688 Attack Sub

688 Attack Sub is a submarine simulation game developed by Electronic Arts and released in 1989 for MS-DOS and Amiga. In 1991, the Genesis/Mega Drive version was released. The game was designed by John W. Ratcliff, who created one of the most accessible yet realistic submarine combat simulations of the late 1980s.

Taking command of the Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine USS Chicago, players navigate the treacherous waters of global submarine warfare during the height of the Cold War. The game puts you in the captain's chair, managing everything from sonar contacts to torpedo launches while maintaining the delicate balance between stealth and aggression that defines submarine combat.

The gameplay revolves around realistic naval operations, featuring missions that range from intelligence gathering to full-scale naval battles. Players must master the art of silent running, using passive sonar to track enemy vessels while avoiding detection. The game features an impressive array of authentic weapons systems, including Mark 48 torpedoes, Harpoon missiles, and Tomahawk cruise missiles. Navigation requires careful attention to depth, speed, and heading, as one wrong move can mean detection by enemy sonar or worse - collision with the ocean floor.

What sets 688 Attack Sub apart from other military simulations of its era is its commitment to authenticity without sacrificing playability. The interface, while complex, remains manageable for newcomers to the submarine genre. The sonar display becomes your primary window to the underwater world, with contacts appearing as blips and bearing lines that you must interpret to determine enemy positions and intentions.

The Amiga version benefits from superior sound, with the distinctive ping of active sonar and the low hum of the submarine's reactor creating an atmosphere that will remind you of films like The Hunt for Red October. The DOS version, while graphically similar, lacks some of the audio immersion that makes submarine warfare so compelling.

Compared to later submarine simulations like Red Storm Rising or Silent Hunter, 688 Attack Sub feels somewhat simplified, but this accessibility was precisely its strength in 1989. The game successfully bridges the gap between arcade-style naval combat and hardcore military simulation, making it approachable for strategy fans who might be intimidated by more complex sims.

The mission variety keeps the experience engaging, though some scenarios can feel repetitive after extended play. The AI opponents provide reasonable challenges, though they lack the unpredictability of human adversaries.

688 Attack Sub remains a solid entry point into submarine simulation gaming, offering enough realism to satisfy military enthusiasts while remaining accessible to casual players interested in Cold War naval warfare.