Battleship: The Classic Naval Combat Game

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Mega Drive game, see Super Battleship: The Classic Naval Combat Game.

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Battleship title.png

Battleship: The Classic Naval Combat Game
System(s): Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Mindscape
Developer:
Licensor: Milton Bradley
Genre: Table

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Game Gear
US
T-87018
Videogame Rating Council: GA
Non-Sega versions

Battleship: The Classic Naval Combat Game is a Sega Game Gear interpretation of the Milton Bradley board game Battleship (also known as Battleships). It was released exclusively in North America by Mindscape in 1993.

Gameplay

Battleship GG, Player Grid.png

Player grid

Battleship GG, Enemy Grid.png

Enemy grid

The game is a turn-based strategy game based on the board game of the same name. The object is to sink the opponent's fleet without losing one's own fleet first. Neither belligerent can see the positions of the other's ships and must take calling shots on the other's fleet, which involves some trial and error. Battles are between a single player and the computer, with no two-player mode available.

There are eight levels comprising five battles each. After winning a battle, the player is given a password, and after completing a level, the player is given a promotion to a new rank. Promotions add new ships and weapons.

The battle starts by placing the player's ships on the grid (which is twelve squares wide by eight squares tall). The player can move the ship on the grid using the D-Pad, change the orientation of the ship (horizontal or vertical) with 1, and place the ship with 2. Each ship is a different size, and the player starts the game with four ships (a frigate, a destroyer, a cruiser, and a battleship) but gains more as the game goes on. Ships cannot be moved for the rest of the battle once placed. The enemy fleet contains the same ships as the player's.

After all of the ships have been placed on the grid, the player and the computer take turns firing at each other. The two fleets are on separate grids. Each turn consists of a single volley. On the player's turn, the player can move the firing sights on the grid using the D-Pad and shoot with 1. The player can bring up a panel to change the weapon with 2, then cycle through the panel with Up or Down and select a weapon with 2. Every ship has a standard weapon, the RIM-66, which is a single square in size and unlimited in supply. Each ship also has one or more special weapons, which are limited use. These weapons cover multiple squares in various patterns. After firing, the game reveals, square by square, if the player hit any targets, using red squares to indicate hits and blue squares to indicate misses. The player must hit every square occupied by an enemy vessel to sink it.

The enemy takes its turn in a similar fashion, using its own weapons to fire at the player's fleet, with hits and misses likewise shown as red and blue squares respectively. Since neither faction knows the locations of the other's ships, the game requires some guesswork, and there is some strategy involved in both using one's weapons to find the enemy's fleet more effectively and in positioning one's own ships in ways to better conceal them. When a vessel is sunk, that faction loses any special weapons provided by it. The battle ends when one fleet has been completely sunk.

Squares

These squares appear on the grid to indicate different things.

Battleship GG, Squares.png
Blank
On the player's grid, this square represents a position with no ship. On the enemy's grid, this square represents a position that may or may not contain an enemy vessel.
Battleship GG, Squares.png
Firing Cursor
This is a targeting cursor for a weapon. When fired, the square turns red or blue depending on whether it hits or misses a ship.
Battleship GG, Squares.png
Recon Cursor
This a targeting cursor for a reconnaissance device. When used, it makes a different sound depending on whether a ship from the opposing fleet is in the square.
Battleship GG, Squares.png
Enemy Missed
This square appears on the enemy's grid and indicates that the player fired a weapon in this position but did not hit an enemy vessel.
Battleship GG, Squares.png
Enemy Hit
This square appears on the enemy's grid and indicates that the player fired a weapon in this position and hit (but has not yet sunk) an enemy vessel.
Battleship GG, Squares.png
Enemy Sunk
This square appears on the enemy's grid and shows the position of a sunk enemy ship. The hit squares change to this square once the last part of the ship has been hit.
Battleship GG, Squares.png
Player Missed
This square appears on the player's grid and indicates that the enemy fired a weapon in this position but did not hit a friendly vessel.
Battleship GG, Squares.png
Player Hit
This square appears on the player's grid and indicates that the enemy fired a weapon in this position and hit a friendly vessel. A ship is sunk when all of its squares have changed to this square.

Vessels

Battleship GG, Ships.png
Frigate
Availability:
Level 1
Size:
2×1
Part of the starting fleet. Provides the Polaris weapon.
Battleship GG, Ships.png
Destroyer
Availability:
Level 1
Size:
3×1
Part of the starting fleet. Provides the Asroc-71 weapon. At level 3, it gains Sonar.
Battleship GG, Ships.png
Cruiser
Availability:
Level 1
Size:
4×1
Part of the starting fleet. Provides the Seadart weapon. At level 4, it unlocks Aerial Recon.
Battleship GG, Ships.png
Battleship
Availability:
Level 1
Size:
5×1
Part of the starting fleet. Provides the Tomahawk weapon. It is the longest ship and thus more vulnerable, but its weapons cover a large area.
Battleship GG, Ships.png
Submarine
Availability:
Level 2
Size:
1×1
Unlocked at level 2. Provides the MK-48X weapon. It is the smallest vessel and the easiest to conceal, though it is sunk in only one hit as a consequence.
Battleship GG, Ships.png
Carrier
Availability:
Level 5
Size:
4×2
Unlocked at level 5. Provides the P-3 Orion weapon. At level 7, it unlocks the Talos weapon. It is the only ship that is taller than one square and takes the most shots to destroy. Its special weapons cover more area than even the battleship's weapons.

Weapons

The RIM-66 can be used an unlimited number of times, but the other weapons can only be used once per battle. The player cannot use a weapon if the vessel providing it is sunk.

Battleship GG, Weapons, RIM-66.png

RIM-66
Availability:
Level 1
Provided by:
all vessels
This weapon is equipped on every ship. It only covers a single square, but it is always available and can be used an unlimited number of times.

Battleship GG, Weapons, Polaris.png

Polaris
Availability:
Level 1
Provided by:
Frigate

Battleship GG, Weapons, Asroc-71.png

Asroc-71
Availability:
Level 1
Provided by:
Destroyer

Battleship GG, Weapons, Sonar.png

Sonar
Availability:
Level 3
Provided by:
Destroyer

Battleship GG, Weapons, Seadart.png

Seadart
Availability:
Level 1
Provided by:
Cruiser

Battleship GG, Weapons, Aerial Recon.png

Aerial Recon
Availability:
Level 4
Provided by:
Cruiser

Battleship GG, Weapons, Tomahawk.png

Tomahawk
Availability:
Level 1
Provided by:
Battleship

Battleship GG, Weapons, Harpoon.png

Harpoon
Availability:
Level 6
Provided by:
Battleship

Battleship GG, Weapons, MK-48X.png

MK-48X
Availability:
Level 2
Provided by:
Submarine

Battleship GG, Weapons, Talos.png

Talos
Availability:
Level 6
Provided by:
Carrier

Battleship GG, Weapons, F-3 Orion.png

P-3 Orion
Availability:
Level 8
Provided by:
Carrier

Passwords

Main article: Battleship: The Classic Naval Combat Game/Passwords.

Production credits

  • Producter: Steve Hutchins
  • Q/A: Ken George, Frank, Wi-Kian, Randy
  • Special Thanks to: Nicolas Speed Racer
  • Conversion by: NGM Productions
Source:
In-game credits
Battleship GG credits.png
[1]


Magazine articles

Main article: Battleship: The Classic Naval Combat Game/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

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Battleship: The Classic Naval Combat Game

Game Gear, US
Battleship GG US back.jpgNospine.pngBattleship GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Battleship GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
Battleship GG US Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Game Gear
 ?
CRC32 fddd8cd9
MD5 ba836ae19e88f6354d746a86582beff8
SHA-1 eae1ebec2c1be522924f669a2dc884f9f4a68cf3
64kB Cartridge (US/EU)

References


Battleship: The Classic Naval Combat Game

Battleship title.png

Main page | Passwords | Magazine articles | Reception


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