There's no doubt that Sega is consistantly ahead of the curve when it comes to innovation in technology, whether or not it makes business sense! Genesis broke ground in the 16-bit era, while Saturn did the same for the 32-bit revolution.
Now we have the Dreamcast taking us well into the future, and with the great hardware power inside Sega's new kid, we see innovations being made on the software end of things.
After several years of development, Seaman exemplifies this type of Sega innovation. Yoot Saito and Vivarium have gone ahead and created a game that, largely, has never been seen before. Seaman is a virtual pet game, but it is no Tamagotchi. It looks to be the first true entry into the new genres that are opening up thanks to recent leaps in technology. A communication game, Seaman looks to try and literally change your life. Not in a way a great book can enlighten you, but more of a day-to-day shift in your daily routine.
Seaman asks that you care for it attentively, from gruesome birth to the metamophisis that your pets will endure through the months of the "game." Saito's vision bends the way games should be looked at, both from development and consumer standpoints. Sega, in their usual lead in the innovation race, has taken this idea an applied it to the first system that can truly handle this vision, and Dreamcast owners benefit from this risky title.
To review this title after mere hours of gameplay is impossible, and it is unfair, both to the game and to gamers who are interested in Seaman. We've spent almost two full weeks with this game, checking in on Seaman a couple of time a day. We've seen Seaman grow from Egg to Mushroomer to Gillman and now, to its (as of 08:16pm) current pre-Seaman stage.
Now, we feel that we have a solid understanding of this title, and we feel we can give you the full details in this review. Forget everything you've heard about this title, and read ahead to find out why Seaman is one of the most intriguing games of all time.
Visuals:: At first, the visuals are unimpressive. The tank habitat that makes up most of the game's structure looks like a slight outline, with the water and air effects doing their job. However, the game is the pet, not the rock formations or the ground texture maps. The real visuals come with the Seaman themselves, from the way they are created to the way they evolve from smaller to bigger creatures.
The Nautilus you encounter at the very beginning of the game will give you a hint of the realistic beauty that is featured in this title. The animation and the visuals couple to create something straight out of the Discovery Channel, which is exactly what Sega was trying to go for. While it might not be the most aesthetically pleasing character design, who said life was ever pretty? The unabashed grasp for realism is the true beauty of this title; Seaman becomes a real endeavor because, after moments with the creatures, you feel that Seaman is a real thing to take care of.
The evolution of the Seaman hold visual splendor as well. To look at a small Gillman with a near transparent belly and innocent face grow to larger Seaman with well-defined gills and realistic scales is a great accomplishment by Vivarium. The animation while Seaman swims is great, and we can only wait until the future, when they grow out of the tank...
Seaman, while not the prettiest contestant in the beauty pageant, has a face full of personality. The facial animation that accompany his attitude are spot-on, and his lips move in sync with the vocals. Overall, this is a visually impressive title that allows Saito's vision to be unhindered by technical demands that are too high.
Audio:: Audio is very important in a game that tries to be as personal as Seaman. The first voice that you will hear is that of narrator Leonard Nimoy, who does a very good job of bringing you up-to-speed each time you boot up the tank. His voice seems like a natural fit to the surreal laboratory; much props to the casting director.
As for the Seaman, we have encountered two voices so far: young Gillman and old Gillman. We're not too sure if Seaman will develop a deeper voice once it becomes a true Seaman, but we'll keep you posted.
The young Gillman has a sweet voice that could be pinned to a five-year old child. The gibberish that is their language at first is cute, and when they start speaking in English and in phrases, it's (dare I say) even cuter!
Then there's the older Gillman. What a pompous ass! Okay, so he's not that bad, but you can kind of see why he doesn't have very many friends in the tank. The voice is distinguished and clear, and overall it's full of personality; not one that we may necessarily find pleasing, but (again) realism isn't always sweet as sugar.
As for sound effects, this game deals perfectly with the water, air, and bug sounds that we've heard since we started playing. Overall, the voice and sound effects of this game make Seaman a pleasing experience, instead of detracting from the goal of immersion Vivarium is working for.
Gameplay/Control:: The gameplay is quite interesting because there really isn't much to literally control. Using the included microphone pack, you hold down the A button to speak to your Seaman. The main gameplay comes through this voice interaction, and when it works, it's great.
That is, when it works. You may feel the need to go off and ask Seaman specific questions about his past, but Seaman (for us, so far) sometimes has trouble understanding what we're trying to say. Instead of speaking naturally, you are forced to speak in very small phrases or keywords, and while that is good for a groundbreaking title, we expect Seaman 2001 to feature a much improved voice recognition system.
Using the limitations given to us, the interactions are great. As the Gillman gets older, it has more phrases that it can lob at you, but the most interesting thing that happens is when curiosity gets Seaman talking. When Seaman asks you questions ("What is your birthday?" "Are you a male or female?"), the game draws you in like no other gaming experience we've played. Again, the limitations don't make this as natural a conversation as you would hope, but the information exchange (and future retention) makes Seaman a very competitive entry in your "coolest pet" category.
The responsibility is also as if you've been given a dog to take care of. You must always maintain the heater at a nice 15.0 to 19.9, and the air should be above 70.0. Also, feed your Seaman when they're hungry, and things should be smooth sailing. As the game progresses, you will be given additional responsibilities, including a very cool bug habitat that will provide food for the growing Seaman.
Overall, you do not buy this title for action-packed fun. This is not a game that you will enjoy if you expect to be impressed by titles after only mere hours. Note reviews on other sites that find this game no fun; it is no fun if you play it for only a few hours. However, if you really take your time and relegate Seaman into a "short but consistant daily play" routine rather than the "burst play" we are accustomed to in many video games, you will find Seaman a unique treasure not found anywhere else.
Extras:: Seaman includes a microphone pack that will be used in future Dreamcast games (even in Namco's current puzzle title, Mr. Driller). The microphone pack, while looking kind of goofy, works well, and the VMU interaction shows you how well the voice recognition is working.
Sega handed us an extra VMU when we received this title two weeks ago, and it is required to even get past the start screen. The game will chomp up 64 blocks of your memory card, and it is recommended that different people use different VMUs to interact with their Seaman.
Overall:: While some other reviews may look at Seaman as merely an average title, Segadojo is taking the kind of modified attitude towards playing this game that is necessary due to its unique structure. We can see how this title would be looked at as merely average after a few hours of play. However, after two full weeks with Seaman, we can see how an average score does this extraordinary game (and you) a tremendous injustice. Seaman is much more than just average; it is unique, it is groundbreaking, and it contains many memorable moments that other games only wish for. With Seaman, Yoot Saito and Vivarium allow Sega to continue on the exemplary path they have been known to take ever since they've been in the home console business. While I'm saving my perfect ten score for Seaman 2001, which will have to show great improvements in the spotty voice recognition system, there is no denying that Seaman is exactly the kind of title wished for when a Sega fan buys a Dreamcast. This is Sega at their best.
Score:: 9.0/10
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