Will Disaster Leave You Quaking? - SOS The Final Escape on PS2

I usually tend to get scared in horror game, like Resident Evill. That sounds quite natural doesn't it. Getting eaten by zombies and chased by dobermans is a perfectly good reason to fear dogs and people who moan a lot. But can natural disasters match up to zombies and monsters? There's a famous saying that things that happen in life are much scarier than fiction. I think there's a big point to that.

SOS: The Final Escape will let you find out the terror of being caught up in an earthquake can be brought to life through a game. You play Keith,a newspaper reporter beginning his new job at Capital City. A huge earthquake occurs and you get trapped in the ruins. The battle is on to get to the surface before the earthquake or the rapidly rising waters claim you in the chaos stricken city!

Sadly, the graphics are what could be described as blocky and bland. everything feels square and stiff in the game, even a large sphere that falls from a building at one point! This is very disappointing, I thought better could be done here! But in terms of the scale and the destruction that occurs on the game, well that is just phenomenal! You try and say that the graphics are unimpressive when a huge freeway topples over and nearly crushes you!

The sound is better overall. There isn't really much music and I feel that the game benefits from a natural soundtrack. The wind howls, the water churns, the buildings crash and the earthquake rumbles. Trust me, that is all this game need in terms of sound. The voice acting could be better. It is very still most of the time but bearable.

The gameplay is the biggest strength SOS has. You can walk and use what transport is available and pick up many files and items along the way. The game is also relatively non-linear, with seven different endings available! Most are bland but some have some big plot twists!

So, if you want to be in an earthquake and not get hurt then this is the game for you. Just watch out for cracks in the game!