United States Navy SEALs

Grab your big-boy pants for this game!

Here is a game with very few friends: Navy Seals is deceiving and, first impressions, are of an arcade-style platformer. However, this Ocean gem is anything but a typical run and gun 'em all. It's far more ruthless and requires stealth, strategy, and tactics. Extreme personal perseverance is the order of the day because this game requires a committed player willing to spend many hours mastering the levels. No spare time? Then don't bother!

Taking down scumbag terrorists is all part of the job when you're a member of the US Navy SEALS. The mission requires us to sneak into the lion's den, kill everyone, and plant explosives to destroy their stockpile of missiles.

Each map is a layout of platforms within a maze of trigger-happy bad guys. Use covert tactics - so play slowly and carefully to learn the enemy's location. Many practice games will be required to plan the best route from start to end, this is vital and the only way to successfully complete the mission. This is not easy so will not appeal to a casual gamer.

Okay, let's take a look at the first screenshot with gorgeous details and colour palette...

I love the layout of the first level. This is an absolutely fantastic retro gaming design!

Aesthetics

Visually, Navy Seals is a babe with gorgeous graphics that ooze a retro style I admire. I love the beautiful character animation as you run, leap, climb and sneak about. Each level compliments the environment and feels like something from a movie, a cheesy 80s B-movie! Heck, even the screen showing me dead is great. Yep, I said that.

Sound effects do their job very well and the music is an excellent chiptune to bop along to. Liking it a lot!!

Hey, it's time for a screenshot. How about one you will see a lot? Here you go...

Don't expect to beat this game on your first attempt. Or second. Or third. It's rather hard!

The CryptO'pinion?

This is such a difficult game but I also find myself enjoying the challenge. Each level requires the player to learn all aspects thoroughly, so don't expect a cakewalk. There are two drawbacks with Navy Seals: the time limit which I think is far too harsh but I also don't understand why Ocean didn't include a way to unlock each level with passwords?

Navy Seals won't appeal to the casual gamer as it requires strategic thought to figure out an efficient route through all levels - before the timer expires. Can you do it? I hope so because Navy Seals is such a rewarding game albeit incredibly brutal. In fact, brutal might be too namby-pamby a description for this? Gamers were tougher in the 90s...

Hard drive installable versions are available from both D-Bug and 8bitchip.

Floppy disk games can be found using Old Games Finder.

Cheating time:

             > Type in WOZZIE into the high score table to activate the cheat mode.

             > Begin a new game. Press W for weapons or RETURN to advance onto the next level.

Some tips:

             > Dawdle when learning the maps - slow and steady wins the race.

             > Play draft games and make notes of the most efficient route. Exhilarating is the word!!!

             > Practice! Practice! Practice! Practice! :-)