Sea Wolf (1976)

Dave Nutting Associates

Arcade · Commodore C64/128/MAX · Commodore VIC-20

2.88 from 8 ratings

22 members have it in their collection · 4 backlogged · 3 wish listed

How long? Main story 0h (from 1 logged playthrough)

Sea Wolf is an arcade game by Midway, originally released in 1976. The player looks through a large periscope to aim at ships moving across the virtual sea line at the top of the screen, using a thumb button on the right handle of the scope to fire torpedoes. The periscope swivels to the right and left, providing horizontal motion … Read more
Sea Wolf is an arcade game by Midway, originally released in 1976. The player looks through a large periscope to aim at ships moving across the virtual sea line at the top of the screen, using a thumb button on the right handle of the scope to fire torpedoes. The periscope swivels to the right and left, providing horizontal motion of a targeting cross-hair. The cabinet features a mixture of video game and older electro-mechanical technology for player feedback. Using back-lit transparencies reflected inside the scope, the number of torpedoes remaining are displayed, as well as a red "RELOAD" light which lights up momentarily when the player has launched five torpedoes. Additionally, when ships are hit on the screen, an explosion "light" is reflected inside the scope. A blue overlay is affixed to the screen to provide a "water color" to the sea. Sounds include a sonar ping and the sound of the PT Boat racing across the screen. Sea Wolf is time-limited, with the player having an opportunity to win bonus time by reaching an operator-set score. The player's score is shown on the bottom half of the screen as well as the high score, one of the first known instances of a high score in a video game. Targets include destroyers, a fast moving PT Boat, and mines floating across the screen can that serve as obstructions. Read less
Remove Ads with Grouvee Gold

Release dates

  • Q1 1976 (Full Release) (North_America) Arcade
  • Jul 1976 (Full Release) (Japan) Arcade
  • 1982 (Full Release) (Europe) Commodore C64/128/MAX
  • 1982 (Full Release) (North_America) Commodore VIC-20
Remove Ads with Grouvee Gold

Rating distribution

5 stars
0
4 stars
1
3 stars
6
2 stars
0
1 star
1
Remove Ads with Grouvee Gold

Community All Reviews Statuses

scoopings

Review scoopings 3/5 · Feb 9, 2022

Fun, Fast-Paced Arcade Shooter, Tho With No Actual "Enemies"

Look: 7/10 I like that it gave me Battleship (like the tabletop game) vibes. Beyond that, simply functional.

Play: 7/10 Responsive, tight, surprisingly fun. I was worried it was gonna be more like Missile Command, and was relieved to feel it was very unique and its own thing. Even tho it's technically a nuisance, I think the Reload function was …

Read more

Look: 7/10 I like that it gave me Battleship (like the tabletop game) vibes. Beyond that, simply functional.

Play: 7/10 Responsive, tight, surprisingly fun. I was worried it was gonna be more like Missile Command, and was relieved to feel it was very unique and its own thing. Even tho it's technically a nuisance, I think the Reload function was innovative and well-done. And overall, it was just a fun, fast-paced arcade shooter game.

Feel: 7/10 Not sure how to feel about the lack of missiles coming down at you, or any sort of attack on you. I wonder what that says about me heh. My search for a constant fight or flight sensation? Well regardless, they really pulled this off. This could've been really boring, but with the timer ticking, it always feels like you have to move move move shoot shoot shoot shoot reload repeat heh. And as usual, it made me feel pretty decent at the game--after all, you can't die ha. But still, just being my seeming "bestbestbest" score each time was fun for a good while.

Attachment: 7/10 I liked this game a lot, and could potentially see myself replay it. Nevertheless, there are just so many arcade shooter games, and in many ways this was akin to one I love--Space Invaders. Problem is, everytime I get that itch, I have a bad feeling I will be going straight for Space Invaders heh. Still, this game is worth a replay, and worth a try if you haven't before. Straightforward arcade shooter game with a "Battleship" setting rather than space combat setting.

Read less