- This guide is for the 1990 Alternative Software game. For the 1993 THQ game, see Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (1993).
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is an action game, that was developed by Enigma Variations for Alternative Software and released upon the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 in 1990; it is based on the British children's television series of the same name, itself an adaptation of The Railway Series books by the Reverend W. V. Awdry (1911-1997), and was later redeveloped for the Commodore Amiga, Atari ST and MS-DOS by PeakStar Software in 1992. The 8-bit versions are infamous for being impossible to complete on "normal" difficulty due to the placement of rocks on the tracks being randomly-generated, Thomas' so-called "friends" whom, in the '90 versions, were limited to Duck and Diesel appearing at varying points, and Thomas himself derailing if he tries to turn a corner at a high speed - and going back two screens each time he got "repaired" did not help.
Story
This is from the back of the cassette's inlay card, the front of which is shown in the image to the right:
This is the first of games based on Thomas the Tank Engine, and was followed up by three sequels: Thomas the Tank Engine 2 (Commodore Amiga, 1993), Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (1993) (SNES/Sega Genesis, 1993) and Thomas the Tank Engine Pinball (Commodore Amiga CD32, 1995). An NES version of the third game, which was developed and published by THQ instead of Alternative, was also planned, but was never released, possibly because that console was too dated by that time.
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ZX Spectrum title screen.
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ZX Spectrum gameplay.
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Amstrad CPC title screen
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Amstrad CPC gameplay.
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C64 version's title screen
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C64 version's screenshot
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The C-Amiga title screen.
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The C-Amiga screenshot.
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C-Amiga memory game.
Table of Contents
- Kikansha Thomas ni Notte
- Kikansha Thomas to Nakama-tachi
- Kikansha Thomas
- Oshaberi Oekaki Kikansha Thomas to Nakama-tachi
- Issho ni Hashirou Kikansha Thomas
- Game ga Ippai Kikansha Thomas
- Kikansha Thomas to Nakama-tachi (2006)
- Kikansha Thomas: Kokugo Sansuu Eigo
- Kikansha Thomas DS de Hajimeru Chiiku Gakushuu
- Chara Pasha! Kikansha Thomas
- Thomas to Asonde Oboeru Kotoba to Kazu to ABC
- Tetsudou Nippon! Rosen Tabi: Kikansha Thomas-hen Oigawa Tetsudou!