Summary
Aquaventura (1992)
Aquaventura is a side-scrolling shoot-’em-up arcade game developed and released by Taito in 1992. The game was ported to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1993.
The player controls a submarine that must navigate through a variety of underwater environments, including coral reefs, underwater caves, and shipwrecks. The submarine is equipped with a variety of weapons, including torpedoes, missiles, and lasers. The player must use these weapons to defeat enemy submarines, fish, and other underwater creatures.
Aquaventura is a fast-paced and challenging shoot-’em-up that requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking. The game is also visually impressive, with colorful graphics and detailed backgrounds. The soundtrack is also noteworthy, with catchy tunes that add to the game’s overall atmosphere.
Gameplay
Aquaventura is a side-scrolling shoot-’em-up in which the player controls a submarine. The submarine can move in eight directions and can fire torpedoes in any direction. The player must use the submarine’s weapons to defeat enemy submarines, fish, and other underwater creatures.
The game is divided into six stages, each with a different environment and boss. The stages are:
- Coral Reef
- Underwater Cave
- Shipwreck
- Submarine Base
- Deep Sea
- Final Stage
Each stage is filled with a variety of enemies, including:
- Basic submarines
- Torpedo-firing submarines
- Missile-firing submarines
- Laser-firing submarines
- Fish
- Jellyfish
- Mines
- Torpedoes
- Missiles
- Lasers
The player must defeat all of the enemies in a stage in order to progress to the next stage. The player can also collect power-ups that will give the submarine additional weapons and abilities.
Weapons
The submarine is equipped with a variety of weapons, including:
- Torpedoes: The submarine’s basic weapon. Torpedoes are fired straight ahead and can be used to destroy enemy submarines and fish.
- Missiles: Missiles are more powerful than torpedoes and can be used to destroy larger enemies, such as bosses. Missiles can also be fired in eight directions.
- Lasers: Lasers are the submarine’s most powerful weapon. Lasers can be used to destroy any enemy in one hit. Lasers can also be fired in eight directions.
The submarine can also collect power-ups that will give it additional weapons and abilities, such as:
- Spread shot: The spread shot power-up gives the submarine the ability to fire torpedoes in a spread formation. This makes it easier to hit multiple enemies at once.
- Homing torpedoes: The homing torpedoes power-up gives the submarine the ability to fire torpedoes that will home in on enemies. This makes it easier to hit fast-moving enemies.
- Laser beam: The laser beam power-up gives the submarine the ability to fire a powerful laser beam. The laser beam can destroy any enemy in one hit.
Bosses
Each stage of Aquaventura features a boss that the player must defeat in order to progress. The bosses are:
- Stage 1: Giant squid
- Stage 2: Submarine carrier
- Stage 3: Battleship
- Stage 4: Submarine base
- Stage 5: Giant sea monster
- Stage 6: Final boss
The bosses are all unique and require different strategies to defeat. The player must learn the bosses’ attack patterns and weaknesses in order to defeat them.
Reception
Aquaventura was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its fast-paced gameplay, challenging difficulty, and impressive graphics. The game was also a commercial success, selling over one million copies worldwide.
Aquaventura has been ported to a variety of platforms, including the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Sega Genesis, and PlayStation Portable (PSP). The game is also available on the Wii Virtual Console and the Nintendo Switch Online service.
Legacy
Aquaventura is considered to be one of the best shoot-’em-ups of all time. The game’s fast-paced gameplay, challenging difficulty, and impressive graphics have made it a favorite among fans of the genre. Aquaventura has also been cited as an influence on a number of other shoot-’em-ups, including the popular Touhou Project series.
Conclusion
Aquaventura is a classic shoot-’em-up that still holds up today. The game’s fast-paced gameplay, challenging difficulty, and impressive graphics make it a must-play for fans of the genre. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding shoot-’em-up, then Aquaventura is the game for you.
Review Score
8.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
