Destroyer (video game)
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Products | Naval warfare simulation video game |
| Owner | Epyx |
Destroyer is a naval warfare simulation video game released by Epyx in 1986, available on platforms including the Amiga, Apple II, Commodore 64, and IBM PC compatible systems.
Gameplay
In Destroyer, players assume the role of a captain commanding a in the Pacific theater during World War II. The gameplay involves various maritime missions such as tracking down submarines, launching torpedo attacks on enemy vessels, repelling aerial assaults, bombarding island targets, conducting rescue operations for allied forces, and escorting supply ships through dangerous waters.
The interface supports both joystick and keyboard inputs to navigate between different ship control stations:
- Bridge – Manages alerts and automated maneuvers like chasing or evading enemies
- Navigation – Displays a sea chart for course plotting
- Observation Deck – Provides a full 360-degree view of the ocean
- Radar – Detects incoming enemy aircraft
- Sonar – Locates hostile submarines
- Guns Forward/Aft – Operates long-range artillery against ships and land targets
- Anti-Aircraft Guns Port/Starboard – Protects against air threats
- Torpedoes Port/Starboard – Launches torpedoes at enemy ships
- Depth Charges – Used to combat submarines
- Damage Control – Tracks ship condition and system status
Within each screen, joystick controls allow actions such as steering and weapon firing. Only one station can be active at a time, while a status ticker delivers real-time information like enemy contacts. Missions progress continuously, requiring players to strategically switch between stations.
Enemy fire can disable certain stations or impair their functions. Damage may inhibit weapon operation or cause navigation issues, potentially resulting in loss of control over the vessel. Repairs happen automatically over time without player intervention. Some armaments, such as anti-aircraft guns, may overheat if used excessively, temporarily rendering them inoperative. If the ship sustains critical damage or runs aground, the mission ends in failure due to sinking. Players also have the option to abandon ship, which similarly concludes the mission.
Reception
In 1987, Computer Gaming World commended Destroyer as "an excellent naval simulation [that] doesn't require a vast background in war games ... anyone who has ever played computer games and won at chess should have a ball". However, a 1991 review of strategy and war titles rated it two and a half stars out of five, criticizing the lack of depth in documentation and scenarios. A 1993 wargame survey assigned it two stars out of five. Meanwhile, Compute! praised the game for effectively combining strategic planning with arcade-style gameplay alongside impressive visuals.