Soham Kar

I like to think that there comes a point in time in one's life where they encounter a piece of work that leaves them completely mesmerized and stupefied upon completion. For me, SeaBed was that piece of work. SeaBed's narrative is nothing short of enthralling, with a cast of captivating characters that will have the reader fully invested in their everyday lives and musings. The music, visuals, and characters all coalesce to create a lively, immersive world that is simultaneously grounded and ethereal. The main trio of Sachiko, Takako, and Narasaki all tell the story through gripping perspectives that play off of each other beautifully, creating an enigmatic mystery that will leave the reader guessing page after page. Although the visual novel is yuri-themed, SeaBed focuses on depicting each of the main characters as flawed human beings with dreams and struggles of their own, making it very easy for the reader to empathize with them and visualize them as real people. There is no overt plot to guide the narrative; the internal conflicts and desires of each of the characters carries the story forward as they try to make sense of their own respective places in the world. Regardless, the intimacy between Sachiko and Takako is heartfelt and is most definitely the core of this wonderful visual novel. I cannot recommend SeaBed enough — it is an unorthodox work that defies normal conventions of storytelling, and the experience of reading through it for the first time with no prior knowledge of the story is a once in a lifetime experience. I promise you that it will be very difficult for SeaBed to leave your heart once you complete it.