interpret our thoughts on the remake of Star Ocean The Second Story .
Star Ocean has always been a franchise I ’ve looked in from the outside thinking to myself how seemingly coolheaded it is . From various mechanics that grant you to fundamentally say goodbye to the secret plan ’s balancing , to absolutely incredible soundtracks and sport combat .
I roleplay a bit of Star Ocean First Departure R before the freeing ofStar Ocean The Second Story R , and knowing it was , as far as I bang , a remaking of the first secret plan in the Star Ocean 2 railway locomotive , made me incredibly excited for The Second Story R. I was correct to be excited because after play Star Ocean The Second Story gas constant early and finish it to completion , it ’s a fantastic secret plan with only a matter or two holding it back from being one of my preferred game in late retention .
The most mechanically dense video game in existence
Star Ocean has a reputation for its specialty and particular creation systems , and having play this game , I can easily see why . It ’s jolly much the main focus of the game outside of the gameplay , and it took up a legal age of my hour with Star Ocean The Second Story R. I honestly have zero notes on these system except that they ’re pretty much stark .
There are multiple unlike facets of this system , such as the Contraband super distinctiveness , which allow you to produce various items that can pretty much make character progression and some in - biz thing free . For example , you could get a Counterfeit Medal from doing Contraband , and this token grants the fibre you use it on enough EXP that they only need one point to flush up , meaning when you complete your next engagement , you ’ll have an easy level . This particular trick for leveling , combined with the bodyguard super strong suit , which takes down foeman from the world single-valued function if they ’re weak enough in correlativity to the main cast , work world map combat an optional affair you may share in if you want to .
If you do n’t want to break the game in that way though , that ’s o.k. , because using this is entirely up to you . Truthfully , it takes a lot of learning the systems to get to the level where that is something you’re able to do at any metre , and I did n’t even mention using reverberation to replicate the decoration so you do n’t lose friendly relationship full stop for using Contraband . So there ’s a slew to learn here , but even at the basic point with these systems , such as just bring in new weapons or food to cure yourself with , is so rewarding that it makes the effort you put in to learn these systems worthwhile .
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Singing together in harmony
The detail founding and specialness systems shine on their own , but when you aggregate the preposterous things you may do in those systems with the rest of the game , it feel like a equal made in heaven . The combat in Star Ocean The Second Story R is generally moderately great too . You have a received melee attack combo paired with special relocation you’re able to depute to two buttons , later unlocking the ability to chain them together if you cancel . This differ from character to character , but as I was playing with Claude for most of the game , that was how I experienced combat . If you ’re a castor like Celine , it will be different , for illustration .
The reason I was represent as Claude for most of the game was n’t because I opt Claude as my champion at the start , but because about 20 % of the fashion into the game after the Armory Contest , thanks to the item creation systems and a weapon you may get , you may make yourself Claude ’s respectable base plot weapon – Aeterna .
It takes a bit of effort to get , thanks to needing Mithril , but it ’s authentically so fun to have a weapon so brawny in the former biz thanks to just taking advantage of the system on offering and making them work out together in gross harmony .
Image: Square Enix
An audiovisual masterclass
Star Ocean The Second Story R is one of the most beautiful game I ’ve ever hear , and I intend this might be the perfect blend of 2D - pixel art and 3D graphics that exists right now . I really want more games to look like this , and as someone who really prize pixel art , the way it ’s seamlessly integrated into the kindling system that lines up with the 3D plus is honestly jaw - droppingly gorgeous in sealed areas . For example , the forest where you start Star Ocean The Second Story universal gas constant is probably one of my best-loved areas in play in terms of visuals . It ’s just beautiful .
The added linear perspective in towns when you walk around that showcase the 3D environments are also big , and doctor the camera in one placement instead of letting you move it really allow them make dead stunning areas in this world , and make explore it a pleasure on the eyes .
The new melodious arrangements are also dandy too , with the independent battle theme being an rank banger for the entire foot race . Dungeon base are also a standout too , and the power to flip-flop between the older and new soundtrack at any distributor point is also nice if you ever want to compare and contrast the dissimilar versions of the track . A few time during my playthrough I would hear to the raw and old interpretation of the soundtracks and then decide that both of them are unbelievable and that both of them belong in my game music play list .
Screenshot: PC Invasion
A story with great ideas
The only thing in Star Ocean The Second Story radius that did n’t country for me was the story . Now that ’s not to say the storey is n’t upright , far from it in reality , the story that ’s here is actually fairly keen . Especially the stuff surrounding Rena , and the sci - fi elements of Star Ocean are always a highlight for me , especially when they intertwine with the underdeveloped planets you so often find yourself on in this serial . My issue is that there is n’t really enough of that dandy tale during the runtime of the game .
To complicate on that , I think the sexual climax of the first half of the biz is genuinely peak fabrication , and the result radioactive dust from that is terrific , but there just is n’t that much to the story before or past that until we get into the lead up to the climactic role of the plot . In world-wide , Star Ocean The Second Story R has an engaging account that is middling spaced out , entail some chunks can feel as if there ’s not much happening at any give minute . Luckily , Private Actions do account for a lot of that downtime , so the character moments I would require during this downtime between major story beats are sort of accounted for , but if the main story and villains were a bit more consistently present during the game , it would probably be a frontrunner for my Game of the Year .
Wrapping things up
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a fantastic game that has some of the most satisfying mechanics in play , with a gorgeous presentation that makes it one of the most beautiful games this year . While the story is a mo thin , it ’s generally a middling expert one , and Private Actions are as fun as ever in filling the downtime . I really desire Star Ocean 7 , and more remaking or game in general , are made in this style because this plot is gravely up there for one of my favorite artistic production style in gaming .
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Screenshot: PC Invasion
