DESCRIPTION

Seaman isn't your typical game. Instead of having goals like "kill the boss" or "win the race," you only have to raise a mysterious specimen to maturity and learn from it as it develops. Of course, things get strange in a hurry since Seaman can talk.

The conversations between you and your bitter saltwater friend vary depending on the creature's mood and the conditions in the tank. He'll let you know when he's hungry, that he wants the lights low so he can sleep, and he'll let you have it when he's tired of you. Seaman's sense of humor can be rather cold-blooded at times, so come in with a thick skin if you can.

Sega has included a microphone with the game to foster communication. Conversation will be key as your virtual pet needs to learn even as he instructs. The more you talk to Seaman, the faster he develops and learns. You'll need help to do certain tasks and the only way you'll get it is by talking to the creature.

You will have to maintain Seaman's habitat carefully. The heater and air controls aren't automatic so you'll have to check up on your finny friends at least once a day. The real-time clock will count against you if you tarry too long as that will kill off your experimental subjects post haste. You start with a limited food supply so you'll be conserving food and starting up special breeding areas for tasty morsels like moths for good measure.

Seaman features another surprise. Before you go to take care of your virtual pet, you are apprised of the environmental conditions by none other than Leonard Nimoy. He'll get sarcastic when you visit Seaman too frequently, and his voice doesn't like being interrupted.

Seaman is the first voice-activated game for the Dreamcast. The microphone, which attaches to the controller like a Jump Pack or VMU accessory, will be used for other applications as well as Seaman. It should be noted that Seaman requires a VMU with at least 64 blocks of space to save game data. ~ Joe Ottoson, All Game Guide