Seaman is a... well... uh... Seaman really defies definitions. It is to the Tamagotchi what the space shuttle Discovery is to a bottle rocket. It is one of the most interesting, enigmatic, and oddly addictive games ever dreamed of.
Gameplay is simple: you have the task of raising a creature called Seaman. Sounds like just another 'virtual pet', right? This game surpasses the concept of virtual pets in leaps and bounds. The most notable aspect is that a small microphone comes with the game, and your main method of interaction with Seaman is by speaking to it.
Yes, you talk to Seaman. And it talks back. In fact, it talks back quite a bit and can be pretty condescending. However, it is the nature of Seaman that makes it so alluring, so interesting, and at the same time so addictive.
Seaman lives in a fishtank which is initially filled with water. You have an inventory, initially consisting of food pellets with which to feed the baby Seaman (called 'Gillmen'). As you progress (assuming your Seaman lives), other items open up, such as a bug cage with moth larvae you can feed to Seaman. Eventually, managing all the different aspects of the game becomes a somewhat daunting task. As for Seaman himself, you must make sure the tank is at the correct temperature and has the correct level of oxygen. There are other management issues as well as the game progresses.
Time in the game progresses at the same rate as real life. In fact, time passes even when you aren't playing, making Seaman seem even more real (the game checks the Dreamcast's internal clock to determine what time it is). This means you don't really turn the game on and play it for an hour or two; you turn it on once or twice a day to take care of your new pet.
It's hard to put your finger on exactly what makes Seaman so interesting. Much of it is the dialogue you'll have back and forth. Seaman has some amazing speech recognition, with hundreds of words that can be understood without having to train it to your voice, and plenty of amusing retorts when it can't quite understand you. When I had the game fired up, my girlfriend and roomates were usually in the room, eager to see what it would do next or how it would respond.
Graphics are very good, but since there is little to the game itself, you'll easily miss them. Seaman's facial expressions are amazingly lifelike, and some of the transparencies and reflection effects when you examine him are amazing. Sound is good, with Leonard Nimoy doing the voice of your 'instructor', and Seaman's voice being wonderfully flat and annoying.
The concept is really where the game shines. The fact that you talk to Seaman, and it understands you, is truly a marvel of console gaming. Along the way, Seaman will even ask you questions about your personal life, your job, etc, and your answers will be remembered and have an effect in the game. If you're even just interested in how far gaming technology has come, this game is a good case study at the least.
The amount of replay value depends on how well you take care of Seaman. Everyone will eventually tire of taking care of it, but there really is no 'end' to the game. Expect your first few attempts to fail within a few days to a few weeks, making you want to try even harder the next time. A good 'parent' will be interested in Seaman for literally months.
Seaman is not for everyone, however. Young children probably won't grasp the concept of the game, and instead flick and torture poor Seaman to death. This is not a game full of action, so many gamers will get bored. However, my girlfriend and roomates loved it, and Seaman serves as an interesting diversion for guests in your house or apartment. Seaman is also great for those who love to be on the top of the latest technology.
Overall, Seaman is enjoyable and lovable. Younger children might even be able to learn some lessons in patience if guided well by an adult, and us older kids can get swept up the excitement of 'what's next'. A great concept that sticks to what it's meant for, but in the process alienates many hardcore 'gamers', Seaman is worth it if you just want a way to relax and unwind for 15 minutes after work each day.
What do you get if you cross a fish and a man You get Seaman a salty wise-guy with an ocean-full of attitude. As you raise him from an egg to adulthoo...More at eBay
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