Star Ocean II: The Second Story

imported_Kaeru 7 · 03-08-2004, 12:00 AM

As a hardcore gamer, I've obviously heard much about the Star Ocean series. My curiosity regarding it finally got the best of me when I was browsing an FYE in the mall a couple of weekends ago. Instead of buying a CD as I had planned, I saw a used copy of this game for ten bucks, so I immediately jumped on it. I haven't played it yet because I'm currently ripping through Final Fantasy III (in an attempt to actually beat it this time), but I'm planning on it soon. Anyways, what should I expect from this game? Will it permanently alter my views on the genre of RPGs much like Chrono Trigger did for me many moons (read: three years) ago? Or will I wind up hating myself for every second I play this? Any opinions would be much appreciated!

***Ace Mercury*** · 03-08-2004, 11:14 PM

The game's fun enough, but I didn't find anything really revolutionary though. The translation is a bit lackluster, and there's no real innovation as I saw it. I found the plot to be a bit weak (well, I started with Rena's plotline; you get to choose to follow either Kenneth or Rena for a different perspective), but it does eventually pick up and go somewhere completely different (especially by the end of the first disc).

The skills system was pretty okay; the item creation skills were a bit unintuitive for me. The battles took a bit getting used to, and generally are more involved than other RPGs because of the real-time, mobile battle system. I don't know about you, but I found the little voice clips that each character says during each attack to be a bit cool ("Para-bola beam!" "Teee-a-a-a-r into pieces!", and other poorly voiced phrases), but I'd understand if they get really, really annoying to some people. There are (I think) twelve different characters in the game, but you only pick up eight of them per play. I heard there're multiple ending depending on how you developed your relationship with your party, but I've yet to actually finish the game.

Still, I found it to be a pretty enjoyable game; it's a lot like an FF7 or comparable PSX RPG (in fact, the pre-rendered backgrounds are done by the same company as FF7). There's the Amusment Park (like the Gold Saucer), a battle arena (like the Battle Square), a racing game (like Chocobo Raceway), and a plot where you and a rag-tag band of fighters try to save the universe from some really evil guy.

One of these days I will finish this game, if I could only (care enough to) beat that stupid almost-end boss.

03-09-2004, 12:11 AM

The minute you leave the town for the first time, SAVE. I remember sitting through all that talking for an hour, leaving town, didn't save, and got killed on my second battle. I had to sit through all that talking aaaaaal over again.

Battling's a little confusing. You're supposed to somehow use up to four characters in Action-esque random battles. Sounds confusing? Okay, you wander around the map, and eventually run into a battle. Instead of issuing commands every turn then they do it, you run up to enemies and attack like an action game (or set it so the game automatically sends you up to an enemy to attack). It's too difficult for me. I normally tell my teammates to cast Magic and Heal and stuff while I run around with Claude attacking stuff (Ashton at least has a decent IQ, so he'll attack with me).

There's also areas you can wander into before you're supposed to go there, only to get totally slaughtered by the enemies.

It's got decent music.

The voices are really scratchy.

Some of the sprite animations are pathetic. Don't be surprised if you find it difficult to keep a straight face at Claude's running animation as he's getting sent through that warp at the beginning of the game.

I always get worthless stuff like spoiled meat and ugly earrings when I try creating items. What's up with that?

Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

03-09-2004, 06:55 AM

You have no skill....well not enough anyway.

The worst part of the game is the beginning. Arlia needed a ****ing save point like a crack addict needs a hit.

03-09-2004, 05:32 PM

I upped my skill once, but reset and redistributed it when I was still getting garbage.

Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

03-08-2004, 12:00 AM	#1
imported_Kaeru 7 Main Mod Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 6,061 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	As a hardcore gamer, I've obviously heard much about the Star Ocean series. My curiosity regarding it finally got the best of me when I was browsing an FYE in the mall a couple of weekends ago. Instead of buying a CD as I had planned, I saw a used copy of this game for ten bucks, so I immediately jumped on it. I haven't played it yet because I'm currently ripping through Final Fantasy III (in an attempt to actually beat it this time), but I'm planning on it soon. Anyways, what should I expect from this game? Will it permanently alter my views on the genre of RPGs much like Chrono Trigger did for me many moons (read: three years) ago? Or will I wind up hating myself for every second I play this? Any opinions would be much appreciated!

03-08-2004, 11:14 PM	#2
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	The game's fun enough, but I didn't find anything really revolutionary though. The translation is a bit lackluster, and there's no real innovation as I saw it. I found the plot to be a bit weak (well, I started with Rena's plotline; you get to choose to follow either Kenneth or Rena for a different perspective), but it does eventually pick up and go somewhere completely different (especially by the end of the first disc). The skills system was pretty okay; the item creation skills were a bit unintuitive for me. The battles took a bit getting used to, and generally are more involved than other RPGs because of the real-time, mobile battle system. I don't know about you, but I found the little voice clips that each character says during each attack to be a bit cool ("Para-bola beam!" "Teee-a-a-a-r into pieces!", and other poorly voiced phrases), but I'd understand if they get really, really annoying to some people. There are (I think) twelve different characters in the game, but you only pick up eight of them per play. I heard there're multiple ending depending on how you developed your relationship with your party, but I've yet to actually finish the game. Still, I found it to be a pretty enjoyable game; it's a lot like an FF7 or comparable PSX RPG (in fact, the pre-rendered backgrounds are done by the same company as FF7). There's the Amusment Park (like the Gold Saucer), a battle arena (like the Battle Square), a racing game (like Chocobo Raceway), and a plot where you and a rag-tag band of fighters try to save the universe from some really evil guy. One of these days I will finish this game, if I could only (care enough to) beat that stupid almost-end boss.

03-09-2004, 12:11 AM	#3
CodieKitty Guest Posts: n/a	The minute you leave the town for the first time, SAVE. I remember sitting through all that talking for an hour, leaving town, didn't save, and got killed on my second battle. I had to sit through all that talking aaaaaal over again. Battling's a little confusing. You're supposed to somehow use up to four characters in Action-esque random battles. Sounds confusing? Okay, you wander around the map, and eventually run into a battle. Instead of issuing commands every turn then they do it, you run up to enemies and attack like an action game (or set it so the game automatically sends you up to an enemy to attack). It's too difficult for me. I normally tell my teammates to cast Magic and Heal and stuff while I run around with Claude attacking stuff (Ashton at least has a decent IQ, so he'll attack with me). There's also areas you can wander into before you're supposed to go there, only to get totally slaughtered by the enemies. It's got decent music. The voices are really scratchy. Some of the sprite animations are pathetic. Don't be surprised if you find it difficult to keep a straight face at Claude's running animation as he's getting sent through that warp at the beginning of the game. I always get worthless stuff like spoiled meat and ugly earrings when I try creating items. What's up with that? Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

03-09-2004, 06:55 AM	#4
Rattan Guest Posts: n/a	You have no skill....well not enough anyway. The worst part of the game is the beginning. Arlia needed a ****ing save point like a crack addict needs a hit.

03-09-2004, 05:32 PM	#5
CodieKitty Guest Posts: n/a	I upped my skill once, but reset and redistributed it when I was still getting garbage. Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!