Classic Game Review: Mind Thrust 1981

BOOST MIND it is a game played between you and the computer. The goals are simple:

1.) To remove all opposing game pieces, or

2.) Be the first to create a continuous chain of your pieces across the board.

The game consists of alternating turns during which one can add a piece or attack adjoining opposing pieces. The opponent can defend against an attack. Contention arises from correctly choosing which enemy pieces to attack or which of your own pieces to defend. A successful defense is just as important as a successful attack, but is made more difficult by rules that make the allowed defense points less than the available attack points. MIND THRUST gives you two options at the beginning of the game.

You can choose which side of the board you prefer and whether you want to start first or let the computer do it. The first option is of little importance. The second is much more significant. My experience was that if I started, I almost always won, but it was a very different story when the computer started the play. We were pretty well matched when “She” first started.

An interesting feature, which allows for a rescue if the going gets tough, is the ability to switch sides at any point in the game and as many times as you like. The rules called it ‘legalized cheating’. It may seem like a panacea, but fortunately it is not.

The reproduction of this article was made on a TRS-80 Mod III 16K unit. Tape support was good, but Mod III users will note that the two-star tape loading signal is not two stars. While the one on the right does what is expected, the asterisk on the left becomes a rapidly changing sequence of characters.

Además, en el tablero, donde aparecería una flecha hacia arriba en la pantalla de un Mod I, se convierte en un símbolo de paréntesis inicial ([)ensupantallaEstonocausaningúnproblemaElprogramaensímismoestámuybienhechosemuevemuybiendicelocorrectoenelmomentocorrectoybrindaunfinallimpioyagradablecuandoeligenocontinuarjugandoalregresarauniniciopredeterminadoparaquesumáquinaestélistaparacontinuaralgonuevo[)onyourscreenThiscausesnoproblemTheprograminitselfisverywelldoneitmovesnicelysaystherightthingattherighttimeandgivesanicecleanendingwhenyouchoosenottocontinueplaybyreturningyoutoadefaultstartsoyourmachineisreadytogotosomethingnew[)ensupantallaEstonocausaningúnproblemaElprogramaensímismoestámuybienhechosemuevemuybiendicelocorrectoenelmomentocorrectoybrindaunfinallimpioyagradablecuandoeligenocontinuarjugandoalregresarauniniciopredeterminadoparaquesumáquinaestélistaparacontinuaralgonuevo[)onyourscreenThiscausesnoproblemTheprograminitselfisverywelldoneitmovesnicelysaystherightthingattherighttimeandgivesanicecleanendingwhenyouchoosenottocontinueplaybyreturningyoutoadefaultstartsoyourmachineisreadytogotosomethingnew

The rules and gameplay of MIND THRUST are easily and quickly learned, making it a great home demo game to make believers out of non-computer buffs. The information booklet is very well done and the packaging is excellent. I look forward to purchasing additional items from this manufacturer.

My rating for this game is 2.8 out of 5.