Windows

Search for the Golden Dolphin

In retrospect, I mostly enjoyed Search for the Golden Dolphin (except for my disappointment at the end). Cinegram Media is to be commended for the excellence of its game development efforts and for recognizing that some of us gamers like adventure games in general and appreciate historical edutainment games in particular. The strengths of the game definitely outweigh the weaknesses, so I can say, without hesitation, that there was a substantial level of enjoyment for me in playing Search for the Golden Dolphin.

Though Search for the Golden Dolphin is a really great adventure game, your enjoyment will be hampered by the character interaction interface which can be extremely annoying and frustrating when trying to locate selected characters. As a realistic 18th century nautical adventure, it has no peer -- just be prepared to deal with the interface before you begin play.

Aside from its overall questionable gameplay, the "New Low Price" of $59.95 (as advertised on the Cinegram website) is likely to be a major deterrent for anyone considering Dolphin. This product is definitely not for the average gamer, as the target audience is obviously history buffs who are genuinely interested in naval history, ship architecture, and Mystic Seaport. If this describes you and you are willing to sacrifice truly enjoyable gameplay for the educational value, then you may wish to take a look at SFTGD. Otherwise, save your cash.

Unfortunately this wasn't much of a game. The basics were all fairly sound, but the execution affected gameplay too much and overwhelmed what might have otherwise been a reasonable experience. I say unfortunately because sailing ships and pirates would seem to offer a good basis for a somewhat different and satisfying adventure.