Super Battleship

Developer:
  • Synergistic Software
Publisher:
  • Mindscape Software
Platform:
  • Super Nes
Release:
PAL:
  • 1993
Genre:
  • Strategy
Modes:
  • Single-player
Check Pricing here:
https://www.pricecharting.com/game/pal-super-nintendo/super-battleship

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Box Synopsis

Enemy sub sighted off the port bow! Man your battle stations!

Discover the thrill of commanding your own naval fleet of warships with this brand new spin on the classic Battleship game. Super Battleship gives you all the tough challenges of the original, plus a whole new arsenal of weapons and features. Ride the high seas with graphics so real the rookies may get seasick. Fire your torpedoes, aim your biggest guns and hold onto your brains as you blast your way through every battle. A challenging Campaign Scenario tests your skills in naval warfare strategy. Seek out hidden enemy before he finds you! But hide your fleet well, or you may find your ships heading to the bottom of the sea!

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Gameplay

Super Battleships is a recreated version of the family favorite board game that Hasbro has been producing for years. The game is set on the open seas and you, the commander take control of a fleet of warships as you seek out and destroy the enemy. This game features two separate modes for totally different play styles. 

Classic mode is a basic single player version of Battleships that plays like the board game. Each player hides their ships on a grid and take turn calling out 3 shots per turn. If you hit a target ship you will be notified while missing leaves and X mark. The first player to successfully sink all the opponents ships win.

Super Battleship mode is a unique player experience and is a reworked version of the Battleship concept. In this mode the player enters a birds eye view location and must control their fleet and achieve the set objective. Each ship has a turn allocated to it which allow it to either move, shoot, check stats or continue with a prior order. Ships movement and gun range are set on their size and this means strategy is required to defeat enemies. This mode has several unlockable missions once you complete all that start available. A password system also allows you to return at a later date.

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Controls
Default layout:

D-Pad: Move cursor or option
L: Use Satellite map (super mode)
R: 
Use Satellite map (super mode)
X: Change equipped weapon (super mode)
Y: Activate sonar radar
B: Accept order
A: Accept/Shoot
Select: Enter menu mode
Start: Pause

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Game Videos

Super Battleships Introduction Video

Super Battleship Classic Mode Sample

Super Battleship Super Mode Sample


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Shanwow's Review

Story and Gameplay - 1

Super Battleships is a naval strategy game based on the board game that has been produced by Hasbro for all these years. This super version of the game offers both a classic and new way to play with it's two separate modes which focus on a single player experience.

There are no story elements to this game and the gameplay purely focuses on the strategy behind winning the missions on hand. Super Battleship mode offers a more in depth way to play and allows you to not only command a large fleets but also gives you a few weapons and perspectives that are not available in classic mode.

Classic modes gameplay is based on the board game and doesn't offer a 2 player mode or any fancy graphics or upgrades. The main body of this game is Super Mode which is a turn based strategy game that allows you to try your hand at naval warfare while you try and complete a handful of unlockable missions. The missions are all set in unique play zones and offer a variety of ships to use and fight.

Controls and Features - 2 point

Super Battleships classic mode is as simple as click the place you want to shoot and wait, which makes it super easy to play. Once you step into the Super mode, it gets a little more deeper and complexed as you have more skills at your disposal.

The overall control layout is friendly and easy to use with simple single press commands that help you navigate each turn cycle. When I first began to play I simply used the A and the d-pad to navigate and win a few missions, but as I played and it got harder I was required to learn more controls. You have a bunch of things you can do which includes accessing a satellite map, activate sonar, moving, shooting and attacking shore located points of interest.

The synopsis says this game features many awesome elements but in this day the game seems to be lacking in features to make it more than a upgraded version of Battleship. Classic mode is so basic that it is boring and only needs to really be experienced once. Super mode offers the most however each level must be unlocked slowly and your progress must be saved using passwords, which means more scribbling between missions.  
 
Design and Difficulty - 2 points

Super Battleships overall design seems to be focused on single player experiences and lacks anything of real replay value or uniqueness almost 28 years after release. I get the feeling that the good folks over at Hasbro might of wanted a bit of money for the rights and that may of left the design a little light.

The graphics for this are quite pleasing as long as you are on Super mode. Classic mode is so underwhelming that it feels almost better left out, however that takes away from the fact it's a Battleship game. Super mode has had more time spent graphically and most elements look pretty solid. The ships do look a little edgy due to their sizing and the land masses are a bit blurry, however when you change to battle perspective the graphics will blow you away a little.

The original music for this game was composed by Chris Barker and it suits the game quite well. Each bit of music uses similar sounds and when mixed in with the explosive game sounds, creates an immersive and action packed game.

The game has no difficulty settings but their are of course certain elements that make this game hard to complete. There are unfortunately a few gameplay flaws that sometimes are frustrating. One main issue I found was that some ships wouldn't sink even after you expend all your ammo on them. This is solved by exiting the battle and re entering on your next turn, however that means you must wait and not be sunk or run out of turns before your next action.

Fun and Summary - 👎

Super Battleships is one of those games that was probably really good on release but unfortunately now falls short of being great. The game offers a good way to play Battleships for fans but lacks anything that makes it unique for its current age.

The game also has many little issues that cause the game to often be frustrating, such as when you face off against an invincible ship and don't know or get beached for slightly touching the hard ground.

Overall Super Battleship is an ok game but not really something to write home about.

RetroRating: 5 out of 10

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