Thrust (C64, 1986)
Graphics-7 Sound-6/8** Control-6.5 Challenge-9 Story-5
Level Design-6.5 Frustration-9/10* Fun-6 Originality-7
Overall Score-6
*Reverse gravity levels (10+ for the invisible walls levels)
**Title theme
+
Good thrust/inertia-based physics like in Gravitar
Object interaction (pick up and carry the ball towards the atmosphere to beat a level, pick up fuel with a tractor beam - Gravitar)
Decent "ball attached to rope" physics when carrying the ball (although it acts more like a ball attached to a stick, its weight pulls your ship when it gains speed and it rotates around your ship when doing turns at high speeds pretty much as you'd expect)
Temporary bullet shield (activated with same button as pick up item, drains fuel) - Gravitar
Some interesting level gimmicks (timed doors triggered by switches, reverse gravity levels - same 6 level layouts though and it gets very frustrating towards the end, can shoot the reactor to temporarily disable turrets but you might as well destroy them instead - if you shoot it too much it blows up and you die if you can't finish the level in 10 seconds)
In-game manual
+/-
Linear level-based structure
Can gain extra lives every 10k points
Fuel mechanic
Short levels
Levels loop horizontally
Text only intro
-
Shooting fuel destroys it and flying into such power ups kills you
No continues or password save
Some control issues (the scrolling isn't quite smooth - the camera scrolls for a bit in the direction you're going when near the edge of the screen and then stops (less optimal when trying to shoot or see something in front of your ship and a bit further away), somewhat unresponsive controls in that it takes too long to accelerate from still position or after turning around, the ball takes too long to go 90 degrees downwards making the ascent out of caves pretty tedious in later levels)
Even slightly touching anything (or if the ball you're carrying does) kills you in one hit
No 2-player mode
Shots from off screen
No alternate weapons or weapon upgrades (could've also been interesting to use a ball as a wrecking ball weapon)
No auto-fire
Short - 18 levels total including the reverse gravity and invisible walls ones so only 6 unique level layouts
No in-game music (could've been an option to use the title theme at least as it's quite good)
Notes:
-Beat the normal levels and two of the reverse gravity ones
Level Design-6.5 Frustration-9/10* Fun-6 Originality-7
Overall Score-6
*Reverse gravity levels (10+ for the invisible walls levels)
**Title theme
+
Good thrust/inertia-based physics like in Gravitar
Object interaction (pick up and carry the ball towards the atmosphere to beat a level, pick up fuel with a tractor beam - Gravitar)
Decent "ball attached to rope" physics when carrying the ball (although it acts more like a ball attached to a stick, its weight pulls your ship when it gains speed and it rotates around your ship when doing turns at high speeds pretty much as you'd expect)
Temporary bullet shield (activated with same button as pick up item, drains fuel) - Gravitar
Some interesting level gimmicks (timed doors triggered by switches, reverse gravity levels - same 6 level layouts though and it gets very frustrating towards the end, can shoot the reactor to temporarily disable turrets but you might as well destroy them instead - if you shoot it too much it blows up and you die if you can't finish the level in 10 seconds)
In-game manual
+/-
Linear level-based structure
Can gain extra lives every 10k points
Fuel mechanic
Short levels
Levels loop horizontally
Text only intro
-
Shooting fuel destroys it and flying into such power ups kills you
No continues or password save
Some control issues (the scrolling isn't quite smooth - the camera scrolls for a bit in the direction you're going when near the edge of the screen and then stops (less optimal when trying to shoot or see something in front of your ship and a bit further away), somewhat unresponsive controls in that it takes too long to accelerate from still position or after turning around, the ball takes too long to go 90 degrees downwards making the ascent out of caves pretty tedious in later levels)
Even slightly touching anything (or if the ball you're carrying does) kills you in one hit
No 2-player mode
Shots from off screen
No alternate weapons or weapon upgrades (could've also been interesting to use a ball as a wrecking ball weapon)
No auto-fire
Short - 18 levels total including the reverse gravity and invisible walls ones so only 6 unique level layouts
No in-game music (could've been an option to use the title theme at least as it's quite good)
Notes:
-Beat the normal levels and two of the reverse gravity ones