This is the game that got my Electron unpacked 20 years later to finally beat it. Phenomenal physics and collision detection. Probably my number two pick, behind what I presume will be one. That didn't get a replay, I had bigger and better versions. Thrust was still perfect as is (even in two colours!)
There is an elegant simplicity to what must surely be complex code that makes Thrust perfect as it is - no amount of better graphics would improve on what is already a superb game with incredible gameplay!
Great game. When I was playing this when I was little, and got to the reverse gravity stages, I did turn my portable TV upside down - made it a lot easier!
Haha I've seen others saying the same! I have to confess, as a child I never got to the reverse gravity levels... and if I had, my hefty Cub monitor would have been a bit of a challenge to turn upside down! 😅
I did and still do adore Thrust. I used to be irritated that I could never destroy the reactor and also escape on Mission 4. That was until under emulation 20 years later I could use Save States so I'd be one shot away from meltdown, but also in the best position to get out. So at least I've now done it once, I can't see how under normal gameplay terms it would still ever be possible!
Yes, I will confess there's a fair few old Beeb games I've only been able to get a certain distance into because of save states! While I'll always prefer the playing experience on my physical Beeb, emulators have opened up newer gaming experiences for me 😅
Amazing game as I remember 😍Implementing physics made it bouth challenging and realistic (and hard). It still just looks fantastic today. The gameplay was perfect balanced between action and simulation I think. Thank you for this flashback 😊
Classic game. I do recall going to the effort of turning my Ferguson TX colour TV upside down in order to play the reverse gravity levels. But level 6 is definitely an arse of a level to traverse! Great review.
Loved it back in the day. Your video has inspired me to give it another whirl on an emulator. If I could go back in time and talk to the developers I would ask them to add in a bouncy sheild upgrade that turns your ship into a bouncy ball.
Excellent! I always hope that my videos will spark a rekindling of interest in Acorn related things, so this is great to hear 😀 I'm with you on the bouncy shield upgrade, that would be ideal 😆
Something I never got the hang of in this game was using the shield effectively against the limpets - I don't know whether it was due to the audio blocking out the engine sound but I'd just lose control really quickly
I'll be watching this later. One of my favourite games of all time. Played it mostly on C64 but what a timeless classic. Give Thrust Xtreme a go on the PC. A decent remake.
@@ColinHoad Spectrum version didn't quite nail the gravity like the C64 and Beeb versions. As you know, the BBC version was finished before the C64 version but was released after the C64 version! Hence the C64 version was my first taste of Thrust
Colin you are great to not only play and record a game as difficult as this, (without swearing 😂). I've played it, it's a a very difficult game, I am REALLY good at killing myself in in it. Another great video thanks Colin, I look forward to Number 10.
Loved this game, mostly because of the perfect implementation of physics. Unless you were unlucky enough to be hit by a random shot from the limpets, every death is "Yep, that was my fault". I got through the reverse gravity levels - and it sounds kind of embarrassing even more than 30 years later - by turning myself upside down. Literally. Hard to explain, but if you think about a chair/sofa, My back was on the seat cushion, my head hanging upside down over the edge. I beat the reverse gravity levels that way, but gave up after that. The invisible levels were just silly.
Those reverse gravity levels are really tricky. I couldn't get past the last one so tried blowing up the reactor (which, as Colin pointed out in the video, seems pretty impossible). It is actually possible to hit the reactor (although it doesn't look it) on level 6 but I'm not sure whether it's a glitch and is a result of the screen scrolling. I'll have to try and get it on video sometime.
You don't need the pods, you can just blow the reactor and head for space (less points, more serenity), that's why the last reactor is protected. When the game loops the gravity is upside down which is quite interesting. That aside you're hysterical playing this, it makes me wonder if you talk to yourself the same way whilst driving. :p Enjoyed it a lot (as always), thank you.
I can't believe I never realised blowing the reactor without first capturing the pod was an option! 😅 Thanks for the tip, all these years later... I do talk to myself when driving, but driving is considerably easier than Thrust 😄 And thank you!
@@ColinHoad It’s just as well driving is easier, because otherwise - you wouldn’t be here! Neither would I tbh because I tried Thrust at after school computer club, once, and um, once was enough based on my success. I swore never again!
A great review, fun to watch. I’m not sure how good I’d be at this game, as I always have a tendency to be too heavy- handed with the controls in similar games.
I classify games like Thrust as "frustratingly fun" - I'm not especially good at them, and they do cause the air to go blue at times, but I still enjoy them 😁
I think I'd be quite bad at this game, largely due to impatience, but it looks great, and the movement reminds me of a cross between Meteors and Planet Nubium!
If it doesn't, you can be rest assured I will be making further videos in future - a lot of games have been brought to my attention since I started the series 😉
Yes this is classic. However Number Gulper and Zarm need to be on this amazing list. I was going to say Yie Ar Kung Fu. But maybe not. Hostages, Perplexity and Predator should be on this list. You must do the BBC B 32 k justice !!!
I will admit there's a few names there which I don't recognise, but never fear - I plan to review on a recommendation basis once my countdown is over 😉
After some of my favourites have already failed to make the top 10, I've been watching this ready to pounce if you ranked a bad game higher :) But no quarrels with this one, Thrust is definitely a classic. You should check out The Royal Cosmonautical Society, which is pretty much a modern-day Thrust -- more features, more levels and not quite so outright evil, but still a game that you will only get through if you are prepared to die a lot :) That said, the original is still charming in its own way.
Oh goodness, I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that my final 10 don't disappoint you! 😅 Thanks for the recommendation, I'd not heard of that game before 👍
This is the game that got my Electron unpacked 20 years later to finally beat it. Phenomenal physics and collision detection. Probably my number two pick, behind what I presume will be one. That didn't get a replay, I had bigger and better versions. Thrust was still perfect as is (even in two colours!)
There is an elegant simplicity to what must surely be complex code that makes Thrust perfect as it is - no amount of better graphics would improve on what is already a superb game with incredible gameplay!
Great game. When I was playing this when I was little, and got to the reverse gravity stages, I did turn my portable TV upside down - made it a lot easier!
Haha I've seen others saying the same! I have to confess, as a child I never got to the reverse gravity levels... and if I had, my hefty Cub monitor would have been a bit of a challenge to turn upside down! 😅
Yes. I also turned my monitor upside down for reverse gravity levels. I think it knackered it lol
I did and still do adore Thrust. I used to be irritated that I could never destroy the reactor and also escape on Mission 4. That was until under emulation 20 years later I could use Save States so I'd be one shot away from meltdown, but also in the best position to get out. So at least I've now done it once, I can't see how under normal gameplay terms it would still ever be possible!
Yes, I will confess there's a fair few old Beeb games I've only been able to get a certain distance into because of save states! While I'll always prefer the playing experience on my physical Beeb, emulators have opened up newer gaming experiences for me 😅
Love it! You're far better than me at Thrust :)
Thank you! Clearly a misspent youth 😆
Amazing game as I remember 😍Implementing physics made it bouth challenging and realistic (and hard). It still just looks fantastic today. The gameplay was perfect balanced between action and simulation I think. Thank you for this flashback 😊
You're very welcome! And I entirely agree, Thrust is a perfectly calibrated game 😀
'Oh...........goodness me'
That's a very polite way of putting it
I try to keep things family friendly 😁
Classic game. I do recall going to the effort of turning my Ferguson TX colour TV upside down in order to play the reverse gravity levels. But level 6 is definitely an arse of a level to traverse! Great review.
Thanks, Stephen! Another creative take on how to tackle the reverse gravity levels 👏 And yes, level 6 is pretty unforgiving 😄
Loved it back in the day. Your video has inspired me to give it another whirl on an emulator. If I could go back in time and talk to the developers I would ask them to add in a bouncy sheild upgrade that turns your ship into a bouncy ball.
Excellent! I always hope that my videos will spark a rekindling of interest in Acorn related things, so this is great to hear 😀 I'm with you on the bouncy shield upgrade, that would be ideal 😆
Really great review and what a gem of game on the BBC Micro! I just made a video about the commodore plus/4 version a few days ago!
Thank you! I've not tried the C64 version, will have to give it a go 😀
Something I never got the hang of in this game was using the shield effectively against the limpets - I don't know whether it was due to the audio blocking out the engine sound but I'd just lose control really quickly
It is tricky using the shield while still navigating, I totally agree! 😅
nice play. your style of play reminds me of mine when i was a kid! I had forgotten about this game until now. I will get playing again.
Thanks - when it comes to Beeb games I don't think my gameplay style has changed much since I was a child! Muscle memory 💪🤣
I'll be watching this later. One of my favourite games of all time. Played it mostly on C64 but what a timeless classic.
Give Thrust Xtreme a go on the PC. A decent remake.
Thanks, I will! I've tried the C64 and Spectrum versions but personally prefer the Beeb one best (surprise, surprise!)
@@ColinHoad Spectrum version didn't quite nail the gravity like the C64 and Beeb versions. As you know, the BBC version was finished before the C64 version but was released after the C64 version! Hence the C64 version was my first taste of Thrust
Colin you are great to not only play and record a game as difficult as this, (without swearing 😂).
I've played it, it's a a very difficult game, I am REALLY good at killing myself in in it.
Another great video thanks Colin, I look forward to Number 10.
Thank you, Owen! It takes a lot of concentration 😁
Loved this game, mostly because of the perfect implementation of physics. Unless you were unlucky enough to be hit by a random shot from the limpets, every death is "Yep, that was my fault".
I got through the reverse gravity levels - and it sounds kind of embarrassing even more than 30 years later - by turning myself upside down. Literally. Hard to explain, but if you think about a chair/sofa, My back was on the seat cushion, my head hanging upside down over the edge.
I beat the reverse gravity levels that way, but gave up after that. The invisible levels were just silly.
That's an ingenious approach to beating the reverse gravity levels! Thinking outside the box there 😄
Those reverse gravity levels are really tricky. I couldn't get past the last one so tried blowing up the reactor (which, as Colin pointed out in the video, seems pretty impossible). It is actually possible to hit the reactor (although it doesn't look it) on level 6 but I'm not sure whether it's a glitch and is a result of the screen scrolling. I'll have to try and get it on video sometime.
Absolute classic
It certainly is!
You don't need the pods, you can just blow the reactor and head for space (less points, more serenity), that's why the last reactor is protected. When the game loops the gravity is upside down which is quite interesting.
That aside you're hysterical playing this, it makes me wonder if you talk to yourself the same way whilst driving. :p
Enjoyed it a lot (as always), thank you.
I can't believe I never realised blowing the reactor without first capturing the pod was an option! 😅 Thanks for the tip, all these years later... I do talk to myself when driving, but driving is considerably easier than Thrust 😄 And thank you!
@@ColinHoad It’s just as well driving is easier, because otherwise - you wouldn’t be here! Neither would I tbh because I tried Thrust at after school computer club, once, and um, once was enough based on my success. I swore never again!
A great review, fun to watch. I’m not sure how good I’d be at this game, as I always have a tendency to be too heavy- handed with the controls in similar games.
I classify games like Thrust as "frustratingly fun" - I'm not especially good at them, and they do cause the air to go blue at times, but I still enjoy them 😁
Nice start to the video! Brilliant game though.
Thank you! Yes, Thrust is truly a marvel 😁
Great review of the game Colin!
Thanks, Matt!
@@ColinHoad your welcome!
I think I'd be quite bad at this game, largely due to impatience, but it looks great, and the movement reminds me of a cross between Meteors and Planet Nubium!
Oh, it can definitely be frustrating at times! 😄 You're right about the movement similarities, even the graphics have a hint of Meteors about them...
I'm hoping that Elixir makes it into the Top 10 🙂
I have fond memories of that game, but sadly never actually completed it.
If it doesn't, you can be rest assured I will be making further videos in future - a lot of games have been brought to my attention since I started the series 😉
My guess for #10? - Starship Command!
I couldn't possibly comment 😉
@@ColinHoad haha
Yes this is classic. However Number Gulper and Zarm need to be on this amazing list. I was going to say Yie Ar Kung Fu. But maybe not. Hostages, Perplexity and Predator should be on this list. You must do the BBC B 32 k justice !!!
I will admit there's a few names there which I don't recognise, but never fear - I plan to review on a recommendation basis once my countdown is over 😉
Use the Force Luke, lol. 😂
😄
After some of my favourites have already failed to make the top 10, I've been watching this ready to pounce if you ranked a bad game higher :) But no quarrels with this one, Thrust is definitely a classic.
You should check out The Royal Cosmonautical Society, which is pretty much a modern-day Thrust -- more features, more levels and not quite so outright evil, but still a game that you will only get through if you are prepared to die a lot :) That said, the original is still charming in its own way.
Oh goodness, I'll have to keep my fingers crossed that my final 10 don't disappoint you! 😅 Thanks for the recommendation, I'd not heard of that game before 👍
Thanks for the recommendation, I see it's on Steam and definitely looks retro like Thrust, will give it go at the cheap price!