Take a sneak peek at what the critics
are saying about
Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator!Septerra Core was awarded "RPG of the Year"
over at www.glideunderground.com
Septerra Core was nominated for "RPG of the Year" at www.gameindustry.com.
The game was also given a special award for story
over at www.gamespy.com, describing the script and
story as "top-notch." Thanks, and look for more updates soon.
Latest World Wide Reviews
European Reviews of Septerra Core are coming in from across the pond. They seem to
be finding the game as fantastic as the Americans did. Here are some scores from
magazines from around the globe (apologies for translation, we did our best!):
PCGameplay 89%
Games & More 80%
Online Magazin Krawall 8
/ 10, Special Award
TGM Magazine 86%
PC Jeux 79%
PC Master 90%
Online Magazin PC Maniac:
88%
PCJoker 74%
Online
Magazin GGO 83%
" Septerra Core has everything that a good RPG needs: An exciting
Story, which binds one for nights before the monitor, many different characters, high
complexity and, last but not least, pretty graphics."
Stratos Group 7.8/10
Online Magazin Gamesweb
3.5 / 5
3d-Ring 9/10
"(Septerra is) a breath of fresh air from what PC gamers have been used to
previously."
http://3d-ring.3dark.com/zzone/septerra.html
Online
Magazin GameSpot 7/10
" If you like both Adventures and Japanese Animation, I garuntee Septerra Core
is correct for you."
MCV KW48 80%
"An original RPG with more atmosphere and play depth, fans of
comparable games such as "Fallout " will surely like it."
GameStar 7/10
PC Games 80%
"(Septerra Core) works at first sight like a mixture of fallout and
Finally Fantasy 7, but it turns out as an RPG that skillfully borrows from Science
Fiction, Fantasy and Japanese Anime for a dramatic combination."
PC Action 79%
"If I had to pick between Final Fantasy 7 and Septerra Core, I would choose the
latter. "
Online Magazin Gzone 76%
MMR 88%
"Valkyrie Studios offers a remarkable game with Septerra Core."
PC Player 75%
"The combat is a mixture from real time and turn-based strategy. In
the world of the RPGs this is quite original."
www.spielmaschine.de
8.3
We've had a few other review excerpts sent to us by fans
around the world (scores 86% and 89% in Russia).
However, we need to track down what magazines they are from!
North American Reviews
Next Generation
Magazine - 4/5 Stars
On the print side look out for Next Generation Jan 2000 issue, which gave Septerra
Core 4 out of 5 stars: "Septerra Core is a well-crafted,
good-looking, heavily anime-influenced game with some interesting character quirks."
and "...the plot unfolds in a timely fashion, with a good mix of action, quests, and
puzzle-solving, and a few surprises along the way."
PC Gamer Magazine - 86%
Inside the pages of PCGamer's Jan 2000 you'll find an excellent review which gives the
Core an 86%. "Valkyrie's development epic turns out to be well
worth the efforts of the erstwhile design team," and "Combat is fast paced
without being frantic, and most enemies have interesting strengths and weaknesses."
They also liked the game's, "Inventive and historically deep universe."
DailyRadar - "Hit"
Over at www.dailyradar.com, (formerly
NextGeneration Online), they gave us a "HIT" rating and
had this to say: "The remarkable world of Septerra Core is a joy for any
serious roleplaying gamer. The world of Septerra sucks players in. The quick-action,
consolelike combat, combined with a ton of items, a fantastic story, and even decent voice
acting, make it a sure hit."
IGN PC - 8/10
Hop over to pc.ign.com which gives the game an 8
out of 10 over all. Here's a quote: "It’s one part fantasy,
one part cyberpunk; one part Fallout 2, one part Final Fantasy VII. But however you
classify it, Septerra Core is one heck of a lot of fun. "
GoneGold
Over at www.gonegold.com they had this to say:
"After playing "Septerra Core" for almost 10 hours straight, I can honestly
say that I doubt I'll lose interest in it for a long, long while. The story doesn't stop
for anything, and the character interactions and voice acting have me sincerely impressed,
which is no easy task. I think the 24 empty cans of Mountain Dew stacked next to my
computer is an impressive testament to the immersiveness of SC. Caffeine is a must while
playing games as addicting as this."
InciteGames - 4/5
Next up, www.incitegames.com, who gave the Core a
4 out of 5. "You know you're playing a good RPG
when you complete the first chapter of the game and say to yourself, 'damn, that was
tough.' Even after several hours of diligent gameplay, you'll feel you've only
scratched the surface of Septerra Core."
GameCritics
- 8.5 / 10
www.gamecritics.com has posted a nice dual review of Septerra Core, giving us an 8.5
overall in both reviews. They had this to say: "Septerra Core's spells
rival those of Final Fantasy 8," and "the ability to strike multiple targets
(that are either aligned or grouped closely) with certain weapons, and a unique magic
system that required interesting combinations, really added a dimension of strategy that
kept me glued to the game," and "Even better than the story backdrop are the
main characters that populate SC. Wonderfully motivated with distinct
personalities, characters in SC are vibrant and dynamically play off one another.
"
Krawall
Here's a review from a German site, www.krawall.de/reviews/septerra.
Over all score 8 out of 10. We ran the text through a
translator and here's what we got: "...it ensures for the fact that your refrigerator
is full and prepares your environment for it that in the next days and weeks much time
will not have you, the Septerra core you will not any longer release, until their played
it to the end." We
think that means stock up on food before you play, because you won't have any more free
time.
HotGames - 4/5
Next up is www.hotgames.com, who awarded the game
4 out of 5 "flames." "Thankfully you aren't just wandering around
unarmed - some of the weapons you can collect and use are pretty damn cool and wouldn't
look out of place in a hard core shoot 'em up. Combat is handled well and doesn't feel too
much like a turn based system, which is sure to keep the action-heads happy for a
while."
Intelligamer - 4/5
At www.intelligamer.com Septerra won a 4
out of 5. "The best feature of Septerra Core, or at least the one
that you see first, is the great Anime-style visuals. The backgrounds, characters and
animation are all first rate. The game has a really unique look" ..." an
otherworldly, sometimes gritty, sometimes inspiring look that really works and does help
get you into the game. Combat and general animation was very good, and special combat
effects had an over the top Japanese Anime TV show style that was both amusing and well
put together."
Mpog - 4/5
www.mpog.com gave the game 4 out of 5 stars.
"Just click on the character that you wish to speak with...(and)... you can have a
specific character in your party say something. By allowing specific characters in your
party to speak, conversation becomes more flexible. By wandering through an area with
different members in your party, people will volunteer different information, and some may
even give you stuff if a particular character can help them out."
PCGR - 5/5
At www.pcgr.com SepterraCore was awarded a 5 out
of 5. They say it best:"I only suggest that you purchase this game
because trust me, the second you turn on your computer and start playing this game, you'll
finding your real life seeming less and less important as you get sucked into the life and
welfare of Septerra Core." and "The Game is so fun, better than Final Fantasy 8
and 7. This game has one of the best story lines I have ever seen, and the game world is
the bigest I've seen. A must have." Thanks!
RPG Fan - 99%
At www.rpgfan.com the game has received a 99%!
With a name like RPG Fan, what better endorsement do you need? "Expect to meet
100s of NPC's and talk to EVERYONE you can. Look for interesting places, surprise
betrayals, and some great moments. This does indeed become an epic tale."
CD Mag - 3/5
Over at www.cdmag.com they gave the game a 3
out of 5. "Artwork is excellent and some of the scenery, especially
the views from the edges of the continents can be majestic. Animated spell effects are
great and there is a lot of variation in what can be cast both by your characters and by
the enemies you encounter."
Game Revolution - A-
The review at www.game-revolution.com gave us
an A- on their "report card." We hope our homework had an
"excellent!" sticker on it too! Here's what they had to say: "The
cool part is that you can combine your magics to create new effects. For example, if you
cast barrier and earth at the same time on one of your party members, you get a barrier
which is very strong against earth attacks."
Electric Games - 3/5
At www.electricgames.com they gave Septerra a 3
out of 5. "The obvious game comparison would be to Final Fantasy,
which exists on both the PC and console platforms. However, there are some major
differences between these games. While Final Fantasy concentrates itself on action
with a bit of story thrown in for good measure, Septerra Core focuses on the story and
uses combat to outline conflict and raise the character's experience. The really
nice thing is that this is a GOOD story - very well detailed and imaginative."
GamePlayer - 9.5 / 10
Check out the review at www.gameplayer.com , where
Septerra was awarded a 9.5 out of 10 over all! "...and not
just any PC RPG, it is THE RPG OF THE YEAR. That’s right. Better than Baldur’s,
more fantastic than Final Fantasy 8, and no second disc of text like Xenogears. Of all the
games I’ve played this year, nothing, aside from Alpha Centauri has inspired me to
play a game this long, for the number of days I’ve been playing it. There just
isn’t enough one can say about this game." Wow, we're blushing...
3D Gaming - B+
Next is a review from http://www.3dgaming.net, who
gave Septerra Core a B+ overall. "As you can surmise, you will
always be encountering something new in Septerra Core...This is Septerra Core's strongest
gameplay point. You are always traveling to new lands and encountering new allies and
people, new weapons, and spells. Pair that with a driving story, and you've got a game
that promises a lot of fun… "
WEWP - 8/10
Over at www.wewp.com, the game has received an 8
out of 10 overall. "Septerra Core is a great bridge between the
console and computer RPG worlds. The plot is fresh and keeps you wanting more, which is
very important to this sort of game. The speech is outstanding, further enhancing the
storytelling. Kudos go out to Monolith for realizing the potential of this game, and to
Valkyrie Studios for making the game live up to it."
GamesMania - 9/10
Over at www.gamesmania.com, the game has been
awarded a 9 out of 10. "A very interesting feature of the game
is that certain characters develop dislikes for each other, and are considered 'natural
enemies.' There are sub-plots that can be undertaken to resolve these enmities
between these characters, but they are not necessary to the completion of the game. This
kind of sub-quest feature is a great and really helps make the trip through the game feel
different, and not liner like a lot of console-style RPGs. "
VoodooExtreme - 85%
Over at www.voodooextreme.com Septerra earned a
total score of 85%. ""The attention of detail that
Valkyrie put into the characters is quite amazing. Little things, such as form-fitted
armor, show off the detail in spades"..."the special effects from spells and
weapons are phenomenal, and show off the Anime style like nobody's business." and
"The most amazing thing you will notice is the voice-overs; they are actually good.
You can hear the fear, the anger, the tenseness in each characters voice, which really
helps propel the story along. Since RPG games are all about story, believable characters
matter a lot."
Gamezilla - 87%
Then there's www.gamezilla.com, which rates the
game at 87 out of 100. "Septerra Core is currently my
favorite pick for RPG games -- it’s one of the very few worthy titles in the genre
this year... The story starts out a little slow, but it gets much better fairly quickly
and in the end is a lot of fun to play. I highly recommend Septerra Core to all RPG
fans -- and with its rich plot it is probably worth a look for adventure fans as well.
"
Gameboyz - 4/5
Over at www.gameboyz.com, They gave the game
4 out of 5 "joysticks." "This is a well rounded title with
all the elements needed to drag you in deep and not let go." And, "Other than (a) few quibbles, I found
the game to be solid, engrossing and viciously addicting."
Planet Fortress - 9/10
Over at www.planetfortress.com, they gave
Septerra Core a 9 out of 10, saying, "I have the feeling that I'll
replay Septerra many times nonetheless, as it's earned it's spot as the only PC
role-playing game to satisfy me since the old Ultimas...Buy this game now and don't stop
playing until they make a sequel!"
RPG Extreme - 10/10
One of our favorite reviews, just for sheer enthusiasm, comes from www.rpgxtreme.com, who gives the game a 10 out
of 10, (and a 10,000,000 for gameplay no less!) Take a sneak peek,
"... I'd just like to make it clear (since no one else cares to do so) that this game
isn't just the best American interpretation of Japanese RPG's EVER. But it also happens to
be the most faithful, accurate representation of Anime ever created by an American...Septerra
Core is Anime, and believe it or not, this is the FIRST time that I've ever said this
about any American-made product." We thank you.
Game-Over - 94% (10/10)
Over at www.game-over.net, they rate
the game at a 94%, with a 10 out of 10 for Overall Impression!
Here's a short quote: "So where does this place Septerra Core? I believe that
isn’t a hard question to answer. If anything, it’s essentially the one of the
very few worthy RPGs to come out this year, so that alone (might) make it the RPG of the
year in my book." We also have word that, "this will be one
of the three games our magazine will recommend for the Holiday Season."
Ga-RPG - 92%
Next up is www.ga-rpg.com where the game has received
a 92% overall. Here are some quotes: "Septerra
Core's strength lies in its gameplay, from the fluid movement to the complex combat and
magic system that ironically is not that hard to grasp,"..."The game is a blast
to play,"..."Just pure fun."
GamersGateway - 86.8%
Meanwhile, over at www.gamersgateway.com
the game has received an 86.8% rating. Here's a quote, "The single
player game could be quite engrossing. A definite time leech. Make sure before firing up a
game that you will have plenty of time to play for a while. Tearing yourself away from
this title is NOT easy."
AVault - 3.5/5
www.avault.com has given the game 3.5
out of 5 stars with this to say: "There are mega-tons
of dialogue in Septerra Core and the voice acting throughout is
phenomenal,"..., "The rest of the interface (provides) an easy to learn and use
combat system and inventory management scheme. I truly enjoyed the manner in which combat
is played out. Added elements of strategy are intermixed with turn-based gameplay to
create a fun and semi-challenging combat experience.
GameVortex - 9/10
Over at www.gamevortex.com ,
the game has received a 9 out of 10 score, with this to say, "And
my oh my, the gameplay is superb. Septerra Core plays very much like your typical Japanese
console RPG, only it's for the computer -- and it shows. If you like console RPGs (and I
do, I do, I very much do!) this game is just the absolute best you'll have ever played for
the computer"..."This game is eminently playable,"..."Get this
game."
XtremeInsight - 83%
Over at http://xtremeinsight.com/ they
awarded the game an 83%. "Undoubtedly,
much time and effort went into the creation of Septerra Core’s world and plot
structure." "(The game) has a very deep and believable world environment,
an array of entertaining characters, and a refreshingly unique anime-flavored
storyline."
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