Star Ocean: The Second Story
- November 24, 2000 14:47 PM PST
- Email this!
Although it's far from perfect, Star Ocean: The Second Story is a remarkably expansive game with a complete, immersive plot and highly compelling characters. RPG gamers big on technical flair will see this as a dud, but story-driven players will have found their vehicle en route to Final Fantasy VIII.
- GamePro Score
- User Score
- Write your review!
Swimming in Stars
Star Ocean lets you play as one of two main characters, Claude or Rena (both stories intertwine)--along the way, you'll flirt with your companions, unravel Rena's heritage, deal with Claude's paternal issues, and search for a mystical object called the Sorcery Globe. You'll even learn skills such as cooking and weapon design, and craft your own equipment. To make the story even more interesting "Private actions," or personality-defining moments, pop up along the way, helping determine which of the game's 80 possible endings you'll see. With its intriguing multilayered characters and genuinely surprising plot developments, SO is truly an epic quest.
Beauty or Brains?
Star Ocean won't appeal to everyone, however: RPGers who revel in the mind-boggling visual stylings of Final Fantasy or Parasite Eve will be disappointed by SO's awkward combination of blandly textured polygons and super-deformed, pre-rendered characters. The squat, misshapen bad guys never convey a serious threat, and the battles shine only during uses of advanced magic. Luckily, SO's very impressive full-motion video cut-scenes will remind you that this is indeed a 32-bit game.
Sonically Stank
Psst?wanna hear a stinker? Crank-up SO's audio. The hideous character voices are melodramatic, repetitive, and sound like they were recorded through a seashell, while the disappointing score is overly familiar and bland. There's nothing but pain from them thar speakers, so turn the volume off.
Fortunately, SO delivers solid gameplay on the shoulders of its dubious audio/visual package. User-friendly menus put a humongous inventory at your disposal, while the unique battle system offers three levels between turn-based and real-time fighting. The interface's only stumbling point is its lack of directional indicators on the world map--the spinning camera will leave you guessing which way is north and which way is south.
Although it's far from perfect, Star Ocean: The Second Story is a remarkably expansive game with a complex, immersive plot and highly compelling characters. RPG gamers big on technical flair will see this as a dud, but story-driven players will have found their vehicle en route to Final Fantasy VIII.
