Operation Thunderbolt
Release Date  1989
Original Publisher  Ocean Software Ltd (UK)
Min. Hardware  ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K
Language  English
Genre  Arcade Game: Shoot-em-up
Max. Players  2 (Simultaneous)
Original Price  £9.99
Disk Price  £14.99
Features  AY Sound, Multi-loader in 48K mode
Controls  Interface 2 (left), Interface 2 (right), Kempston Joystick, Redefineable keys
Tie-in Licences  Operation Thunderbolt (Arcade coin-op) from Taito Corporation (Japan)
Other Platforms  Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64
Average mag. score  86.44% (9 reviews)
Martijn's WoS score  74.1% (51 votes)

Re-releases
     #1 - Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)(1989)
     * Release price: 1200.00 Ptas
     #2 - Musical 1 S.A. (Spain)(1989)
     #3 - The Hit Squad (UK)(1991)as "ARCADE COLLECTION 37: Operation Thunderbolt"
     * Release price: £3.99

Authors/Contributors
     Andrew P. Deakin (UK) - Code
     Ivan Horn (UK) - In-game Graphics
     STE - Load Screen
     Matthew Cannon (UK) - Music, Sound Effects
     Bob Wakelin - Inlay/Poster Art

Annual Awards
     1st Best Graphics - 1989 Crash Readers Awards.

Review Awards
     "Crash Smash"at Crashissue v.1 #71 - 1989/Decpage 62
     "Sinclair User Classic"at Sinclair Userissue #94 - 1990/Janpage 102
     "The Games Machine Star Player"at The Games Machineissue #25 - 1989/Decpage 86
     "Your Sinclair Megagame"at Your Sinclairissue #48 - 1989/Decpage 18
     "Your Sinclair Megagame"at Your Sinclairissue #73 - 1992/Janpage 84

Series "OperationWolf"
     1. Operation Wolf(1988)by Ocean Software Ltd (UK)
     2. Operation Thunderbolt(1989)by Ocean Software Ltd (UK)

Compilations
     Demo version inSinclair User issue 93: Megatape 22(1989/Dec)by Magazine Sinclair User - covertape from issue #93 - 1989/Dec
     Full version inA Toda Maquina II(1990)by Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)
     Full version inArcadia(1989)by Ocean Software Ltd (UK)

Main File Downloads
     FilenameReleaseMachineSchemeLanguageComments
OperationThunderbolt.tap.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(???)English
OperationThunderbolt.tzx.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(None)English
OperationThunderbolt_2.tzx.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(None)English
 OperationThunderbolt.dsk.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 128 +3(None)English
 OperationThunderbolt(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).tap.zip#1ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(Unspecified custom loader)English
 OperationThunderbolt(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).tzx.zip#1ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(Unspecified custom loader)English
 OperationThunderbolt(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).dsk.zip#1ZX-Spectrum 128 +3(None)English
 OperationThunderbolt(Musical1S.A.).tzx.zip#2ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(Unspecified custom loader)English
OperationThunderbolt(TheHitSquad).tzx.zip#3ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(None)English

Additional File Downloads
     FilenameSizeReleaseTypeLanguageComments
     OperationThunderbolt.scr6,912OriginalLoading screen
     OperationThunderbolt.gif6,212OriginalRunning screen
     OperationThunderbolt_Front.jpg246,252OriginalInlay - Front
     OperationThunderbolt_Back.jpg313,080OriginalInlay - Back
     OperationThunderbolt.ay.zip3,878OriginalRipped in-game/theme music in AY format
     OperationThunderbolt.txt5,914OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     OperationThunderbolt(EN).pdf123,902OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     OperationThunderbolt.png90,498OriginalGame map
     OperationThunderbolt.jpg329,881OriginalAdvertisement
     opthunder.zip0OriginalRZX playback file - Recorded by xmikex and Jamie Angus (with rollback)
     Operation Thunderbolt (1989)(Ocean Software).pok265OriginalPOK pokes file
     OperationThunderbolt(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).jpg472,398#1Inlay - Front
     OperationThunderbolt(ErbeSoftwareS.A.)_2.jpg65,495#1Inlay - Front
     OperationThunderbolt(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).pdf15,862#1InstructionsSpanish
     OperationThunderbolt(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).txt7,937#1InstructionsSpanish
     OperationThunderbolt(HitSquad).jpg366,087#3Inlay - Front
     OperationThunderbolt(HitSquad)_Back.jpg308,442#3Inlay - Back

Magazine Reviews
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #29-1990/Febpage 48- Review: 805/1000
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #30-1990/Marpage 53- Review: 725/1000
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #98-1990/Janpage 100- Review: 80%
     Crashissue v.1 #71-1989/Decpage 62- Review: 91%
     FIFOissue #9-1991page 22- Review
     MicroHobbyissue #195-1990/Janpage 37- Review - Nuevo
     Sinclair Userissue #94-1990/Janpage 102- Review: 92%
     Sinclair Userissue #119-1992/Janpage 41- Review: 88%
     The Games Machineissue #25-1989/Decpage 86- Review: 91%
     Your Sinclairissue #48-1989/Decpage 18- Review: 93%
     Your Sinclairissue #73-1992/Janpage 84- Review: 90%

Magazine References
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #27-1989/Decpage 135- Feature - Xmas '89
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #32-1990/Maypage 110- Feature - Hot Off The Shelves
     BiTissue #2-1991/Novpage 25- Tips
     BiTissue #3-1991/Decpage 25- Tips
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #94-1989/Seppage 109- Preview
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #96-1989/Novpage 122- Preview
     Crashissue v.1 #70-1989/Novpage 25- Preview
     Crashissue v.1 #71-1989/Decpage 29- CompoEntry
     Crashissue v.1 #73-1990/Febpage 22- CompoResult
     Crashissue v.1 #73-1990/Febpage 30- Tips
     Crashissue v.1 #73-1990/Febpage 34- Hack/Poke
     Crashissue v.1 #75-1990/Aprpage 25- Feature - Crash Readers Awards
     Crashissue v.1 #75-1990/Aprpage 35- Tips
     Crashissue v.1 #90-1991/Julpage 26- Hack/Poke
     FIFOissue #15-1992/Junpage 35- Tips
     MicroHobbyissue #195-1990/Janpage 12- Feature - Justicieros
     MicroHobbyissue #209-1991/Aprpage 64- Tips - Tokes
     New Computer Expressissue #144-1991/Aug/10page 22- Hack/Poke
     Sinclair Userissue #92-1989/Novpage 98- Preview
     Sinclair Userissue #93-1989/Decpage 6- CoverGame
     Sinclair Userissue #104-1990/Octpage 16- Tips
     Sinclair Userissue #105-1990/Novpage 14- Tips
     Sinclair Userissue #111-1991/Maypage 16- Tips
     Sinclair Userissue #112-1991/Junpage 21- Tips
     Sinclair Userissue #118-1991/Decpage 19- Tips
     Sinclair Userissue #127-1992/Seppage 15- Tips
     Your Sinclairissue #46-1989/Octpage 96- Preview
     Your Sinclairissue #47-1989/Novpage 50- Preview
     Your Sinclairissue #48-1989/Decpage 29- CompoEntry
     Your Sinclairissue #52-1990/Aprpage 36- Hack/Poke
     Your Sinclairissue #56-1990/Augpage 21- Feature - Complete Guide to Shoot-em-ups
     Your Sinclairissue #60-1990/Decpage 66- CompoResult

Magazine Advertisements
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #27-1989/Decpage 66- Two-page ad
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #29-1990/Febpage 3- Advert
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #29-1990/Febpage 79- Advert
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #30-1990/Marpage 47- Advert
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #30-1990/Marpage 67- Advert
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #31-1990/Aprpage 3- Advert
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #31-1990/Aprpage 67- Advert
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #33-1990/Junpage 2- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #96-1989/Novpage 72- Two-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #97-1989/Decpage 74- Two-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #98-1990/Janpage 2- Two-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #99-1990/Febpage 58- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #100-1990/Marpage 3- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #101-1990/Aprpage 115- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #102-1990/Maypage 114- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #103-1990/Junpage 114- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #119-1991/Octpage 103- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Crashissue v.1 #71-1989/Decpage 2- Two-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #73-1990/Febpage 52- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #75-1990/Aprpage 3- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #95-1992/Janpage 24- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Crashissue v.1 #96-1992/Febpage 51- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Sinclair Userissue #92-1989/Novpage 42- Two-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #94-1990/Janpage 2- Two-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #96-1990/Marpage 3- Advert
     Sinclair Userissue #100-1990/Junpage 2- Advert
     Sinclair Userissue #117-1991/Novpage 11- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Sinclair Userissue #118-1991/Decpage 20- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Sinclair Userissue #119-1992/Janpage 29- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Sinclair Userissue #120-1992/Febpage 9- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     The Games Machineissue #25-1989/Decpage 98- Two-page ad
     The Games Machineissue #27-1990/Febpage 99- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #48-1989/Decpage 12- Two-page ad
     Your Sinclairissue #49-1990/Janpage 12- Two-page ad
     Your Sinclairissue #50-1990/Febpage 100- Full-page ad
     Your Sinclairissue #51-1990/Marpage 3- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #53-1990/Maypage 2- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #71-1991/Novpage 64- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Your Sinclairissue #72-1991/Decpage 34- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Your Sinclairissue #73-1992/Janpage 61- Advert - The Hit Squad advert

Links
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