The Hunt for Red October
System: NES
Release Date: January 1991
Developer: Beam Software
Publisher: Hi Tech Expressions
Genre: Shoot ‘em Up
Evade the Soviet fleet and defect to the US in The Hunt for Red October! It’s 1984 and as the captain of the new Soviet submarine Red October, you would like to defect to the US. This Typhoon class nuclear submarine is equipped with a new caterpillar drive, rendering it virtually undetectable to enemy sonar. The Soviets don’t like the idea of defection and are going to throw everything they have to stop you.
This is a side scrolling shoot ‘em up and it’s bad. You have the ability to shoot torpedoes horizontally with the A Button and vertically with the B Button. As you surface and dive, you can change the angle of your shot, which you will need to do. There are icons scattered throughout the stage to replenish and upgrade your missiles and torpedoes. The missiles increase in range and then add homing capabilities as you power them up.
Pressing the Select Button activates the Caterpillar drive, which allows you to avoid enemy fire for a short time. You only have a limited amount of time to use the caterpillar drive before running out. C icons will replenish some of this time. If there are a large number of enemy missiles on the screen, you will want to use your electronic counter-measures by pressing the A and B Buttons simultaneously.
Levels are full of trial and error. After a short time, you should be able to get through the level without much trouble. There are depth charges, enemy subs, missiles that rain from above. Pneumatic crushers, falling ice, and moving walls are among the obstacles you need to avoid.
At the end of the level is a boss. The first level is a wall you need to punch a hole in while getting an unending barrage of missiles getting shot at you. The second level has a giant sub that keeps spawning smaller subs that drop you with homing missiles. These homing missiles are a pain in the butt to avoid, as they just don’t stop. I tried for awhile and then got irritated at a pretty crappy game and quit.
Graphics: 1.0
I can tell things apart and that’s all I can give it.
Sound: 0.5
That music is droning and draining.
Gameplay: 1.0
You can shoot up and ahead. Being able to jam heat seeking is nice, but you run out of power too quickly.
Difficulty: 0.5
The torpedo limit is total BS. The enemies that appear behind you and shoot heat seeking missiles are also BS.
Fun Factor: 0.5
Oh God, I wasted over a half hour of my life on this when I could have been sleeping.
Overall Rating: 0.7
The Hunt for Red October earns a D-. This game sucks. Can Beam Software do anything right? I don’t think so.