The Hunt for Red October

"The RED OCTOBER, Russia's top secret and nearly undetectable nuclear missile submarine is heading West .... TO DEFECT! Can you navigate the treacherous Reykjanes ridge; evade the formidable Soviet Red Banner fleet and rendezvous with the US Navy in this deadly battle for survival. When to attack; when to hide; when to run; THE DECISION IS YOURS."

Also known as "Hunt for Red October II" as there was an earlier game developed by Oxford Digital Enterprises Ltd also published by Grandslam in 1988 and is a submarine simulator game based on the novel as apposed to the action arcade like game played here.

A short action adventure consisting of 5 levels, 2 of which you control the submarine with multiple weapon loadouts where you need to destroy enemies and reach the ocean. the other 3 levels are mini games. You get multiple lives during the submarine stages but only one for the level 1 and 5 mini games resulting in a game over if you mess up. Level 3 It gives you another chance.

It's a very short game should you make it through although with tape loading you are looking at a playtime at least 3 times as long as the video. The music bugs out during the opening of the hatch stage resulting in a continuous high pitched tone.

Overall, not a bad version of the game for the Spectrum and the opening presentation really adds to it. It is a little annoying in difficulty though with enemy fire coming at from all angles at once in some instances and power up in tight spaces costing you a life if you don't time the pickup right.