Previous Next

Thrust is living proof that you don't need one of the new mega-fantastic all singing, all dancing 16-bit machines to make a good computer game.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not putting down the technological break-throughs that are going to revolutionise our hobby in the next few years. It's just that Thrust is a timely reminder of the cardinal rule of good game making - make sure the idea is a good one before you start programming. If the game does not contain a basic addictive element then the best graphics in the world are not going to get you coming back for more.

So what's so special about Thrust? Pure addiction - simple as that.

You pilot a triangular, line-drawn ship that has to scoop up a fuel pod from the planets' surface, destroy a nuclear reactor, and scarper before the core blows and the planet is destroyed. If thats sounds easy believe me it is anything but.

What gives the game its challenge is the method of controlling the space ship. It has a momentum produced by the planets gravitational pull. When you pin the ship to the right, it drifts in that direction - left and vice versa. A slight push of the thrust button and the ship surges forward in the direction that the triangular ship is facing.

It is this 'thrust' orientated ship control that gives the game its uniqueness and its name.

Manoeuvring the ship is a challenge in itself - but once you start picking up the fuel pods, spinning the ship to take out the guns that are strafing you and blasting the nuclear reactors the real fun begins.

Grabbing the fuel pod makes life more difficult still. The pod is attached to your ship by a long wire - ball and chain-fashion - which swings around as you attempt to thrust pulling your ship in all sorts of directions.

Things soon get touch if you successfully complete the first mission. On level 12, the pod is hidden in a cave that you have to negotiate - taking out the guns that guard it. Both fuel and time are limited - so you need to become a real master of the controls if you are to be successful. The key to Thrust is to keep your 'thrusts' to a minimum as each stab on the key uses up valuable fuel. It is infuriating when you have almost completed a mission and are about to make good your escape to fall to the ground, thrusting furiously, only to discover you have run out of fuel. Thump space for another go.

Thrust was an enormous hit on the C64 last year - one of the best-selling budget games of 1986.

Its graphic simplicity should have made for a successful conversion and in fairness the basic quality of the game is here. The regrettable thing about C16 Thrust is the amount of flicker, particularly on the harder levels. I won't hark on this too much though as I still found it difficult to put down.

The sound effects are competent - nice quick-fire sounds as you pummel the nuclear reactors and good retro rocket type noises as the ship powers forward.

Thrust will infuriate and entertain you. I thoroughly recommend it. At £1.99 it contains many hours of gaming fun for a wet English Summer.