “Was enjoyable on my first playthrough, but this game offers no replay value at all.”
    • “I have 100+ hours in the game and while I clearly loved it, you'll get through the content in a weekend and you'll be scratching your head as to where the rest of the content is as well as why the replay value is so low.”
    • “Launched in an irrefutable early access state with 9 missions that have no replay value and a non-existent map editor; the only potential saving grace this game has is an extra hard top-down milsim experience.”
  • optimization
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting excellent performance and high frame rates on capable hardware, while others have experienced significant issues, including overheating and stuttering. Overall, while graphics and sound design are praised, many users feel that the game requires further optimization to address performance inconsistencies.

    • “The game is very well optimized, and runs at a flat 100fps with everything on ultra with a GTX 1070 and a newer Intel i7-10700F in 2K.”
    • “Performance was great and I was getting above 60fps on high settings.”
    • “I've seen complaints of optimization but have had no issues, had no frame drops or lag spikes.”
    • “Performance on this game leaves a lot to be desired.”
    • “Game does need further optimization; I've never seen my 5900x spike up to 89°C until I played this game.”
    • “I was playing this game in Parallels virtual machines on an M1 MacBook Pro (macOS 11.6.1), and the performance is like a disaster, like a PowerPoint presentation.”
  • stability
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance with no significant frame drops or crashes, others encounter frustrating bugs, particularly related to AI behavior and command instructions. Some missions can be problematic, requiring restarts due to AI issues, and the PvP experience is often hit or miss due to bugs. Overall, while the game is generally playable and enjoyable, it does have notable stability concerns that could impact the experience.

    • “The game runs great and I haven’t had any frame drops or crashes on max settings, and I average more than 60fps with an outdated rig.”
    • “I fear this game will get lost in the shuffle, and it's such a shame. This game is a true gem and not only that, it's almost completely bug-free. As of writing this, I have 9 hours and I have encountered almost no bugs we've become accustomed to.”
    • “+runs great”
    • “It gets super buggy when one of the AI dies, so you have to restart the whole mission from scratch.”
    • “Shooting into buildings (through windows or doors) and uphill or downhill is just extremely finicky and buggy.”
    • “The PvP is pretty trash, and frankly the game is pretty buggy in a lot of regards but still playable.”
  • grinding
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring excessive micromanagement of AI teammates, which can detract from the overall experience. Many reviews suggest that the online PvP feels lackluster and grind-heavy, with a limited selection of missions that may not justify the game's price unless players are particularly interested in farming unlocks. Overall, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant pitfall in an otherwise straightforward system.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This system is very straightforward and 'fair' towards all users, but has massive pitfalls that greatly influence a game that is based on repetition and grinding.”
    • “Online PvP feels a bit lackluster and grindy.”
  • monetization
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many users feeling that it lacks sufficient development and advertising support. While some features, like the 3x sights, are noted as potentially beneficial, the overall impression is that the game is undercooked and prioritizes profit over quality.

    • “Cash grab avoid.”
    • “Another under-cooked trash game released for a quick cash grab.”
    • “Really could have been something special if development continued and more resources were put into advertising the game.”
  • emotional
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a nostalgic emotional connection to the game, particularly when reminiscing about past experiences with old SOCOM titles, which enhances their enjoyment of co-op missions. While some feel that playing with friends could amplify this emotional response, the overall sentiment reflects a heartfelt appreciation for the game's community and aesthetics, despite minor critiques regarding AI performance.

    • “It's heartbreaking, to be honest.”
    • “The missions really took me back and made me feel like I was playing one of the old SOCOM games as a kid.”
    • “Kinda touching, the community seemed really cool.”
  • atmosphere
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Thunder Tier One" is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting its impressive sound design, stunning graphics, and effective use of lighting that enhances the overall experience. The game successfully creates a captivating environment that stands out even within its genre, making it visually beautiful and immersive despite its short length.

    • “The graphics, in terms of lighting effects, detail in the characters and environment, as well as the general atmosphere the game creates, are excellent and not just for a title in this genre.”
    • “Visually, the world is beautiful and extremely atmospheric.”
    • “All that is a huge shame, because Thunder Tier One just oozes atmosphere, from the drone view at the beginning of each game to the excellent sound design.”
    • “It's got the atmosphere of those games and better, but it's still a 'top down' game.”
  • humor
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding enjoyment in its comedic elements, such as absurd gameplay mechanics and amusing glitches. Many highlight the hilarity of specific actions, like breaching and wallbanging, which contribute to an overall fun experience. However, some comments reflect a bittersweet irony regarding player frustrations, suggesting that while the game is entertaining, it also evokes a sense of sadness in the community's reactions to its development.

    • “Breaching is hilarious, wallbanging stuff is hilarious, flashing enemies then kicking them in the nuts is hilarious - basically the whole game is just good fun.”
    • “Their pathfinding is hilariously bad (just watch them walking around the map with the UAV), and some of them just flat out ignore you in point-blank range.”
    • “Was pretty funny, so it's cool I guess.”
  • music
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is noted for its engaging and immersive quality, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the variety and composition, which effectively complements the game's atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is a standout feature that resonates well with the audience.

Buy Thunder Tier One

10h Median play time
11h Average play time
7-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

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