Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Armored Encounter! and Sub Chase! deliver classic head-to-head action tailored for two players, putting you directly in control of tanks and attack craft over a fixed three-minute showdown. In Armored Encounter!, each player pilots a tank armed with 20 rounds of ammunition, with the final three shots color-coded to warn you that you’re running low. Quick reflexes and strategic positioning behind natural barriers or minefields become critical, especially as you toggle between cannon and guided missile fire in twelve distinct battlefield configurations.

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Sub Chase! flips the scenario to an aerial versus underwater duel: one player commands a Hawk hunter-killer jet scrolling left, while the other pilots a Shark missile-launching submarine scrolling right. Points are earned by striking your opponent and lost if your shots hit neutral ships sailing on the surface. Three game modes adjust missile guidance and launch patterns, ensuring every match feels fresh, whether you’re lobbing unguided torpedoes or locking onto your adversary with precision weaponry.

Both titles emphasize rapid fire, tight arenas, and split-screen competition—there’s no single-player AI to contend with, so the replay value hinges entirely on local multiplayer tension. Armored Encounter!’s alphanumeric mode selection (A through L) allows you to experiment with open plains, hilly terrain, complex mountainous barriers, and hidden minefields, while Sub Chase!’s numeric keys (1 through 3) refine your missile mechanics. This straightforward yet diverse rule set encourages friendly rivalries and frequent rematches.

Graphics

Graphically, these games hew closely to early Atari-era aesthetics, featuring crisp, blocky sprites and uncomplicated backgrounds that place gameplay clarity above visual flourishes. Armored Encounter! renders tanks as simple geometric shapes, barriers as solid bars or mountain-like clusters, and minefields with conspicuous ‘X’ markers. Despite the minimal palette, the bright color changes on low ammo rounds provide an effective, intuitive warning system that never feels out of place.

Sub Chase! maintains a similar visual language, with the Hawk jet and Shark submarine distinguished by flat-shaded icons against a scrolling horizon. Neutral ships sail in a contrasting hue, ensuring you can quickly differentiate between friend, foe, and civilian targets. Though environments lack dynamic textures or shading, the animation is smooth, projectile arcs are clearly visible, and the split-screen format remains readable even during hectic exchanges.

While purists of retro graphics will appreciate the nostalgic charm, modern players may find the block style simplistic. However, this simplicity ensures no confusion during frantic face-offs, keeping the action clean and immediately understandable. Both titles run at a steady pace, avoiding flicker or slowdown even when multiple missiles and explosions populate the field.

Story

Neither Armored Encounter! nor Sub Chase! relies on an elaborate narrative—these games are fundamentally about direct competitive play. Armored Encounter! casts you as rival tank commanders on disputed terrain, calling on classic western tank combat tropes without deeper plot developments. The emphasis is on tactical gun battles, terrain exploitation, and outmaneuvering your opponent in short, intense rounds.

In Sub Chase!, the backstory centers on a cat-and-mouse high-stakes conflict between a fast-moving Hawk jet and a stealthy Shark submarine. While there’s no branching storyline or character progression, the premise is clear: shoot down the enemy while avoiding civilian casualties. Each three-minute session plays out like a mini-campaign, with shifting tides as players adapt to guided versus unguided weapons and rear or forward launch configurations.

This minimalist approach to story keeps the focus squarely on action. Without cutscenes, dialogue, or missions, every moment is dedicated to the duel itself. If you’re looking for a narrative-driven experience, these titles may feel sparse—but for fans of arcade-style head-to-head competition, the premise is concise, functional, and consistently engaging.

Overall Experience

Armored Encounter! / Sub Chase! is a double-bill cartridge that delivers pure, unadulterated multiplayer mayhem. With no single-player AI, victory depends solely on skill, strategy, and quick thinking. The wealth of modes in Armored Encounter! ensures that tank battles can be anywhere from open-field slugfests to obstacle-choked duels, while Sub Chase!’s three variations let you fine-tune your aerial/subaquatic dogfights for maximum tension.

The learning curve is gentle: controls are intuitive, the scoring is transparent, and each match wraps up in three minutes—perfect for social settings, break-time showdowns, or casual couch competition. Although the graphics are firmly rooted in early console design, they remain serviceable and clear, allowing you to focus on outsmarting a human opponent rather than parsing visual clutter.

Ultimately, this cartridge shines as a party or buddy-versus-buddy title. It’s not about grinding an epic campaign or unlocking a rich storyline, but about immediate, adrenaline-packed encounters that test your reflexes and strategic wit. If you value fast-paced, head-to-head gameplay and enjoy experimenting with varied combat arenas, Armored Encounter! / Sub Chase! will provide countless rounds of competitive fun.

Retro Replay Score

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