*Publisher Square Enix and developer Gemdrops have announced Star Ocean: The Second Story R for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC (Steam). It will launch both physically and digitally on November 2 worldwide for $49.99.* The highly acclaimed second instalment in the STAR OCEAN series, returns as STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R. Brought to life with a charming 2.5D aesthetic, which fuses 2D pixel characters and 3D environments, this remake includes everything that made the original release so great while adding new elements! Experience new battle mechanics, full Japanese and English voice overs, original and re-arranged music and so much more! Discover the definitive version of a classic but modernized JRPG that’s perfect for newcomers and long-time fans alike. Start your journey with either Claude or Rena. Depending on your choice, the perspectives and the allies you can recruit will change. Get to know party members via the unique Private Actions system, grow relationships and unlock various endings. *Star Ocean The Second Story R Official Site:* www.starocean2r.com/

*Famitsu recently interviewed the Star Ocean team regarding the newly announced Star Ocean The Second Story R:* "The entire core battle programming was redone from scratch, with adjustments made to the pacing, impact, and frame rate, as well as the effects and ranges of skills, so that the game can be played without stress as a modern action RPG. In particular, the overall atmosphere was retained, while the time stoppage during the techniques has been relaxed so that the overall tempo of battles was not affected. In addition, we set the difficulty level of battles slightly higher this time. Bosses that appear in the middle of the story are given a clear strength, and depending on your play style, you may have a hard time with them. Because of that, we have added new quests for equipment and items to support players in this title. We hope that players will enjoy playing through the main storyline while having fun with their characters and party composition." "Star Ocean: The Second Story R will feature fully voiced event scenes with the original voice cast, a newly arranged soundtrack by original composer Motoi Sakuraba with new songs, including some with a live band, as well as the new Break and Assault Action combat mechanics." noisypixel.net/star-ocean-the-second-story-r-harder-battles-new-quests-change-difficulty-level/

Star Ocean 2 is the best in the series and this remaster looks AMAZING, this is so much more than I hoped for, take all my money!

Truly a masterpiece and should be in the top 10 games of all time. This new remake looks so good I could cry, and they stayed true to the original. I think this took so long for a remake specifically because they hold it in such high regard and wanted to wait for a time when game tech was good enough to honor it properly. Ive played this game, since its release, more times than I can count. 🐭

Having played the PS1 version (yeah im old lol) and played the PSP version too, can I just say that in this version magic is now in real time is a huge game changer! I always go for 3 melees and one healer in my party. And now that in this version of the game, magic doesn't freeze combat flow! I would love to have magic based characters now in my party. Add to that the Assist from your reserved party members is another game changer! Now this is the true Second Evolution!

@Evilokami

Жыл бұрын

God yes, this was one of the things I hated about the original and I never really used the mages because of it.

@Aequitas887

Жыл бұрын

like getting that Octopath traveler makeover treatment, the scenery is gorgeous though I will forever miss the ps1 voice over work for limited as it was. Small price to for full dialogue voice over. Can't remember if PSP had it, currently replaying switch version of snes remake and loving the VO work there

@user-uv9sx4gu6t

Жыл бұрын

マジ最高!!!!❤

@seanobrien276

Жыл бұрын

Adding to the time-freeze thing from the original is how obnoxiously _long_ some spell animations were. Explode and Meteor Swarm were terrible lol. And I actually turned off my controller's rumble due to Explode basically being like a full minute of nonstop vibration; I'm a sensitive dude and stuff like that is legitimately irritating. But yeah, there was literally no reason to use magic in the late/endgame because in the time it takes Explode/Meteor Swarm/other top level spells to do 9999 damage, melee/physical characters could do like 10-20x (and often even more) in the time it takes to finish the spell's animation.

@user-js9ut9fk9r

11 ай бұрын

@@seanobrien276 I'm the one who used meteor swarm and explode until 999 lol

No way, was that a Blindside at 1:34? I thought it was just going to be a remake with upgraded graphics, but they are adding lots of stuff! Party assist attacks, blindsides, real time magic animations... This is way more than we expected!

@snazzydrew

Жыл бұрын

Bruh thanks for pointing out that blindside. I am now even more hyped!

Oh god yes, the spells no longer freeze the action, this is automatically the optimal version of the game now.

@crowquet56

Жыл бұрын

They're multi hit too! Mages are finally gonna be viable 🥺😭

i wish tri-Ace Enix would make a RPG something similar to this but with updated pixel~ OR make Valkyrie Profile R ~

Yes! Magic in real time. I like Celine as a character but hated her stupid explosion takes forever for animation to finish.

@Harkz0r

10 ай бұрын

Not only that but multi-hit too. I really wonder if magic will be more viable in the endgame as a result. It looks like they've re-tuned Dias' attacks as well, I always hated the startup lag on his normals for a so-called peerless swordsman. I hope it is the case as I'd be pretty hyped about that.

@machoman6969

8 ай бұрын

That spell becomes useless after the cave anyway 😂

Oh wow, theres a lot here: A lot of moves have vastly different animations. Magic is cast without actually pausing battle, making the spells useful. Spells can multihit. I never used Mages in the last game, but I likely will now. The other 4 Characters can come in and attack/heal. Looks as though some skills are changed. This game will likely be one of the best remakes of all time.

almost crying hearing the sound of my CHILDHOOD

Absolutely love the look of this. Still can't believe this is real, really impressed with the quality and effort put into it, and I also really like the new artwork and combat updates I can see. Very damn excited, day 1!

The things I'd do for Tales of Eternia to get a remake like is...

@soulflame5635

11 ай бұрын

Phantasia with Sea of stars graph for me here

proof that valkyrie profile can be done like this

The out-of-battle party members chipping in is AMAZING! Absolute genius move.

@veghesther3204

11 ай бұрын

However I tend to NOT even use a full party since I'll only have Opera Bowman Chisato Dias/Ernest as my party EVERYONE ELSE sucks Celine Ashton Precis Noel Leon are all pure crap and are never in my party ever Welch isn't either and she WILL be in this remake. While Ernest SUCKS FOR IN battle use if you can still STEAL his 2 battle suit armors off of him and still sell them for 24 million Fol each do so.

This is going to be just as epic as it always was. Now perfectly fitting our HD TV's and still retaining the visual aesthetic we remember. Love 2D HD

The music gives me a "Valkyrie profile" vibe.

@NightmareVortex

Жыл бұрын

Motoi Sakuraba is the same soundtrack composer for both Valkyrie Profile and Star Ocean, that's why haha.

This looks so good. I can't wait to dive back into this masterpiece.

Loved this game back in the days. SquareEnix remaking this game and Mario RPG totally caught me off guard.

Boy, am I hyped for this lmao. In terms of battle pace/action, it reminds me of Tales of Vesperia--lots of stuff going on, and lots of different mechanics in play, often at the same time. Some of the spell action here brings back memories of Estelle and Rita respectively using Holy Rain and Tidal Wave/Meteor Storm basically at the same time to completely nuke entire battlefields. The new Break/Assault mechanic probably makes the OG spell combining thing unnecessary, but it'd be awesome if tri-Ace brings that back anyway, along with the 11 or so different magic elements haha. Also, please let Noel actually be good in Second Story R, I'm a sucker for "druid" classes/characters and would love to be able to use him for more than just Earthquake spam this time 'round.

Best star ocean ever made, but shame about no classic voices in battle and in English too.

Last Cloudia took inspiration from SO2 's combat but SO2 Remake is version 2.0 with more features and graphical upgrade.

@snazzydrew

Жыл бұрын

LC gang!

Real time magic is my favorite change. No more stopping every 5 seconds for a spell.

0:29 fairy heal sync with this part of the battle theme just hits can't explain why😌

Oh good there is a physical release! I wish we can use the voice from PS1 version in battle. Really miss claude spamming “air slash” and ashton’s “hurricane slash”. I dunno why but i really like the voices back in the day.

@NightmareVortex

Жыл бұрын

"This remake features new voice recordings for all the player characters, allowing for full-voice cutscenes with the original cast, something that wasn’t possible in the PlayStation 1 version. The game also supports switching between the new voices and the PSP version’s cast; you can select which to use on a character-by-character basis in the Status screen at any time, letting you play with the cast of your choice." noisypixel.net/star-ocean-the-second-story-r-november-2023-release/

@ShakeITyEA

Жыл бұрын

@@NightmareVortex woooow. thats amazing.

@bgkclassic

11 ай бұрын

Tear into pieces 🔊

@CalkinPlanet

9 ай бұрын

@@bgkclassic PEAAAAAAR INTO PEACHES

Damn awesome announcement. I just recently mastered it on retroachievements (Universe unlimited Indy, Gaby etc.. again !) but definitely gonna make another run there ! Of course without silly bloody armors and such. Non-pausing spells ? Damn that's interesting. Noel coming soon in all your teams :D

@veghesther3204

11 ай бұрын

I didn't even last for 10 seconds against those bosses lv 255 on EARTH mode so they BETTER keep bloody armors intact.

@fistoz4671

11 ай бұрын

@@veghesther3204 But.. that's lame cheating :p There are so many ways to break the game without even this kind of gear ! Can't wait for this game, I really hope it won't be a big fail !

FF16よりスタイリッシュなアクションしてて面白そうだわ。笑

I truly like these Remakes

this is too good. dont forget other square titles like Valkyrie Profile. fingers crossed!

Shut up and take my money already!

can't wait to get my paws on this game !!!

The sounds reminds me of Valkyrie profile 🥰

@MarxasThomas

10 ай бұрын

Same composer

WOW did I just read correctly? In PC! Sold! I will buy this as soon as it release.

This looks very good !

I know some people are liking the real time magic spells but I did like seeing the animations/scenes for some of the bigger spells tooo, I wonder how that will work for a spell like Southern Cross which goes into space to summon the meteors, maybe you get a toggle option to see the camera focused on the spell if you are controlling the character who casts it??

@crowquet56

Жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure the strongest spells still have a cutscene but most spells are in real time, idk for sure but seeing Rena's trailer makes me think that's the case

ENERGY ARROOOW!

@alvercaine8893

Жыл бұрын

airslashairslashairslashairslash (the dias range build)

beautiful my childhood

that PSP opening was so NOSTALGIC i am BUYING this one for sure! hope steam dont ruin it

OMG they are not resting they keep attacking the count of combo hit is so masive and they never take break. my savings well explod for this remake. my favorate character is OPERA VICTRA and CHISATO MADISON

Now they need Valkyrie Profile 1 and 2 on steam 🙏

How do you get the pre-order bonus content in the game? Where does it come from inside the disk or box, then where to find it in game?

hopefully they bring back the spell combination which make this game great

Hyper Beam and Tear Gas!!!

@Rutawind

Жыл бұрын

The goats

@veghesther3204

11 ай бұрын

About that Tear gas is a LV up move lv 65 for Chisato Hyper launcher requires lv 10 Machinery for Opera and 100% LUCK and do this day the ONLY Machinery based move I EVER made with Opera WITH or WITHOUT Orchestra is Healing Star only. The item needed to USE Hyper Launcher for Opera I find it nearly impossible to make it even with HER at lv 255. While Precis sucks she has at least 2 Machinery based KMs as well.

I hope they have an option to recruit all characters into one playthrough and probably ad some finishers. Imagine Claud doing dimension door or ethereal blast.

@GoddessShadowYT

Жыл бұрын

dimension door was from SO3 & was only OP but not broken due to it being both a semi charge up/ teleport skill & u got that *really late* at around end game when enemy mobs were all Beefed Up & replacing the way weaker 1's. ethereal blast is the more *widely known staple* skill of the series & it's been in only a couple of it's games as a skill, It's deemed OP for a *Damn Good Reason* though it's slight downside is *that delay startup* upon using it. 😐

@NormanReaddis

Жыл бұрын

@@GoddessShadowYT Thank you for the trivia but i played all of them, i know. I meant additional content and a nod to older games. They already added things like Welch, might as well add some more like making burst specials to the 2 skills that i mentioned. Ethereal probably for Claude and Dimension will be Dias or Ashton's amd many more each character. Oh the delayed part is not going to exist since the battle mechanics of this game isn't introduce to that link system yet. Just moveset additions.

@GoddessShadowYT

Жыл бұрын

@@NormanReaddis yeah np dood, i own both of these on PSP alongside also having played *all of em* in it's series, so i know my over knowledge of this game to a tee anyway. 😙

@GoddessShadowYT

Жыл бұрын

@@NormanReaddis i've completed both SO1 & 2 on the PSP a total of 10 times each, & i never encountered & gotten both Welch & that 1 girl with that huge gun that i've seen in Univerise Mode (aka EX Hard might add) on YT videos that i've seen.

@NormanReaddis

Жыл бұрын

@@GoddessShadowYT I've done all of them more than i can count specially way back on PS1 SO2 even watch the anime once in a while and wish they completed it.

Things will work out.... i think We got a pretty good score with this! MY STRENGHT!!!

Beating Abusing The Carp out of Pixilated Wildlife 👍🥳

I'm surprised that since changing the graphics they didn't make an HD soundtrack as well with the option to choose between that and the original . I see that on alot of remasters etc. Nevertheless I love what they've done to it and I can't wait to play this on ps5 finally!

@crowquet56

Жыл бұрын

They actually do have the original and rearranged soundtracks to choose from, apparently some scenes and boss battles will have brand new songs added also

"TEAR INTO PIECES!!!" (i think thats from this game iirc)

@MarxasThomas

10 ай бұрын

Yep😊

這才是我要的銀河遊俠經典之作

100 percent playing with the OG OST

@ShakeITyEA

Жыл бұрын

idk about you but the remastered battle theme in the trailer sounded pretty amazing. if its any indication then I have high hopes for the fully remastered ost

@nunyabusiness69

Жыл бұрын

@@ShakeITyEA this sounds like his live performance of the song with the violinist

@alvercaine8893

Жыл бұрын

you'll be missing out, sakuraba himself did the remastered OST, take a look at the french trailer you can hear the first forest theme and its so epic i had a tear.

@ShakeITyEA

Жыл бұрын

@@alvercaine8893 the trailer also has the remade version of renas theme, which sounds awesome. honestly one of the best soundtracks of all time.

@alvercaine8893

Жыл бұрын

@@ShakeITyEA yeah my bad thats the rena theme (as its an enhanced shingo forest theme) and tge battle theme sound wonderful too

Dias flag ❤❤❤

Sound effects?

AH! Gonna play the shit out of this one, again (talking about the original release, which I should have played more than a thousand hours in total).

The HP and MP gauge at the mid right is distracting and covering the party members. They should have placed it lower.

goty for me 100%

Yeah I enjoyed star ocean 4 and divine force this should be fun

@alvercaine8893

Жыл бұрын

2 blow those 2 story and character wise, it's the most complete and good episode.

@Redheadkingpin27

Жыл бұрын

@alvercaine8893 yeah I'm get it

seems all they did for the battle system was just keep the regular character sprites while adding in some HD BG's that *almost look* like they got *reskinned* from both SO4-5 from they're respected games. that brake system seems new alongside the character assist 1 also since vanilla made it's battles a bit too ez. 😐

I hope they don't ruin the music. Or at least give the option to keep the original midi score

@NightmareVortex

8 ай бұрын

It has a toggle to choose the new arranged version or the original version in the options screen. The game has released already and also has a free demo that you can play on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC.

クロードのレベルが上ったｗｗｗｗ なーーんてねｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗ

Are these random encounter battles? Or can you see enemies roaming in the world?

@NightmareVortex

10 ай бұрын

A demo just came out for the game, you touch or get ambushed by small clouds of different colors indicating danger levels in an area to enter encounters now. Random encounters are gone in this version.

Really hope they made the mages actually useful for the post-game, minus Rena.

i love this game but I can't go through the pickpocketing thing again. I just can't do it.

十分期待，但是求不要搞一些莫名其妙的奖杯。

Shame that the switch is too weak to do 60fps on this

YEEEEEESSSSSSZZZZZZZZZKFKFKJFNFKDKSKDNFJFKFN

Hahahaaaaaaa! This will stop those online vendors trying to sell that overpriced original PS1 version.

Even on this version I'll still never use Celine Precis Noel Leon Precis Welch may still be playable but even in 2nd Evolution she still sucks.

@InitialDrifterZ

Жыл бұрын

I prefer Bowman

@veghesther3204

Жыл бұрын

So do I since if bloody armors still EXIST in this version he can equip it Precis never could which is why she sucks and 4x Bloody armor users still require Opera not Ashton to be in the party.

@zhaoyun255

Жыл бұрын

@@veghesther3204 We don't know it yet. I know Bloody Armor cheese still exist. Spells looks like it would have complete overhaul to be like Tales of Spell. Now, if we have the equivalent of "Blah Blah Blah Tidal Wave" stuff with Rita then we might have more cheese. Well, you can still use them as assist though since we got their backrow ability.

@ZioName

Жыл бұрын

Go back to the hospice, Vegh.

@orenjiTK

Жыл бұрын

I think the characters i haven’t tried yet are ernest, opera, and dias. Not really familiar with welch, i only played the ps1 version back in the day.

Star Ocean First Departure R Remove From PS Plus not Free Anymore

You all need to start holding developers to a higher level instead of being "amazed and moved to tears" by this obvious lack of effort for almost AAA price tags.

I dunno... I admit the graphics to look awesome, but the battle system is the very kind I totally loath. too much bleep and bloop and blubb... and where is whom? way too chaotic.

Looks so bad even compared to till the end of time. I fail to understand how this company thinks worst everything is somehow better. They ruined this IP.

This just looks low effort, mainly the sprites are very ugly, the art style looks lazy. Go buy sea of stars for $15 less. AAA gaming is dead for the most part.

@Harkz0r

10 ай бұрын

Spoken like someone who never played the original (which is fine, but still). The sprites are the ones from the original PSX title. I will admit they look a little out of place contrasted to the backgrounds, but part of me appreciates it too since they're the ones I know and love. And I'd be quite interested to know what constitutes a "lazy" artstyle. The environments have all been completely recreated in 3D, considering they were all pre-rendered before. There are also numerous overhauls to the battle system, skills and talents, item creation, and so on. They could simply have delivered an enhanced port of the PSP version, _that_ would be laziness. This is a level of effort I didn't expect this game to receive in this day and age.