Star Ocean: The Second Story
1998
- role-playing (rpg)
- adventure
- action
- science fiction
- single player
The story
The first "Star Ocean" released outside of Japan. It was later re-released on the PSP under the name "Star Ocean: Second Evolution".
What it’s like
Bright anime-style character sprites move across painted, pre-rendered backdrops, with a 1990s JRPG softness to the colour: sunlit towns, sci-fi corridors lit in cool blue, and hazy alien skies. The mood is open and adventurous, a blend of sleek spaceship interiors and fantasy villages, with a cheerful orchestral-leaning score that swells during battles and drops to gentle, looping town themes. Real-time combat is fast and busy, and the pace between fights is unhurried, filled with cooking, item crafting and alchemy that suit a relaxed hour of tinkering. Emotionally it stays earnest and hopeful, following a group of young travellers who grow closer as their journey widens, with a few sudden deaths and sober moments that land harder than the surrounding warmth. Violence is stylised and fantasy-based, with no gore and little that lingers. It suits players who want a long, cosy-leaning sci-fi fantasy to sink into over many evenings, especially those who enjoy customising their party, chasing multiple endings, and wandering between worlds at their own pace.
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