Jaws

PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

Jaws hit the NES with zero fanfare, based loosely on the fourth film in the franchise, the widely panned Jaws: The Revenge. The game had everything working against it. A terrible source movie, a publisher known for shovelware, and a development cycle that allegedly lasted under a month.

Yet somehow, Westone managed to create a bite-sized action game that kept kids coming back for more.

The formula was simple. Sail your boat, fight random sea creatures, collect shells, upgrade your weapons, and eventually ram a great white shark with your bow. It wasn't going to win awards, but it worked.

Three decades later, the game still sparks debates among retro gamers who swear it's either underrated or exactly as mediocre as everyone claims.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

Jaws drops you into warm tropical waters with one mission: kill the shark.

You control an unnamed diver piloting a boat between two ports on an overhead map. Think of it as an extremely condensed action RPG where progress happens through repetition rather than story.

The game uses random encounters similar to classic RPGs, except instead of turn-based combat, you dive underwater for brief shooting segments.

When you hit something, the perspective shifts to a side view. Your diver appears with a harpoon gun, facing jellyfish, stingrays, and baby sharks. These enemies move in predictable patterns.

Jellyfish drift vertically, stingrays swim horizontally, and smaller sharks charge straight at you. Defeating them drops conch shells, the game's currency. Collect enough shells and you can dock at either port to purchase power upgrades.

Stars occasionally appear for bonus points, and crabs boost your swimming speed temporarily.

The real challenge shows up when Jaws' dorsal fin breaks the surface. Colliding with it triggers a boss encounter where you can attack the shark directly, but early in the game your weapons barely scratch him.

One hit from any enemy kills you instantly, drops your power level, erases half your shells, and fully heals Jaws. The punishment feels harsh for such a short game.

Once you've damaged Jaws enough through repeated encounters, the final showdown begins.

The game switches to a first-person view from your boat. You get three strobe charges to force Jaws to breach the water's surface. Timing is everything.

You have to align your boat perfectly and thrust the bow forward right as the shark emerges. Miss the window and Jaws regains health, forcing you to repeat the entire power-up cycle.

The graphics are competent for 1987. The overhead map is simple but functional, and the underwater sections show decent sprite work. The audio stands out. Composer Shinichi Sakamoto crafted an 8-bit version of John Williams' iconic Jaws theme for the title screen, plus original tracks that use volume swells to mimic ocean waves.

The bonus airplane stage where you bomb jellyfish feels completely out of place, interrupting the flow more than adding variety.

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GAME INFORMATION

WHERE TO PLAY

• A port, Jaws: Retro Collection was released in 2026 for modern systems and PC with two versions. The original and a new enhance edition.

• Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)

  • Loose: $13

  • Complete: $73

  • New/Sealed: $560

COVER ART

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GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

Jaws earns its reputation as a polarizing curiosity. The game can be completed in roughly twenty minutes once you know what you're doing, making it one of the shortest experiences on the NES. That brevity works in its favor and I like to return to it after just watching any of the movies.

There's not enough content to overstay its welcome or bore you with repetition. The core loop of collecting shells, upgrading weapons, and hunting the shark remains engaging for its brief runtime.

The real question is whether nostalgia clouds judgment. Players who grew up with the game tend to defend it more passionately than those discovering it today. The mechanics feel dated, the difficulty spikes unfairly, and the limited enemy variety becomes obvious quickly. But the game isn't broken. It functions exactly as designed, which puts it ahead of most LJN's library.

The 2026 Retro Edition release on Switch, PS5, and PC includes both the original and an enhanced version with new content. For curious retro fans or completionists, it's worth exploring. Just don't expect a hidden masterpiece, expect exactly what you get: a functional, forgettable shark hunt from 1987.

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RETRO HARDWARE

The Miyoo Flip V2 is a tiny clamshell retro handheld that lets you carry a whole library of classic games in your pocket. With a bright screen, solid controls, and the nostalgic flip design we all remember, it’s perfect for quick gaming sessions anywhere. Click the picture to check it out. My readers can use the following code for a 12% discount: NY12

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