Home /
ColecoVision

Thexder

ColecoVision

ColecoVision

The private war of a lone space soldier is about to begin! No one on Earth knows from what sector of our galaxy the deadly alien drone armies came from. Only one thing is certain: They are bent on our destruction. As the pilot of an advanced Hyper Dual Armor mech, you were part of a squadron on ...

Download

0/5 Votes: 0

Report

Developer
Team Pixelboy

Released on
2012

Size
1 Player

Version
ColecoVision

Requirements
ColecoVision

Downloads
Shooter

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Report this app

Images

Description

The private war of a lone space soldier is about to begin!

No one on Earth knows from what sector of our galaxy the deadly alien drone armies came from. Only one thing is certain: They are bent on our destruction. As the pilot of an advanced Hyper Dual Armor mech, you were part of a squadron on a mission to penetrate the enemy’s central computer base and destroy it. The base was heavily fortified, and your squadron was decimated, except for you. You are now trapped, alone, inside the computer complex and must traverse 10 levels against merciless automated defense systems, in an almost hopeless effort to complete your mission.

While the battle rages on outside, in the deadly vacuum of space, you are about to begin your own private battle, the outcome of which may very well turn the tide of this interplanetary war!

This is a homebrew port to the Coleco platform by Team Pixelboy based on the original 1985 Thexder release by Game Arts.

Thexder

Overview & History

Originally developed by Game Arts for Japanese personal computers, *Thexder* was later brought to the United States and adapted for the ColecoVision. Released during an era when arcade ports and complex sci-fi shooters dominated the market, this port attempted to capture the ambitious transformation mechanics of the original 16-bit design on constrained hardware. The storyline casts the player as the pilot of an advanced experimental mech—the A-C01 "Thexder"—navigating the treacherous, bio-mechanical subterranean labyrhet of the planet Tantallon. Your mission is to infiltrate the mainframe of a rogue central computer that has gone haywire, turning its automated defense systems and alien lifeforms violently against humanity. While the ColecoVision port had to scale back some of the sprawling visual fidelity of the Japanese PC-8801 release, it successfully retained the frantic pacing, resource management, and tense underground exploration that made the property a cult classic.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core gameplay revolves around navigating labyrinthine tunnels filled with hostile turrets, floating alien drones, and sprawling energy barriers. The standout mechanic is the Thexder's ability to seamlessly transform between a bipedal humanoid robot and a streamlined jet fighter at the press of a button. In jet mode, you can fly through open caverns and bypass tight vertical shafts, while mech mode is essential for precise ground-level navigation, ducking enemy fire, and positioning yourself for accurate offensive strikes. Offensively, the Thexder is equipped with a lock-on laser that automatically targets the nearest enemy, eliminating the need for pixel-perfect manual aiming in the chaotic heat of battle. However, this power is tied directly to your shield energy pool—which also doubles as your health bar. Firing continuously or taking enemy hits drains your vital reserves, forcing a constant strategic balancing act between aggressive combat and cautious energy preservation. Hidden power-ups scattered throughout the maze can replenish your shield or upgrade your firepower, rewarding thorough exploration of every dark corner.