1978 · Chris Oberth · Arcade · Shooter

Depth Charge

Depth Charge is a simplified variant of Gremlin's arcade game Depthcharge. Like in the arcade game the objective is to sink as many submarines as possible by dropping depth charges from a boat on the surface. What's difference is that the boat automatically moves from right to the left and all the player has to do is to press a single button to drop the depth charges. The boat makes three passes along the surface and the objective of the game is simply to score as many points as possible. More points are earned by hitting submarines at higher depths and upon reaching 600 and 900 points additional passes are given.

Also known as: Depthcharge
Released: 1978
Platforms: Apple II Arcade
Genres: Arcade Shooter Strategy
Developers: Chris Oberth Gremlin Industries Gremlin Interactive
Publishers: The Elektrik Keyboard Data East Esco Trading Gremlin Industries Sega Taito Gremlin Interactive
Modes: Single-player
Perspective: Side view
Themes: Action
Country: United States

About

Depth Charge is an action video game for the Apple II programmed by Chris Oberth and published by The Elektrik Keyboard of Chicago, Illinois in 1978. A clone of the 1977 arcade video game Depthcharge, the player drops explosives from a moving ship attempting to eliminate submarines below it.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Like the 1977 arcade game Depthcharge that it emulates, Depth Charge puts the player in control of a small ship that drops depth charges onto passing submarines. In the arcade original, the player moves the ship left and right, but in Depthcharge the ship automatically makes three passes from right to left across the top of the screen, and four submarines at varying depths move from left to right below it. Destroying deeper subs earns more points. An extra pass is awarded at 600 points and another at 900.