Thrust


(Above) ZX Spectrum version
 In 1986, legendary "Thrust" game was released for BBC Micro.
It seemed that it was inspired by "Gravitar", Atari's arcade game created in 1982.
"Gravitar" was multidirectional shooter rotating the ship like "Asteroids", however,
the ship was also subject to gravity and inertia.
In addition, the ship used finite fuel to thrust, or shield itself from bullets that turrets fire,
so you had to pick up fuel.
In this "Thrust" game, you must pick up a pod that is also subject to gravity and inertia.
That traction makes player's control more harder. But this frustration surely enthuses people...
"Thrust" was ported to C64, ZX Spectrum, Atari 8bit, Atari ST..., etc.
First, I will explain details of the game below.

The game:

 You must control your ship. You also have to pick up (a fuel cell). To fuel, activate the tractor beam hovering just above .
 Be careful not to shoot , otherwise  would be destroyed.
 To complete current level, there are two methods.
 1. Find and pick up (a pod). Then, fly into space while connecting that . You can gain a bonus score.
     A spare ship is allocated for every 10000 points. It's sure that we should choose this method #1 if possible.
 2. Destroy (the reactor) and escape into space before the planet would explode in 10 seconds.
     No bonus score are gained if  is not present.
     But, in some cases, it recommends beginners to choose this method #2 to save your fuel or ships.

 In the final level,  is placed on safety space, so we must complete the level choosing the method #1.

 Watch out bullets that turrets fire at random. In this game, those bullets are too fast to avoid.
 So the necessary skill is your reflex nerve that you activate the shield immediately when you see bullets came.
 If  is placed nearly, fire several bullets toward . While  recovers its damage, all turrets don't fire at all.

Rounds:

 After you complete the final level of the first round, the second round begins.
 In the second round, the gravity becomes reverse.
 In the third round, the wall becomes invisible. While you activate tractor beam / shield, the wall becomes visible.
 In the fourth round, the gravity becomes reverse, and the wall becomes invisible.
 These specifications are the same as "Gravitar".  Later rounds are extremely harder.

Versions:

 If you want to buy a physical copy and play the game on your retro CONSOLE,
 I recommend you to buy ZX Spectrum version to play the game on your CD32 console + FDD.
 ZX spectrum version can be also loaded on your SNES (+ AD Adapter). Recommended.
 I confirmed Atari ST version can be surely loaded on CD32 + FDD using Atari ST emulator which works on 020 + no FAST RAM,
 however, in that case we cannot start the game due to "uncompatible" issue.
 If you have Atari XEGS (+ tape recorder), it's maybe no problem to buy Atari 800 version. (Sorry, not tested.)
 If you have Vectrex, buy Vectrex version. If you have Atari 2600, buy Atari 2600 version called "Thrust+" series.
 However, Vectrex version and Atari 2600 versions are unofficial and not ones released in 1980s.

Thrust (ZX Spectrum)

Box and inlay (front): Click to enlarge.
 Box and inlay (back): Click to enlarge.


Basic DATA
Copyright / Publisher
 Firebird
License
 Commercial. "World of Spectrum" has been given permission to upload.
Original BBC version:
 Jeremy Smith
ZX Spectrum port by:
 Simon Clarke & David Lowe
Ship
 1P mode only. Instant death. You have 4 ships. No continue. No passwords.
Controls
 Kempston
(CD32 pad)
 Keyboard
 SNES pad (example
using ZXAdvance)
  Loading screen. (Above)
Rotate left  
 --
 a
 left
Rotate right  
 --
 s
 right
Thrust  
 --
 i
 B
Fire  
 --
 p
 A
Tractor beam / Shield 
--
 m
 R
Start the game w/o key config 
--
 n
 START
Pause 
--
 2
 L
Resume 
--
 3
 down
Return to the title screen 
--
 1
 SELECT
For CD32+FDD users:
  You can load the game from your physical copy directory. See this page for details. The gaming speed is sluggish, though.
  The loading sequence: Thrust.header > Thrust.bytes > T1.header > T1.bytes > Unnamed.bytes
For SNES+AD Adapter(White version) users:
  Create a snapshot file first, then create GBA file using ZXAdvance. A recommended configuration is shown above.
  Copy that GBA file to your micro SD card, then load the game on your SNES.  The gaming speed has no problem.

Maps:

  There are 6 levels in total. See "Speccy Screenshot Maps" site. You can see captured-maps created by Hippy Smith.
  By the way, the 5th and the final 6th level differ from original BBC Micro / C64 version.
  See below. I can say that it's slightly more difficult.

Thrust (Vectrex)

Box (front): Click to enlarge.
 Box (back): Click to enlarge.
 Cartridge: Click to enlarge.



  This version is the re-release version
  sold at the online shop John Dondzila
  owned.
Basic DATA
License
 Commercial. Ville Krumlinde has uploaded ROM image at his website.
The game has also been given permission to upload in ParaJVE pack.
Original C64 version:
 Jeremy Smith
Vectrex port by:
 Ville Krumlinde ( Alex Herbert wrote High score saving code.)
Ship
 1P mode only. Instant death. You have 3 ships. No continue. No passwords.
Controls
 Vectrex pad
  Title screen & virtual Overlay using ParaJVE. (Above)
Rotate left  
 left
Rotate right  
 right
Thrust  
 3
Fire  
 4
Tractor beam / Shield 
2
Lock thrust (HARD mode only) 
1
Pause 
( Can't! )

  Vectrex version has 3 modes; NORMAL mode, HARD+ mode, TIME ATTACK mode.
  Comparing with other versions, the range of vision is narrower. You cannot destroy a turret that you can't see in your sight yet.
  It also seems the gravity is slightly stronger. It takes only 1.6 seconds till your ship crashed into the ground
  after you start the 1st level and don't touch your control pad. (Compare with other versions showed below.)
  Each door closes sooner after you shoot each switch and open each door.
  You have only 3 ships, not 4.  So it feels that it's slightly harder than other versions.
  Most certainly, I tell you that I can't recommend beginners to choose this Vectrex version.
  In other words, advanced players should try this!
  Unlike other versions, an ending message would be presented after you complete the 4th round. (Who can see that message?!)
  Especially HARD+ mode has more features:
  • Each turret can fire homing missiles.
  • Additional 2 exclusive levels (#7 & #8) look extreme.
     It is because you can see very narrow passages and moving walls in those 2 levels, .
  • A spare ship is allocated for every 20000 points. ( Not 10000. )
  • A "perfect" bonus is awarded if you complete the level with no ships lost & all objects are destroyed / collected.

==============================================================================

GBA ports (freeware)


 If you have SNES + AD adapter (White version), you can play these freeware.
 See this page for details how to load the game on your SNES.
 However, I must tell you that these ports are also slightly harder than ZX Spectrum version.
 See below for details...

ZX Spectrum version using ZXAdvance
 Thrust Advance v1.04
 Thrust v1.01
 Thrust v1.02 Heavy
Author ( Port by :
 Simon Clarke & David Lowe
 Matthew Partridge
 Grumpy Cat
Released in :
 1986
 2002
 2003
Based on :
 BBC version by Jeremy Smith
 C64 port by Jeremy Smith
 Atari ST port by Alan Butcher ( Musician: Rob Hubbard )
The title screen (The starting screen)


The gaming screen's resolution


To activate Tractor beam / Shied :
 "R" (example)
 "R" button
 "R" button
To pause :
 "L" & "down" (example)
 "SELECT" button
 "START" button
To return to the title screen :
 "SELECT" button (example)
 ( Can't ! )
 "L" button
How long it took till your ship crashed
into the ground after you started the 1st
level (Don't touch your control pad.) :
(It depends on the gravity.)
 2.8 seconds
 2.0 seconds
 3.4 seconds
 1.2 seconds
How long it took till your fuel run out
after you started the 1st level (In the
safety place. Don't get a fuel cell.) :
(It mostly depends on how much your
fuel loss in the same time.)
 About 2 minutes + 33 seconds.
 About 1 minute + 35 seconds.
 About 17 minutes
+ 58 seconds.
 About 7 minutes
+ 13 seconds.
Your fuel when you start the game:
 1500
 1000
 1000
 1000
How much can you gain fuel
when you get a fuel cell? :
(An approximate calculation.)
 600
 570
 270
 270
How long it extends your flight time
in the safety place per 1 fuel cell? :
(An approximate calculation.)
 2m33s x ( 600 / 1500 )
= 1 minute + 1 second.
 1m35s x ( 570 / 1000 )
= 54 seconds.
 17m58s x ( 270 / 1000 )
= 4 minutes + 51 seconds.
 7m13s x ( 270 / 1000 )
= 1 minute + 57 seconds.
The firing range of your ship :
 Normal. ( Each bullet reaches the edge
of the screen.)
 Normal. ( Each bullet reaches the edge
of the screen.)
 Shorter. ( Each bullet can't reach the edge of the screen.)
Level 1 :
 Based on Level 1 of BBC version.
 Based on Level 1 of C64 version.
 Based on Level 1 of Atari ST version
( = based on Level 1 of BBC version).
Level 2 :
 Based on Level 2 of BBC version.
 Based on Level 2 of C64 version.
 Based on Level 2 of Atari ST version
( = based on Level 2 of BBC version).
Level 3 :
 Based on Level 3 of BBC version.
 Based on Level 3 of C64 version.
 Based on Level 3 of Atari ST version
( = The 1st Atari ST version exclusive level).
Level 4 :
 Based on Level 4 of BBC version.
 Based on Level 4 of C64 version.
 Based on Level 4 of Atari ST version
( = based on Level 3 of BBC version).
Level 5 :
 Based on Level 5 of BBC version.
It's partly more complicated, though.
 Based on Level 5 of C64 version.
 Based on Level 5 of Atari ST version
( = The 2nd Atari ST version exclusive level).
Level 6 :
 Based on Level 6 of BBC version.
It's partly more complicated, though.
Compare with maps above.
 Based on Level 6 of C64 version.
 Based on Level 6 of Atari ST version
( = based on Level 4 of BBC version.
 It's partly narrower, though. ).
Level 7 :
 ( Doesn't exist. )
 ( Doesn't exist. )
 Based on Level 7 of Atari ST version
( = The 3rd Atari ST version exclusive level).
Level 8 :
 ( Doesn't exist. )
 ( Doesn't exist. )
 Based on Level 8 of Atari ST version
( = based on Level 5 of BBC version.
 It's partly narrower, though. ).
Level 9 :
 ( Doesn't exist. )
 ( Doesn't exist. )
 Based on Level 9 of Atari ST version
( = based on Level 6 of BBC version. It's partly
 narrower, though. Compare with maps above. ).
Level 10 :
 ( Doesn't exist. )
 ( Doesn't exist. )
 Based on Level 10 of Atari ST version
( = The 4th Atari ST version exclusive level).
The "reverse gravity" round &
the "invisible walls" round :
 yes
 yes
 yes
# of your ships when you start :
 4 ships
 4 ships
 3 ships
About a pod :
 Normal. No problem.
 Heavy. In addition, it swings greatly
contrary to player's intention.
It becomes nearly out of control.
It's hard to complete even the 2nd or
the 3rd level actually.
 Normal. No problem.
In conclusion :
 Perhaps almost people feel that
it is slightly harder than BBC / C64
version.
 It's peace of cake to reach the final level,
however, in the final level you are forced
to pick up a pod, so...
 The composition of the map itself is the hardest,
but considering whether we can beat in reality,
it is easier than "Thrust Advance v1.04".


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