Navy Seals
Summary
Navy SEALS is a side-scrolling shooter platform game created and published by Ocean Software. It debuted in the United Kingdom in 1990 for the Amstrad CPC, Amstrad GX4000, and Commodore 64. The following year, it expanded to the rest of Europe on the ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, and Amiga. A Game Boy version was released in the United States on September 1, 1991. The game is based on the movie of the same name and follows Lieutenant Dale Hawkins as he advances through five levels in a side-scrolling format. Developed by Ocean Software, a studio known for producing games tied to their film counterparts, Navy SEALS centers on Hawkins retrieving Stinger missile caches from Arab forces in the Middle East. Upon its release, the game was well-received, with praise for its visuals, presentation, and tough gameplay. However, the ZX Spectrum version faced criticism for its black-and-white graphics.
Storyline
The game is a side-scrolling shooter centered on Lieutenant Dale Hawkins as he recovers secret Stinger missile caches from Arab terrorists in Oman. It consists of five levels set in different locations and starts by giving the player five lives. The core goal is to find and plant time bombs on crates holding the missiles, then escape before the timer runs out. The antagonists are Arab terrorists, whom the player must eliminate using a default handgun. Additional weapons like machine guns, rocket launchers, and a flamethrower can be found in hidden crates. The second level takes place in Beirut and features a 3D depiction of the city as the player, alongside a team of Navy Seals, works to free hostages. If the player successfully rescues the hostages and retrieves all the missiles, the remaining forces will meet up at a submarine. Throughout the game, the protagonist can grapple with ledges, climb ladders, crawl, and jump in any direction. Pushing heavy crates can also help reach higher areas. Combat involves shooting enemies as they appear, but the player can duck at any time to avoid incoming fire. Enemies can also be defeated by dropping onto them from above. In each level, a time limit is set once a bomb is placed on a crate containing a Stinger missile.
