Star Ocean: The Second Story R Reviews
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an excellent remake that introduces plenty of new ideas whilst embracing the nostalgic charm of the game’s original release. I loved the unique visual style that blends 2D sprites and 3D environments wonderfully, the combat was more satisfying than ever thanks to its intuitive new mechanics, whilst the countless other additions such as fishing, quest markers, and voice acting go a long way in making Star Ocean: The Second Story R stand out as a VERY impressive release that deserves the attention of all RPG fans.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a fantastic remaster of a game from the golden era of JRPGs. The newly arranged music is great and the voice acting is good as well, and the improvements to the battle system from the original to this one is leaps and bounds better. The graphical choices made in this remaster is spot on with a nod to the original sprite graphics mixed in with more modern environments. Anyone looking for a classic-style JRPG to play should pick this one up.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R features the same classic story fans love combined with modern elements that make this enhanced release easily the best way to experience this beloved RPG.
This is how you bring back a classic to the spotlight with a remake treatment that respects the original team’s vision, improves the game where it's needed, and understands the key points as to why The Second Story is still embedded in people’s minds as one of the greatest JRPGS they’ve played years ago. Hopefully, Square Enix will use this as a blueprint for future projects similar to The Second Story R as they nailed it.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R manages to fulfill its role of revitalizing a classic and re-presenting it in a way suitable for the new generation. More than the new aesthetic that plays with 2D and 3D, its main advantage lies in its quality of life features that make the game a much more pleasant experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I hope we see more games along the lines of careful remakes, attentive to detail and refreshing as happened with Star Ocean: The Second Story R. Even without matching the visual standards of the most recent AAA games, the recreation choices hit the nail on the head in ways to value everything that the original already had that was good and adjusts the problems, even if it doesn't perform miracles with the chaotic combat.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A timeless title that finally got the definitive version it deserves.
Explaining everything that is in Star Ocean: The Second R is a task in itself. It is a huge game with a lot of replay value, great options to customize your characters to your own wishes and a fantastic battle system. The only downside is the somewhat simplistic main story. This remake takes the original to new heights and modernizes sufficiently while keeping the charm of the original intact.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
If anyone says that 90s role-playing games are out of date these days, should take a hard look at Star Ocean: The Second Story. With the help of stunning 2.5D graphics and a few small improvements to the combat system and other gameplay mechanics, the title shines as The Second Story R in a splendour that rivals any other current RPG of the year. The depth of the original game, including side activities, take care of the rest
Review in German | Read full review
They really did do a great job with this one, creating something fans of the game can fall back in love with, as well as creating what might be the best jumping-off point for new fans of the series. As I said earlier, I had NO intentions of going in as deep with this game as I did before I started writing, but here I am already wanting to go back to do some end/post-game things just because it was so enjoyable. This is a worthy entry into any RPG fans’ collection, and it does the original release great justice.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a masterfully done remake. The goal envisioned by the creators was to bring a classic game up to modern sensibilities, and they have truly outdone themselves. Star Ocean: The Second Story R takes the masterfully crafted systems of the original game, combines them with the updates from Star Ocean: Second Evolution, and wraps them up in a gorgeous and smooth package. Any qualms that can be found lie within things like the story and characters, which remain true to the original game. However, the ease of play, deep RPG elements, strong story theming, and revamped battle system more than makeup for any issues I have. Please, I implore you, to check out this absolutely astounding game.
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a superb remake that takes an already content-heavy game and further improves the adventure with meaningful additions that enhance the experience by a wide margin. From simple quality-of-life conveniences to added crafting and customizing depth, Star Ocean The Second Story R does not disappoint. Despite launching in between big releases, Star Ocean The Second Story R is a fantastic RPG experience that shouldn’t be overlooked. Fans of the original will be pleased with the breadth and scope that the remake offers, while newcomers can use this as a stepping stone to dive further into the series.
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a true treat for both series veterans and newcomers alike, going far beyond the scope of traditional remakes and bringing The Second Story to a brand-new, and completely wonderful, level.
Star Ocean The Second Story is among its best games in the series, and I believe the R release cements its role as the strongest entry.
Star Ocean The Second Story R is what a remake should be — a project that finely tunes and updates the original. The attention to detail, the upgraded environments, and the changes to the combat deliver an incredible experience.
Coupled with an inviting HD-2D look that combines pixel art and 3D graphics that really invites you to play/replay it for copious amounts of time, this Star Ocean remake is worth diving into. If you crave 90s JRPG action with a lot of unlockables and power-up options, optional party members with backstories to uncover, and fast-paced combat, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a no-brainer that will get you into its scifi hooks.