Polar Rescue, one of the rarest Vectrex games to
obtain and sometimes alludes even the vintage Vectrex collector.
This game in its complete form fetches a high price at US$180.
when, and if, it does show up on ebay. Designed by Mark Indictor
& Jeff Corsiglia and released by GCE in 1983, Polar Rescue was only available at a
few major retail chains for a very short while and shorter still
was it's availability via mail order (Power 2003). This game
along with Star Castle and Fortress of Narzod were some of the
very last games released for the Vectrex by GCE.
The plot is rather more complex than most Vec games of this
vintage. It involves you as the captain and commander of an elite
submarine tracking down survivors of a prior ill-fated submarine
convoy. The player will need to dodge enemy submarines, icebergs,
mines on his/her way to reaching the stranded survivors who are
patiently waiting and hoping for your success. It's no easy task
and be prepared for several encounters with the enemy on your
journey to the depths of the Arctic.
Graphically Polar rescue presents us with some of the best
vectors of the era and launching and docking procedures are
faithfully acknowledged by full graphic representation. The
various 'ping' sounds and the noises your torpedoes make as they
glide their way through the water towards the enemy subs must
surely be equivalent to real live sub sounds. It's almost
frightening the solitude one feels as you make your way to the
depths of the ocean in Polar Rescue Once in 'battle mode' and
under attack from enemy fire the player must keep his/her eye on
the radar as the full 3d environment reveals the oceans
surroundings.
Once the player has reached the survivors, and the ominously
hard docking sequence is complete,a pod is released and the
survivors make it safely to your sub and a new level starts over.
A downright must for rarity and gameplay.
Score 8/10
Review written by Daniel Foot
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