Previous Next

Alien forces are polluting the Earth's oceans, causing its flora and fauna to mutate into terrible and deadly creatures. The sole resistance to their dastardly plot is the Aquanaut, the world's most technologically advanced submarine.

The undersea terrain scrolls horizontally from right to left, the distance covered being registered in a status display. This also displays the score and high score, damage sustained and torpedo status.

Aliens encountered include marauding electric eels, killer fish and deadly seaweed. Additional hazards come from Navy depth charges, air bubbles from exploding creatures and projectiles launched by the underwater denizens. Should the damage meter reach maximum, the game ends.

Don't be misled by the main sprite's resemblance to Sixties super-sub, Stingray - the adventures that submersible had were far more exciting than anything that happens in Aquanaut. The gameplay is so invariant that it soon becomes an exercise in pressing the fire button as fast as possible, and attempts to dodge many of the creatures are in vain because they are in such abundance.

Though the undersea backdrops are, on the whole reasonable, some of the sprites exhibit terrible flickering. Nothing in the game reaches a high enough standard to urge me to recommend it, so I won't.

Although it's not brilliant, Aquanaut does hold some attractions. The sound effects consist of whistles and bubbly squeaks which are appropriate if not astounding. Graphically it's average, with colourful and diverse backgrounds let down by pretty unimaginative (and occasionally flickery) sprites. The gameplay is standard shoot 'em up fodder: waves of aliens and a blaster to obliterate them - no marks for originality, and no frills to spice up the action. If you haven't got many games of this type, it could be worth a look; otherwise forget it.

Presentation 68%
Demonstration mode, high-score table and decent inertia control method, but the instructions are poor.

Graphics 67%
Varied and colourful backdrops marred by unimaginative and flickery sprites.

Sound 42%
Unusual subaquatic bubble 'n' squeak sounds.

Hookability 59%
Initially interesting for the altered scenario and decent backdrops.

Lastability 32%
The unoriginal and uninspiring action soon loses its appeal.

Overall 43%
Yet another reasonable but unspectacular budget shoot-'em-up.