Commodore User


Thunder-Cats

Author: Ferdy Hamilton
Publisher: Elite
Machine: Commodore 64

 
Published in Commodore User #50

Thunder-Cats

Just one of the particularly meaningless phrases offered by the feline He-men (and women) is "Sword of Omens give me sight beyond sight". Who are these page 7 fellas of the cat world then? They are the Thundercats. For those of you who've never been educated in the ways of these Whiskas-chomping crime-busters, or who've never watched the cartoon or stuck the stickers, the Thundercats are four er... well, I suppose they are what would occur if Superman mated with a lion! The Thundercats are blessed by the Eye of Thundera, a jewel set into the all-doing and seeing Sword of Omens (The major source of the Thundercats power). It is with the help of this sword that Lion-O, Tygra, Panthro and the luscious Cheetara combat against the evil forces of MUMM-RA!

While foiling a raid by the Moleman the Thundercats did not notice a group of Mumm-ra's agents sneaking into the cats' lair (Their base) and stealing the precious Eye of Thundera. Lion-O who has the jewel entrusted to him, swears to get the jewel back or die trying.

The game is a horizontally scrolling "Kill 'em all" game, closest to Green Beret in style but not quite a rip-off. You control Lion-O and must jump, shoot and stab your way through levels. The enemy henchmen mainly come from the side you are facing but if you slow down they're quickly up your backside.

Thundercats

There are power packs to be found on the levels when you stab these with your sword a coloured box will be revealed underneath. It is through the colour of the box that you can tell what bonuses will be awarded. The bonuses are things such as extra lives, extra time or just plain old bonus points.

Probably the most useful of the bonuses, though, is the gun. You start the game with just a pathetic sword, but once you have the gun, it is a different story.

Over the course of the fourteen levels, you have the option to pick which to attempt first. There is also a bonus level in which you have the opportunity of a massive points bonus at the end. There are one of two little tweaks in there, like a jet car on level four, and the prospect of a meeting with Mumm-ra in person on level eight.

None of this, however, gives this game the buoyancy to float into the good game category. True, it's got some nice digitised pictures, and even the ubiquitous Rob Hubbard title track. It won't take one of the Christmas hot spots, but doubtless many Thundercats fans will be blinded by the licence.

Ferdy Hamilton

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