Lightly used game, tested to work on an original Atari 2600 as well as the 2600+ and 7800+.
 
The computer hides the ships and each player races around the screen to find them in real time.  Each successful hit scores the player 5 points and the player who scores the most points after all the ships have been discovered (as indicated by the blue bar at the top of the screen) wins the game.
If the above description makes Sonar sound like a button mashing action game, you'd be wrong.  Sonar has four different  options to give the game a bit more strategy.
 
Limited Charges - In this variation each ship can only drop 5 depth charges (indicated by the dashes on the top of the playfield) before running out.  After they run out they will need to wait until the other player drops all of their depth charges before their supply is refilled.  This variation allows players to take their time in finding ships.
 
Miss Penalty - Each time a player bombs an empty square it costs them 2 points.
 
Invisible - The board isn't marked (the square doesn't turn green) when a player drops a depth charge .  This makes it harder to remember if you've already bombed a square or not.  Combined with the Miss Penalty variation, this can be a real score killer.
 
Mines - Mines are hidden on the board in addition to the ships.  If you bomb a hidden mine you lose 5 points.
 
Although Sonar is an almost complete prototype, there are still a few bugs and missing features in the game.  The biggest bug is that if the player has the difficulty switch in the A position (full sonar scan) the screen will briefly roll due to the kernel using up too much CPU time.  The display will quickly fix itself but the constant flickering makes the game hard to play.  The second issue is that the ships and mines are not randomized.  There is only one pre-programmed map that is always used.  by looking at the game code it would appear that randomized boards were planned but that the feature had not yet been implemented when game development was stopped.
 
🎮 Product Features
 
Collector-Quality Cartridge – Built for retro enthusiasts who value authenticity and presentation.  Correct style and brand shells.
Premium Label Finish – Sharp, vibrant artwork with durable materials (no cheap labels with inferior art and resolution)
Protective Collector’s Sleeve Included – Keeps your cartridge safe from dust, scratches, and shelf wear
Secure Boxed Shipping – Ships in a rigid box for maximum protection (not a flimsy padded mailer)
Clean, Professional Assembly – Carefully built and inspected for consistent quality
Ready to Play – Fully tested and guaranteed to work
Perfect for Display or Play – Looks great on the shelf and plays just as well
 
Refund Policy
 
All items are guaranteed to be fully functional as described. If an item is found to be nonfunctional, a full refund will be issued upon return of the item and verification of the issue. Please note that refunds will only be granted if the item is returned in its original condition, with no components altered, removed, or replaced.
 
Shipping Policy
 
Domestic orders are shipped via USPS Ground Advantage. In an effort to reduce waste, we may reuse and repurpose boxes and packaging materials whenever possible. All items are securely packaged and shipped in a box to ensure safe delivery.