I think the idea of regular animals being elevated to monster status through sheer size, aggression, and unnatural intelligence is really cool. It's like how folklore and mythology forms when people at sea witness some batshit ocean creatures and give them names and stories. Like even though Hydra and Kerberos were "just" three animals working in unison, in the perspective of a human diver it would be fucking terrifying to be attacked by three giant, normally solitary & kinda dumb, sharks/eels at the same time, and they'd definitely be described to other people as a multi-headed monster or in a way reminiscent of one. Also the ending cutscene feels to me like Rahab is conceding defeat to our anime protagonist(s) and giving them the further satisfaction of knowing that they undid all of his work, letting humanity have the oceans for now, but making a promise to return one day. Even though he despises humanity for encroaching on the seas and despoiling them, Rahab himself is upsetting the natural balance of the seas as well (hello, giant, whale-slaughtering crab and oarfish craving blood). It's almost like a divine being stooping down to the level of animals and claiming all water of the world as his territory, which he never had to do in the past, when nothing rivaled him.
It's also implied that all the sea creatures that were attacking the player over the course of the game were only doing so because rahabs influence was making them into bloodthirsty monsters and once rahab was defeated his power over the creatures of the sea was broken and they returned to their normal natures and likely stopped attacking people and their ships for the most part
So random fact to add to this: Moray eels are actually much smarter than their appearance lets on, and are known to engage in cooperative interspecies hunting behavior with grouper fish, and while normally solitary, on rare occasions they can congregate. So while it'd be pretty out there, it's not as far outside the realm of possibility as it may at first seem.
@@WoobooRidesAgain There's also footage of them following divers hunting lionfish. Also barracuda and sharks and the same groupers, either picking up on the lionfish hunts or being actively trained by the divers.
@@InternetHydra I've heard it argued that the fish trained the divers, since aside from the moray eels they won't hunt non-native lionfish on their own, & sharks at least will actively recruit spearfishing divers to hunt lionfish (to elaborate, they'll sometimes approach spearfishing divers & lead them to lionfish hideouts)
Actually, I really like that most of the monsters here turn out to be regular animals instead of actual monsters. It shows how human can interpretate things the wrong way, like a sailor in the old times seeing a beluga and thinking it was a mermaid.
Tbh Medusa being a Jellyfish feels also like a play of words, besides the Medusa stage there's also the point that in Spanish Jellyfishes are called "Medusas de Mar" (Sea Medusas) So in a way it's completely accurate
You are seriously a very underrated channel. All your reviews are well edited, well informed about the topic at hand and have a lot of work put into them. Not to mention they’re also genuinely funny. Keep up the good work
The final slapboxing with Rahab is actually really rewarding to me. I loved how it was so...Terrifying. It made sense, when I was younger. And that ending epilogue? WHOO!
The uplifting and inspiring feeling one gets from watching or playing this game is sorely missed in this day and age. Just pure unfiltered unpretentious and non-deconstructive adventure. Go forth, battle monsters, claim riches, be a hero!
This game brings back so many memories! The steam punk aesthetic is colorful. The music is bombastic. Even the narrator is stylized by pacing when he says locations and monsters. It is a perfect game
This game holds a special place in my heart, it was one of the big main attractions of the (at the time) newly opened big and shiny arcade here called Timezone in the Philippines. Was in awe of it as a kid, the machine looked huge and the whole mounted harpoon gun thing was eyecatching. Also gave both a longtime fear and fascination of the deep ocean and the creatures that thrive in it. I liked how the ending too detailed the origins of the final boss. I always wished this turned into a series as well, really liked the whole steampunk-like world and overall concept. They could have gotten creative with potentially more interesting and fantastical creatures too in another game. Great review! Loved the tidbits of trivia, history and such.
I actually love the idea of these hyper aggressive sea creatures being named after myths. If this game got a remake the bosses cpuld be fully realized. Like hydra eels replacing their bodies if you dont defeat the fry fast enough.
I LOVE when you explain the mythology behind every boss, I'm a sucker for history and prehistory, and I literally just discovered this game a week ago. When I saw the ending I thought: "Wait we are the baddies?" 😅 Also, is funny that almost every boss recycle the Predator/Yautja roar
Can we all agree that 27:20 is a bad***, who survived 10 days with almost no air to breath, water to drink and weapon to defend himself against parasites. 😸😄
The actual hero of the story. He was only there for unclaimed treasure, trapped against his own volition, only harm sea life in self defense, and leave as soon as rescue arrive. Unlike our playable characters, who were there for bloodshed and killed the sea creatures who were supposedly there to protect the ocean.
Im so glad I found this channel. It's very rare to see people talking about 90s/2000s arcade games, never the less in this much depth. Your videos are well editing and your voice is really easy to listen to, I can't wait to see your channel grow!!
This arcade game has lodged itself in my head as a core memory playing this with my friend at a FunLand birthday party. It's also got...weirdly GOOD worldbuilding for a light gun game.
The first time I saw this cabinet, I saw the enclosed version in a wal-mart mini arcade. Yeah, it scared me. Just the thought of giant sea creatures with razor sharp teeth sent fear down my spine. Years later, I worked up the courage to play it. I think I was ten when the longest I got was the second stage of the Leviathan. I have long thought this game was lost in modern day arcades. But after I became an adult, I found a late-night classic arcade in my city, and they had it. Best of all, it was free to play. That's when I finally beat it. Because of my love for the ocean, and mythology, I have to say this game is the greatest arcade game ever made.
My god, what a fun channel this is. Who the hell gets up one day and says "I'm going to do a whole channel of detailed walkthrough reviews of thirty-year-old arcade rail shooters"? Amazing fun to watch and the easiest sub I've had in ages. All hail the algorithm. Congratulations on some great content.
Love the mythological references in the game. Thanks for facts on the references to real life and myth in your video. I love when writers and games developers reference multiple cultures. Great stuff.
Thank you SO MUCH for this vid. I've been endlessly fascinated by this game ever since I saw a gameplay video of it years ago. There's just something about it: the at-times jarring animations, the music, the real-life creatures treated as sea monsters, the lore behind Rahab revealed during the credits, my own deep thalassophobia...I dunno, this game just fascinates me, and draws me in every time. Absolutely love that you took your time with it, explaining the lore and the experience of playing it, you definitely have a deep love of this game and some fond memories of it, and it shows. Loved your vid on the Jurassic Park railshooters as well, used to play those so often in a local arcade back in the day. Great stuff, keep it up, and thank you again!
Ah, this game takes me back. My favorite one to play at Six Flags: Darien Lake when I was a kid. We'd ride the coasters, then when it'd storm take shelter in the arcade. As the thunderous downpour raged outside, I made my battle against the horrors of the deep. When I'd try to find gameplay footage, or reviews, I came up empty or with camcorder footage. Until you came along. Thak you for such an impassioned review on a gem of a pastime game!
I happened across this channel scrolling TH-cam all night on a whim, I am surprised at the wonderful editing, knowledge, and easy-on-the-ears voice giving the review! I'll be coming back often.
I absolutely love on rail shooter so I'm really surprised that i haven't found your channel before. Your step-by-step explaination of the game and your knowledge of both mythology and sea animal facts is really great!
I love your videos. I love all the creatures and environments in this game. As a Mexican, I really enjoyed Lake Texcoco making an appearance in this game
I'm really surprised you've only started uploading a few months ago. Your reviews are really well done! This game and Lost World were two games I had to play at any arcade that had them when I was growing up. Thank you for the nostalgia trip
Funnily enough after first discovering your review of the JP Arcade games, it immediately made me want more reviews of a similar style to other arcade games, with Ocean Hunter being the first one to come to mind.
I actually saw this game in the wild. 1:35 When this scene came up, just watching two people play it from a distance scared me more than the movie Jaws or Deep Blue Sea.
thanks for making this, arcade was part of my childhood especially this game. I like your trivia and fun facts mixed into the game review. Also your humor and refferences are great. That being said: i wouldve pushed you off the seat after baroque sea like damn you get hit often (if that is you playing in the gameplay footage) 😁
If you see me not shooting or shooting slowly in any particular clip in any particular video, that is on purpose so you can see more of the enemy and their animations. My rail shooter videos usually take footage from several playthroughs.
Just want to remark that it's fantastic to watch a TH-cam who deep-dives (hah, pun!) into arcade games. Feels like there's so many arcade games out there that are actually great content for a video, but nobody ever covers 'em! You definitely earned a sub!
One of my favorite arcade games from back in the day. Sadly, I never managed to complete it. As a kid, I never managed to kill Kraken but the lore of the game is some of the best I have seen.
Watched my uncles play this game at an Arcade near the beach, and in my dumb kid mind it freaked me out knowing there was even the possibility of facing things in the game even if they were just regular animals. Still, the kid in my head always gives the ocean the double finger salute whenever I get in the water. Honestly always really liked the style of the game along with the cabinet itself.
I’m so happy that someone covered this game and covered it so well! This is my first time watching your videos and you absolutely won my subscription. I love ocean hunter ever since I was a little kid who was too chicken to play it but always watched others bravely play it.
When you had mentioned the cut plesiosaur boss in the lost world arcade I thought of the Ahuizotl in this game and was hoping for a review of ocean hunter. Great review!
I'm very grateful that you covered this game, as well as the JP arcade games, these have been small parts of my childhood, yet left a big mark in my memories, and it was so nice to see each of them covered in such details and lore, great editing too!
I do have to say, I love video essay videos so much. And the fact the make videos of my favorite arcade games growing up brings me nostalgia and I love it. Keep up with the good work! ❤️❤️
Ocean Hunter was my favorite cabinet to play at our local mall. This video is the best review of Ocean Hunter I've seen yet! Can't wait to go watch your Lost World vids
Oh hell yeah, this video was awesome- your channel got recommended to me out of nowhere and I'm so glad I clicked. I was quite fond of this game growing up and played all the way through with my mom at the time, lol. Hope you cover more rail shooters- you put a lot of work into this video and it shows- looking forward to seeing more from you! Another light gun game I remember fondly was Sega's The Maze of the Kings- I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that one if you enjoyed it~!
I was just nodding along with the commentary at 22:45 talking about how strange it is that the "medusa" boss is a jellyfish and not a snake and why it made sense before realising that I'm Italian and our word for jellyfish is just medusa
I really enjoyed your review of the Jurrasic Park arcade machines and this video too. I appreciated the attention to detail when it came to the creatures of this game and this video shows you put alot of thought and effort into making it and I hope you continue making arcade reviews like this one!
This is actually my favorite arcade game of all time. I once was late for a flight because I found one at a restaurant and couldn’t leave until beating it.
Let's goooooo. This was my go to when my arcades lost world machine was down or full up. Glad you covered this, it certainly gave me a fear of the ocean
Honestly, this is one arcade rail shooter I'd seriously like to try out. It fascinates me, how it uses many mythical monsters as bosses, many of the minibosses being regular animals also mirroring how humans see strange new animals and interpret them as even scarier creatures. Plus, I've been growing a newfound appreciation for underwater settings in video games, as well as sunken temples, myths and stories about Atlantis and sea monsters and whatnot - heck, LEGO Atlantis was the one LEGO set collection I'd love to own the most - and settings that are more Lovecraftian in nature are also cool. Most of the underwater games and levels I really love tend to put a lot of emphasis in the serenity and beauty of the ocean, or the possible horror of its deep mysteries, so it's nice to see games put emphasis on its more upfront and natural dangers... even if it comes from brainwashed wild life that's usually not that dangerous 😅 I'm surprised they didn't include lionfish here as well... Other things regarding the game, let's see... oh, if you don't shoot any skeletons, I think a living skeleton will appear either in the penultimate level inside Midgardsorm, or at the high score screen alongside the other rescued people. Panthalassa is the name given to the primordial ocean from the time of Pangea, the origin point of life. Kerberos may be quite a bit lamer than what they'd have any right to be, but it does parallel the "being the guardian to the underworld" part pretty well. One thing I find fascinating about Dagon is that, for his first two stages, he kinda mirrors human evolution, but as a giant triton - first walking on all fours, then up straight on two legs. Given what he becomes in his third stage, I imagine this could imply that our own next stage of evolution... could be a somewhat unflattering one 😅 and I see everyone else explained their two cents about him, so there's no need for me to do so!
You're right, that banded sea krait was incredibly cute. Excellent review of this game! I never played it myself, but I was always curious about it when I saw it IRL in an arcade. Surprisingly stylish game!
I only ever played this once as a child and it was impactful enough to give me a life long irrational fear of giant sea creatures and deep dark oceans.
So cool to see a full detailed review of this. This game takes me back to my childhood I remember playing this game as a kid/teen at a local pizza arcade place. And one of the few lightgun games I actually beat and didn't go broke or give up half way through. Those chonky gun turrets were so satisfying to shoot.
i like the leviathan desgin, thyey use a lot of different type of sharks to create a different part of the boss also Karkinos most people know it as Crabzilla
Oh to see my favorite arcade game of all time AND looking very clean is a dream! Finding this cabinet in the wild is beyond rare but always makes my heart soar, I love being scared consistently by all the sea wildlife and how much of a "boss rush" it is
You deserve this subscription, I adore light gun games and to get funny, in depth, well edited long form content is a blessing. Definitely will be binging reviews from you today.
Very nice review! I also played this game as a kid and I really enjoyed it. I played it on an actual arcade in an Italian restaurant, it's still there after all those years! Thank you for this review as it addresses why this game is amazing while also calling out the reused designs.
This is hands down my all time favorite light gun shooter. Never made it past Leviathan back in the day as I was just a kid and I've been searching for a cabinet ever since. Thank you so much for this massive wave of nostalgia.
I only saw this game in passing a few times, and never got to play it. Thank you for showing it in such detail; now I feel like I didn't miss out! You put a ton of effort into this. I really appreciate the explanations you gave concerning the monsters' mythological names, along with the imagery. To be honest, I found the fact that they took inspiration from so many real creatures instead of fantastical ones a little disappointing, so you taking the time to talk about and show the differences between fiction, inspiration, and reality made this whole video probably more entertaining than actually playing the game. I'm subbing and looking forward to seeing more from you!
I love the 2D character art and the glimpses at the setting. This sort of detail that draws you in and feeds your imagination is a wonderful inclusion. It elevates the arcade game excuse plot from a matter of necessity for the arcades, into something that feels more organic - like this is just a small glimpse into a larger world.
Omg, these videos are fantastic. Love the analysis, gameplay, and personal input. Definitely a top-tier content creator already. Can't wait to watch for what else you have in store for us.
This brings back so many great memories. I remember as a kid in the late 90s seeing this in various arcades, but never got around to play it. Fast-forward to the early 2000s, and I find and finally play this gem located in an arcade in the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas (said arcade was gone when I visited last year. Boo). Teaming up with my sister, we made it to the final level, our run only ending at Uni Bozu because the machine couldn't take any more quarters. Fast-forward to a few years back, and I discover a working machine at the Barcade in Jersey City. Wielding two guns and plenty of quarters, I finally completed this game after all these years, my victory only compounded by the fact that that music was being drowned out by the other arcade machines. Thank you for bringing back memories from a childhood long ended. You have my appreciation. P.S. Is it just me or does the choir at 36:30 sound like they're making Indian war cries?
I fell in love with this arcade game thanks to your video, so much so that I've somehow begun plotting a TTRPG game with the themes of it around it. So thank ya so much for this! Been a long time since I've been this inspired to work on a game at all.
I love your arcade videos!! They’re really nice to watch and I’m always pleased to see them pop up in my recommended I love this games older style graphics paired with the ocean setting, it’s oddly calming
I would play this game nearly EVERY time I went to one of my local arcades, or to a movie theater that had an arcade section. This will forever be an all-time favorite of mine, and one of the biggest reasons why is that iconic boss fight theme for the first six main enemies.
Thank you for giving so much love to the best arcade undersea game. Love this game. It’s aged surprisingly well. This looks like a very fun channel. I can’t wait for you to review Teraburst, LA Machineguns and of course, House of the Dead.
This is such a fantastic video and commentary about obscure light gun/rail shooting arcade games. As a fan of Greek/Roman mythology, it's still a cool factor on naming bosses with mythical creatures despite the loose Japanese interpretation. A similar game that reminds me of this is Taito's Darius series, a space shooter with its main boss motif of various fish designs as massive aerial battleships.
I remember first playing this as a kid in a small shopping mall close to my house! There was a little arcade next to the cinema that had this game, House of the Dead and a few other titles. I loved this one because of it's atmosphere and soundtrack. I can still remember going there, playing this until I ran out of quarters, hearing the other people in the arcade cheering for me and eating a warm waffle after I was done. Sadly the arcade is dead now and so is most of the shopping mall, but I will forever remember those rainy afternoons and the sweet smell of candies and popcorn that was always there when I played this. There was even one time where I was joined by a random guy who asked to play with me, but even with company I never made it past Karkinos. Would love to play this again in a real arcade. ❤
I'm glad someone here went out of their way to make a review on this game! I absolutely love old/underrated/obscure ones and Ocean Hunter was one of those games that I've only ever seen once in my local arcade as a kid here in southeast asia and never again,, I appreciate how in-depth you go with explaining the different bosses and mechanics, it really does make me feel like I'm playing the game ahah The video's length is a plus too, it's great to listen to in the bg or even just actively like I'm watching archived footage/a documentary,, it's great! and the little details like playing a bit of "you spin me round" with each enemy kill in the west ocean part was a neat addition that had me rolling when i noticed it Would you be doing more of these? There's an arcade game made by taito called Haunted Museum/Panic Musem,, you might find it interesting :0 but really though keep up the great stuff! I look forward to the next review^^
I have Haunted Museum 1 and 2 on my to-review list, but it'll probably be a while before I cover them. I played them for the first time on a stream over on my gaming channel not too long ago if you're interested in my raw reactions. I will definitely be covering more old, underrated, and/or obscure games on this channel, and not just rail shooters. Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
i love the argument behind this game about whether we humans are the true villains of this game. After all, does the ocean not have the rights to defend itself if the waters would be threatened by pollution and over hunting. the guardian monsters, however scary they are, live in harmony with their local wildlife and poses no threat to the balance of their environment
Deep Water Galactic (Deep Rock Galactic but deep underwater on some super hostile alien ocean world, maybe with armored mermaids or just dwarves in big diving suits) would actually go super hard as a game.
When I was a kid I saw this game at my local Peter piper pizza. I don’t remember if I ever played it, but I did remember seeing someone play the Texaco Great Lake level and one of the divers was eaten alive by piranhas. Safe to say I was traumatized, I miss those days.
I think the idea of regular animals being elevated to monster status through sheer size, aggression, and unnatural intelligence is really cool. It's like how folklore and mythology forms when people at sea witness some batshit ocean creatures and give them names and stories. Like even though Hydra and Kerberos were "just" three animals working in unison, in the perspective of a human diver it would be fucking terrifying to be attacked by three giant, normally solitary & kinda dumb, sharks/eels at the same time, and they'd definitely be described to other people as a multi-headed monster or in a way reminiscent of one.
Also the ending cutscene feels to me like Rahab is conceding defeat to our anime protagonist(s) and giving them the further satisfaction of knowing that they undid all of his work, letting humanity have the oceans for now, but making a promise to return one day. Even though he despises humanity for encroaching on the seas and despoiling them, Rahab himself is upsetting the natural balance of the seas as well (hello, giant, whale-slaughtering crab and oarfish craving blood). It's almost like a divine being stooping down to the level of animals and claiming all water of the world as his territory, which he never had to do in the past, when nothing rivaled him.
It's also implied that all the sea creatures that were attacking the player over the course of the game were only doing so because rahabs influence was making them into bloodthirsty monsters and once rahab was defeated his power over the creatures of the sea was broken and they returned to their normal natures and likely stopped attacking people and their ships for the most part
That is such an interesting interpretation...
So random fact to add to this: Moray eels are actually much smarter than their appearance lets on, and are known to engage in cooperative interspecies hunting behavior with grouper fish, and while normally solitary, on rare occasions they can congregate. So while it'd be pretty out there, it's not as far outside the realm of possibility as it may at first seem.
@@WoobooRidesAgain There's also footage of them following divers hunting lionfish. Also barracuda and sharks and the same groupers, either picking up on the lionfish hunts or being actively trained by the divers.
@@InternetHydra I've heard it argued that the fish trained the divers, since aside from the moray eels they won't hunt non-native lionfish on their own, & sharks at least will actively recruit spearfishing divers to hunt lionfish (to elaborate, they'll sometimes approach spearfishing divers & lead them to lionfish hideouts)
Actually, I really like that most of the monsters here turn out to be regular animals instead of actual monsters. It shows how human can interpretate things the wrong way, like a sailor in the old times seeing a beluga and thinking it was a mermaid.
Agreed
I mean they’re still monsters, just using larger than life animals with over exaggerated features
And then there is Rahab
Disagree
that sailor was down bad
I always thought Karkinos’s introduction was amusing.
Hunter: I wonder where Karkinos is.
Karkinos: HEY KIDS WANNA SEE A DEAD BODY?!?
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! 😱
@@zacharyjoy8724STOP SCREAMING
@@alexconn7473 (Cue whimpering like scared little dogs!)
@@alexconn7473WHY ARE WE YELLING!?!?!
I don't get it...Please elaborate. His intro was just him emerging from the sea bed, no?
Tbh Medusa being a Jellyfish feels also like a play of words, besides the Medusa stage there's also the point that in Spanish Jellyfishes are called "Medusas de Mar" (Sea Medusas)
So in a way it's completely accurate
You are seriously a very underrated channel. All your reviews are well edited, well informed about the topic at hand and have a lot of work put into them. Not to mention they’re also genuinely funny. Keep up the good work
The final slapboxing with Rahab is actually really rewarding to me. I loved how it was so...Terrifying. It made sense, when I was younger. And that ending epilogue? WHOO!
I love how you put in the history behind the creatures we're fighting, that was a great touch!
The uplifting and inspiring feeling one gets from watching or playing this game is sorely missed in this day and age. Just pure unfiltered unpretentious and non-deconstructive adventure. Go forth, battle monsters, claim riches, be a hero!
This game brings back so many memories!
The steam punk aesthetic is colorful.
The music is bombastic.
Even the narrator is stylized by pacing when he says locations and monsters.
It is a perfect game
The sea and mythological monsters in a rail shooter. This game would be right up my alley!
It's very atmospheric in the booth, the turrets vibrate and shoot loud
@@geedee1264yeah bro I remember being a kid and playing this, the atmosphere was creepy but really cool
There's nothing better then mid to late 90s tropical/beach/oceans in 3D video games. It's such a specific style but I love them. Great video!
This game holds a special place in my heart, it was one of the big main attractions of the (at the time) newly opened big and shiny arcade here called Timezone in the Philippines. Was in awe of it as a kid, the machine looked huge and the whole mounted harpoon gun thing was eyecatching. Also gave both a longtime fear and fascination of the deep ocean and the creatures that thrive in it. I liked how the ending too detailed the origins of the final boss. I always wished this turned into a series as well, really liked the whole steampunk-like world and overall concept. They could have gotten creative with potentially more interesting and fantastical creatures too in another game. Great review! Loved the tidbits of trivia, history and such.
you should try out death in the water 2, its pretty similar to this game, and they're still updating it...
@@Gatofato69 Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out!
My memories of this arcade is in Quantum. Played the shit out of it with my older cousin. At 5 pesos per token, it was worth it!
@@gabrielvalencia7647 Hello fellow Pinoy! Agreed, Quantum was great! I missed the cheaper per token pricing we had too.
I actually love the idea of these hyper aggressive sea creatures being named after myths. If this game got a remake the bosses cpuld be fully realized.
Like hydra eels replacing their bodies if you dont defeat the fry fast enough.
Lmao a clown car of eels in those holes.
I LOVE when you explain the mythology behind every boss, I'm a sucker for history and prehistory, and I literally just discovered this game a week ago. When I saw the ending I thought: "Wait we are the baddies?" 😅 Also, is funny that almost every boss recycle the Predator/Yautja roar
Can we all agree that 27:20 is a bad***, who survived 10 days with almost no air to breath, water to drink and weapon to defend himself against parasites.
😸😄
He earned that crown.
He did have a sword. Honestly that probably makes him more badass
I like the way he pokes his head round the corner at 27:46
The actual hero of the story. He was only there for unclaimed treasure, trapped against his own volition, only harm sea life in self defense, and leave as soon as rescue arrive. Unlike our playable characters, who were there for bloodshed and killed the sea creatures who were supposedly there to protect the ocean.
This is going to be another Bexx classic I can tell.
Maybe we will see more in soNic 3 movie
This game could be in time zone 😭
Im so glad I found this channel. It's very rare to see people talking about 90s/2000s arcade games, never the less in this much depth. Your videos are well editing and your voice is really easy to listen to, I can't wait to see your channel grow!!
This arcade game has lodged itself in my head as a core memory playing this with my friend at a FunLand birthday party. It's also got...weirdly GOOD worldbuilding for a light gun game.
The first time I saw this cabinet, I saw the enclosed version in a wal-mart mini arcade. Yeah, it scared me. Just the thought of giant sea creatures with razor sharp teeth sent fear down my spine. Years later, I worked up the courage to play it. I think I was ten when the longest I got was the second stage of the Leviathan. I have long thought this game was lost in modern day arcades. But after I became an adult, I found a late-night classic arcade in my city, and they had it. Best of all, it was free to play. That's when I finally beat it. Because of my love for the ocean, and mythology, I have to say this game is the greatest arcade game ever made.
My god, what a fun channel this is. Who the hell gets up one day and says "I'm going to do a whole channel of detailed walkthrough reviews of thirty-year-old arcade rail shooters"? Amazing fun to watch and the easiest sub I've had in ages. All hail the algorithm.
Congratulations on some great content.
As an avid fisherman and a marine life buff, I had a field day naming all the sea creatures in the game!
Love the mythological references in the game. Thanks for facts on the references to real life and myth in your video. I love when writers and games developers reference multiple cultures. Great stuff.
I really like your presentation style and the fact that you cover games that I don’t really know/will prolly never play.
Thank you SO MUCH for this vid. I've been endlessly fascinated by this game ever since I saw a gameplay video of it years ago. There's just something about it: the at-times jarring animations, the music, the real-life creatures treated as sea monsters, the lore behind Rahab revealed during the credits, my own deep thalassophobia...I dunno, this game just fascinates me, and draws me in every time. Absolutely love that you took your time with it, explaining the lore and the experience of playing it, you definitely have a deep love of this game and some fond memories of it, and it shows. Loved your vid on the Jurassic Park railshooters as well, used to play those so often in a local arcade back in the day. Great stuff, keep it up, and thank you again!
Ah, this game takes me back. My favorite one to play at Six Flags: Darien Lake when I was a kid. We'd ride the coasters, then when it'd storm take shelter in the arcade. As the thunderous downpour raged outside, I made my battle against the horrors of the deep.
When I'd try to find gameplay footage, or reviews, I came up empty or with camcorder footage.
Until you came along. Thak you for such an impassioned review on a gem of a pastime game!
I happened across this channel scrolling TH-cam all night on a whim, I am surprised at the wonderful editing, knowledge, and easy-on-the-ears voice giving the review! I'll be coming back often.
I absolutely love on rail shooter so I'm really surprised that i haven't found your channel before. Your step-by-step explaination of the game and your knowledge of both mythology and sea animal facts is really great!
I would like to point out that while Rahab is indeed a wholly original monster the game still classifies it as a Gigantopethicus species, lol.
The "ASS" at the end lol love it, memories.
I love your videos. I love all the creatures and environments in this game. As a Mexican, I really enjoyed Lake Texcoco making an appearance in this game
I hope I didn't butcher the Aztec names too much.
I'm really surprised you've only started uploading a few months ago. Your reviews are really well done! This game and Lost World were two games I had to play at any arcade that had them when I was growing up. Thank you for the nostalgia trip
I spent a lot of tokens on this game! It was so much fun, and I’ve beaten it a few times! Leviathan was my favorite boss, Megalodon battle!
Funnily enough after first discovering your review of the JP Arcade games, it immediately made me want more reviews of a similar style to other arcade games, with Ocean Hunter being the first one to come to mind.
I actually saw this game in the wild.
1:35
When this scene came up, just watching two people play it from a distance scared me more than the movie Jaws or Deep Blue Sea.
thanks for making this, arcade was part of my childhood especially this game. I like your trivia and fun facts mixed into the game review. Also your humor and refferences are great. That being said: i wouldve pushed you off the seat after baroque sea like damn you get hit often (if that is you playing in the gameplay footage) 😁
If you see me not shooting or shooting slowly in any particular clip in any particular video, that is on purpose so you can see more of the enemy and their animations. My rail shooter videos usually take footage from several playthroughs.
Love this game, played it whenever I went to Wunderland when I was younger. Good to see that this gem is getting recognition.
Ngl, that shot of Charybdis eating the two divers gave me nightmares as a kid.
Just want to remark that it's fantastic to watch a TH-cam who deep-dives (hah, pun!) into arcade games. Feels like there's so many arcade games out there that are actually great content for a video, but nobody ever covers 'em! You definitely earned a sub!
One of my favorite arcade games from back in the day. Sadly, I never managed to complete it. As a kid, I never managed to kill Kraken but the lore of the game is some of the best I have seen.
Watched my uncles play this game at an Arcade near the beach, and in my dumb kid mind it freaked me out knowing there was even the possibility of facing things in the game even if they were just regular animals. Still, the kid in my head always gives the ocean the double finger salute whenever I get in the water. Honestly always really liked the style of the game along with the cabinet itself.
I’m so happy that someone covered this game and covered it so well! This is my first time watching your videos and you absolutely won my subscription. I love ocean hunter ever since I was a little kid who was too chicken to play it but always watched others bravely play it.
When you had mentioned the cut plesiosaur boss in the lost world arcade I thought of the Ahuizotl in this game and was hoping for a review of ocean hunter. Great review!
Wonder if they didn't just shuffle that idea into this one. The thing's head looks rather JP-dino
I'm very grateful that you covered this game, as well as the JP arcade games, these have been small parts of my childhood, yet left a big mark in my memories, and it was so nice to see each of them covered in such details and lore, great editing too!
Love the reimaginings of the sea beasts.
I do have to say, I love video essay videos so much. And the fact the make videos of my favorite arcade games growing up brings me nostalgia and I love it. Keep up with the good work! ❤️❤️
The amount of Predator noises cracks me up
Easily
My favourite rail shooter. So many good memories. Well…also some terrifying nightmares too
Ocean Hunter was my favorite cabinet to play at our local mall. This video is the best review of Ocean Hunter I've seen yet! Can't wait to go watch your Lost World vids
This was one of my favorite rail shooters growing up
Oh hell yeah, this video was awesome- your channel got recommended to me out of nowhere and I'm so glad I clicked. I was quite fond of this game growing up and played all the way through with my mom at the time, lol.
Hope you cover more rail shooters- you put a lot of work into this video and it shows- looking forward to seeing more from you! Another light gun game I remember fondly was Sega's The Maze of the Kings- I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that one if you enjoyed it~!
Just found this channel, great video
Totally my jam this was one of my favorite games growing up
I was just nodding along with the commentary at 22:45 talking about how strange it is that the "medusa" boss is a jellyfish and not a snake and why it made sense before realising that I'm Italian and our word for jellyfish is just medusa
I really enjoyed your review of the Jurrasic Park arcade machines and this video too. I appreciated the attention to detail when it came to the creatures of this game and this video shows you put alot of thought and effort into making it and I hope you continue making arcade reviews like this one!
This is actually my favorite arcade game of all time. I once was late for a flight because I found one at a restaurant and couldn’t leave until beating it.
i can't believe how few subscribers you have, this is amazingly high quality and super interesting, great job friend :)
Let's goooooo. This was my go to when my arcades lost world machine was down or full up. Glad you covered this, it certainly gave me a fear of the ocean
Criminally underrated Chanel. I remember playing this game as a young child. Your correct, I think only once I got past level 3 XD
Honestly, this is one arcade rail shooter I'd seriously like to try out. It fascinates me, how it uses many mythical monsters as bosses, many of the minibosses being regular animals also mirroring how humans see strange new animals and interpret them as even scarier creatures.
Plus, I've been growing a newfound appreciation for underwater settings in video games, as well as sunken temples, myths and stories about Atlantis and sea monsters and whatnot - heck, LEGO Atlantis was the one LEGO set collection I'd love to own the most - and settings that are more Lovecraftian in nature are also cool.
Most of the underwater games and levels I really love tend to put a lot of emphasis in the serenity and beauty of the ocean, or the possible horror of its deep mysteries, so it's nice to see games put emphasis on its more upfront and natural dangers... even if it comes from brainwashed wild life that's usually not that dangerous 😅 I'm surprised they didn't include lionfish here as well...
Other things regarding the game, let's see... oh, if you don't shoot any skeletons, I think a living skeleton will appear either in the penultimate level inside Midgardsorm, or at the high score screen alongside the other rescued people.
Panthalassa is the name given to the primordial ocean from the time of Pangea, the origin point of life. Kerberos may be quite a bit lamer than what they'd have any right to be, but it does parallel the "being the guardian to the underworld" part pretty well.
One thing I find fascinating about Dagon is that, for his first two stages, he kinda mirrors human evolution, but as a giant triton - first walking on all fours, then up straight on two legs. Given what he becomes in his third stage, I imagine this could imply that our own next stage of evolution... could be a somewhat unflattering one 😅 and I see everyone else explained their two cents about him, so there's no need for me to do so!
You're right, that banded sea krait was incredibly cute.
Excellent review of this game! I never played it myself, but I was always curious about it when I saw it IRL in an arcade. Surprisingly stylish game!
23:03 hey that's the predator screech .
Yo I loved this game! I remember a local laser tag place had this in their arcade. Glad you're covering this!
I only ever played this once as a child and it was impactful enough to give me a life long irrational fear of giant sea creatures and deep dark oceans.
Oh boy, an arcade shooter, chock-full of vaguely recognisable animals, some of them being based on prehistoric life!
The mythology lessons are a nice touch too.
Found your channel last week and am hooked. Please keep putting out videos!
So cool to see a full detailed review of this. This game takes me back to my childhood I remember playing this game as a kid/teen at a local pizza arcade place. And one of the few lightgun games I actually beat and didn't go broke or give up half way through. Those chonky gun turrets were so satisfying to shoot.
i like the leviathan desgin, thyey use a lot of different type of sharks to create a different part of the boss also Karkinos most people know it as Crabzilla
This game, CarnEvil, and Jambo Safari were highlights of trips to the Circus Circus arcade. I hold them dear to my heart
Oh to see my favorite arcade game of all time AND looking very clean is a dream! Finding this cabinet in the wild is beyond rare but always makes my heart soar, I love being scared consistently by all the sea wildlife and how much of a "boss rush" it is
I was always so fascinated by the art of midgardsom as a kid, i just wanted to keep playing the game to see what that was
best youtube chanel, make me remind of childhood of how fun it was. talking about game that is good but some how forgotten and easily missed by people
I've fallen in love with your content style. You've earned yourself a new subscriber!
You deserve this subscription, I adore light gun games and to get funny, in depth, well edited long form content is a blessing.
Definitely will be binging reviews from you today.
I have such fond memories of this game. My dad and I would play it all the time at our local arcade.
I remember playing this at the Shanghai Sega World arcade when I was a wee boy. This brought back some great memories, great vid!
Very nice review!
I also played this game as a kid and I really enjoyed it.
I played it on an actual arcade in an Italian restaurant, it's still there after all those years!
Thank you for this review as it addresses why this game is amazing while also calling out the reused designs.
This is hands down my all time favorite light gun shooter. Never made it past Leviathan back in the day as I was just a kid and I've been searching for a cabinet ever since. Thank you so much for this massive wave of nostalgia.
I only saw this game in passing a few times, and never got to play it. Thank you for showing it in such detail; now I feel like I didn't miss out!
You put a ton of effort into this. I really appreciate the explanations you gave concerning the monsters' mythological names, along with the imagery. To be honest, I found the fact that they took inspiration from so many real creatures instead of fantastical ones a little disappointing, so you taking the time to talk about and show the differences between fiction, inspiration, and reality made this whole video probably more entertaining than actually playing the game. I'm subbing and looking forward to seeing more from you!
Crazy that you uploaded this while I was watching your Jurassic Park video. Crazy.
That ending is like the embodiment of that, "Are we the baddies?" meme
I mean as if us killing half the ecosystem in the ocean isn't enough of a hint...then yeah.
I love the 2D character art and the glimpses at the setting. This sort of detail that draws you in and feeds your imagination is a wonderful inclusion. It elevates the arcade game excuse plot from a matter of necessity for the arcades, into something that feels more organic - like this is just a small glimpse into a larger world.
You're a very underrated gaming reviewer, keep up the good videos!
Omg, these videos are fantastic. Love the analysis, gameplay, and personal input. Definitely a top-tier content creator already. Can't wait to watch for what else you have in store for us.
This brings back so many great memories. I remember as a kid in the late 90s seeing this in various arcades, but never got around to play it.
Fast-forward to the early 2000s, and I find and finally play this gem located in an arcade in the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas (said arcade was gone when I visited last year. Boo). Teaming up with my sister, we made it to the final level, our run only ending at Uni Bozu because the machine couldn't take any more quarters.
Fast-forward to a few years back, and I discover a working machine at the Barcade in Jersey City. Wielding two guns and plenty of quarters, I finally completed this game after all these years, my victory only compounded by the fact that that music was being drowned out by the other arcade machines.
Thank you for bringing back memories from a childhood long ended. You have my appreciation.
P.S. Is it just me or does the choir at 36:30 sound like they're making Indian war cries?
I fell in love with this arcade game thanks to your video, so much so that I've somehow begun plotting a TTRPG game with the themes of it around it. So thank ya so much for this! Been a long time since I've been this inspired to work on a game at all.
I love your arcade videos!! They’re really nice to watch and I’m always pleased to see them pop up in my recommended
I love this games older style graphics paired with the ocean setting, it’s oddly calming
I would play this game nearly EVERY time I went to one of my local arcades, or to a movie theater that had an arcade section. This will forever be an all-time favorite of mine, and one of the biggest reasons why is that iconic boss fight theme for the first six main enemies.
Legit didn’t even know I wanted this content but now I can’t get enough
Love this video, can't believe I can find good analysis about a light gun game that I never got to play as a kid
Thank you so much for this video. I needed the memory to activate and to finally see the end is lovely. Also great commentary
Thank you for giving so much love to the best arcade undersea game. Love this game. It’s aged surprisingly well. This looks like a very fun channel. I can’t wait for you to review Teraburst, LA Machineguns and of course, House of the Dead.
This is such a fantastic video and commentary about obscure light gun/rail shooting arcade games. As a fan of Greek/Roman mythology, it's still a cool factor on naming bosses with mythical creatures despite the loose Japanese interpretation. A similar game that reminds me of this is Taito's Darius series, a space shooter with its main boss motif of various fish designs as massive aerial battleships.
24:10 LOOKS LIKE MEAT'S BACK ON THE MENU BOYS!
Karkinos: WAIT A MINUTE I'M NOT GONNA BE CRAB LEGS WITHOUT A FIGHT!!!
Thank you for an amazing review! I'd always hoped someone would go into deeper depths with this game and you did a fantastic job with it!
I remember first playing this as a kid in a small shopping mall close to my house! There was a little arcade next to the cinema that had this game, House of the Dead and a few other titles. I loved this one because of it's atmosphere and soundtrack. I can still remember going there, playing this until I ran out of quarters, hearing the other people in the arcade cheering for me and eating a warm waffle after I was done. Sadly the arcade is dead now and so is most of the shopping mall, but I will forever remember those rainy afternoons and the sweet smell of candies and popcorn that was always there when I played this. There was even one time where I was joined by a random guy who asked to play with me, but even with company I never made it past Karkinos. Would love to play this again in a real arcade. ❤
This game should get a lot more recognition for how much soul was put into it.
I'm glad someone here went out of their way to make a review on this game! I absolutely love old/underrated/obscure ones and Ocean Hunter was one of those games that I've only ever seen once in my local arcade as a kid here in southeast asia and never again,, I appreciate how in-depth you go with explaining the different bosses and mechanics, it really does make me feel like I'm playing the game ahah
The video's length is a plus too, it's great to listen to in the bg or even just actively like I'm watching archived footage/a documentary,, it's great! and the little details like playing a bit of "you spin me round" with each enemy kill in the west ocean part was a neat addition that had me rolling when i noticed it
Would you be doing more of these? There's an arcade game made by taito called Haunted Museum/Panic Musem,, you might find it interesting :0 but really though keep up the great stuff! I look forward to the next review^^
I have Haunted Museum 1 and 2 on my to-review list, but it'll probably be a while before I cover them. I played them for the first time on a stream over on my gaming channel not too long ago if you're interested in my raw reactions.
I will definitely be covering more old, underrated, and/or obscure games on this channel, and not just rail shooters. Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Came to see a review of one of my favorite arcade games, stayed for the mythology and history explanations
i love the argument behind this game about whether we humans are the true villains of this game. After all, does the ocean not have the rights to defend itself if the waters would be threatened by pollution and over hunting. the guardian monsters, however scary they are, live in harmony with their local wildlife and poses no threat to the balance of their environment
Deep Water Galactic (Deep Rock Galactic but deep underwater on some super hostile alien ocean world, maybe with armored mermaids or just dwarves in big diving suits) would actually go super hard as a game.
When I was a kid I saw this game at my local Peter piper pizza. I don’t remember if I ever played it, but I did remember seeing someone play the Texaco Great Lake level and one of the divers was eaten alive by piranhas.
Safe to say I was traumatized, I miss those days.