ThunderJaws (rev 3)

In ThunderJaws, released in 1990 from Atari Games, players take on the role of members of an underwater special forces unit tasked with infiltrating the headquarters of the villainous Madam Q. The game blends horizontal scrolling shooter action with platforming elements as you navigate a variety of environments and confront mechanical sharks, mutants, enemy divers, and automated turrets. Along your mission, you’ll rescue hostages while collecting weapons, power-ups, and health to prepare for challenging boss encounters at the end of each level. ThunderJaws supports cooperative play for up to two players, allowing friends to team up against Madam Q's forces using an 8-way joystick and two buttons for control. The game’s soundtrack is delivered through a combination of Yamaha YM2151 and OKI6295 sound chips, creating the underwater atmosphere. Initially released as a conversion kit, ThunderJaws found its way into arcades across the United States and Europe. The high score table prominently features names like RBD, NAT, MMQ, SGM, WJN, PAT, F K, CSE, and KEM, showcasing top player achievements on the game’s leaderboard. Programmers and designers included Russel Dawe (RBD) and Natalie Burgess (NAT), while a team of animators, hardware technicians, and musicians contributed to the overall experience.