Reviewed by Michelle Thurlow
What is it about dolphins that lends them to be anthropomorphized by their human admirers with such endearment? Is it the curvature of their cetaceous lips that makes it appear as though they’re grinning at us as they perform tricks for spectators at various water parks around the world? Or is it that their disconnected, staccato squeals remind us so much of our own graceless laughter? Perhaps, though, it’s as equally fair to say that there are numerous occasions when we humans wish to become more like the dolphins, carousing with fellow pod members in a sparkling marine paradise.
Surprisingly, the video game industry has had an uncharacteristically classy history of offering enthusiasts access to this fanciful world of life under the sea, with the refined Ecco the Dolphin franchise being most notable series springing to mind. Finlay’s Fathoms is yet another elegant underwater escapade starring a delphine protagonist, though its gameplay is distinct from that of the adventure-based Ecco in that Fathoms is more of an action-RPG for children.
Finlay the hero begins each stage with at least one mission to accomplish, usually consisting of a quest to destroy crates leaking pollutants into the water or neutralizing other manic sea creatures who have become infected by said toxic sludge. As in all RPGs, you’ll earn credits for acquiring treasure and completing objectives that you can then spend on upgrading your offensive or defensive aptitudes and capabilities.
Although the game is technically a side-scrolling adventure, players view the screen from a top-down perspective, which in my opinion is aesthetically preferable to the three-quarter character profile utilized in most examples of this genre. Although 2D, the simple graphics are quite lovely and recall the stylized images of dolphins found in the fantasy sticker albums and posters of daydream-filled childhood. The game’s ducky background music is very pleasant for the player to listen to, with many tunes featuring harp-centered melodies that complement Fathoms’ aquatic theme appropriately.
My only qualm with the musical repertory is that during extended play sessions, the soundtrack loops over and over continuously. Though this repetition didn’t annoy me greatly, as the track list itself is of an agreeable quality, there are a couple of songs louder than the rest that resemble rousing RPG battle hymns. Attending to such soothing harmonies for several minutes followed by a decidedly adrenaline-pumping score was somewhat jarring.
Character control is typical of other dolphin-centered video games in that once players input commands to prompt their porpoise to swim, it’s sometimes difficult to slow the animal down. Also, I found that when fellow party member Leon the Lobster occasionally crosses paths with one of the sea dwellers you’re attacking, your guide assumes that you want him to repeat the mission objective stated at the beginning of the level. Such frequent distractions interrupted the momentum of my combat strategies at times.
All told, anyone looking for a non-violent, family-friendly offering that exhorts children and others to be environmentally aware should consider downloading the demo to this game and dip a tentative big toe into the swirling azure pools of Finlay’s Fathoms. This is an RPG for those who believe that the dolphins are truly smiling at us.
Special thanks to Marvin Gouw and Coral Reef Productions for providing the full version of this title.