Star Ocean: The Second Story R Reviews
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a beautiful recreation of a wonderful RPG. It gives players plenty of options and multiple viewpoints to try the story out on. If you're looking for a classic-style RPG to play, I recommend this one!
Star Ocean The Second Story R may well serve as the blueprint going forward if Square Enix or any other developer wishes to remake games from this classic era of RPGs. An unquestionably gorgeous art style uplifts all modern touches, breathing life into a 25-year-old game.
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a lovingly-crafted remaster of a golden age RPG that offers a replayable and approachably complex adventure.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a tremendous remake. It gives the original game a visual overhaul that is simultaneously modern and nostalgic. But it doesn't stop there. It breaks open the mechanics to offer much more depth without destroying the spirit of the original. It's far and away the best way to experience one of the best Star Ocean games and one of the best RPGs ever made. If you're a fan of the genre, you owe it to yourself to check out The Second Story R. It's an absolute gem of a game that's endlessly playable and effortlessly stylish.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R serves as a reminder from Square Enix that this is an RPG property not to be ignored. On offer is one of the most enjoyable of its genre I've played in some time with a heartfelt story, colourful cast, and a wonderful fusion of both fantasy and science fiction goodness. The quality doesn't end there, though. Deep leveling and specialistion systems make for meaningful refining of your party, becoming more self-sufficient the further along you get. This complements some battle encounters that are deeper than many other RPGs on the market, always keeping you on your toes. One or two quality-of-life additions that could've been better implemented aren't a worry for long when you also consider how gorgeous the world of Expel really is, with its characters popping off your screen. A killer title to convert newcomers and satiate longtime fans, this remake is one for all and all for one. Star Ocean forever.
Seeme like Square Enix has finally found a way to give value to its enormous catalogues of great JRPGs: after Live a Live and Tactics Ogre Reborn, Star Ocean Second Story R marks the third successful entry in this newfound current of remakes. A great journey for both veterans of the genre and newcomers.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Star Ocean: The Second Story R stands out as one of Square Enix’s most accomplished remakes. While the original game had its shortcomings, this remake effectively addresses those issues and elevates the overall experience to new heights. Gemdrops has transformed a solid RPG into an exceptional one, establishing a new benchmark for remakes in the gaming industry.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is the best example of how a game can become a jewel after being forgotten for years. A remake full of changes and improvements that surprises by adapting a niche JRPG and transforming it into a modern classic.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Star Ocean Second Story R is riding heavily on the new visuals and audios which made the fan's favorite Star Ocean game even better, but the clunky manual dodge button they added and the major difficulty spikes are what's holding this gorgeous remake back from becoming a modern masterpiece
Review in Arabic | Read full review
It's an enjoyable action RPG with a wealth of player choice and a lot of charming quirky aspects. If you've ever been curious about Star Ocean and have an affinity for old-school action RPGs, this is a must-play. Even beyond that, the beautiful presentation might be worth the price of admission by itself.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a great remake not only of an excellent Action RPG, but of one of the best and most influential games of the golden age of JRPGs. With a unique and pleasant look, considerable novelties in its gameplay that will keep even long-time players engaged, and several quality-of-life improvements, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a must-have for fans of the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With everything said and done, I believe that this game is something worth getting on any console, especially on the PlayStation 5. My recommendation for those who wish to experience what it is like to play JRPG games during the early 2000s, they should get the demo first and if they are comfortable with it, get the full game as soon as it is released.
It was wonderful revisiting Rena and Claude yet again in STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R and it's undoubtedly the best edition of their grand journey so far. I wasn't expecting to be reminded of as much retro baggage as I was, though, but it's still a great RPG. 🌌
The game excels in so many aspects that it's difficult not to recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable JRPG experience. Star Ocean Second Story R is a true gem that will leave you reminiscing while embracing the future of gaming.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is one of the best remakes released by Square Enix this year. The original Second Story has always been considered one of the best titles in the franchise, and this remake makes things even better. Bringing what is essentially a 90s JRPG into the modern era, the additions made here make this the best way to enjoy this classic.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Star Ocean: The Second Story R isn't just a terrific remake of a classic title, it's a revitalization of a franchise that at some point lost its way. With gorgeous graphics, a killer soundtrack, and a charming cast, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a brilliant return to one of the original PlayStation's great triumphs.
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Star Ocean: The Second Story R reinvigorates a classic game with a beautiful blend of 2D and 3D graphics. While the game requires a bit too much grinding to progress in the story, the narrative and core gameplay make it all worthwhile. Square Enix has delivered one of their best remakes with Star Ocean: The Second Story R.
I think some of the hardest games to review are ones that speak for themselves, but those are so often the easiest to play and enjoy. I wouldn’t say the original Star Ocean 2 falls in that category, but it is a game so massive in scope for a PS1 RPG that I couldn’t help but respect it despite my disinterest. Star Ocean: The Second Story R attempts to smooth out the experience in so many subtle ways that it turns it into a modern classic. I don’t think remakes need to follow any particular rules, but for faithful ones this is a new standard. It encourages players to indulge in side content by signposting it all so well, which is great. I think the story is a bit predictable and the cast is far from my favorites, but the gameplay itself is so engaging that it smooths over these issues. This is perhaps the best rerelease I’ve seen from Square Enix, and even if I don’t think it makes the original a perfect game it is so full of love for the source material that it’s beyond commendable.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is not just the return of a great classic in JRPG history. Nor is it merely its definitive version, which revolutionizes the visual presentation and enriches the play system with great little finesses. Above all, the work done by Gemdrops is a true manifesto of what should be done to make a work-of-art remake that preserves the original spirit while embellishing and modernizing every single element. If you are a fan of the genre, you have no excuse not to play it. If you are not, well, it may be the right opportunity to get closer to this fantastic world.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Gemdrops revitalizes one of the best installments of the Star Ocean saga with Star Ocean: The Second Story R, a new remastering that offers a wonderful RPG experience. Square Enix should take into consideration giving more possibilities to Gemdrops because it is a studio that has the capacity to create real gems. A beautiful video game from the best era of the genre brought to the present day.
Review in Spanish | Read full review