Page 26 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #6

T Thrust
hrust

by Thomas Jentzsch
by Thomas Jentzsch

Platform: Atari 2600
Genre: Arcade Action
Released: 2000

Hard to believe, but a novice programmer's first 2600 game is one of the most satisfying
complex space shooters I've ever had the pleasure of playing. If this is Thomas' first pro-
gramming effort, I'm waiting with anticipation for he'll program once he's “experienced!”
Thrust has been around on a variety of home computer systems for years, but this is the
game's first appearance on a dedicated video game system. The storyline has you in com-
mand of a small ship attempting to steal Klystron Pods from the Empire's storage planets.
This isn't easy, for the planet is heavily guarded and forti-
fied. Plus, you may have to do some expert piloting just to
get to where the Pod is stored. Be sure to pick up fuel as
you go, otherwise you'll run out and crash.
Once you reach the Pod, activate your tractor beam and
leave the planet's orbit for big points! But greater points
await those who can cause the planet's reactor to go critical
as they leave. Firing upon the reactor enough times will
cause a meltdown you have seconds to escape from.
The game reminds me of Gravitar in that you must fight the forces of gravity while trying to
complete your mission. However, with the added challenge of trying to sneak in, grab the pod,
and dart out before the planet goes ka-blooey, Thrust is an exciting addition to any 2600 fan's
library.
It may drive novices (like myself) up a wall until they get used to the controls and the effects of
gravity. And, once you get used to it, you'll get to contend with negative gravity. This is not a gem
that you'll get quickly bored with. This is a true "zone" game that will test you skills to their fullest.

Thrust is available at Hozer Video Games
www.netway.com/~hozervideo/

C Crazy Valet
Valet

razy
by Brian Prescott
by Brian Prescott

Platform: Atari 2600
Genre: Puzzle Game
Released: 2000

After spending your day watching the most incredible football game you've ever seen, you make your way back to the
parking garage and into a traffic jam-packed nightmare. Seems a parking attendant - miffed because HE didn't get tickets
for the game - has spent the entire day rearranging the vehicles in the lot in order to make it as difficult as possible for
everyone to leave.
That's where YOU come in.
The game is based on the Rush Hour-type puzzles where you must shift cars back and forth in an attempt to free the one car pointing towards the lot's exit.
However, as you move a vehicle out of the way, you may find it blocks other cars. Freeing up those cars may lock up others. As you can see, this is one of those
sliding block puzzles taken to an insanely convoluted level.
Brian Prescott has done an outstanding job bringing the addictive little puzzler to the Atari 2600. The controls are simple. Move the little "red light" from vehi-
cle to vehicle. Pressing the fire button turns the light green, enabling you to shift the highlighted car back and forth. Letting go of the button "parks" the car and
turns the cursor red again. The object is to clear a path for the one horizontal car in the third row.
There are 26 levels to the game - each increasingly tougher to unravel. When you first power-up the game, only the first three levels are available for play.
Solve Level 3, and Level 4 becomes available. Solve it, and Level 5 opens up. You may play the game for hours before you see the elusive higher levels. Sadly,
there is no save or password function, so turning off the Atari sends the game back to the first
three default levels. It's all or nothing from the moment you sit down. In the instructions, Brian
claims there's a special message upon completing Level 26. I'll have to take his word for it. (I'm
on Level 21 and holding...)
The game's icons consist of simple white boxes representing the various cars and trucks in
the lot. It would've been nice if the car you need to free was colored differently from the rest of
the vehicles. I sometimes found myself losing which one I was attempting to free. However,
when the car escapes its paved prison, there's a chirpy little "beep beep" car horn. I thought
this was a cute touch.
I'm a sucker for puzzle games, and Crazy Valet didn't disappoint. Those of you looking for
an action-packed arcade game might want to look elsewhere. But those of you looking to give
your brain a workout rather than your thumbs, will find this a satisfying diversion.

Brian has ordering instructions available on his website
http://web.tampabay.rr.com/bprescot/crazyvalet/

Classic Gamer Magazine Spring 2001 26