Saving the world? Not a problem. Dying my hair blue and partnering a robotic dog? Are you crazy?!
Ben Morris

The whirlwind success of the Final Fantasy series has understandably spawned an array of similar titles, all vying for a piece of the action. All share the proven elements of repeated turn-based combat, anime-inspired visuals and a selection of unusual haircuts. Septerra Core is no exception, but how will it fare against its world conquering opposition?

Set in a world of floating continents, Septerra Core's plot revolves around an ancient prophecy that will result in an individual being granted the kingdom of Heaven. As you'd expect, quite a few unscrupulous individuals are keen to acquire this little trophy, without too much consideration for anyone else. Overnight, the world turns into a battlefield. But fear not, for a girl named Maya, with a predictably strange and very blue haircut, is entrusted with the planet's safety. You get to control Maya (surprise, surprise) and her chums as they battle to save Septerra.

All your favourite puzzle-solving and turn-based combat elements are present and correct. Spells are formed using cards, which are picked up during certain fights. Combining these cards can produce different effects. For instance, combine a Summon card with a Fire card and, you guessed it, a fire creature is summoned to whack the enemy about a bit.

Sadly, unlike the glorious visuals of Final Fantasy VIII, Septerra Core appears rather dated by comparison. The pre-rendered 16bit backgrounds and slightly rough-looking characters don't really do the game justice, and the summoning spells in particular look exceedingly shaky.