Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Navy Moves offers a classic side-scrolling shooter experience that builds on the foundations laid by its predecessor, Army Moves. You step into the boots of McArra, a member of an elite special pacification force, and your first task is to navigate a perilous minefield aboard a Zodiac inflatable. The physics of the boat create a sense of momentum that you must master quickly—too slow and you’ll fall prey to well‐placed sea mines, too fast and you risk colliding with enemy jet skis.

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Once past the surface segment, the game transitions seamlessly into an underwater exploration phase. Here, the focus shifts from high-speed dodging to careful platforming among underwater caves. Enemies range from hostile patrol divers to aggressive fauna like sharks and giant squids, each with unique movement patterns. Mastering your harpoon gun’s range and timing your oxygen consumption becomes crucial as you delve deeper.

The second half of Navy Moves takes place inside the enemy submarine U-5544. This part introduces light puzzle elements: you must eliminate key officers, claim their ID cards, and unlock new compartments. The layout feels like a labyrinth, with hidden passages and vents that encourage exploration. Finding the reactor room, planting the bomb, and escaping under a time limit injects a thrilling sense of urgency.

Throughout the game, you’ll discover occasional power-ups and extra lives, though they are scarce and often hidden. Boss encounters—whether it’s a massive squid blocking your path underwater or a heavily armored commander inside the sub—test both your reflexes and strategic planning. The blend of high-intensity shooting, platforming, and light puzzle solving keeps the gameplay varied and engaging from start to finish.

Graphics

For its time, Navy Moves delivers crisp, well-detailed sprite work that brings both maritime and submarine environments to life. The Zodiac stage features rippling water effects and subtle wave animations that enhance immersion. Enemy jet skis and sea mines are instantly recognizable, allowing you to focus on reaction rather than guessing what’s on screen.

Underwater sections showcase a deeper color palette, with shades of blue and green layered in parallax backgrounds to simulate ocean depth. Marine life enemies are animated with fluid motions—sharks snap with realistic timing, and giant squids flail their tentacles menacingly. The occasional glowing treasure chest or hidden alcove stands out against darker rock formations.

Inside the submarine, the visuals shift to tight corridors, blinking control panels, and harsh fluorescent lighting. The contrast between underwater exploration and metallic hallways keeps the experience fresh. Door panels slide open smoothly when you use an ID card, adding a satisfying mechanical feel to each unlocked section.

Character animations are simple but effective: McArra’s running, swimming, and shooting poses are distinct and readable. Explosions and weapon fire carry a punch with bright flashes and small debris animations. Though the game sticks to a limited color range, smart use of shading and detailing helps maintain clarity even in hectic moments.

Story

The narrative of Navy Moves is straightforward yet compelling in its urgency. You play as McArra, tasked with Operation Cephalopod: infiltrate and destroy the rogue nuclear submarine U-5544 before it triggers a global imbalance. The intro provides just enough context without bogging down the action, allowing the goal to remain front and center.

Compared to Army Moves, the story in Navy Moves feels more cohesive, with both surface and interior sections tied directly to the mission objective. Brief text prompts introduce new areas and objectives, ensuring you always know why you’re diving into caves or sneaking through enemy corridors. This clear pacing keeps the stakes high from the minefield to the reactor room.

While dialogue is minimal, encounters with enemy officers hint at a larger conspiracy—each officer eliminated reveals a fragment of the submarine’s security protocols. The absence of lengthy cutscenes means the game never interrupts your momentum, but a few static screens or simple animations could have elevated the dramatic tension further.

In its simplicity, Navy Moves’ story succeeds by delivering a clear, action-driven goal and a sense of progression. You’re not just blasting foes—you’re racing against time to avert nuclear disaster. That urgency translates directly into gameplay, making every checkpoint and oxygen refill feel critical to mission success.

Overall Experience

Navy Moves strikes a satisfying balance between challenge and reward, offering around an hour of intense gameplay for first-time players and more for those seeking perfection. Checkpoints are fairly spaced but demand precision; mistakes often result in quick restarts, which can be punishing but also encourage you to learn enemy patterns and level layouts.

The game’s audio—chiptune melodies and punchy sound effects—complements the action without overpowering it. Rocket fire and underwater bubbles are distinct audio cues that help you react quickly to new threats. While the soundtrack doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it maintains a driving rhythm that matches the on-screen pace.

Controls are responsive and well-tuned: McArra turns, shoots, and swims with minimal input lag. The transition between surface boat physics and underwater movement feels natural, even if mastering both takes practice. The learning curve is firm but fair, making each new run feel like an opportunity to refine your strategy.

Overall, Navy Moves is a memorable retro shooter that combines varied level design, solid mechanics, and a lean narrative into a cohesive package. It may show its age in pixel density and limited color range, but its core design remains compelling. For fans of classic side-scrolling action, or anyone curious about the evolution from Army Moves, Navy Moves delivers an engaging journey from a minefield to the heart of an enemy submarine.

Retro Replay Score

5.9/10