Computer Gamer


Thunderzone

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Firebird
Machine: Amstrad CPC464/664/6128

 
Published in Computer Gamer #27

Thunderzone

Yet another zap 'em game with pretensions to being something else. The game has you playing the chief of the Federation Liberation Forces and you have to clear Flavious V of the nasty invading Zircon forces.

The screen display is incredibly complex with no less than twelve indicators; some of them doubled up. Icons cover the lower part of the screen with the various functions of your weaponry.

Basically, the controls are: rotate left and right, thrust and select icon. This is all achieved by pulling the joystick about and is very dificult to get used to, as is the screen. The controls operate as if you are viewing it from a plan view, but the actual view is a 3D forward-looking view. All very confusing.

Thunder Zone

The graphics are cluttered and the lowest possible resolution mode is used. This in conjunction with the relatively small active area of the screen makes the display rather cluttered.

As well as shooting everything that moves and watching your various power and alert gauges, you can also pick up power rods with a sort of space scoop. This is the only break in what is a game of mind-numbing tedium.

There are a lot of very good zap 'em games on the market at the moment and a lot of extremely bad ones. Usually these latter sort have aspirations to be something else and this causes problems. This game falls firmly into this latter category. Sorry, Firebird, another lemon...

Other Reviews Of Thunder Zone For The Amstrad CPC464/664/6128


Thunder Zone (Firebird)
A review by Bob Wade (Amstrad Action)

Thunderzone (Firebird)
A review