History of a series of games on that Clancy. Chapter 1: “Red October” goes on the attack

In 1984, the “Red October” hunting was released, which became the founder of the technological genre and the future adventures of Jack Ryan. Sales were high, and in 1990 a film adaptation was released, which is now a reference "Cranberry" with evil Soviet Soliders and good American Boys. Such success did not allow some developers to sleep tightly. We will consider the first games of our list only according to the main versions, t. To. Ports in addition to graphic changes did not bring anything new.

We finished the preludes, so let’s start with ..

1987 – first book

Oxford Digital Enterprise, which among the more or less famous assets had a very strange game about Spider-Man, became the first studio in ours on a long list. Before the "hunt" they were mainly engaged in the adaptation of the family TV show "Trivia Pursuit" (before the sale of the studio in 1993, they made 5 versions of this game).

The project itself has become an order from the British publishing house Argus Press. For the studio, this was the first experience in creating combat simulators, thanks to which they will later make 3 more games in this genre, but already about ground equipment.

Now let’s talk about the game. For its time it was a classic simulator of something. The player in the role of the captain of the submarine must secretly get to the point of Randev with the allies in the person of the Americans. To do this, you have to: build a march march; regulate the speed of the vessel and the depth of immersion; conduct reconnaissance through Sonar, radio interceptor or periscope with a night vision regime; Filigree to calculate shots with torpedoes and evade enemy attacks during the fighting and t. D.

The interface is made as convenient as possible to control the mouse, which is pleasant. However, without a manual, dealing with devices will be very difficult. No chase here even smells, t. To. The gameplay is more like real military exercises (which sounds the most ironic in the context of the plot of the original). The player for a long time can calmly swim and, with proper skills, never shoot at someone, and this is not particularly encouraged. And the only connection with books in addition to the goal of the game is the sabotage of the performance of silent “caterpillars” on the 6th day of swimming

The main map is the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea

It is very difficult to understand what is happening right away

I see no sense to discuss the schedule due to the age of the game. But the sounds … The anthem of the Soviet Union in the main menu is certainly cool, but when during the game you hear the local motor sound – this is something. This can be compared with the sounds of a neighbor’s drill at 5 in the morning, since this function can be disabled.

There is a small collection https://kingcasino-online.co.uk/bonus/ of very poorly looking cards with very poorly looking ships and one submarine.

There is a small collection of very poorly looking cards with very poorly looking ships and one submarine.

The game was accepted very warmly. The American game magazine Computer Gaming World greatly appreciated the simulator, noting the artificial intelligence of enemies and high realism.

In general, this is a great simulation of the conflict on submarines. None of the two games will be like each other, because the tips are changing strategy and tactics in each game. This is a worthy addition to the library of any wargage.

Computer Gaming World in the release of June 1988

Here is the Game Over screen, but there are others. According to the results of a few hours, I failed to escape from the Soviet Union.

My personal result is too young for such games. This is a good product, but made for your time. Now it will be very difficult to pass this without serious intentions and steel nerves.

1990 – one for PC ..

Argus Press Software was satisfied with the success of the simulator and by the beginning of the new decade they again stood at the steering wheel of game adaptations. After buying out in 1987 and changing the name on Grandslam Interactive, the publisher hires another small studio – Image Software, which at that time had an adaptation of the second “back to the future” for the DOS system.

To cover a larger audience, it was decided to make the game in the Arcade genre. Now the player was taken under the management of the CIA agent Jack Ryan, who is trying to save the submarine from destruction. It is worth noting the first and most important difference – division into game sections. In the first case, you are engaged in various tasks: you are landing from a helicopter, on a small vessel, trying to take a shaze with the Red October, arrange a shootout with a traitor. It is worth noting that the player has a limited number of lives here. Yes, this is the type of game.

Other sections are underwater levels on the submarine itself. In the worst traditions of games on NES, this type of level made me yell with good obscenities. Here you need to perfectly swim between mines, stones and missiles launched from the surface, because otherwise you lose your life again. The submarine has a small margin of safety, but does not smooth out the situation, t. To. The inertia is very high. Such experience of the game can be compared with the very level of the first “ninja turtles” for the same NES where you need to cleanse bombs for a while.

My personal result – well. Despite the good schedule, the project turned out frankly bad. High complexity and non -grain simply kills a desire to play in it.

… and the second for the consoles

Simultaneously with the PC game, several versions for prefixes from Nintendo were released. The publisher in the person of Hi-Tech Impressions for this has accurately two studios: the version for NES and Game Boy was working out Beam Software, which in 1997 will create a Krush Kill ‘N’ Destroy (KKND) strategies, and for SNES-Ridel Software Productions aka Future Running with Scissors, creators of Postal. The playing industry of the early 90s was a rather close place.

Let’s start with general features. Remember the fact that underwater levels on old consoles are a real evil? So – both versions Almost completely consists of passing such levels. This time, the developers made a slope towards many SCROLL ShOOTER genre already forgotten for many: a view, many opponents, small obstacles, shells flying from all sides and a decent arsenal of weapons. The player will also have to control the submarine and cut through the enemies, the environment, the inertia of management and, sometimes, the bosses.

Now let’s talk about the differences. The version for NES possessed several unusual chips: full-fledged KAT scenes, destroyed environment and a unique final mission. "October" has only two types of homing shells: ordinary and reinforced. Various bonuses are scattered on the maps that help to live much longer, plus the ship itself can use caterpillars to obtain temporary invulnerability. However, it is necessary to monitor the zp with energy indicators, otherwise special. The equipment will simply turn off. Later, such a gameplay in a simplified form pumps into a version for Game Boy.

But the finale turned out to be interesting. In the role of Mark Ramius, you need to personally eliminate traitors and neutralize bombs in the weapons compartments. The hero has a small supply of health and cartridges that are replenished after passing one compartment, and bombs must be cleared in a certain order.

The version for SNES decided to divide the gameplay into two parts – the shooter and shooting range. In the shooting part, you must complete a certain task, which is shown in a small briefing before the mission. The tasks are different: run away from the USSR, destroy the camp of mercenaries, accompany a peaceful ship, etc. D. Arsenal compared to the previous version was expanded: firing diagonally (above or under him), mines, vertical torpedoes and caterpillar, which temporarily gives invulnerability. The shooting range is optional (not counting the final battle) and for the most part rests on the miscalculation of the shot. Just bring the sight and shoot.

My personal result – it turned out well. These are in a good way complex games that you can go once and stay in a good mood. Both versions are at least in many ways similar, but their essence differs. I recommend.

So we finished with the first games from our list. It was a very interesting experience. I never went into such ancient games, but the versions for the consoles in many ways amused me. But the games on the PC – at your own peril and risk. Projects today look frankly weak and impassable, because of which I almost threw them after a few minutes.

The next chapter will be a team of a saline from the games, both based on the next books of the author and the first creations of Red Storm Entertainment. Small spoiler: "I never thought that from the collapse of the USSR you can make a board game …"