ZX Spectrum

ThunderBlade

I think US Gold have done a great job here, converting such a great coin-op to the Spectrum. The 3-D perspectives are used to great effect, especially on the first level with the tall buildings soaring to their lofty heights, and you vainly tugging at the joystick trying to avoid them. Although the sprites are monochromatic, they are all well designed, and serve their functions with a single-minded determination - for the most part this means blowing the socks off of the brave chopper pilot. I greatly enjoy playing the arcade version, and although the hydraulic chair isn't present on the computer version, the game is just as much fun. I think that US Gold are onto a big Christmas hit with Thunder Blade.

Addictiveness is also there in abundance, and this is helped by the variety of gameplay - in the sections I played, the tactics varied from zooming along swooping at targets, to slow, deft and tricky dodging, which kept your mind one hundred per cent on the game. Although I have given Thunder Blade megagame status, I do have a couple of reservations. It sometimes seemed impossible to judge when you were about to be hit, which makes progressing a little random. I also wonder how long it will take the average YS reader to complete the game, and I suspect that the answer is not too long. Reservations aside, however, this has got to be the whammiest, most jaw-dropping game I have played this year.