Golden Seas

Next Magazine
Next Magazine #9 Review

When I began Golden Seas, moving my outrigger around on the sea, I thought we had begun in a maze. But thankfully, I was proven wrong. I started mapping using key words from the descriptions that interlink logically, and I quickly discovered places where I could DOCK HERE. It’s a shame I couldn’t just DOCK, as you do end up docking your outrigger quite a lot. There are many islands to discover and explore. Some smaller islands are unnamed, while others, like Turga, give the feel of a larger settlement with an obligatory tavern, The Wench’s Bloomers, in this case. The game ranges over hills, paths and jungles, and there’s a treasure map to find.

Here’s a hint: when you get to the cave, it isn’t a trap. So don’t give up! You soon encounter a wide array of characters from many races, which you need to TALK to, as they begin to set the various quests you need to undertake or give you further clues as to where to go and what to do. Once I realised they were fairly shallow NPCs, I got into the idea that the game was wide and not so deep. Don’t be fooled, though, as some characters drive the story and provide some quite long set pieces akin to text-based cut scenes. Satisfying their quest can also lead to the start another one. I really need to find Pegasus now.

Difficulty: It’s pretty easy to get into, although some of the puzzles and quests can get tricky. I haven’t finished it yet, despite spending many hours playing.
Graphics: Excellent use is made of the top third of the screen, with illustrations for all locations using a 256 colour palette layer two image. Some graphics can be samey, but not in a bad way.
Presentation: From the excellent PDF manual with extensive lore and background to the well-written text for locations and events as they unfold, it is all flawless.
Input Facility: The parser responds quickly, but occasionally misses some obvious synonyms or short forms and fails to allow some depth in interactions.
Score 85%: A real treat from Sunteam that will suit those who like to explore freely.