Another Excellent RPG; Star Ocean: TSSR Ratings are Impressive

The remake of the iconic jRPG from the time of the first PlayStation is now available on Sony consoles, Switch and Steam. The game is receiving high ratings, and critics agree that the changes from the original are huge, and for the better.

Source: Square Enix.

Fans of jRPG have no reason to complain when it comes to new incarnations of classics. Last year we received the sensational Live a Live and Tactics Ogre: Reborn, and in 2023 the companies Square Enix and Gemdrops have prepared a completely revamped version of Star Ocean: The Second Story. With such launches, rather lazy remasters like Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition can be easily forgotten.

Differences from the original

The remake offers a new 2.5D visual design, which combines two-dimensional characters with three-dimensional locations. The effect is a bit different than with games familiar to jRPG fans, such as Octopath Traveler II. In Star Ocean: The Second Story R location models are so sharp and contrasting to the pixelart characters that they resemble at times actual dioramas, like used in Fantasian. It's a non-obvious artistic endeavor, representing a striking blend of new and old.

Original composer Motoi Sakuraba returned to the game, rearranging the entire soundtrack and composing new songs. All story sequences have received full voiceover this time - you can choose between Japanese and English versions.

Combat has been improved, now being more dynamic and richer in new mechanics. Fast travel has also been added, and the map and interface are much clearer and more functional. In other words - the game has been fully adapted to modern standards. More information can be found on the developer's official website.

You will see an interesting comparison illustrating the enormity of the visual changes comes from certain YouTube user - Eiri Sanada's Games & Projects. He juxtaposes the first minutes of the remake with the PS1 version from 1999 and the one for the PSP from 2008.

Another Excellent RPG; Star Ocean: TSSR Ratings are Impressive - picture #1

Screenshot from Star Ocean: The Second Story R, source: Square Enix

What if I don't know Star Ocean?

Action of Star Ocean: The Second Story R is set in 2452, 20 years after the events of the first part. In a universe combining sci-fi and fantasy, we play as either Claude or Reny - the choice is up to us. Our task is to explore the planet Expel and discover the mystery of a strange meteorite, thanks to which the world was flooded with hordes of monsters. In the course of the game we expand our party with other characters.

Most importantly - to enjoy the adventure, you do not need to know the the previous part, and the fans inform that the remake is an ideal opportunity to get acquainted with the series. On the other hand, if you hesitate whether you'll like the game, it's worth checking out the demo version beforehand:

Critics and players agree

Currently on OpenCritic the game has an average rating of 85/100, and overall reviews on Steam are very positive. Critics and players unanimously agree that Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a great and polished game. They praise the new mechanics, visuals, continuously engaging storyline and replayability, which is said to be influenced by a wide range of character progression options. You also won't find any nformation about major bugs or technical shortcomings. Some even believe that Gemdrops and Square Enix have just set a new standard for jRPG remakes.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - minimum PC requirements

Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: AMD A8-7600 / Intel Core i3-3210
RAM: 8 GB
Graphics card: AMD Radeon RX 460 / Intel Arc A380 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti.
Disk space: 20 GB

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - recommended PC requirements

Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 1200 / Intel Core i5-3330
RAM: 8 GB
Graphics card: AMD Radeon RX 470 / Intel Arc A750 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650.
Disk space: 20 GB