Description

"Lifescape Seimei 40-okunen Harukana Tabi" is a distinctive and ambitious game released for the Sega Saturn, primarily targeted towards an audience intrigued by evolution and natural history. Developed by System Sacom, the game was released only in Japan in 1997, blending elements of education with interactive gameplay. The title translates to "Lifescape: A Distant Journey 4 Billion Years of Life," setting a broad and epic scale for players to explore. The gameplay centers around the concept of experiencing and influencing the evolutionary processes of different species across Earth's vast timeline, from the primordial soup of the pre-Cambrian era to the emergence of intelligent life.

The game stands out due to its unique use of the Sega Saturn’s capabilities to create immersive, albeit graphically restrained, environments that simulate the changing conditions of Earth through its geological and biological history. Players make decisions that affect the survival and evolution of species, thereby altering the course of life’s development. The game incorporates a mix of 3D animations and static images to present various epochs and ecosystems, accompanied by a soothing and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the educational journey. While "Lifescape Seimei 40-okunen Harukana Tabi" did not reach a wide audience outside of Japan due to its niche appeal and language barrier, it remains a curio for collectors and enthusiasts of life simulation games, representing an early exploration of educational yet engaging gameplay in video gaming.