Sewer Shark

From Sega Retro

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SewerShark title.png

Sewer Shark
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Developer:
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega-CD
US 		T-6201
Sega Mega-CD
EU 		T-93015-50
Sega Mega-CD
DE 		DM 119,95119,95[6]
Sega Mega-CD
FR
Sega Mega-CD
PT 		CD93015
Sega Mega-CD
BR
Non-Sega versions

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Sewer Shark is a Sega Mega-CD game. It relies heavily on full motion video.

The game was a launch title in North America, and later on in the console's lifespan Sewer Shark was distributed as a pack-in game with the Mega-CD console in certain regions.

Gameplay

'Sewer Shark is a simple on-the-rails shoot-'em-up game where player, piloting a customised "sewer shark" vehicle named "Hole Hawg", is tasked with cleaning up a large sewer network by shooting various creatures. Despite being labeled as the "sewer jockey" (pilot) most of the game involves aiming a target reticule with the D-Pad, and firing a "gattling gun" with A.

Only limited control is given to the Hole Hawg's movements - if travelling over an intersection, holding B and using the D-Pad allows the sewer shark to turn 90 degrees in another direction, assuming there is a tunnel to travel down. There is no specific route in Sewer Shark, and the game rarely dictates that you travel in a certain direction, however failing to react to a turn can cause the Hole Hawg to crash and the game end.

The Hole Hawg cannot be damaged during normal play (save for the "scorpion" enemies which appear in the latter half), however "energy" depletes over time, requiring the player to visit charging stations. Instead, the game is played for points, with navigation robot "Catfish" sometimes recommending directions towards more infested routes (and who has to detonate hydrogen-filled areas). Your co-pilot, "Ghost" also shouts at advice at you, and is also a feature of full motion video cutscenes which break up the action.

A set of full motion clips is used to simulate travelling through the sewers, and remain constant throughout the game, however as time progresses, the player's calling sign is "upgraded" (Dogmeat, Ratbreath, Exterminator, Beachbum) and the music changes. Enemies are a mixture of creatures baked into the full motion video and sprites overlaid on the screen. All in-game music is generated by the Sega Mega Drive's audio chips, as opposed to higher quality audio streamed off the CD-ROM.

The game will finish after roughly 40 minutes of play, with the plot resolving itself regardless of the player's actions.

History

Development

As with Night Trap, Sewer Shark was originally intended for release on Hasbro's cancelled Control-Vision (codenamed NEMO) console - a system that used VHS cassettes as opposed to ROM cartridges. Digital Pictures subsequently picked up the rights to bring the project to the Mega-CD.

On the Control-Vision, Sewer Shark, like Night Trap used four separate video streams which are read simultaneously, allowing for the game to react without the need noticeable loading of data. To achieve this on the Mega-CD, all of the footage was compressed using a bespoke video codec, meaning most of the game is viewed with a border. Night Trap uses similar technology, as does the later produced Prize Fighter.

Release

In North America, 100,000 copies of the Mega-CD game were sold prior to being packed-in with the console[7].

Legacy

Following its Mega-CD launch, Digital Pictures ported the game to the 3DO platform for release in 1994. While gameplay remains largely unchanged, the 3DO version renders at a higher resolution in more colours, bringing the footage closer to the intended VHS quality.

Production credits

  • Cast:
    • Ghost: David Underwood
    • Stenchler: Roberty Costanza
    • Falco: Kari G. Payton
    • Girl Friday: Stevie Sterling
    • Voice of Catfish: Robert Weaver
  • Production Coordinator: Craig Boyajian
  • Tunnel Music Composed by: Mark Mothersbaugh
  • Tunnel Music Orchestrated and Arranged by: Mark Miller
  • Incidental Music Composed by: Tom Ferguson, Jay Ferguson
  • Sound Effects: Jason Scher, Mark Miller
  • Sound: Robert Weaver
  • Motion Control Puppets: Chiodo Bros. Productions
  • Effects Supervisor: Peter Donen
For Apogee, Inc
  • Executive Producer: Bob Shepherd
  • Producer: Jo Ann Knox
  • Production Coordinator: Geri Robert
  • Staff Production Coordinator: Michael Yost
  • Assistant Director: Harry Wypich
  • Director of Photography: Bob Collins
  • Assistant Camera: Gary Andertin
  • Gaffer: Bob Jason
  • Key Grip: Mark Kuramoto
  • Script Supervisor: Morgan
  • Chief Model Maker: Tom Pahk
  • Prototype Engineer: Mike Sorensen
  • Sound Mixer: Susan Chong
  • Boom Operator: Eric Carr
  • Home Economist: Barbara Gray
  • Stylist: Debbie Shine
  • Production Designer: Jack McAdams
  • Casting: Sandra Merrill
  • Production Assistants: Jeff Fridlund, Holly Fernandez
  • Production Accountant: Debbie Nikkel
  • Bookkeeper: Adele Zager
Additional Crew in Hawaii
  • Production Coordinator: Hunter Johnson
  • Production Assistant: Loke Lani Lau
  • Electrician: Jim Rosel
  • Best Boys: Jim Takahashi, Phil Miller
  • Grip: Roger Thompson
For Editel, Inc.
  • Optical Supervisor: Roger Dorney
  • Editorial Supervisor: Dennis Kelly
  • Editors: Michael Jackson, Peter Beyt, Tom Sing
  • Assistant Editor: Joe Bateman
  • Paintbox/Harry Designer: Vikki North
  • Film to Tape Colorist: Lyle Hellman
  • Assistant Colorist: Earl Williams
  • Product Manager: Rich Robinson
  • Tester: Nathan Rose
  • Chairman of the Board: Martin Erlichman
  • Legal Counsel:
    • Business Affairs: Barry Tyerman, Armstrong & Hirsch
    • Intellectual Property: David Hayes, Fenwick & West
  • Additional Programming: Steve DeFrisco, Ken Soohoo
  • Testers: David Pier, Matt Kellner
  • Production Assistants: Dena Maheras, Malia Lewis
  • V.P. Engineering: Mark Klein
  • Director, Computer Graphics: Lode Coen
  • Computer Graphic Animation: Cuyler Gee
  • Interface Design: Joshua Solomon
  • Production Accountant: Anne Flautt Read
The events and characters depicted in this photoplay are fictitous. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Ownership of this interactive U-Direct™ motion picture is protected by copyright, patent, and other applicable laws. Any unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition of this interactive U-Direct motion picture could result in criminal prosecution as well as civil liability.
Filmed in Hollywood, California and on location at Sunset Beach, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii.
Sewer Shark, Ratigator, Zerk, and Crazy Looking Thing are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc.
U-Direct is a trademark of Digital Pictures, Inc.
Portions © 1992 Sega
© 1992 Digital Pictures, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Source:
In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Sewer Shark/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #10: "November/December 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) #5: "February 1993" (1993-01-12)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
46 [12]
83 [2]
46
100 [13]
85 [14]
92 №8, p48/49
56 №7, p42/43
82 №2, p18
87 №16, p36
82 [15]
55 №37, p154
28 №44, p44
75 №20, p56
77 №8, p50/51
92 [16]
Sega Mega-CD
 72
Based on
15 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[17]
Consoles + (FR)
93
[18]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
46
[19]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
83
[2]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT)
46
[20]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
76
[21]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[22]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
78
[23]
GameFan (US) NTSC-U
86
[24]
Game Power (IT)
55
[25]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
100
[26]
GamesMaster (UK)
85
[14]
Joypad (FR)
86
[27]
Joypad (FR) PAL
81
[28]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
92
[29]
Mega (UK) PAL
56
[30]
Mega Action (UK) NTSC-U
82
[31]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
82
[32]
Mega Force (FR)
70
[33]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
61
[34]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
63
[35]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
87
[36]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
82
[37]
Player One (FR)
55
[38]
Power Up! (UK)
60
[39]
Power Unlimited (NL)
78
[40]
Score (CZ)
82
[41]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
28
[42]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
75
[43]
Sega Zone (UK) NTSC-U
77
[44]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
92
[45]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
60
[46]
VideoGames Shopper (UK) PAL
32
[47]
Video Games (DE) PAL
68
[48]
Sega Mega-CD
 71
Based on
34 reviews

Sewer Shark

Mega-CD, US
SewerShark MCD US Box Back.jpgSewerShark MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
SewerShark MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Sewershark mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, US
(console pack-in)

SewerShark MCD US Disc PackIn.jpg
Disc
SewerShark mcd us packin manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, US
(console pack-in; alt)

SewerShark MCD US Disc PackIn Alt.jpg
Disc
SewerShark mcd us packin manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, EU
SewerShark MCD EU Box Back.jpgSewerShark MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
Mega-CD, BR
(console pack-in)

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega-CD
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
489,947,472 CD (EU) T-93015-50
Sega Mega-CD
✔
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
489,594,672 CD (US) T-6201

References

  1. ↑ GamePro, "September 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 154
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Computer & Video Games, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-15), page 107
  3. ↑ Mega, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-18), page 43
  4. ↑ File:SelectRound FR 02.pdf, page 2
  5. ↑ Video Game, "Outubro 1993" (BR; 1993-xx-xx), page 6
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Video Games, "9/93" (DE; 1993-08-25), page 43
  7. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 6 No. 11 November 1993" (US; 1993-1x-xx), page 22
  8. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 206
  9. ↑ Sega Visions, "February/March 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 78
  10. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 89
  11. ↑ Sega Visions, "February/March 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 2
  12. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-15), page 20-22 (20)
  13. ↑ GamePro, "February 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 58 (60)
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 GamesMaster, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-19), page 26
  15. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-26), page 78-80 (78)
  16. ↑ Sega Force, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-01), page 86-89 (86)
  17. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 201
  18. ↑ Consoles +, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 166
  19. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-15), page 20
  20. ↑ Computer + Video Giochi, "Aprile 1993" (IT; 1993-xx-xx), page 96
  21. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "January 1993" (US; 1992-12-10), page 94
  22. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 34
  23. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 124
  24. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 3: January 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 10
  25. ↑ Game Power, "Maggio 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 50
  26. ↑ GamePro, "February 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 60
  27. ↑ Joypad, "Mars 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 62
  28. ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 122
  29. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 48
  30. ↑ Mega, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-18), page 42
  31. ↑ Mega Action, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 18
  32. ↑ Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 52
  33. ↑ Mega Force, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-12-10), page 124
  34. ↑ Mega Fun, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-xx), page 32
  35. ↑ Mega Fun, "01/94" (DE; 1993-12-22), page 78
  36. ↑ MegaTech, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-20), page 36
  37. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-26), page 78
  38. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1993" (FR; 1993-1x-xx), page 154
  39. ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, December 11, 1993" (UK; 1993-12-11), page 1
  40. ↑ Power Unlimited, "Nummer 3, Oktober 1993" (NL; 1993-09-29), page 59
  41. ↑ Score, "Prosinec 1994" (CZ; 1994-12-01), page 44
  42. ↑ Sega Power, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-03), page 44
  43. ↑ Sega Pro, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-13), page 56
  44. ↑ Sega Zone, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-xx), page 50
  45. ↑ Sega Force, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-01), page 86
  46. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 226
  47. ↑ VideoGames Shopper, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 44
  48. ↑ Video Games, "2/94" (DE; 1994-01-26), page 43
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