Developer: Valkyrie Studios
Publisher: Monolith Productions
Release Year: 1999
System: PC
This is another gem originated in the 90's yet not so well known in the gaming community because it focuses only on the true rpg fans. By being one of the few games of its kind for computer systems, Septerra Core combines features of some of the best games out there such as the turn based system of Final Fantasy, the atmosphere of Baldur's Gate, a post apocalyptic / sci-fi kind of scenery similar to Fallout's etc. Its gameplay is quite easy yet addictive and the good thing about it is that it can initiate gamers new to the rpg genre quite easily. And the most important of all things ... How often do you find good american rpgs that worth ur time?!
PLOT: 9/10
Septerra core narrates the story of a planet called Septerra that was fashioned by a being only known as the Creator. Septerra consists of 7 layers that its inhabitants call them world shells, thats they rotate around the axis of the planet which collects the energy of that very rotation. That energy is stored in the core of the planet and its called Core Energy. The inhabitants of septerra use that energy as fuel to power, ships, weapons, even magic.
The player takes the role of Maya, a Junker that lives in Oasis town in one of the world shells speciafically on the 2nd, of Septerra. After her home was destroyed by the inhabitants of the 1st world shell, known as the Chosen, Maya came under the protection of a man called the Uncle. From then on she has been scavaging from junk and scrap metal discarder on the land by the Chosens, which Grubb, her friend uses them to built his robots. The plot thickens as Maya sets out to save a friend and along the way she makes allies and friends. I won't spoil the rest of the plot because its really intriguing to discover it by urself while playing!
GAMEPLAY: 9.5/10
As you already should know gameplay is one of the strongest aspects of rpgs especially of turn-based ones. And Septerra Core manages to be really high in the list of those games. Septerra Core seems to have all of the pros and none of the cons that there is among those games. More specifically, even by devoting a little time playing, you surelly will notice that it has almost everything an rpg gamer wants. You can perform pretty much every action just with ur mouse. Thats quite convenient cos i dont want my fingers spread all over the keyboard like im playing finger-twister!!! Its interface has all the necessary for the player to know about! Also amost every action has its shortcut on the keyboard but that is secondary if u ask me. The battle gameplay system combines that of a pc's and the one u can find in console rpgs. You perform every action by clicking and u attack, use items, cast spells etc. by waiting for a time gauge to fill up. That time gauge has 3 levels. And the next is more powerful than the previous one when it comes to attacking.
Also when a character leves up, his attributes automatically increase. They also can be increased by equiping armors weapons and accessories. Another nice aspect is the elemental one. Elemental spells can aid u and serve u really well in battle as some enemies are weak to certain elements and strong against some others!
ATMOSPHERE/MUSIC: 8.5/10
Once you run Septerra Core you will notice the strong emotion its imposing music possesses! Its battle themes reminds of battle marches conditioning the player for very ominous encounters. Its a pity though that many are the times in which no music is heard at all. Just the sound effects of each region. But what really catches the eye almost from the beggining is that post-apocalyptic-retro-sci-fi atmosphere that the game transpires. Every location reminds of a world damaged or polluted. There are location with wild life that every corner hides evil creature ready to gut you! And of course there are some locations in which richer people live that are prettier with beautiful bloom.
GRAPHICS: 9/10
Graphics are one of Septerra Core strong points. U want see any disturbing dissappoint pixels as the world is designed in a 2D environment with pre-rendered graphics. You will only see some sprites that are animated quite cheerfully. I liked the fact that they didnt try to maked any 3D graphics and they dedicated their data space in order to give the characters real voices. And this is something that back in the day was really rare (plus that there is some decent voice acting as well)
OVERALL: 9/10
In other words Septerra Core is a really promising retro title from a less promising region (in matters of game designing speaking) that has everything an RPG fan is searching for in a PC RPG. Give it some time if u are not the kind of gamer that seeks trill only in graphics and really quick you will find urself googling for a sequel! Have fun exploring the Septerra world! Cheers!
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| A random battle in the Northern Forest |
The player takes the role of Maya, a Junker that lives in Oasis town in one of the world shells speciafically on the 2nd, of Septerra. After her home was destroyed by the inhabitants of the 1st world shell, known as the Chosen, Maya came under the protection of a man called the Uncle. From then on she has been scavaging from junk and scrap metal discarder on the land by the Chosens, which Grubb, her friend uses them to built his robots. The plot thickens as Maya sets out to save a friend and along the way she makes allies and friends. I won't spoil the rest of the plot because its really intriguing to discover it by urself while playing!
GAMEPLAY: 9.5/10
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| The World Map |
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| Exiting the Graveyard |
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| Wind City |
Once you run Septerra Core you will notice the strong emotion its imposing music possesses! Its battle themes reminds of battle marches conditioning the player for very ominous encounters. Its a pity though that many are the times in which no music is heard at all. Just the sound effects of each region. But what really catches the eye almost from the beggining is that post-apocalyptic-retro-sci-fi atmosphere that the game transpires. Every location reminds of a world damaged or polluted. There are location with wild life that every corner hides evil creature ready to gut you! And of course there are some locations in which richer people live that are prettier with beautiful bloom.
GRAPHICS: 9/10
Graphics are one of Septerra Core strong points. U want see any disturbing dissappoint pixels as the world is designed in a 2D environment with pre-rendered graphics. You will only see some sprites that are animated quite cheerfully. I liked the fact that they didnt try to maked any 3D graphics and they dedicated their data space in order to give the characters real voices. And this is something that back in the day was really rare (plus that there is some decent voice acting as well)
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| Battling the undead in the Graveyard |
OVERALL: 9/10
In other words Septerra Core is a really promising retro title from a less promising region (in matters of game designing speaking) that has everything an RPG fan is searching for in a PC RPG. Give it some time if u are not the kind of gamer that seeks trill only in graphics and really quick you will find urself googling for a sequel! Have fun exploring the Septerra world! Cheers!
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