Trailblazer
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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Description 

Trailblazer is a "futuristic" arcade racing game, where you "roll" throught the different courses as fast as possible. The ball is controlled directly by joystick. Joystick forward speeds up, joystick backwards slows down. With the fire button one can jump independently from the field colours, the distance reached depends on the speed. After every third course there is a bonus level, where you have to jump a given combination of fields. 
 In the Arcade mode you have to run all 20 "tracks", whereby the time that is left is added to the points and to the time limit of the next track. Also the jumps not used are (partially) added to the 7 jumps per course. So you have a maximum of 9 jumps and 99,99 seconds to race a single course and a minimum time given in section Solution and 7 jumps. The Arcade mode can be played alone or with 2 players. 
 In the Trial mode you can train the single tracks. 
 In the Match mode, you can play three chosen courses against a player or the computer-controlled "Robot". In this mode, there is no warp mode but therefore you have 99 seconds for each track and an unlimited number of jumps. 

The screen is split in two, the track scrolls as isometric "chess board" towards the player, different field colours have different effects, the background is a black "space" with twinkling starts. 

 Controls 

in the game 
 /  = ball rolls faster/slower 
 / = steer ball left/right 
 = ball jumps 
 hold = ball jumps higher 

in the options menu 
 / to choose 
 to confirm 
 /  only possible with track selections signs to choose the tracks. 

 Options menu 

The desired game mode is chosen by joystick right/left, the level selection (letters) by joystick up/down. 

 Game versions 

1 Player Arcade 
 You have only 7 jumps per track (display at the upper right). You play until you fail to run a track within the given time. The time that you do not need for one track, is added to the time in the next track. You start with track A, then track B and so on. Every three courses there is a bonus game. The aim is to get through all levels before the time is over. 

2 Player Arcade 
 Same as 1 Player Arcade but with two players simultaneously. 

1 Player Trial 
 For practice. The track can be chosen by the first letter of the track selections sign. 

2 Player Match 
 You can select three tracks with the three letters of the track selection sign. The times of the three tracks of each player are added at the end. The player with less time for all tracks wins. You have an unlimited number of jumps. 

 Field colours 
 grey = time does not run (only "between" the levels) 
 brown/orange = normal 
 black = hole 
 red = slower 
 green = faster 
 blue = jump (without fire button, is not subtracted from the maximum) 
 purple = block 
 cyan = right/left is swapped 
 white = warp mode (works only in the Arcade modes! Otherweis is like brown/orange without effect) 

 Bonus level 

You see a field with the size of 5 x 3 squares and behind that the ball. After pressing the fire button the ball jumps onto a few squares. Remember these squares, as you have to jump the same squares with the ball now. For each movement of the ball you need one joystick movement. Place the ball on the square of which you think was the first one where the ball was placed in the sequence shown before and press the fire button. Then place it on the second square and press the fire button and so on. You need to do this until all squares have been jumped in the correct order. But watch the time limit. 

 Solution 

Table 
 The following table shows the given time and the multiplicator for the time bonus for each level. Level / Name 	Time 	Bonus 
A 	Easy Going 	30 s 	x1 
B 	Wolly Jumper 	30 s 	x1 
C 	Get In Lane 	30 s 	x1 
"Bonus Game" 
D 	Meet The Cyan Zone 	30 s 	x2 
E 	Jumps Galore 	30 s 	x2 
F 	Change Lane Now 	30 s 	x2 
"Bonus Game 2" 
G 	Return Of The Cyan Zone 	30 s 	x2 
H 	Meet The Nasty Zone 	30 s 	x3 
 I 	Bouncy Bouncy 	30 s 	x3 
J 	Look Where Youre Going 	30 s 	x3 
"Bonus Game 3" 
K 	Revenge Of The Cyan Zone 	30 s 	x3 
L 	Keep On Moving 	30 s 	x3 
M 	Patchwork Quilt 	25 s 	x4 
N 	Keep on Hopping 	30 s 	x4 
"Bonus Game 4" 
O 	Return Of The Nasty Zone 	25 s 	x4 
P 	Combination One 	50 s 	x4 
Q 	Totally Random 	25 s 	x4 
R 	Multicolour Mania 	30 s 	x4 
S 	Follow The Signs 	25 s 	x5 
"Bonus Game" 
T 	Cyan Strikes Again 	30 s 	x5 
U 	The Last Course 	40 s 	x9 

Tips 

 Always roll exactly on the line between the fields, so you need less time to avoid. 
 Annoy your enemy by pushing his ball from the track or into a hole. 

 Cheats 
 Press Z  + X  + C  (not tested) 
 Poke 29738,234 ; Poke 29739,234 ; Poke 30889,234 ; Poke 30890,234 ; Poke 30891,234 (not tested) 
 
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Description from the packaging:

The fastest, wildest, craziest, strangest race you'll ever enter!
The speed is terrific as you blaze down the trail of the hyperspatial color grid. Your opponent is left in a cloud of dust as you effortlessly leap over black holes, purple walls, blue bouncers, and even the terrible cyan nasty zone. You imagine your adoring fans crowding around you... oh no! You missed the edge! As you plummet into the blackness you see your opponent streak by to the finish line. You limp on in, vowing to retake the lead in the next race... where things are going to get really weird!
Enter the bizarre dimension of Trailblazer. A world of sentient soccer ball races through hyperspace networks of ever-changing color grids. This unique one or two player split-screen race game is unlike anything you've ever seen before. Are you smart enough, fast enough, cool enough, and strange enough to have what it takes to be a real Trailblazer?

Featuring:
High speed action.
Graphics and sound that push your computer to the limit.
Split screen point of view play.
20 Fixed courses and a random option.
5 Play modes including 1 and 2 player arcade, race, and trial modes, plus a devilish computer opponent.


http://www.c64-wiki.com/index.php/Trailblazer
