Septerra Core

Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator is a computer role-playing game (CRPG) developed by Valkyrie Studios and published by Monolith Productions. The game takes an unusual approach at the genre, by using elements most commonly associated with console video games, such as the Final Fantasy series. Septerra Core's art style draws most of its inspiration from the Japanese anime genre, making use of stylised characters and fantastic landscape, combining science fiction futuristic elements with, for example, medieval concepts. That is essentially made possible because the game is set on a fictional world composed by seven analogous layers - hence the title "Septerra", from the Latin "sept", seven, and "terra", earth - each with unique characteristics, geography and political structure. Battles in Septerra Core implement a variant of Active Time Battle, with the only substantial difference being that the strength of the character's attacks are defined by how long the player allows the time gauge of said character to be charged. Other notable features include fully recorded dialogue, CGI cutscenes and a flexible magic system based on cards similar to those of Tarot. Professional voice actors supplied the voices for the main characters while Valkyrie employees and friends voiced the minor characters.

In the center of Septerra lies the Core, a giant Biocomputer. Seven continents, each with its own unique population and cultures, turn around the core on different levels.

Story
In the beginning the creator brought forth the shining jewels of the universe and their secrets. One such jewel was the world known as Septerra, its secret hidden within its core. Seven distinct layers of continents called world shells orbit the planet, each connected to the other by a giant bio-organic spine. At the center of all lies the core, an enormous bio-computer regulating the movements of the shells.

The creator fashioned into this world a way in which man himself, one day would inherit his power. He created twin keys that can be used to unlock the secrets, granting the gift of the creator, the kingdom of heaven. Every 100 years the alignment of the upper continents creates a beam of light which penetrates to the depths of the core, activating it for a short period. At this time the keys may be used to unlock its secrets. Many men have attempted to possess these relics, but the world was not yet ready.

Then there was one that the creator and the host of angels could not destroy. A fallen seraphim who captured the keys to the core. The creator in desperation sent Marduke, his only begotten son, to Septerra, and then left the affairs of men forever.

After a battle that raged for 100 days, Marduke defeated Gemma and retrieved the keys. Teaching that the world was not yet ready for such power, he hid the ancient relics. But Marduke prophesied that one day, many millennia in the future, when the world was in grave danger, they would once again be found. The power they could unlock could save the world from destruction. That time, is now.

A powerful Chosen, inhabitants of Septerra who strongly believe in their own superiority of knowledge and technology, named Doskias wishes to fulfill this legacy with force. This will be a disaster for all the other people who live on Septerra.

In the meantime a young woman named Maya, an orphaned junker, finds herself in the middle of the conflict, as it was Doskias who orphaned her and her friends. What begins as a quest of revenge, unfolds into a plot to save the Legacy of the Creator and Septerra itself from falling into the wrong hands. Without help she won't stand a chance against the Chosen and other enemies. But who can she trust in a world ravaged with war, a world on the brink of ruin....?

Setting and basic premise
The world's seven continental layers (referred to as "World Shells" or "Shells") shield access to the clockwork computer planetary core. Legends mention two "core keys" which, during a rare alignment of the shells that allows a beam of sunlight to penetrate through, can unlock the planetary core, releasing the "Legacy of the Creator". This legacy is known as the Kingdom of Heaven. Those living on Shell 1 call themselves "the Chosen". They are descendants of the demigod Marduk, son of the Creator, and have an attitude of superiority over other inhabitants of the planet. Those living on Shell 2 are called "the Junkers", people which make a living out of collecting junk - especially electronic - originating from the upper shell. The main plot is set around members of both shells. The game's main character is Maya, from the Junkers, and the main antagonist, Lord Doskias, comes from a Chosen heritage.

Gameplay basics
The game's play area has two different depths - the world map and the location maps. On the location maps, the player is given the opportunity of interacting with other characters, visiting stores, fighting battles, and so forth, whilst the world map serves the purpose of transporting the player from one location map to the other. At some points in the story, such as the beginning, the game is linear on the world map; at other times the player can move to all sorts of battlefields to grind out more experience for the characters. Within dungeons there is a choice of movement to pick up the required magic items in any order, but one cannot rest to full health within.

Characters
The player is given the choice of composing his or her party with three characters out of nine, but certain characters might at times become unavailable due to plot events. However, as there is only one event in the game in which the player can have a team without the main character Maya, the choice of a team is limited to two characters plus Maya.


 * Maya

Female main character from Shell 2; A rifle-wielding adventuress. Her village was wiped out ten years ago by Doskias's men.


 * Araym

Male bounty hunter from Shell 4; Formerly a Jinam explosives expert from Shell 5 before losing both arms to a war injury. Now a mercenary with mechanical rocket arms. He knows a lot about explosives.


 * Badu

Blind Underlost from Shell 7; a knife-wielding savage, he 'sees' with an organic RADAR


 * Corgan

Swordsman from Shell 3. He is in love with the late Holy Guard captain Bowman's daughter, Layla. After Selina's men wiped out his hometown, he swore to destroy her.


 * Grubb

Male mechanic from Shell 2. A staff-wielding inventor who built the Workbots for the town that Maya and he grew up in, though they are abused constantly by the Mayor.


 * Led

Female mechanic from Shell 5; A wrench-wielding Ankaran engineer. A training injury left her with mechanical lower legs, ever since her father has been very protective of her. She grows to be very fond of Grubb.


 * Lobo

Cyborg Jinam pirate from Shell 6. Once a slave-soldier of Jinam, his limitation device was removed after he was abandoned, allowing him free will.


 * Runner

A giant mechanical dog loyal to Grubb, its inventor.


 * Selina

A Chosen Swordswoman from Shell 1. Former lover of the Chosen leader Doskias, and Corgan's enemy. Even though Doskias left her for another, due to her poor lineage, it is apparent she still cares deeply for him.


 * Doskias

A powerful Chosen and direct descendant of Marduk. He destroyed Maya's hometown ten years ago while fighting with another Chosen. Now he is bent on fulfilling the Legacy of the Creator at any cost.

Combat
Each combat sequence is accompanied by a random battle-music track, during which the player characters and their opponents leap to their stations on an isometric grid. The player cannot alter their location during the game, not even if the villain directly in front of one is defeated.

There is a "dial" for each of the three player characters, which moves past two break points, and ultimately to a maximum power level, as time goes along. After the first break point, the player may choose to have that player attack at a low level, or, if possible join with another character for a combined attack. Spells, either for a given character or combo, may be set up and cast at low, medium, or maximum power level as well. But while the player chooses to wait until the characters are powered-up, the enemy will be attacking.

Patch for Windows XP 32 and 64 bit systems
In 2006 version 1.04 was released addressing compatibility issues with the game and newer versions of Windows Operating systems.

It can be downloaded through the official Valkyrie Studios website at http://valkyriestudios.com/Septerra

Guide for applying the patch and other technical issues can be found at http://valkyriestudios.com/Septerra/fsa.htm

Trivia
This game was scored by Marty O'Donnell, and featured minor voice work from Steve Downes. When O'Donnell was asked to score Halo: Combat Evolved, he suggested Downes for the voice of Master Chief, which has brought Downes great fame and critical acclaim.