Sewer Shark

"A catfish, dog meat, ghost, and a falcon meet for one wild ride!"

Does anyone remember the Sega CD? I personally do, and I remember a lot of games were nothing but interactive movies. With real footage, what you press on the controller changes what happens on screen, either in the footage itself or some little animations added into the film. Sewer Shark is one of these games, and one I really enjoyed.

Graphics- 9/10

The graphics are about the best a Sega CD game can go. As I have already mentioned, it is an interactive movie, so you spend a hefty amount of time watching short footage of characters you are supposed to be accompanying. The footage itself is grainy, but then again, all Sega CD movie footage is like that. For those that have played other games with this style, such as Tomcat Alley and Night Trap, know what to expect in this game visually.
The other section of Sewer Shark's visuals, the animations, are just about the same in quality. You can actively shoot little monsters such as scorpions and ''ratigators'', but these monstrosities are designed in a form of heat vision, so they look like orange blobs. If Sega did not mean for them to be that way, then Sega better have improved their animation skills since those days.

Story- 6/10

The story to Sewer Shark is standard, and yet at the same time unique. You play a nameless, faceless ''Sewer Jockey'' (in these real video games, you look through the eyes of the character, and you, personally, are supposed to be the character). A Sewer Jockey basically cleans up the sewer systems from vermin. You have been assigned as a partner to Ghost, who is your copilot and has himself been a part of many ill-fated Sewer Jockey missions (all of which he was the co-pilot). So, basically, everyone who has been Ghost's partner has screwed up their job as a Jockey and has become ratigator dinner. The big theme of the game is that they all have died trying to get to Solar City, which is supposed to be a tropical paradise.
You have the cast of characters- Ghost, your partner and tough guy; Falco, the female Sewer Jockey; Catfish, your hovering robot guide with an awkward Southern accent; and Stenchler, the big bad guy waiting for you at Solar City who calls you via video every once in a while to mock you.

Gameplay- 6/10

I went into some detail about gameplay in the Graphics section. The gameplay is pretty simple. One button shoots, so it is important to shoot the vermin crawling on the walls. You must rack up a good score to make good ties in with the other characters, yet on the other hand shooting lowers your power, which must be restored in Recharge Points. Another button is used to change directions. Catfish is your guide, and gives you coordinates according to the clock (12 is up, 9 is left, etc.) and when your turn comes up, press the button and the correct direction to move on. Don't screw up, or your ratigator bait! You also enter the previously mentioned Recharge Points. The third button is only used once or twice in the entire game, to clear gas in the sewers.

Replay Value- 2/10

Well, there is not much replay value, but there is some. Quite frankly, the only reason to go through the game again is to do either better or more poorly in the game to see the different reactions of all the characters. Or, just to relive this movie/game's story, but the ''game'' aspect kind of gets in the way.

Conclusion- 7/10

Sewer Shark is definitely fun, and maybe a little hard to get used to. If you find this anywhere and you have a Sega CD, give it a try. I'm sure you will have more fun getting into the action than just sitting back eating a tub of popcorn.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 11/08/03