THE GOOD: AWESOME COMBAT!
THE BAD: THE STORY IS PRETTY FAR OUT THERE
PARTY RECOMMENDATION: CLAUDE, RENA, ASHTON, PRECIS
GAMING INSIDER
By Michael Wenzel
IV Leader Game Critic, March 19, 2009
One of my all time favorite games on the original
PlayStation was “Star Ocean: The Second Story.”
It had the perfect mixture of RPG elements, interesting
characters and unique combat. This would explain why I devoted a solid 60 hours
to the game. However, my completion of the game was rather bittersweet. I had
triumphed over the game, yet it was sad because my journey with the characters
was also over.
“Star Ocean: The Second Story” was that captivating!
So, imagine my joy when I heard that the game was being
re-released with updated voice acting, new cut scenes and new characters.
Needless to say, I was ecstatic. This new game was released on Sony’s PSP with
the new title, “Star Ocean: Second Evolution.”
“Star Ocean” is very similar to most other role playing
games, but unique features like the item creation system and non-traditional
combat set it apart and make this a must play.
In traditional RPGs, players encounter random battles while
wandering the game world, and combat boils down to selecting an attack or spell
from a menu, and then watching your character attack.
While these games are fun in their own way, “Star Ocean”
completely reinvents the genre, making combat feel exciting and fresh. In “Star
Ocean,” you still encounter random battles, but during the battle, you are in
complete control over your character. You can run away from enemies, or charge
towards them.
You can use enemy-leveling special attacks as well as cast
spells. Not one time during combat will you be forced to watch your attack
happen, but rather, bring it about yourself. This is just one of the things that
makes it feel so fun.
During combat you’re not confined to just playing as the lead
character either. If you want to take control of one of your other characters,
the game lets you. And different characters play completely different from one
another; while one may be fast and weak, another could be slow and immensely
strong.
So, experimenting around with different characters is a
rewarding and learning experience.
Also, as your characters level up, they learn new, more
powerful attacks. This is a plus because it makes random battles feel like less
of a chore, and it makes you want to use those characters more to discover what
they’ve just learned.
Another one of “Star Ocean’s” awesome features is in its
potential for multiple replays. From the game’s outset, you get to choose
whether to play as the male lead, Claude, or the female, Rena.
Although the story is the same regardless of who you choose,
the characters you can have join your party changes vastly. Some are only
available in Claude’s scenario, and some are only available in Rena’s. For this
reason alone, this game warrants multiple replays. The game isn’t without a few
faults though. The story is rather ho-hum. It’s your typical JRPG where the
world is going to end and you’re the prophesized hero that is supposed to save
it.
Although the characters are entertaining and funny, the story
they were placed in is rather weak and over the top ridiculous.
Also, some goofy dialog feels out of place in some places,
but for the most part the translation was very good.
These aside however, “Star Ocean: Second Evolution” is an
awesome game for those who missed it the first time, and a trip down memory lane
for those who remember it on the PS1. I give “Star Ocean: Second Evolution” a 9
out of 10.