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### Sub Hunter Preview [C64]

#### http://www.redesign.sk/tnd64/

#### Previewed By J. Monkman

Started in 2004 and hopefully due for release this year, Sub Hunter is TND's most ambitious project to date. Planned as a massively enhanced C64 remake of the VIC-20 classic 'Sub Hunt', it is Richard Bayliss' intention to further improve on the original by implementing game-play elements from other games to the many different levels and bonus games (Lunar Lander being an already proposed example). Effectively, as a result the finished product should play like a seamlessly coded collection of separate mini-games, all revolving around shooting mutated sea creatures, rescuing stranded divers, destroying enemy subs and collecting treasure along the way.

On first impressions, this one-level preview is very promising. The graphics are breath-taking, with multi-layer parallax scrolling and beautifully animated sprites and explosions. The music is excellent (as should be expected from Richard's involvement) and although the game features no sound effects they really aren't missed. However, despite all the polished production quality it's the timeless game-play that *really* shines through.

The design behind the first level of Sub Hunter is simple - you have to rescue a total of five stranded divers before the oxygen counter runs out whilst avoiding the onslaught of enemy submarines and sea monsters. The game plays at a frantic rate, and if you're not careful with your shots it's very easy to accidentally torpedo the little divers that you are supposed to be saving. There's not a lot of depth, but what's there is very enjoyable.

Unfortunately it's all over too soon, but as this is supposed to be just the first of *twenty* different levels (all of which are likely to feature different game-play modes and graphics) Sub Hunter is a likely contender for RGCD's 'Featured Game' status.

(Note that there are two official preview versions on disc; the 'Sub Hunter Final Preview' being a more professionally finished release complete with title screen, and the later-released 'Civitas' version which features the enhanced and larger diver sprites. This later build is a true reflection of the in-game graphics that Sub Hunter currently uses, with the original diver being considered too small and difficult to make out against the colourful background).