Retro Review - Septentrion

Today I bring you another retro game that many people don't know about, whose premise is quite particular, since it has many similarities with the movies Titanic and Poseidon, since the whole plot of this title is based on the sinking of a giant ship and the survival of its crew. As a curious fact, this video game was developed by the same company that was in charge of creating the classic horror video game and that some months ago I did their respective review: Clock Tower, that's why they have a certain graphic resemblance. But without further ado here is this little review.

Today's Retro Review is about: Septentrion.

Septentrion or also known as SOS (name given to her in America), tells the story of the survival of the crew of a ship named: Lady Crithania, which due to the "attack" of an immense wave, sinks into the cold and dark depths of the sea. In the purest style of movies like Titanic and Poseidon, this video game tells us the stories of 4 main characters that we will get to know in this traumatic event. We will be able to control 4 characters in total, each one with their respective stories and depending on what we do in this video game, they will have repercussions in future events and in the end of this story of extreme survival.

Graphically, Septentrion maintains similarities with the graphic aspect of Clock Tower, since as I mentioned before, these games belong to the same company. Therefore, we are dealing with a title whose graphic aspect I consider to be quite good. With well-defined and drawn scenarios, but obviously with their respective limitations. It's not a game that in terms of graphics is exceptional, but even so, it's not one of those games that in terms of graphics has aged in its entirety.

The sprites of the characters are quite small, so they have almost no definition, but at least we will be able to recognize the main characters as they have distinctive characteristics, but it's not a big deal, in this aspect you can see their limitations. Although in the case of this game, it focuses much more on creating a better defined scenario than on the characters themselves, in addition to that it also focuses much more on the story of each character and their decisions.

However, the best graphic aspect of this game is the possibility it has to rotate the stage, in such a way that it is able to create a better feeling of depth, and that because we are in a sunken ship that is slowly sinking, in a certain way it creates an atmosphere and a better immersion in this video game.

The music is quite good, very epic and it transports us to the moments of tension felt by our protagonists, although of course, all this taking into account the limitations of the SNES sound chip, but even so, it is a soundtrack that is really well made and that fits very well.

Video Author VintaGamers Paradise

Septentrion Ost Playlist

The gameplay of Septentrion is a little rough, at least at the beginning, as we will gradually adapt to the controls of each character. After the sinking of the ship, we have the possibility to control 4 characters in total, each one of them with their respective stories and main characteristics, each character can do something in particular and when starting each one of them is placed in different places of the ship. Logically, to escape this imminent death alive, for this we can escape alone or with some people, to achieve this, we can help other crew members of the ship, but we also have the option of not helping them.

In this aspect, this video game gives us certain freedoms of being able or not to help, but we must take into account that depending on what we do and who we help will have great repercussions in certain situations and at the end of the game. You could define Septentrion as a platform game, because throughout this journey full of dangers, we must go through the whole ship, looking for survivors and helping them or simply looking for the exit as quickly as possible and that in 1 hour the ship will sink completely.

Septentrion, is a pretty rare game, with a premise very rarely seen in the video game industry, in fact, I'm not sure if there is any game that resembles it (although there will surely be a title with mechanics and similar premise quite hidden). Due to the "nature" of this video game and the decision making, it is a very re-playable title.