Ludography
Seastalker cover

1984 · Infocom · Adventure · Text adventure

Seastalker

Seastalker is an interactive fiction computer game designed by Stu Galley and Jim Lawrence and published by Infocom in 1984. Like most of Infocom's works, it was released simultaneously for several popular computer platforms of the time, such as the Commodore 64, Apple II, and IBM PC. The game was marketed as an introduction to interactive fiction for pre-teen players. It is Infocom's twelfth game.

Released
1 May 1984
Platforms
AmigaAmstrad CPCAmstrad PCWApple IIAtari 8-bitAtari STAtari ST/STECommodore 64Commodore C64/128/MAXMS-DOSTRS-80 Color ComputerTRS-80 Model ITexas Instruments TI-99/4AmacOS
Genres
AdventureText adventure
Developers
Infocom
Publishers
Infocom
Modes
Single-player
Perspective
Text
Themes
Science fiction
Engine
Z-machine
Country
United States
Languages
English
Time to beat
5hwith extras

About

Seastalker is an interactive fiction game written by Stu Galley and Jim Lawrence and published by Infocom in 1984. It was released simultaneously for several popular computer platforms of the time, such as the Commodore 64, Apple II, and IBM PC compatibles (as a self-booting disk). The game was marketed as an introduction to interactive fiction for preteen players, having difficulty rating of "Junior." It was the only game to ever use this rating, which was replaced by the "Introductory" label given to games such as Wishbringer. It is Infocom's twelfth game.

Galley and Lawrence later wrote Moonmist for Infocom.

›Story

The player's character is a young inventor and marine scientist. A research facility called the Aquadome issues a call for help, indicating that the undersea structure is being attacked by a sea monster. With helpful assistant Tip, the player must navigate to the Aquadome in the new untested two-person submarine Scimitar and investigate the problem. But that isn't all... it looks like there may be a saboteur within the Aquadome as well.

Keywords

  • interactive fiction
  • text adventure
  • second person perspective
  • scummvm compatible

Media

Seastalker screenshot 1

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Story

The player character begins the game in a fictional research lab on the coast in the United States. Bly, the commander of an underwater research station, calls the player and describes that the station has come under attack by a sea monster. The player boards and fixes a submarine with an assistant Tip, while another assistant Sharon leaves the lab. The player and Tip navigate the submarine through a bay, before passing through gap in the sea wall and descending to the underwater station.

After arriving at the station, the player talks with Bly and discovers that there is a saboteur among the crew. After equipping the submarine with weaponry, the player notices that the pilot seat has been booby-trapped. They deduce the identity of the culprit, who tries to flee but is arrested by Bly. The player and Tip then set off in the submarine to search for the monster, only to discover that it is being controlled by another scientist and Sharon.

Reception

Computer Gaming World noted Seastalker's easiness, recommending it only as a beginner's text adventure, particularly for young kids. Exemplifying this are the numerous tips dropped by both in-game characters and the game itself, directing the player to the included Infocards. The review complained of minor inconsistencies like items that could not be interacted with until an in-game character told the player of its existence.

PC Magazine gave Seastalker 10.0 points out of 12. It also noted the game's relatively low difficulty level, praised the prose, and stated, "I enjoyed myself immensely".

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Apple II1 June 1984North America · North America 31 December 1984
Atari 8-bit1 June 1984North America · North America 31 December 1984
Commodore C64/128/MAX1 June 1984North America · North America 31 December 1984
MS-DOS1 June 1984North America · North America 31 December 1984
macOS1 June 1984North America · North America 31 December 1984
TRS-80 Color Computer31 December 1984North America
Atari ST/STE1 June 1985North America · North America 31 December 1985
Amiga31 December 1986North America
Amstrad CPC31 December 1986Europe
Amstrad PCW31 December 1986Europe

Editions and related releases

Included in
The Lost Treasures of Infocom II

Games like this

Collections6 collections

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.