Dolphin (video game)


Dolphin is a side-scrolling video game created by Matthew Hubbard for the Atari 2600 and released by Activision in 1983. Hubbard later designed Zenji for Activision. Dolphin requires the player to use audio cues in order to survive

Gameplay

The player controls a dolphin attempting to flee from a giant squid. It must not only navigate packs of seahorses which, if a collision occurs, slows the dolphin's speed, but the player must also navigate both forward-moving currents and, conversely, backward-moving currents. The former permits the player to accelerate while the latter slows the player's rate of progression. Occasionally a seagull appears above the water's surface which, if touched, permits the player a short period of invincibility. During this time, the dolphin is able to touch the squid and drive it away.
When packs of seahorses are upcoming, the dolphin's sonar sounds off: a high pitch indicates an opening in the pack near the water's surface, a lower resonance indicates a seafloor doorway.

Reception

Dolphin won the "Best Videogame Audio/Visual Effects " category in the Electronic Games 1984 Arcade Awards.