In The Hunt

Released by Irem in 1993, this side-scrolling shooter is defined by its beautifully detailed pixel art and a unique world set within a sunken city. Players pilot a submarine, utilizing torpedoes and missiles to engage in intense underwater combat against enemy forces. The exhilarating action of blasting through terrain, combined with the game's visceral depictions of destruction, allowed it to stand out among the arcade titles of its time. With a level of visual craftsmanship that influenced many subsequent works, this masterpiece remains a testament to the technical prowess of Irem.

Following tectonic shifts triggered by the use of magnetic weaponry, most of the world's landmass was submerged, leaving humanity devastated. About a century later, the evil organization "D.A.S.," which had once brought the world to the brink of ruin, has resurfaced and activated a human extermination system. Viewing the situation with the utmost gravity, the International Marine Defense Force ordered the new submarine "Granvia," then on sea trials in the Antarctic, to sortie and sent it into the deep sea to thwart the organization's ambitions.