JRPG fans will find a reason to rejoice once more as Star Ocean: The Second Story R will be making its way into the hands of players. Embark on a galactic adventure that utilizes a dual protagonist system as either Claude or Rena. The two meet through their worlds colliding. Claude appears in an unfamiliar landscape where he finds Rena in distress. As a result, she interprets their meeting as fate foretold through local myth, placing Claude as a savior. Perspectives and allies differ for each protagonist, telling a story about courage and love.
Developed by Gemdrops, Inc. and published by Square Enix, this beloved title was originally released in the late 1990s and has taken on several adaptations through its success. Being the most well-received title in the series, Star Ocean: The Second Story R comes to us now as a blend of the past and present through its visuals and features.
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A refreshed Star Ocean: The Second Story R nostalgically captures pixelated characters and 2.5D elements in a 3D environment. Characters move through the world in a sprite form with all active party members in procession. The graphical blend of the old and new tugs at the heartstrings of those who appreciate its classic roots. Equally, the integrated modern look and feel offer a warm and welcoming approach for newcomers to this underrated title and series. It’s a seamless merge that feels just as exciting as it looks.
A cleaner and larger screen highlights one of the best things about the Star Ocean series: real-time combat. Number damages are crisper and clearer. Additionally, players are able to make note of special attacks displayed right in the center of the screen as they are prompted by the player or through the acts of allies on the field. Meanwhile, the party command conveniently sits in the top right of the screen, feeling easy and intuitive to toggle.
Cooperating with your allies through the combat system felt like a balanced experience. The AI for your allies is competent, carrying itself and aiding you well without stealing the show. The fast-paced combat makes for a play experience that never feels jarring. Rather, it builds on features like switching between characters mid-combat, which are quick and fluid. For those seeking a more dialed-in tactical combat approach, a manual mode is made possible where you can decide how to best optimize your allies’ abilities.
Paying Star Ocean: The Second Story R feels just as entertaining and gratifying as the series ever has. The new feature of briefly tagging in a benched party member to enter combat added more prime combat chaos. It felt like a nice nod to something familiar in tag team fighting games. It encourages combos and timed stackable damage. As it stands, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a perfect blend of classic JRPG that capitalizes on the best modern combat player engagement.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is expected to be released on November 2, 2023 on Nintendo Switch, Playstation, and PC.
