“A Charming Remake” - Star Ocean: The Second Story R Review

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For many, may just be another remake of a highly revered PlayStation title, but in all honestly, it is one of the must-play JRPGs of the year. In many ways, the remake successfully retains the characteristics of the sci-fi/fantasy themes from the franchise while introducing new features that bring it up to par with modern titles. The game’s visuals have also been overhauled and inspired by ’s aesthetics, making it a very charming world to get lost in.

Square Enix has taken a big bet on its proprietary HD-2D/2.5D graphic style, which seems to be paying off. While ’s visuals might be the main attraction here, its solid foundation of charismatic characters, new gameplay mechanics, and gripping side stories make it an impressive package worth experiencing. With meaningful new quality-of-life features and impressive gameplay, may just be slightly ahead of the curve for JRPG remakes.

Related: Star Ocean The Second Story R Developers On How It's «An Entirely Different Experience»

is set 20 years after the events of the first game, albeit one is not required to play it for. You start by picking one of the two main protagonists, Claude or Rena. Claude is a member of the space force Earth Federation, while Rena lives on a medieval-esque planet called Expel. Like any Isekai anime, both characters cross paths after Claude interacts with a mysterious object on a newly discovered planet. After arriving at Rena’s village and being mistaken as a fabled hero by the locals, the two set off on an adventure for different reasons. Claude wants to contact his ship, while Rena wants to investigate Cataclysms on Expel caused by a meteor.

Much like classic JRPG tropes, their quest to get answers entwines with each other that could affect the