The Hunt For Red October is a video game adaptation of the movie of the same name, developed by Beam Software and published by Hi Tech Expressions in 1991 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, 1991-1992 on Game Boy, and 1993 on Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
The story is just about the same as the movie. You play as Marko Ramius, and he's supposed to take the submarine through trial run and naval tests, but he has different plans. He wants to lead the submarine to the US port, not that the Soviets will let him. They use the Red Fleet to track down and destroy the Red October. It's up to him to get the sub through safely.
There's a total of seven levels, at the end of each is a boss fight. The submarine can shoot limited missiles and unlimited torpedoes. It also needs power, which acts as fuel to survive. Some versions of the game have exclusive features. The NES version's final stage is a platformer, in which you try to stop saboteurs in the submarine, while the SNES version has bonus stages compatible with the Super Scope.
This game provides examples of:
- Asymmetric Multiplayer: The Game Boy version had a two-player mode where the first player controlled the Red October, while the second directed the Soviet forces trying to destroy it.
- Bonus Stage: In the SNES version, there's a bonus stage in which you shoot enemies, optionally with a Super Scope.
- Denial of Diagonal Attack: Averted, torpedoes can be shot diagonally.
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Licensed Game: To the film, obviously. - Public Domain Soundtrack: In the ending, "The Star-Spangled Banner" plays.
- Sub Story: You play as the titular submarine.
- Timed Mission: There's a time limit, though one second on the timer doesn't equal one second in real life.
- Under the Sea: The whole and games take place underwater.
- When All Else Fails, Go Right: You can move left, but only slightly, and the screen won't scroll there. The screen only scrolls to the right.
