Super Nintendo Entertainment System Waterworld (Europe)
4Waterworld is the name of various video games released for the Super Nintendo, Virtual Boy, Game Boy, and PC based on the film of the same name, along with unpublished games for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Saturn, and 3DO. The Nintendo and Sega console versions were all produced by Ocean Software, while the PC and 3DO versions were produced by Interplay. The SNES and Game Boy games were released only in Europe in 1995 and the Virtual Boy game was released exclusively in North America in November 1995.
The game is focused around the main character's outrigger boat, which the player moves around a 3-D world, shooting enemies on personal water crafts called Smokers. It is a form of 3D shoot 'em up, similar to that of the All-Range Mode in Star Fox 64.
The objective is to keep the Smokers from grabbing Atollers (inhabitants of Atoll) placed around the playing field. To keep them from being captured, the player must shoot the Smokers using the L and R buttons on the Virtual Boy's controller while moving around with either of the two directional pads.
Waterworld for Super Nintendo was released in 1995 in Europe by Ocean Software. It was only released in PAL territories, but an NTSC version had been scheduled for release in December 1995, and given a lengthy review in that month's issue of Nintendo Power.
The game was played from an overhead/isometric perspective with the player controlling the Mariner's boat on the ocean. The point of the game was to destroy the Smokers' boats and dive for sunken artifacts, at which point the game switches to a side on perspective so that the player can directly control the Mariner underwater.
A Mega Drive/Genesis version of this game was also done by Ocean. Planned for release in Europe in fall 1995, it was never distributed. A complete version of the game was eventually leaked on the net.
Waterworld for Windows and MS-DOS PCs was released on October 10, 1997 in North America by Interplay. It was developed by Intelligent Games.
Unlike Ocean's shooter games, Waterworld for PC was a real time strategy game with the player leading a squad of up to fourteen men to battle for possession of the film's floating Atolls. Each squad member has their own special abilities, and the player can purchase and upgrade their weapons and equipment. In addition, the player must defend their own fortress from Smoker attacks.