The 90s were the heyday of JRPGs. In the golden line that runs from Super Famicom to PlayStation, great representative works that are still talked about and continue the series’ legacy, such as Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Megami Tensei, Ys, and the Tales series, were released.
In this competitive era, a production company called Try Ace, independent from Wolf Team, which produced the Tales of series, released a series called Star Ocean. The first work, part 1, also received good reviews, but the second part, released on PlayStation, was a huge hit.
It had a good story, great music, great character design, and the game had no flaws. It was so great that novels, comics, and animations were also produced. In 2008, 10 years after its release, a remake version was released on the PSP. The game we will introduce today is Star Ocean the Second Story R, the second remake of Part 2.
Game name: Star Ocean The Second Story R
Genre name: RPG
release date: 2023. 11. 02.
developer: Gemdrops
service: Square Enix
platform: NSW, PS5, Steam(PC)
The framework of Star Ocean the Second Story R is almost identical to the original. There are quite a few modern touches here, including graphics, combat system, music, and character design.
It is an HD-2D method that combines 3D backgrounds and 2D characters. It is frequently used in recent JRPGs such as Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy. As for the music, the legendary game composer Motoi Sakuraba, who worked on the original BGM, remade all the BGM.
In games like this where the in-game character expressions are simple, illustrations are a very important element that allows you to immerse yourself in the characters, and the character illustrations are also impressive with their very sophisticated art style, suitable for 2023.
The fact that you can choose between the original illustration, the PSP remake, and the main game could also be said to be a gift for fans of the original. Voice actors and BGM can also be changed to those from previous works. All major lines are fully voiced. The default voice is Japanese, but can be changed to English.
Although the game is a remake of a 1998 work, the system itself is so cleanly made that it can be said to be a modern game. Combat is accomplished with simple controls. However, the tempo is very fast, and many variables must be taken into account.
The number of companions is very large at 11 (excluding male and female protagonists), and various weapons, equipment, heraldry (magic), and mechanical engineering (machinery) provide variation in battle. Companions that are not deployed in battle and the main characters from previous games can be used as summons.
The method of developing characters can be said to be Star Ocean’s unique charm. In addition to generally leveling up by collecting experience points, you can also strengthen your character with skill points and battle points.
Skill points increase the characters’ IC (Item Creation) and special skills. There are types of IC and special skills that are directly helpful in battle, such as making weapons or accessories.
It is very helpful in indirectly progressing the game, such as increasing the amount of experience gained, stealing items, making food, or appraising items.
If multiple people learn the same IC and specialty, they can also learn something called a ‘super specialty’. Thinking about what special skills to improve for each character is also a very fun factor.
Battle points can be used to raise the skill level of passive skills, special moves, and heraldry (magic) that are activated when you perform certain actions in battle.
The combat is simple but fun, and the system doesn’t seem old, but the story is definitely that of a JRPG from the 90s or 2000s.
It’s a story where the main character ends up on another planet due to an incident, experiences various events, and ends up saving the world. It’s a typical royal drama that mixes a bit of romance, a bit of rivalry, a bit of crisis and despair.
The story wasn’t as twisted as modern games, and the characters didn’t have three-dimensional personalities. The way the characters show their personalities and the way they act are also old-fashioned. I think people who dislike the sensibility of 00’s royal dramas because they are childish may find this game to be somewhat childish as well.
Star Ocean The Second Story R has various hidden elements. If you just proceed through the story line, you may miss out on a lot of things, including companions, items, and events. It is possible to make great weapons through pickpocketing in the beginning, but if you just proceed without knowing anything, you may not be able to obtain them for the rest of your life.
The case of colleagues is similar. If you obtain a specific companion, you may not be able to obtain another companion. Some companions can be obtained until a certain event. The days of playing games with a game guide laid out next to you are long gone, but since there are no hints in the game, a wiki guide site is essential for those who want to clear the game perfectly.
Play time is about 25 hours if you follow the main quest. I chose the highest difficulty level, and considering all the time that is not counted in the pure play time (level grinding, repeated save load item crafting, etc.), I think it took about 35 hours.
The main characters are divided, and there are elements of play after the ending and true ending. If you really delve into the end, it has a volume of 50 to 60 hours.
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a very good RPG. It can be a good game even for those who haven’t played the old game, and it can be a real gift for those who have memories of the old game. It is a wonderful game with an old-fashioned feel that takes place in a cute and charming reconstructed world.
