PlayStation 5 User Reviews

A good simple remake of an already great classic rpg. Loved the improvement in the random enemies and overall quality of life fixes

I loved Star Ocean First Departure, but couldn't enjoy this game. It feels total generic, simple, and souless. I must admit they did a great remake as to artstyle and overall design. But the story is extremely boring.

I honestly can't believe how many positive revies this game has. The art style/graphics are cool and combat is ok, but man did I dislike this game. Overall this game was a major SLOG. I wanted to like the story but it got insanely boring found myself starting to skip the dialogue near the endgame because the characters talk way too much saying very little substance. I did not find many of the characters very likable except for Bowman who I thought was the only standout character. Despite all this, I did enjoy the soundtrack though. Hot take apparently, but save yourself some valuable time and skip this one IMO

I love 2.5 HD style since Octopath Traveler. As for the story it's pretty simple but more enjoyable than what is released today with a fantasy and sci-fi mix :) Also, mechanics were ahead of it's time so even the remake doesn't feel clunky or ancient which shows it's timeless value. I recommend it to all that love RPGs from Japan but not turn based only.

This is how you do a remake! This is one the best JRPGs I've ever played. After playing First Departure, I appreciate the smooth transition to this game. Not only the mechanics but the character connection to the first game (even though it's minimal). This game is gorgeous. I really like the unique art style of this game. Mixing 2D character sprites with 3D environments looks beautiful. The characters, the world, the story, the adventure and the bonds you make during this fantastic journey is worth experiencing. The game gives you lots of way to play and progress. Also worth noting how well they modernized this game with fast travel, quick menu buttons, battle retry (optional, instead of always having to load previous save file), easy to understand UI and upgrade system. Everything is explained well and very user friendly. A gem that should not be missed. I hope they remake the third game.

the game is gorgeous and a hell of a lot of fun to play. the story was decent but the game has a very addicting quality to it. Big time difficulty spike at the end but other than that well worth a play

First thing, the chill's this game gave me from the very beginning is what i wasn't expecting. I loved to play this when i was young and enjoy this now that i'm old. I surely was not ready for such warmth in my heart, they didnt go overboard with this one and i really like the voice acting and the visuals. I'm ready to explore the game through and out yet again, i can't wait! <3

I actually haven't played it. I just came to check out the scores and accidentally clicked to give it a score. There doesn't seem to be option to delete my score.

This was an absolutely beautiful remake to put it bluntly. As a first timer to Star Ocean games I was completely engrossed by this game. I really love old school JRPGs and this game really just hits all the spots I love about them. Combat is cool and flashy without being too overly complex, characters are amazing, private actions is basically like a dating sim and it's unapologetically really good. What I like about private actions is that the "dating sim" aspect isn't solely for the main character, you can get your other party members affection up and have them date at the end too, which I think is a good choice. The visuals here are totally stunning, I love how they remade the background designs to look more 3D compared to the pixel characters, it really oddly fits and looks like a good contrast. The game has crazy replay value because you get different endings and scenes depending on who you play as the main character and learn new things, not to mention there's 99 endings in this game. There's so much to explore and experience in this game and Star Ocean second story constantly **** you in to keep playing.

An exceptionally high quality game. Even as someone who played the most critically acclaimed releases on PC in 2023, I would consider this one of the top 3 game of the year. It stands on its owm merits regardless of whether you have played the original, and even if you aren't a big fan of JRPGs this may be worth checking out.

This is how you do a remake, the modern additions alongside the classic elements that made the original so great as a jrpg. The game offers a fun combat system, options for recruiting characters (some of whom are specific choices based on whether you play as Claude or Rena) and a variety of job roles that let you create items and buff your party with benefits. The kind of remake that rekindles the love for franchises without taking away what made them classics in the first place.

Un grandísimo jrpg con sabor añejo pero que se siente totalmente nuevo. Muy recomendable en todos sus aspectos.

Fantastic remake , great graphic style. Full of early jpg nostalgia for those of us that were there early. Strongly recommend for any Jrpg fan.

This is what I call a great remaster/remake, I never thought seeing 2d sprite characters in a gorgeous 3d environment would be so breathtaking! I mean even the soundtrack is epic here and the combat is fun!!! Give me more please.

Graphics are stunning. OST is first class but why make an action game with the battle format of a turn based RPG? Just ruined it and made it stop start. It should have been done like Ys Origin, or SAO Hollow Realisation, where you scoot from enemy to enemy. Not animations in and out. It's not as bad as Ni No Kuni but it's bad enough to slow the pace a lot. The dialogue felt repetitive too. Just been playing Nayuta and when something is being repeated, it says "they brought ........character **** to date on the events that had taken place". No need to repeat the same dialogue like SO2 does. If repeated dialogue doesn't bother you and you don't mind the action being pointlessly stop start, then fire away. For me it just felt awfully dated, including the battle mechanics. It felt poor in comparison to the games I mentioned earlier and one of those is getting on for 20 years old. OST is extremely important for me in games and I usually over look the game's flaws if the OST is this good and here there is even the gorgeous graphics in its favour too but it's not enough to make up for the boring gameplay. As I have no interest in carrying on, it's a very low score from me, very glad I demo'd it. It's just too dated. I'm from the NES era too, so I grew up on things that are well and truly dated now but I didn't play the original, so for SO 2S R to feel this old and clunky, then God knows how bad the original was. It is quite simply very poor by today's standards. Shame the game doesn't match the AV.

Jrpg at its finest, no cringy depressed winy 14 yo mc, no QTE boss battles. Just a amazing adventure with tons of characters with endings based on choice. And sidequests that add to the story instead of bunch of fetchquest to pad the game..

The game is very incredible, but technically it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of visuals, the game is excellent, but the characters are the same as the classic Playstation 1 version and there is a little strangeness in this case, but the game is excellent but the original version of the game remains the best in my humble opinion. Furthermore, the A.I., which is the artificial intelligence of the characters, was harmed, the Playstation 1 and PSP versions are better, oddly enough and I think it could change that and then be able to launch an expansion or a correction with an update to update correct because you can change the difficulty level whenever you want, very easy and you can retry, when I will try again, try the game again at the end of the game. And there is no more difficulty level, nothing has been added, there are no new enemies, there are no new scenarios, there are no new characters, everything is the same, the entire game is the same as it was before, they haven't added anything and that leaves a lot to be desired. The original really remains the best, that's my humble opinion. Congratulations to Tri-ace, who is the original developer of the game, because creating a game from scratch is one thing and taking an already made game with character history and everything and just updating it to the current graphics, so to speak, is very easy! The game is very good but technically it has a lot to be desired, they turned an incredible and great game into a small or tiny game.

Great game it does take a little bit of getting use to with the 2d pixel characters and the really detailed 3d scenery but once your eyes adjust this is a truly fantastic game. Best Star Ocean game I ever played.

A remake of a classic that capturs the nostalgia for those who already experienced it and feel the sense of what really is Star Ocean for the new comer.

Great remake, new ost, nice gameplay and virtual, original tricks still works! Xenogears next!!!!!!

55 hours in and avid player of the original ps1 game and I must say, amazing remake/remaster! Everything is improved with many qol features like a private action indicator so you don't miss out on those time-sensitive events and so so much more. Star Ocean The Second Story R redefines how a remaster should be handled for me and the only complaint that I have is that sprites weren't touched up at all which can often lead in discrepancies with the portraits and general art of the characters.

Lovingly crafted beautiful 2.5D visuals with a good story. Where this game truly shines is in the systems in place in the game. You can write books, compose music, craft, compound, pickpocket, fish, do alchemy, smithing, and sculpting among others. There is soo much to do and all of it is fun to do . This remake stays faithful to one the best games made in the golden era of jrpgs, Square Enix have something special on their hands with this one.

I played the original gem over 20 years ago and I would have been happy with a straight PS1 to PS5 port. The remake however is better than I could have ever imagined, it could very well be the greatest remake to a game ever done. Quality of life updates such as fast travel aside, a lot of care has gone into polishing an already great game. The original looking back felt a little lonely on the world map at times whereas now with your party running with you it truly feels like a bigger journey than ever. The uses of flavour text on the world map and menu are a wonderful touch. It really is lightning in a bottle. I thought this game would never come and it did not disappoint.

The music and visuals are simply stunning; Gemdrops took Team Asano's HD 2D style and honed it to perfection

A JRPG reminiscent of old classic games from the golden age. There is a lot about this game that I like, I give it a strong 8, very close to a 9. recommended if you like JRPG's

Better than the original and an absolute masterpiece! Story - 10/10 Music - 10/10 Gameplay - 10/10 Characters 10/10

Bloated, cramped and overloaded. It will be suitable for those who appreciate the sandbox component with the ability to create music, writing, and derive their own chemical/physical laws instead of actually, you know, saving the world, but that’s all - absolutely not what I play jRPG for. The amount of saves scumming the game encourages somehow surpasses even the third Baldurs Gate.

I played the original PS1 instalment Of Star Ocean Second Story. It was game very dear to me with fond memories of playing none stop one weekend with a friend. Forgot the name of the item but I was able to craft an item that gave a free lvl. I maxed out my character this way and upon fighting the final boss I was to weak to beat it At Max lvl and had to start a new. The remake is incredibly fun and I love the combination of the graphics. Fighting Is very fluid and who knew 2.5 bit character's could be so expressive. The games a refreshing take on old school RPGs, believe me you're missing out if you skip this one over! This game has the two things so many are missing these days, Quality and a complete game.

It's a perfect game. For those who like JRPG, this game is like a comprehensive gift set.

A reminder of age past when rpgs had levels of depth that modern games just don’t. An absolute pleasure to play.

buen juego respeta al clasico y añade cosas nuevas, musica musica remasterizada, nuevos retratos y nuevas mecanicas un juegazo

This. This is how a remake of a 2D classic should be handled. This is the blueprint. OG soundtrack>Arranged tho.

Didn't have a chance to play the original but I love this game so much.

This is honestly one of the best remakes I have ever seen. Not only is it faithful to the original, it literally elevates the game to another universe. So many awesome quality of life improvements, GORGEOUS visuals and sound, and just all around love and care. I can't stop playing it! They literally created an entire new game. Even if this wasn't a remake of a classic it would be a top tier game. Well done!

The game takes you back to the times of the classic PlayStation, giving a touch of elegance with its improved graphics and leaving the characters pixelated.

Great game. Greetings from Poland ;)

One of my top 10 games ever just got better. I feel this is a low-key respectful remake that PS1 games deserve after the terrible avalanche of HD makeovers that so many devs made with their properties. Small improvements that make the game more modern, keeping the nostalgia intact. Wish they would do something similar for Xenogears and Breath of Fire.

So much nostalgia and so many quality of life features…. I LOVE THIS game… Still can’t believe how good it is. Please, if you’re interested in JRPGs, try the demo atleast! This game is as good as it can get! Awesome story, gameplay and characters! Totally recommend it!