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Protect the Treasure from Sea Monsters
Name This Game is one of the most unique experiences on the Atari 2600, not just for its gameplay but for its history. The game was originally created by U.S. Games with a clever marketing twist: the title itself was up for grabs. Players were invited to name the game and win $10,000, but the contest was never completed because the company went out of business. Despite that unfinished story, the game stands on its own as a fun, frantic underwater adventure where you control a scuba diver tasked with guarding a chest of gold.
When you start playing, you find yourself at the bottom of the ocean, swimming around a pile of treasure. Your main goal is simple but challenging: keep the treasure safe while managing your own survival. The water is not empty; it is filled with hungry sea creatures that want to take the gold or stop you from protecting it. You are constantly moving, dodging, and trying to stay one step ahead of danger.
The enemies in Name This Game are memorable for their simplicity and menace. A large octopus slithers across the screen, using its tentacles to grab at your diver. It tries to drag you away or block your path to the treasure. At the same time, a great white shark patrols the area, looking for an opportunity to bite. These two foes create a constant sense of urgency. You cannot just stand still and watch; you must actively defend your position while keeping an eye on your air supply.
One of the most critical mechanics in the game is your air meter. As you swim and fight, your oxygen runs out quickly. If it hits zero, you lose a life. To refill your air, you must swim up to the surface and touch a pole that extends from a boat above. This adds a layer of strategy to the gameplay. You have to balance the need to stay near the treasure with the need to go back up for air. If you stay down too long trying to fight off enemies, you will run out of breath. If you leave the treasure unguarded for too long while refilling air, the octopus might steal it.
The controls are straightforward, allowing you to move your diver in all directions. You can swim up, down, left, and right with ease, which helps when you need to dodge a shark or reach that air pole quickly. The challenge comes from the speed of the enemies and the limited space on the screen. The octopus can be particularly tricky because it moves unpredictably, often trying to corner you. The shark is faster and more direct, making it harder to avoid once it spots you.
What makes Name This Game so engaging is the tension between defense and survival. You are not just fighting enemies; you are managing a resource that runs out constantly. Every time you swim up to the boat, you leave your treasure vulnerable. Every time you stay down to fight, you risk suffocating. This push-and-pull dynamic keeps the game exciting from start to finish. It is a test of quick reflexes and smart decision-making.
In Europe, this game was released under the title Octopus by Carrere Video Distribution. While the name changed, the core gameplay remains the same: protect the gold, avoid the sea monsters, and keep breathing. The game also had a later naming contest in 1994 that resulted in the title Going Under, showing how much the identity of this game has shifted over time. However, for players today, Name This Game is the most recognized version.
Playing this game feels like a chaotic underwater dance. You are always moving, always looking for the next threat or the next breath of air. The graphics are simple, typical of the Atari 2600 era, but they convey the action clearly. The colors and shapes make it easy to distinguish between your diver, the treasure, the octopus, and the shark.
If you enjoy games that require constant attention and quick reactions, Name This Game is worth trying. It is short, intense, and full of character. The story behind its name adds an extra layer of curiosity, making it more than just a simple arcade-style game. Dive in, protect the treasure, and see how long you can survive before the octopus or shark gets the better of you. You can also try more Atari 2600 games from the same system.