S.O.S.
Reviewed by Chris Rothenberger
S.O.S. is a simulation game from Vic Tokai. You take control of one of six passengers
aboard a luxury cruise liner. Everything's going well until a wave hits the ship and
opens holes in the hull. You have 1 hour to find the escape hatch and get out.
Obviously modeled after the Titanic, this game just doesn't do the amazing wreck
justice! If it happened like this, it's amazing that 1500 even survived.
Graphics 4.5 out of 10
The graphics are just your average fare for a Super NES game. They could have put
more into them. (Personally, I could have put up with worse graphics if other areas
were better!.) I do have to say that the cinema scenes that pop up during your
search are very well drawn and depict great scenes.
Music and Sound 7 out of 10
Believe it or not, this is probably the best part. The music is perfectly themed
with what's going on in the ship. There's great disaster music when the wave hits
the ship, and the background is pretty good, too. Although repetitive, the music
saves this game from suffering the same fate as the people on the ship.
Game Challenge 5 out of 10
If you like a challenge, you'll love this game. But it's a bit too hard if your not a
member of Mensa! The clues they give you to get out are almost non-existent. For
some reason, most of the passengers don't even know the layout of the ship! The
only person who does is the captain's first mate, and that's just because he has a
map (which takes time to read.) And what a map it is, too! The only markings on it
are the room boundaries. No door markings, no escape hatch, nothing. Plus, you can
never take the most direct route to a room because there's always something
blocking your path. Heck, sometimes you can't take the longest route either for
the same reason! The controls are horrendously difficult. I couldn't even remember
the controls without the instructions! Running is easy enough, so is jumping, but
then you have to be able to move people (which I don't remember how to do!) and
pick stuff up (which no one told me how to do!) Plus, your character "dies" for 5
mins. if you drown (easy), fall 4 character highs (easier still) or touch fire (easy
if you can find some fire!)
Game Play-Fun 0 out of 10
This game just bit. I was actually glad when the ship sunk so that I could laugh at
the idiots who were sailing on it. Another goal of the game is to help other passengers,
which are hidden as well as the hatch is! Moving them is another problem altogether.
Frustration
Where do you want me to start? There's the goal, the ship layout, the controls, the
gameplay, the character movement, the time limit (5 days should be enough!), etc.
Game Value 1 out of 10
MAYBE you should buy it if you could find it for under $3. Otherwise, don't think about
it. (I'm offering my copy with instructions for $1. Any takers?)
Overall 2 out of 10
I don't think I need to say anymore. It stinks. If you were actually on the Titanic it'd be
better. You'd have a better chance of surviving!