STAR OCEAN REVIEWS

Without a single doubt in my mind, Star Ocean is one of the best rpgs ever made. It happens to be my favorite rpg of all time in terms of overrall enjoyment. I've played this game 3 or 4 times and still get a kick out of it. There are only 2 other rpg games that I have played this numerous times. FF7 cause it was one of the best rpg to give me an emotional roller coaster ride and Vandal Hearts 2 for writing faqs purposes. While both those rpgs are great, there's something about Star Ocean that gives you a much bettter overrall enjoyment when playing the game. The game is an excellent innovative rpg that is ahead of its time. There is so much to do in this game that one cannot simply get the satisfaction of playing it only once. Let's break it down shall we.

The story is unique in that it gives us 2 different main characters to choose from with his and her own separate scenarios. The main story itself is the same but within each scenarios there's a difference in who you can get and recruit in your party. So in one scenario you can recruit a particular fighter that the other scenario can't and vice versa.

The story starts off when an ensign, Claude, on assignment from a starship gets transported to an unkown planet name Expel. There he meets up with the other main character, Rena, whom she mistakenly took him for a savior of some sort. It appears that monsters have started to run over the planet due to a strange meteorite that has fallen into the planet. Rena then asked Cluade for help in saving the planet and thus the quest begins. The story is very simple and very good. The quest will take you on a long journey where you will meet different characters and toward different world maps. The game span onto 2 disc. You certain can't get bored with this story. The only downside is that it's not a very emotional story.

The game features many different and unique characters that will join your party. What's also great about this is that not all of the characters will join your party. Some will only join you depending on what scenario you play while others will only you if a particular character has not join yet. Then there are characters that will only join if you can find them in the private action sequence. For more on private action see gameplay. Best of all since you can't get every single character to join on one single game, this gives you great replay value.

The graphics in this game is incredible. And I mean it too. Even the colors used in this game are great. The game uses a 3-D environment that will rival any of the FF game from Squaresoft. The sprites are beautifully handdrawn. Everything is very detail oriented. The FMV or CG are excellent. The opening FMV during the title screen will blow you away if you're a Star Trek Fan. You can't possibly play this game without being impress by the graphics.

The game features some great music to great midis files. If you're a big Star Trek fan then some of the music will give you that "space the final frontier" feeling. An excellent variety of sounds.

Voice Overs: Despite what you may hear from others the game doesn't possess that many voice overs. During the the opening sequence of Claude scenario and that's pretty much about it. The game does possess a huge number of end of the battle voices. At the end of each battle each fighter has his or her own motto. Something like "that was too easy" or I can feel my power flowing". It might get annoying at times but nothing that will hurt your enjoyment of the game itself.

Now come the gameplay. Where can I start?? There is so much to do in this game that you can't simply accomplish them in one game.

First off the game using a new and unique system called private action. Right before you enter a town/village you have a choice of whether or not you want to do a private action. What private action is, is that it allows your party to split up while entering a town. This way the main character can explore the town himself or herself. You can steal stuff from townspeople during private action, you can get new members during private action, you can get new and rare items in private action, and pick up new story sequences that will have an affect on the endings you're going to get.

Second, the game uses a new skill system. This new skill system is enormous. The skills you can learn range from combat skills to weapons and items creation skills. Each skills can even improve a fighters defense, offense, and speed. If you want the best armours and items then you have to learn items creation skills. Learning how to use skills is very important to the gameplay of this game.

Third, the game uses an emotional attachment level. How does this work?? Simple. The game likes to pair off couples in this game as friends or more than friends. What character get attach to what character has a result on what endings you're going to get. The emotional level rises and fall depending on how you interact in private action or in battle. If you continue to only play a certain group of fighter with one another in combat then those fighter will grow a bond with another. If a fighter dies in battle and he or she has an attachment with another fighter in combat then the fighter that's still alive will get pissed and his or her stats start to level up. Also fighters who have strong bonds toward one another will pair off together to fight a particular enemy. Very innovative system.

Battle System: The battle system is very unique. If you've played Tales of Destiny then you wouldn't have any problem since it's the same except in a 3-D environment. Basically it's a free style battle sytem that uses action rpg elements. When a battle start, you have a 3-D battlefields. You can only control one fighter and the other 3 fighters you have to assign what you want them to do. Assignments range from "all out magic and combo attack" to "only defend party members". You can control you fighter any way you want as in an action rpg. What's great about this system is that it gets you involve with fights alot more than other battle system. And it's also very fast paste so you can't fall asleep during combat. Get a pair of bunny shoes and you in afterburner mode. An excellent battle system.

There's so much to do in this game that there's no way can anyone not want to replay it. You have 2 different scenarios. You have a bonus dungeon where you can fight lots of hidden bosses and get cool weapons and magic. You can get different difficulty playing level. Oh yeah, have I mention you can get up to 84 different endings? Talk about alot of stuff to do in this game.

My final thoughts are quite simple. If you really truly call youself an rpg fan then you definetly want to pick this game up. I have yet to see someone say that they didn't enjoy playing this game at all. It's one of the best and most cutting edge game out there that will give you an enjoyment that even the FF games can't give you.

Star Ocean: The Second Story

Star Ocean:
The Second Story