SOS

About

SOS is a 1993 adventure/platformer set aboard a luxury liner turned underwater maze. Players guide one of four characters through flipping corridors, avoiding debris and hazards while rescuing passengers before the ship collapses. The ship’s orientation shifts constantly, requiring quick thinking to navigate flooded hallways and staircases in reverse. The game’s most striking feature is its constantly evolving environment. As the Lady Crithania fills with water, previously accessible areas become blocked or submerged, forcing creative route planning. Inspired by disaster survival stories, it emphasizes tense decision making over combat. With four distinct characters each carrying personal struggles, the game offers varied playstyles despite its short runtime. Originally released on SNES, it remains a niche example of early 90s environmental puzzle design.

Storyline

Mostly inspired by the 1969 book and 1972 film, The Poseidon Adventure, the game is set in 1921, and the players must escape the sinking ship Lady Crithania, which gets hit by a gigantic wave and is capsized. The game features four playable characters, each with a different story: – Capris Wisher, an architect. This young man takes his younger sister Amy to the Lady Crithania. However, Amy's sickness becomes a severe hindrance to him. – Redwin Gardner, a counselor traveling with a family consisting of an unnamed mother, her children Stella and Harry Adams. Plus, Jack Hamilton, a nephew. – Jeffrey Howell, a senior doctor that travels along with his wife Adela. – Luke Haines, a crewman of the Lady Crithania. He suspects that the sea conditions are too much for the Lady Crithania to handle, much to the opposition of his superiors.