Overboard! (1997)

Overboard! (known in the United States as Shipwreckers!) is an arcade game in which players take control of a pirate ship. The game was developed and released in 1997 by Psygnosis, the company known for such games as G-Police, Kingsley's Adventure and Wipeout.

Mechanics

In Overboard! we take control of a pirate ship. The camera is suspended high above the action and our task is to get to the designated place, along the way fighting a number of enemies, avoiding dangerous traps, conquering ports, collecting bottles floating on the waters and overcoming uncomplicated environmental puzzles. The game offers five stylistically diverse locations, each of which has been divided into several smaller levels.

Apart from standard cannons, the ship we control can be equipped with quite a diverse arsenal. Among the available weapons there are anti-aircraft missiles, mines and lightning. In addition, during the game we can find special upgrades, temporarily modifying the functioning of our ship and, for example, transforming it into a hang glider.

Game modes

In addition to the single-player campaign, Overboard! offers a local multiplayer mode where up to five players can compete against each other in modes such as Deathmatch and Capture the Flag.

Technical aspects

The game supports the Multi-Tap accessory, thanks to which it is possible to play multiplayer battles with more players. In addition, the title is characterised by attractive, 3D graphic design presented in a humorous tone. Particularly impressive are advanced effects related to water, such as transparency (sunken enemy units settle to the bottom and remain visible) or waves reacting to our ship.