Description of 688 Attack Sub
688 Attack Sub is a classic modern submarine simulation which puts you in command of either the American Los Angeles or the Soviet Alfa class nuclear-powered submarines. Most of the systems you would expect such as sonar and periscope are featured and nicely presented in VGA. The game offers ten missions for both the Soviet and American side in a Cold War scenario, that grows progressively hotter. Nice to see that the two sides' submarines have their own graphic sets in the game, even with some pseudo-cyrillic labels on the Russian side.
Overall, 688 Attack Sub is an interesting early subsim and certainly a classic in the genre-- arguably the best subsim for PC until Dynamix' Aces of The Deep years later. Especially the modem-play option was outstanding for its time. Be sure to download the manual, although the game is well laid-out and can be controlled completely with the mouse.
Note: This is the full game and not the cut-down "Maxell" version found on some abandonware sites.
Review By HOTUD
External links
How to play 688 Attack Sub
You can play in multiplayer by following this guide on subsim.com.
Comments and reviews
Johnnygequinunk 2024-01-20 1 point
I was playing this when it first came out. It taught me a lot of technical issues such as how to use the “ Loran” and about thermo clines. A few years after playing I had my own boat living in the Florida keys and my next door neighbor was an officer on the Florida marine patrol. He asked how I learned to use a loran, if I was ex military or such. I told him through a video game. He laughed his butt off as he said I knew more about it than he did. lol
GenX 2023-03-28 0 point DOS version
I still have the 688 patch that came in the box. Many a long night/weekends playing this.
CoreD 2022-06-22 1 point DOS version
I did finally beat Hit and Run back in the day, but it was a nightmare. I remember I was constantly changing depth, speed and direction to avoid the Soviet ASW. I jumped for joy when I escaped. BTW, the followup title SSN-21 Seawolf was also a lot of fun.
Sauce 2022-03-29 -1 point
Wow, I think this may have been the very 1st "boxed" game that I played on PC. Loved it also. Like "The Commondore", I never beat "Hit & Run" mission either, and Lord knows that I tried hundreds of times, using multiple strategies. Waiting for those missiles to be ready for firing consumed valuable escape time!
Steve Hoyland 2021-10-31 2 points Amiga version
HUEY IROQUOIS - Yes, there is an excellent, free and regularly updated Emulator which covers all Amiga versions - It's called WinUAE and can be found at winuae.net/download
Huey Iroquois 2021-06-05 1 point
CoVox sound is the best sound for the DOS version, but the Amiga version has better sound and gfx. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a freeware Amiga emulator.
SubPac1 2020-12-16 0 point DOS version
Hit and Run. Have to pull out dead slow staying along the coast for a bit, then move to deeper water. Continue as far south as you can before turning into to deeper water. Then pull away at no faster than 1/3.
Emanuelepulcidoria 2020-07-22 2 points DOS version
This version of the game downloadable here works in single player mode but not in multiplayer mode. A full manual on how to get it to work in multiplayer mode is at the following link, including the right Dos version that works in multiplayer mode:
https://subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=245921
ArayaScreams 2020-01-30 -1 point
When my dad bought a pair of old Tandy computers, the Tandy 1000 had this already on it. Of course without the manual there wasn't any chance of getting into the game play, but I did spend a few weeks playing with the telegraph system and it's censorship before I decided it was time to finally just get rid of it.
tonks 2019-12-04 -1 point
does anyone know how to turn on the SONAR? it doesn't seem to work. it certainly never identifies anything. in fact it cant even find and identify a rattly old surface ship. i'm definitely missing something here and i think that it is the on button for the sonar and its operator
Sunken hero 2019-04-22 0 point DOS version
Bought it and was 100% sold onto it 1986. Still have it and the old Lucky 286 it was running on. It runs equally well using DFend Reloaded on Win 10 using a modern 64 bit screamer. It is still as playable and entertaining as it was 33 years ago. Playability has nothing to do with graphics or other bells and whistles of todays boring shooters.
ChaosCubed 2018-04-18 2 points DOS version
I love this game!!
@TheCommodore:
I have beat Hit and Run a few times. The trick is not to remain silent. Full or flank speed only. Change depths often. Find thermal layers and hide under them.
When you have torpedoes after you, hit the decoy and change depths and directions immediately.
Good luck!!
The Commodore 2018-01-17 3 points
Man, I played this game for HOURS as a kid. I could never beat "Hit and Run" then, and I still can't beat it. Anyone ever completed that mission?
Jesuspsr 2017-06-26 1 point
Loved this game back in the day. How I wish I could get for my ipad pro.
Ripper 2017-06-05 0 point Amiga version
Loved this game, it's one of the best there is of it's kind. I sure do wish they would make games like this again.
Waseem 2016-08-31 0 point DOS version
The best modern sub game out there, even these days we don't have something as realistic as this. Highly recommended :)
Before You Were Born 2015-07-11 0 point DOS version
One if the best and still better thank the crap they produce now!
Wisty 2015-04-17 0 point DOS version
Enjoyed this so much on PC that it was one of the first games I bought for the Sega Megadrive. Only ever managed to do the first mission successfully but it was lots of fun firing missiles and torpedos at ships and seeing them blow up (before some other sub sunk me)....
WahkaWahkaWahka 2015-01-31 0 point DOS version
Spent many late nights playing this game with a friend over the modem. Memories of playing phone tag trying to get the connection to sync and epic sub battles!
Truth 2014-10-26 3 points DOS version
This must be too hard for "WHAT?" and his small brain. I'd stick with marbles What.
Giovi 2014-09-29 0 point DOS version
Very good! One of my favourite sub simulators!!! Easy to play and realistic.
Mad Doc 2014-07-01 1 point DOS version
Should have been in the Navy during the Cold War instead of playing video games I was doing the real thing!
WHAT? 2014-05-31 -12 points DOS version
How can there be all these positive comments?
"The best game"? That a joke?
It's CLART, FAECES, TURD, KACK. Ugly graphics, horrid SFX and totally undecipherable gameplay.
Jegas 2014-01-01 1 point DOS version
DosBox 0.74 - Win7 - Works Great
I chose ADLIB sound and VGA display.
I can tell you how great this is because I only played it long enough to make sure it was working for me. It will work for you too!
Heathcliff 2013-02-10 1 point DOS version
Ahh, the cold war, such a simple time .... This reminds me of 1989 and spending entire nights in front of a brand-new VGA monitor chasing down Ivan.
688 Attack Sub is truly one of my top-five favorite games, of any type, of all time. Even though some other sub sims are a little more sophisticated and flashy, this one still ranks as one of the bests. If I recall it would run on a 286 (although the more I think about it It was probably a 386, but still!)
The only caveat is that it is a sim built around fun and ease of play, and has less emphasis on being a spot-on realistic simulator. But that has never hurt this game.
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DOS Version
572 KBGame Extras
Various files to help you run 688 Attack Sub, apply patches, fixes, maps or miscellaneous utilities.
Amiga ROM
- Year: 1990
- Publisher: Electronic Arts, Inc., Hit Squad, The
- Developer: Electronic Arts, Inc.
Genesis ROM
- Year: 1991
- Publisher: SEGA Enterprises Ltd., SEGA of America, Inc.
- Developer: Electronic Arts, Inc.
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