Operation Thunderbolt
---------------------

This needs the LEVEL_LOADER thingy in xzx. It should also work with
Z80 v3 or better.

This is absolutely the best shooting-gallery game ever, and anyone who
disagrees is wrong. :-) Better still, it runs brilliantly on xzx. You
can occasionally get a one- or two-pixel glitch in the centre of the
screen on horizontal-scrolling levels, but apart from that it's great.

I've taken the snapshot just after the first screen, as it makes you wait
for a fixed (long-ish) amount of time on that screen. The first screen
reads:

			     OPERATION THUNDERBOLT
			
			             NOTE:
			
			  1. USE T, Y AND U TO PAUSE.
			
			  2. ON A TWO JOYSTICK GAME
			  PLAYER 1 USES DEFINED KEY
			  FOR GRENADE AND PLAYER 2
			  USES THE ENTER KEY.
			
			(C) 1989 OCEAN  (C) 1989 TAITO

If you're playing without any sound, you may notice that you have to press a
key twice on the main menu screen before it'll work. This is because the
first keypress stops the music, while the second actually does something.
It's the same with sound support, of course, I'm just presuming you'd notice
it then. :-)

My hint is: play it two-player if you can. A lot more fun. As an added
bonus, you get to fight over who gets the extra bullets etc. ;)

The file thdr_ttl.gif is a GIF of the loading screen.

Have fun,
- Russell Marks (mr216@gre.ac.uk).



Here's a transcription of the tape inlay:


OPERATION THUNDERBOLT

ROY ADAMS IS BACK!

Get the laser sight, or the bulletproof vest, but watch out for those
air-to-ground missiles!

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR MISSION.

LOADING

48K - Type LOAD "" (ENTER).

Each level will load separately - follow on screen instructions. Data is on
side B of the tape.

128K - USE LOADER

The first five levels load in one part, and the remaining levels are loaded
as required - follow the on screen instructions.

CONTROLS

This is a one or two player game which is controlled by either Joystick or
Keyboard which is fully redefinable.
(All usual Spectrum joysticks).

PRE-SET KEYS

Q	UP
A	DOWN
O	LEFT
P	RIGHT
SPACE	FIRE

KEYS FOR KEYBOARD AND JOYSTICK

T	PAUSE GAME
R	FIRE ROCKET
ENTER	FIRE ROCKET - PLAYER 2 WHEN NOT USING KEYBOARD
F	START PLAYER 1
G	START PLAYER 2
EITHER PLAYER MAY JOIN THE GAME AT ANY TIME.

STATUS AND SCORING

The Status Panel displays your Score, Life remaining, number of bullets
remaining, number of magazines remaining, and the number of rockets
remaining for either one or both players. Also shown are items held by
either player. The item on the left is the bulletproof vest (if collected)
and the item on the right is the Laser Sight (if collected). When either
player's life level reaches zero then he will die but can restart by
pressing his "player start" button. When both players' energy is zero there
will be a continue play option.

Points are achieved by shooting enemies. At the end of the game, if
successfully completed, points are awarded for the number of hostages
rescued and the life level remaining.

GAMEPLAY

The player, equipped with sub-machine guns and rockets must shoot all the
enemies who appear on screen. Remember that your energy and ammunition are
limited, and these can only be replenished by picking up objects such as
magazines and power bottles that appear on screen or those parachuted down
in crates.

HINTS AND TIPS

1. Pick all objects that fall from the top of the screen by shooting them.
These include magazines, power bottles, medical packs, bulletproof vests and
laser sights. Animals if shot, will sometimes drop these items.

2. Try not to spray your opponents with bullets as your ammunition is
limited. Pick your targets carefully. [This is not usually difficult. In one
of the later levels, aim at a random point onscreen and shoot. You will hit
a bad guy. :)]

3. Destroy the heavy vehicles before the soldiers as they inflict more
damage.

4. If you are overwhelmed by soldiers and your energy is low, use your
grenades.

(C) 1988 Taito Corp. All rights reserved.
(C) 1989 Ocean Software Limited.
The Hit Squad,
P.O. Box 350,
Manchester.
M60 2LX