Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: it is technically, mathematically, and physically possible to complete a mission in S.O.N.A.R. (Submarine Operators Not Actually Ready) without a single mistake.
Just like in the absolute best cooperative multiplayer games, if your crew has flawless communication and everyone actually takes responsibility for their assigned jobs, you will sail smoothly to your objective. You won’t even need to argue, scream, or slap each other in the face.
But let’s be real. That is not going to happen.
S.O.N.A.R. is the ultimate test of your ability to multitask under extreme pressure, and as the missions progress, things get incredibly complicated, incredibly fast.
The Never Ending To-Do List
When you have a crew of one to four players cooped up in a high tech submarine, the sheer number of things demanding your attention at any given second is mind boggling.
Let’s just look at basic navigation. To keep the ship moving, you can’t just press forward on a joystick and call it a day. You have to plot a safe course on the map, physically pilot the vessel, and constantly adjust your depth to avoid underwater obstacles (and to keep enemy sensors from picking you up).
Oh, and don’t forget basic upkeep. You’ll need to manually refuel the diesel engines, swap out dirty air filters so your crew doesn’t pass out, and replace blown fuses when the power inevitably trips. It’s basically home maintenance, except your home is actively trying to sink.
Enter the Combat Zone
Now, let’s throw some enemies into the mix. Suddenly, you have to manage the combat stations too.
Someone needs to glue their eyes to the periscope and the sonar deck to identify whether that incoming blip is a hostile destroyer or a friendly vessel. Meanwhile, another player has to run down to the weapons bay to manually load torpedoes, mines, and decoys, lock onto the target, and pull the trigger.
Are you getting tracked by enemy sonar? Better scramble to shut down the ventilation systems to run silent and hope you destroy them before your crew suffocates from lack of fresh oxygen.
The Chaos of Cascading Failures
You might think you can handle all of that with a bit of practice. But S.O.N.A.R. wouldn’t belong in the elite club of frantic juggling tasks co-op games if we didn’t throw a few massive spanners in the works.
We haven’t even talked about the mechanical disasters yet. Hull breaches. Electrical fires. Flooded compartments.
When a torpedo hits, you can’t just click a button to repair the damage. You have to physically grab a wrench or a blowtorch, run to the leak, patch the hole, and then find a water pump to drain the room before the sheer weight of the ocean drags you to a watery grave.
If you do the math, there are nine critical stations, dozens of random emergencies, and only four of you. It’s a beautiful, stressful juggling act where dropping a single ball means everyone drowns. Oh, and do not forget, you will need to rest and be healthy and well fed to deliver.
