688 Attack Sub (1989). Play online

Summary

When I booted 688 Attack Sub on my Sega Genesis, the VGA‑sharp interface immediately set the mood for Cold War tension. You can command either the U.S. Los Angeles‑class or the Soviet Alfa‑class nuclear attack submarine, each rendered with its own graphic palette—blue‑gray for the American vessel and a pseudo‑Cyrillic‑stamped hull for the Russian counterpart.

The game offers ten progressively hotter missions, ranging from quiet patrols to all‑out global conflict, and it cleverly models the strengths of each boat: the Los Angeles boasts advanced electronics and a larger weapons load, while the Alfa trades armament for a higher sustained speed.

I love the two‑player head‑to‑head mode; connecting a modem—or even a simple null‑modem cable—lets a friend steer the opposing sub and turn the solo simulation into a cat‑and‑mouse duel.

Storyline

In 688 Attack Sub you take command of a nuclear‑powered attack submarine, choosing either a U.S. Los Angeles‑class or a Soviet Alfa‑class vessel. The game presents ten distinct missions that unfold across Cold War‑era scenarios and a speculative global conflict. Each mission thrusts you into hostile waters where stealth, torpedo strikes, and tactical choices determine success.

As tensions rise into open warfare, you hunt enemy ships, evade detection, and strike strategic targets, embodying the cat‑and‑mouse chase between the two superpowers. The storyline emphasizes the pressure of underwater combat and the high stakes of Cold War naval engagements.