Star Ocean: The Second Story R | 2023 RPG Of The Year

Hello Im Skill Incarnate and Welcome to My Games Review Series.
My reviews cover indie games that i have bought, had gifted to me and have been provided by developers for review.

In this episode I am checking out one of the biggest games ive ever reviewed, Star Ocean: The Second Story R. This game was developed and published by Square Enix, the iconic publisher, who brought several groundbreaking RPG Games, as well as remastering several excellent JRPGs for western audiences such as the Final Fantasy Series. Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a full remake of the original Star Ocean: The Second Story, which was released back in 2000 for the PlayStation 2. This remake completely overhauls the graphics, sound and controls of the original game, implementing modern improvements whilst retaining the story and gameplay.

The game follows the adventures of Claude C Kenny, the son of Admiral Ronyx, who is teleported to the fantasy world of Excel. The player will control Claude as you explore the world of Excel, build up a party of adventurers and battle against an army of monsters as you investigate a mysterious meteorite called the Sorcery Globe in an attempt to find a way back home.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R is my 2023 Game Of The Year and recipient of my Golden Goat award for gaming excellence. It is one of the most comprehensive game remasters ive ever played. It updates the original experience whilst keeping all the aspects of the original game intact. I sincerely hope that Square remaster the other Star Ocean games with the same level of care and detail and i look forward to playing the rest of the series.

Please note: All opinions in this video are my own. Game was provided by the developer for review purposes

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Star Ocean: The Second Story R on PlayStation: https://store.playstation.com/en-au/product/EP0082-PPSA13716_00-000STAROCEAN2REP?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAnL-sBhBnEiwAJRGigpyZbMRoXhkORSIdRlbp0-F0bocwxchwLobZPp81GfYL5zBjmfYWBxoC0_8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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The highly acclaimed second instalment in the STAR OCEAN series, returns as STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R.

Brought to life with a unique 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 too!
Experience new battle mechanics, full Japanese and English voice overs, original and re-arranged music, fast-travel and so much more! Discover the definitive version of a classic but modernized JRPG that’s perfect for newcomers and long-time fans alike.

Space Date 366 - A Federation officer finds himself transported to a mystical planet. While searching for a way home, an encounter with a young girl draws him into a quest to save her people, just as an ancient prophecy foretold...
Choose your path and witness an awakened destiny.

- Fantasy and Science Fiction collide in a unique visual style
From dangerous dungeons to bustling towns, the world of STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R is depicted in a stunning 2.5D style that combines beautiful 3D graphics with nostalgic 2D pixel characters.

- Experience a story with dual protagonists
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.
New character illustrations have also been created by long-term series artist Yukihiro Kajimoto.

- Thrilling, visually explosive battles!
Enjoy fast-paced combat and use new mechanics to strategically defeat foes.
“Break” by continuously dealing damage and order your allies to follow-up with an Assault Action to deal massive damage.

- Pair powerful gear with a plethora of skills
Customize party progression with a large selection of skills, including Cooking, Art, Alchemy, and many more. Build up to Specialty levels and master the enhanced Item Creation system to craft ultimate equipment with different effects.

- Japanese and English voiceover
All event scenes are now fully voiced using the same voice cast from the original game. In addition, the dialogue from STAR OCEAN SECOND EVOLUTION (2008) is also included and can be selected.