> GAME INFO

Thrust II

• Publisher: Firebird
• Developer: Firebird
 • Release Date: 1988
 • Code: Ian Gray
 • GFX: Gary Penn
 • Music: Dave Korn

• ZZAP64 Game Rating: 59%
 • Our Game Rating: 49%
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FILE: thrust2end.zip

> THRUST II by Firebird

• Completed & Reviewed by Neil Collins
Thrust scored a whopping 94% in Zzap64, and in my opinion it was well deserved. My only criticism with that review is that they didn't like the Rob Hubbard music?!?! I think it's amazing! Yet they gave it 80% for the sound effects. Can't really understand that. Anyway, Thrust 2 - Is it as good as the original?

No it isn't. At first I thought it was a terrible game, but having put many hours into playing it my opinion has changed. It's still nowhere near as good as the original, but it's grown on me a little. The basic idea of the game is almost the same. You need to fly around, find the orbs which are scattered around the level and return them to the planet surface. This time however you drop them off on the surface to form a large sound system, where as you just blasted off up into space with them in the original game. The graphics are no long wire framed vectors, but solid sprites. Some say that's an improvement, but for me it just makes the game look quite cheap and childish. The soundtrack that plays throughout the game sounds very pretentious. I found it so annoying that I switched it off after a few games.

If you love Thrust, the chances are you won't love this as it's missing the magic of the original. Only give this a go if you have the patience of a saint.


WTF! The final level.


The End.

HOW WAS IT COMPLETED?: I played it without cheats. I saved my position a lot of times as I worked my way through the levels.

SO WHAT HAPPENS?: Once the sound system on the surface of level three is fully constructed, the space ship flies up off the screen as a long, booming sound is played. This is followed by the end screen which reads 'Amazing ! Mission Completed !! Game Over. Press Fire'. A little victory tune plays in the background while you stare at the screen in huge disappointment.

COMMENTS:

  • Vinny: I am sad to say that the game is poor and the ending is just not worth the effort :( It's no surprising that ZZAP64 game it an overall score of 59%.
     
  • Brendan Phoenix: I'm a huge fan of the first game (most probably my all time face C64 game) but hated this. What the hell is that all about? Creating some giant sound system, just plain stupid. Yes it does have an ending (unlike the original) but I would rather trade no ending, keep the original graphics and sound rather than this jumbled mess of a game.
     
  • Andrew Fisher: Ouch, 1 is a bit harsh considering there is an extra screen (The stereo/boombox featured in the screenshots), text and music... And the gameplay is FLAWED in comparison to the original, agreed. Still it's alright for a quick blast once you know the controls. As for the music, according to the Commodore Zone interview, Dave Korn was learning guitar. So the tracks are based on "Little Wing" by Jimi Hendrix, the song he was learning to play at that time.
     
  • Neil: I thought the end would suck having seen the end of the Spectrum version. The boombox pic is just a shot of the end of the level, once all pieces of it are put together. The music sounds exactly as you described - like a newbie playing guitar. Awful awkward notes over terrible root notes. I couldn't stand it - probably as I've played guitar for years myself so I'm a bit over critical. It sounds like it's been put together to sound cool, rather than just having a decent melody - it's just sections of poor scales pieced together. Music rant over.
     
  • Andy Vaisey: Two words: Ergh, urgh...

FINAL SAY: I'm not surprised with this one. Gutted it took so long to beat and the end was so bad. At least this one can finally be laid to rest, which was the purpose of my hard labour.

G.E. RATING: 1 / 10

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Copyright İVinny Mainolfi