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Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

If you want to learn about dinosaurs and sea creatures, watch the Imax movie or go to a library!

As a member of the male specie, it’s only natural that I gravitate towards games that involve aliens, monsters, and giant robots. I mean, these are a male gamer’s staples.

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Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure screenshot

But can dinosaurs even be far down the list? I mean, these things are alien to us. They are monstrous indeed, and they are the size of giant bots. Let’s face it; a dinosaur can fulfill all of one’s gaming fantasies. At least they should, but there’s not a lot of great dinosaur games out there. Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure is definitely not going to take its place among the best dinosaur games ever. The fact that it features aquatic dinosaurs just goes to prove this game is all wet.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure would have made a better documentary than a video game. It’s tied in with the Imax movie of the same name. And because of its movie tie-in, you have every right to be suspicious. The gameplay is haphazard and lacks any focus. It’s boring and repetitive. It’s supposed to be educational, which can definitely be a good thing, but the only education you’ll receive is the “buyer beware” axiom. You would be much better off going to the movie or the library if you want to learn about monstrous sea creatures. This game should have been made available on the PSP (due to the superior processing power) as a National Geographic Interactive Special. That’s what it tries to be on the DS, but the results are that it’s neither a documentary, or much of a game.

Giant prehistoric fish are, by nature, a bit of a letdown when compared to T-Rexes. Sea monsters at least have some mystique and charm. Aside from a few weak attacks, we don’t get to fight these scary behemoths of the deep; instead we get to play as them. It really takes the mystique out of things, reducing these monsters to little more than virtual goldfish. You control one of six different sea monsters. By moving it around a claustrophobic-inducing section of the sea, you attempt to keep it alive by feeding on other life forms while avoiding predators that are trying to do likewise to you. It’s like a shallow version of Ecco the Dolphin.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure screenshot

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Using the weak map to guide you, food is acquired by making a thrust, or dash, at it. As long as the creature is smaller than you, it can be considered a meal. Creatures larger than you are to be avoided, but they are almost too lethargic to worry about. Avoiding them is as easy as keeping your distance. If they totally annoy you, a few good, well-placed thrusts will cause them to give up the ghost. All of this activity, as exciting as it is, requires energy. In order to sustain your energy you will need oxygen, which can be acquired by surfacing. The oxygen, in combination with the food you eat will in turn increase your stamina level, giving you the fuel you need to repeat this endless cycle. You’ll want to stay close to the surface not only to replenish your oxygen but also to keep from drowning. If you go too deep underwater, you’ll get a warning. Fail to heed this warning, and you’re dead. These are sea creatures, right? Fortunately, the sea doesn’t get too deep so you’re almost always close to the surface.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure screenshot

To complete the game, you have to unlock and use all six creatures. The creatures are discovered through the excavation of fossils. You have to locate every single bone, and when you do, the creature comes to virtual life. Fossils can be found or earned through special mini-game style challenges. Each creature has a special ability which is exploited through a series of objectives. One creature can jump, while another is able to dig. One has the strength to break through hard surfaces such as rock and coral, while yet another is able to sneak up on friends, foes, and food. You will need to use some of these sea monsters to assist you in the challenges. Use the stealth creature to eat a ton of fish or use the powerful one to smash through rocks and uncover more fossils.

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure screenshot

Graphically the underwater environment is void of any landmarks or distinctive features that would let you know where the hell you are. Some sort of compass or onscreen radar would be a good idea. There is a central hub area which has various challenges branching from it, but it’s really hard to find your way back to it. It’s not that the ocean is so huge, it’s just that the scenery is so repetitive you don’t know if you’ve already been there or done that. Navigating your sea creature through the environment is a lesson in tedium. There are few challenges in the ocean except for keeping your bearings. And even if you can see where you are supposed to go, these damn lumbering beasts are so friggin’ slow you’ll run the risk of being extinct before you reach the other end of the screen. It takes so friggin’ long to get anywhere that it’s like the equivalent of accessing the internet with your cell phone.

I can’t fault the controls or the mechanics. As slow as creatures are and as shallow as the gameplay is, from a technical standpoint the game is decent. However, there are some awful framerate issues which cause the game to bog down to a frustratingly slow pace. Turning the creature around is a slow process, but one that’s not surprising given the general pace of the game. The D-pad and the stylus are used to control the direction of the beasts. You can have them swim in virtually any 3D direction including reverse. Using the touch screen you can look around and adjust the camera angle. Food can be locked-on, and a double tap will let you charge at your food or at a predator.

The character models look convincing, and they even animate well, albeit slowly. The underwater environment is dull and repetitive. There is only the single-player mode, so after you uncover all of the fossils, if you dare make it that far, there’s nothing left for replay value. The score has some merit although it too is repetitive and is more ambient than melodic. The tunes are as dark and murky as a tar pit. There certainly isn’t much to uplift one’s spirits in the audio department. The voiceovers at least lend an air of authority and professionalism. Although the information presented is interesting, the effort to extract it is just not worth the reward.

Features:

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  • Control six fantastic prehistoric sea creatures all of which have their own strengths, weaknesses, and special abilities.
  • The game world is divided into six locations that are unlocked as you progress through the game. They provide a visually stunning recreation of the prehistoric world. Some monsters will be better suited to certain areas than others.
  • Gain bonuses by completing the various challenges presented in each of the areas. Every area within the game has a specific challenge for each of the six monsters.
  • Sea Monsters’ non-linear structure allows you to choose from a number of different scenarios and select the monster that best suits your playing style and the area.
  • As you collect fossils, you unlock National Geographic media about that fossil. The knowledge gained from viewing this information will aid you in the game.

    RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.1 Graphics
    Monsters look good but the sea is dull and repetitive. 4.0 Control
    The control system is solid, if a little lethargic. 2.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
    The score is repetitive, dark, and murky. The voiceovers are professionally produced. 1.1

    Play Value
    No reason to revisit the past.

    2.3 Overall Rating – Poor
    Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

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