The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

THUNDERSTRUCK II - THE MINDMASTER

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Adventure Platform Style

Author             : Peter Scott

Standalone Release(s)   : 1987: THUNDERSTRUCK II - THE MINDMASTER, £7.95

Compilation Release(s) : 1989: FAB FOUR VOLUME 1, Audiogenic, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron Side A, BBC Side B

Actual compatibility    : As stated

Supplier            : AUDIOGENIC, Winchester House, Canning Road, HARROW HA3 7SJ

Disc compatibility     : Unknown

Instructions

"Our hero, SPRECO, the SPace REfuse COllector, has finally made it back to Home Base 5 after escaping from the strange medieval castle in which he was marooned in Thunderstruck 1. But things have changed - Home Base 5 is totally devoid of all human life! While searching the Droidcorp factory complex, a friendly Droid informs him that the humans have been enslaved and the complex taken over by an intergalactic villain who calls himself the MindMaster. However, Deacti-Unit [that the MindMaster thought he had destroyed] is actually scattered around the complex. If SPRECO can find the four pieces, take them to the correct location and assemble and activate the unit, there might a chance of destroying the MindMaster and setting the people free! Thunderstruck 2 is the ultimate arcade adventure with high-tech theme, comprising over 130 locations full of large-scale graphic detail and brilliant animated backgrounds. There are loads of objects to find, Droids to interact with, Computer Consoles to use, lift tubes, different gravity areas, obstacles and puzzles that will have you tearing your hair out!"

Our hero, SPRECO, the SPace REfuse COllector, has finally made it back to Home Base 5 after escaping from the strange medieval castle in which he was marooned after a freak space/time thunderstorm (see THUNDERSTRUCK 1). But things have changed back there - no one is there to greet him - in fact, Home Base 5 is totally devoid of all human life!             

While searching the factory complex of his employers, the Droidcorp, he discovers a friendly Droid who informs him that the humans have been enslaved and the complex taken over by an intergalactic villain who calls himself the MindMaster. However, this nasty MindMaster has made one mistake - a Deacti-unit that he thought he had destroyed is actually scattered around the 130 rooms of the complex. If SPRECO can find the four pieces, take them to the correct location and assemble and activate the unit, there might be a chance of destroying the MindMaster and setting the people free!

Using Objects

You can use Objects that you find on the way, but you only carry one at a time. In order to use an Object you must first have picked it up. You can also drop an Object providing you are not standing in front of any background feature.

ComCons

There are a number of computer consoles (ComCons) scattered around the complex. These can be used to give a status report on where you are and what you are carrying. Also, there are various friendly Droids and Machines with whom you can communicate via the ComCons for the purpose of giving them an appropriate Object in exchange for one that you need. (A ComCon looks like a tall computer with an eye-level screen and waist-level keyboard, viewed from the side.) To use a ComCon you must stand directly in front of it (i.e. the SPRECO sprite on top of the ComCon sprite), and press SPACE. You can then give one of the ComCon commands.

ComCon Commands (followed by <RETURN>)

E = Examine - Tells you what object you are carrying.

L = Location - Gives X, Y co-ordinates of your location.

G = Give - Give your Object to any Droid, Machine or Alien that is on that

    screen.

T = Take - Take Object from same Droid, Machine or Alien.

Droids And Machines Featured

Sander-old, Tailor-old, Miser-old, Blank-old, Secur-old, Bank Terminal, Laser Point plus - The Alien!

Energy

You start the game with a full energy supply, but you lose energy by hitting spikes or anything animated. Energy is added every time you solve a puzzle. Food pellets can be used to restore energy to full.

Status Display - Top Part Of Screen

At the top left of the screen, the display gives your current score in terms of percentage of game completed. Directly below this is the energy meter - a yellow that turns red as you lose energy! In the middle is a small box that contains an icon representing the Object (if any) you are carrying. And on the right is a long box giving a general description of the location you are in. This box is also used for communicating via ComCons.

If In Trouble

If you are on the verge of committing suicide or serious crime because you cannot finish THUNDERSTRUCK 2 then write to use enclosing as SAE and we might send you a hint sheet!

Control Keys

Z - Left,   X - Right,   : - Up Ladder,   / - Down Ladder,   RETURN - Jump

SPACE - Use ComCon (if in front of one)  

P - Pick up/Drop,   U - Use,   Q - Quiet,   S - Sound,   CTRL and R = Restart Game

Instructions' Source   : THUNDERSTRUCK II (Audiogenic) Back And Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User) - "Nasties In The Cavern"

As THUNDERSTRUCK II loads, you are left watching quite a well drawn title screen. Which is rather a blessing as it takes around seven minutes. However, your patience will be rewarded as the game is well worth waiting for.

In this arcade adventure, you start complete with spacesuit and helmet in an underground cavern. You are immediately required to dodge the advances of something that bears a close resemblance to a berserk helicopter. You then make your way through the various screens which present you with a whole host of evil nasties, all intent on reducing your life expectancy.

Your current state of health is shown on screen. If it falls to zero, you will be whisked right back to the underground cavern as you only have one life.

As you pass through the various rooms, you will discover a number of items which can be picked up and used elsewhere on your travels. The problem that you have to work out is where, how and when each of the items should be used. And to add to your problems, you are only allowed to carry one item at a time.

A score is shown on screen which represents your percentage achievement to date - mine remained depressingly low.

Approximately two thirds of the screen is used as the game area - the remainder is used for memory storage. This area does remain blank so you are not distracted by rippling colours.

The graphics are excellent with big chunky sprites and very smooth movement. The sound effects are adequate but they could have been a little more imaginative. However, there is a facility to turn them off if they become too annoying.

My only reservation is whether the game may pall a little once all the problems are solved, but in my case that could take forever anyway. The game does use rather a lot of memory so Plus 1 and Plus 3 owners should ensure that these are disabled before this program is loaded.

I found the game extremely addictive and, while it comes from the same software house that brought us BUG EYES II which has a similar style of graphics, I found this to be the more entertaining of the two.

Sound ........................... 6

Graphics ........................ 9

Playability ..................... 8

Value for money ................. 8

Overall ......................... 8

Beejay, ELECTRON USER 4. 4