688 Attack Sub
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | John W. Ratcliff, Paul Grace |
| Products | 688 Attack Sub |
| Parent | Electronic Arts, MicroProse (Sega Genesis version) |
688 Attack Sub is a submarine simulator game created by John W. Ratcliff and Paul Grace, released by Electronic Arts initially for MS-DOS in 1989 and subsequently for the Amiga platform in 1990. In 1991, a version for the Sega Genesis was developed by MicroProse and published by Sega.
The gameplay involves commanding a nuclear-powered attack submarine from either the US or Soviet fleets through ten missions themed around Cold War tensions and speculative global conflicts. The American submarine is equipped with superior electronic systems and weaponry, whereas the Soviet vessel offers greater sustained speed but is outfitted with fewer weapons. The title also features a two-player mode enabling competition via modem or null modem connection.
Following this release, Ratcliff and Grace developed SSN-21 Seawolf, which debuted in 1994.
Reception
In 1989, Computer Gaming World commended the IBM PC edition as an entertaining experience rather than a pure simulation, considering it a strong candidate for "Game of the Year". However, subsequent evaluations in 1992 and 1994 assigned it two out of five stars, noting that its gameplay resembled World War II submarine tactics more than contemporary naval strategy and criticizing its emphasis on periscope targeting.[1] Compute! recognized 688 Attack Sub among "nine great games for 1989", praising its fast-paced gameplay and multiplayer modem capability, though mentioning the limited mission count.[2][3]
Mike Siggins from Games International rated the title 7 out of 10, acknowledging the distinctive subject but suggesting that expanded content would enhance future versions.[4]
Further reading
- Jeux & Stratégie #59
External links
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCGW - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedgutman198907 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedsheffield198908 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedgi15