by Joe McCloud

Whoa! Now here's a sub sim that couldn't be more difficult. It could try, but it wouldn't be successful. The amount of detail going into 688(i) Hunter Killer is absolutely astounding! Players will have complete control over every aspect of their submarine--which is no surprise, really: The game is being developed by Sonalysts Inc., a defense contractor and designer of submarine-training software for the U.S. Navy. Many of the company's employees, including its founders, are ex-submarine commanders. Jane's Combat Simulations has also tapped the expertise of Terry Jones, a 26-year Navy veteran and commander of three different submarines. Jones is using his longtime experience to help the team with the creation of many of the missions and campaigns, as well as all other aspects of the gameplay.

So far, Hunter-Killer is extremely complicated, and to enjoy it at all, you have to be a submarine expert. Then again, that's why simulators are made. They're definitely a niche market, but the sheer beauty and detail with which they capture reality are enjoyable and can be appreciated. The graphics are nice, even if they're mainly static control panels with buttons and switches, and the sound is totally immersive. That could be because of the fact that the head audio engineer went out to sea on a three-day trip aboard a submarine for the purpose of recording real-life sounds.

688(i) Hunter-Killer has a number of missions and campaigns to choose from, and will let you create your own missions as well. Another high point is the multiplayer options, which will let you battle it out against other fanatical sub captains over modem, PX or LAN. If you've been waiting for a truly realistic sub sim, look no further. Jane's on the way, and it's bringing 688(i) Hunter-Killer.

Developer: Sonalysts Inc.

Publisher: Jane's Combat Simulations

www.ea.com

Platform: Win95

Requirements: Win95, CD-ROM