Product description
Keen to add a different dimension to PlayStation 2 gaming, Capcom have gone underwater with Everblue, the PS2's first deep-sea-diving adventure game. The paper-thin plot revolves around the hunt for clues to the hidden underwater location of a mysterious treasure which has haunted the player's family for generations (apparently)--it's shaky at best, but then console games are rarely known for their cerebellum-stretching plots. Plotline is not what this rather excellent little adventure game is all about, though. Ignore the intro sequences and descend for some slow and rather peaceful action as you clump around the seabed using a wrist-mounted personal sonar to detect and gain hidden treasures, which can be sold to raise cash to upgrade your diving equipment to dive deeper and longer.
It's difficult to pinpoint why this is such an engrossing title. Maybe it's the slower-than-average pace of the game, or the shoals of fish that swim lazily past or the intriguing underwater structures that need to be explored in full first-person 3-D. It's all a bit Ecco the Dolphin, only with fewer flippers. There's also a bizarre pseudo-adventure phase above the water where it's necessary to take your diver to get his finds valued and to bed him down for the night. It doesn't really add anything of great value to the game and acts as an unnecessary distraction, but for all the inconvenience it's only a minor gripe when put in context with the rest of the game.
Producing something so different must have been a bit of a gamble for Capcom, but to their credit they've pulled it off. This really is a niche title, and it won't appeal to those who'd rather race craft on top of the waves than wander about over acres of seabed, but for those looking for a more relaxing console experience Everblue is really rather good
Manufacturer's Description
Everblue is an adventure game with a unique twist. Taking the role of Leonardo, a novice undersea diver, the challenge is to explore and discover the magic and mysteries of the Daedalus Sea and ultimately find the treasure that has haunted your family for generations. Starting on dry land, it isn't long before you'll be donning scuba gear and exploring the sea bed for buried treasure, whch you can then sell to traders in a local town, using the funds to purchase upgrades to your diving gear. This will allow dives to last longer and reach greater depths thereby expanding the area that can be explored and the potential to discover greater treasures amongst coral reefs and sunken ships. Interaction with the inhabitants of the town will also provide specific information about the location of treasure and the opportunity to undertake missions set by them.
The main aim may be to discover buried treasure, but it is sometimes easy to just gaze at the beauty of the ocean and the myriad of marine life which the developers have so faithfully recreated. Everblue contains a free swim mode where players can dive at their leisure taking in the aquatic surroundings and even taking pictures which can be stored in an in-game album. If the photographs are deemed good enough by the town's resident photographer players will receive special bonuses.