View source for 688 Attack Sub

{{Short description|1989 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = 688 Attack Sub
|image = 688 Attack Sub Coverart.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Genesis box art
|developer = [[Electronic Arts]] (MS-DOS) <br> [[MicroProse]] (Genesis)
|publisher = Electronic Arts (MS-DOS) <br> [[Sega]] (Genesis)
|designer = John W. Ratcliff<br>Paul Grace
|programmer = Ed Fletcher (Genesis)
|composer = [[Rob Hubbard]]<br>David Javelosa (Genesis)
|engine =
|released = '''MS-DOS'''<br>{{vgrelease|NA|1989}}'''Amiga'''<br>{{vgrelease|EU|1990}}'''Genesis'''<br>{{vgrelease|NA|1991|EU|September 1991<ref name='ctw354'>{{cite magazine |title=The Release Schedule|magazine=Computer Trade Weekly|issue=354|publisher=Opportunity Publishing|date=16 September 1991|page=17|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/6/63/CTW_UK_354.pdf|access-date=25 February 2025}}</ref>}}
|genre = [[Submarine simulator]]
|modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|platforms = [[MS-DOS]], [[Amiga]], [[PC-98]], [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]]
}}

'''''688 Attack Sub''''' is a [[submarine simulator]] [[video game]] designed by John W. Ratcliff and Paul Grace and published in 1989 for [[MS-DOS]] and in 1990 for [[Amiga]] by [[Electronic Arts]]. A [[Sega Genesis]] version developed by [[MicroProse]] was released in 1991 by [[Sega]].

The player takes command of a US {{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine|0}} or Soviet {{sclass2|Alfa|submarine|0}} [[nuclear marine propulsion|nuclear-powered]] [[attack submarine]] and plays ten missions ranging from into either [[Cold War]] scenarios or combat missions in a hypothetical global conflict. As modeled in the game, the American submarine has more sophisticated electronics and more weapons. The Soviet boat has fewer weapons but higher sustained speeds. Two people can play against each other over a [[modem]] (or [[null modem]] cable).

Ratcliff and Grace later developed ''[[SSN-21 Seawolf]]'', published in 1994.

==Gameplay==
{{Empty section|date=October 2022}}

==Reception==
[[File:688 Attack Sub Genesis.png|thumb|left|Genesis version]]

''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' in 1989 gave the IBM PC compatible version a positive review, noting the game was designed to be a fun game, as opposed to a realistic simulator, and concluding that it was "this reviewer's personal candidate for 'Game of the Year'".<ref name="CGW"/> 1992 and 1994 surveys in the magazine of wargames with modern settings gave the game two stars out of five, stating that the game was closer to World War II than modern submarine operations, and criticizing the "unrealistic" emphasis on periscope target acquisition.<ref name="brooks199206">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=95 | title=The Modern Games: 1950 - 2000 | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=June 1992 | access-date=24 November 2013 | author=Brooks, M. Evan | pages=120}}</ref><ref name="brooks199401">{{Cite magazine |last=Brooks |first=M. Evan |date=January 1994 |title=War In Our Time / A Survey Of Wargames From 1950-2000 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=114 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=194–212}}</ref> ''[[Compute!]]'' included the game in its list of "nine great games for 1989", describing it as "swift and exciting as any Mach 2 flight simulator".<ref name="gutman198907">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-07-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_110_1989_Jul#page/n19/mode/2up | title=Nine for '89 | work=Compute! | date=July 1989 | access-date=11 November 2013 | author=Gutman, Dan | pages=19}}</ref> The magazine praised the game's graphics and two-player modem option, but criticized the lack of more than ten missions.<ref name="sheffield198908">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-08-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_111_1989_Aug#page/n65/mode/2up | title=688 Attack Sub | work=Compute! | date=August 1989 | access-date=11 November 2013 | author=Sheffield, Richard | pages=64}}</ref>

Mike Siggins reviewed ''688 Attack Sub'' for ''[[Games International]]'' magazine, and gave it a rating of 7 out of 10, and wrote that "the appeal of using modern weapons soon wears off and one is left with only the different situations to add spice. Overall though, it is a good game on an unusual topic but would benefit from a second edition".<ref name="gi15">{{cite journal | last = Siggins | first = Mike | title = Computer Games | journal = [[Games International]] | issue = 15 | pages = 44–45 | date=June 1990}}</ref>

==Further reading==
* ''{{ill|Jeux et Stratégie|lt=Jeux & Stratégie|fr}}'' #59<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-59/page/72/mode/2up | title=Jeux & stratégie 59 | date=June 1989}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist | refs= <ref name = "CGW">{{cite magazine | date = May 1989 | author = Lt. H. E. Dille | magazine = [[Computer Gaming World]] | title = Silent Running | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1989&pub=2&id=59 | pages = 32–33 |issue=59}}</ref> }}

== External links ==
* {{moby game|id=/688-attack-sub|name=''688 Attack Sub''}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081120002512/http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/166/688_attack_sub.php ''688 Attack Sub'' review] at [[Mean Machines]]
* [http://www.subsim.com/ssr/simhist.html History of Subsims]
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:1989 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Cold War video games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts games]]
[[Category:MicroProse games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Naval video games]]
[[Category:NEC PC-9801 games]]
[[Category:Sega Genesis games]]
[[Category:Submarine simulation video games]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Rob Hubbard]]
[[Category:Video games set in the Soviet Union]]