Description of Gato
The first World War II submarine simulation ever made for the PC, GATO was a true pioneer in this niche genre, an ambitious sim that features a lot of realistic instruments and weapons. As the submarine history page at Subsim.
com describes it: "This was the first sub simulator for a personal computer. The graphics were very limited, CGA with stick figures for ships, of which there were five enemy types. Although it simulated GATO class subs, there were only four bow torpedo tubes available.
All functions were generated by the keyboard (mouse? what's a mouse?). The mission area was very limited--a group of islands in the Pacific, which was subdivided into 20 "quadrants". You pressed the "M" key for new missions and they were transmitted by Morse code. You were instructed to keep in mind "the enemy may break Allied code at some point. Some messages may be enemy fakes designed to trap you." How's that for early efforts at realism?
Resource management was one of the game's subtler features. Your primary strategic objective was to complete as many missions as possible with the supplies you carry before returning to the quadrant where your subtender waits.
Gato was the Pong of submarine simulations. When the first players encountered Gato, you can imagine they thought it was pretty significant. They had to start somewhere."
True enough. Primitive, but honorable for the pioneer that it was.
Review By HOTUD
External links
Captures and Snapshots
Comments and reviews
Yznybss 2023-04-07 0 point
the bat, it shows that it takes its inspirations seriously. It has all the right elements of a proper (modern) crawler. Grid-based movement, fantasy setting, party of four adventurers, real-time combat, and rats. Lots of rats. The map is large and you can satisfy yourself with filling in all the gaps on the automap as you explore. So as for the automap and other UI features, like level progression, and the inventory are very similar to Legend of Grimrock, and that is a good thing. However as you progress through the 2 hours or so of the demo you will begin to notice the diversions from this modern classic.
USPS movers online 2019-05-08 -1 point
To slow down the CPU speed/game press Ctrl - FN - F12 (or Ctrl - F12) repeatedly. Hitting 5 centers rudder and dive plane.
Osman 2018-07-26 0 point
My father's cousin have this weird computar, and then he said to my older brother, come and see if you can manage to handle this game. There it was. GATO. I had a terrific memory installed on my brain. Cheers!
Candyman 2016-06-17 -2 points
And how do you centre the rudder? Left and Right arrows continually rotate direction.
Candyman 2016-06-17 -1 point DOS version
So how can I slow Gato down on Windows 7? I am using D-Fend Reloaded.
yodaddy 2015-07-27 -2 points DOS version
This is the game that hooked me on PCs. My brother worked at a Radio Shack, and the manager let me bring the game in and play on the demo computers. Paid off for him, as I purchased a Tandy 3000 from them. This game, and MS FlightSim were the bleeding edge of simulators back in the day.
Emulationist 2015-05-11 1 point DOS version
Quick-reference for keys :
*** Function keys :
F1 : Full speed
F3 :
F5 : Moderate speed
F7 :
F9 : Stop
F10 : Reverse
F2 : Periscope up
F4 : Periscope down
F6 : Radar
F8 : FIRE
*** Other commands :
F : Forward view
P : Left view
A : Rear view
S : Right view
L : ( Log ) list of sunken ships
M : ( Mission ) Start a new mission
R : ( Report ) Damage report
C : General map
Q : Map of the current quadrant
T : ( Torpedoes ) Open & Close torpedo doors
D : ( Diesel ) Only if Depth
JayFlo 2015-01-08 0 point DOS version
Does anybody have the quick-reference for what keystrokes do what? email me at jwf at rocketmail dot com.
Pilot 2013-08-19 0 point DOS version
When I found the game here, I immideately remembered it. One of my first games! I can`t believe it! So happy! :-)
Helvehammer 2013-01-14 0 point DOS version
Came here to get f-19 - but then I remembered the OTHER love of my life! Found it, found it, FOUND IT ! ! ! YAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!!!
mrnina 2011-12-19 0 point DOS version
Found it at last!!!! I just can't beleive it! You can't imagine how many memories and flash backs this little great game brings to me. 27 years ago when I was a college student I used to spend many hours in the computer lab (full of Tandys and Comodore) amazed by what at that moment was the most advanced game ever. Can't wait to download.
Thanks a lot!!!
Write a comment
Share your gamer memories, help others to run the game or comment anything you'd like. If you have trouble to run Gato, read the abandonware guide first!
Download Gato
We may have multiple downloads for few games when different versions are available. Also, we try to upload manuals and extra documentation when possible. If you have additional files to contribute or have the game in another language, please contact us!
DOS Version
130 KBMac Version
- Year: 1984
- Publisher: Spectrum Holobyte, Inc.
Apple II Version
- Year: 1985
- Publisher: Spectrum Holobyte, Inc.
Atari 8-bit ROM
- Year: 1987
- Publisher: Atari Corporation
Atari ST ROM
- Year: 1986
- Publisher: Spectrum Holobyte, Inc.
Similar games
Fellow retro gamers also downloaded these games:
