Star Ocean: The First Departure

I rushed to start this (many months ago) to play SO4 on the 360. Now that it's being released on PS3 with additional goodies later this year, I gradually gotten lazier with the game.

Long story short though, it felt like I was playing Star Ocean: Second Story but with different characters and story. SO1 in SO2's skin.


STORY 2.5/5
One day, Roak, an underdeveloped planet is contracted with a strange disease that turns people to stone by touch. The infected town's only hope were Roddick and Millie, who are part of their little town's safety patrol, to find the herb that they think will save them. On their way to find the cure, they encounter two strangely dressed people, Ronyx and Ilia, who beamed down from thin air and followed to claim that another race had brought the infection to kill the planet off.

Roddick and Millie agree to help Ronyx and Ilia to find the cure and they end up having to travel back in time for that cure.

The main story isn't all that bad, though there was nothing too special about it. Essentially even up to the end, nothing really had changed much since the start of the journey.

CHARACTERS 3/5
Roddick is your pure hero with your typical flaw when it comes to love. Although in my game, Roddick made some moves on Ilia, stirring up some commotion with Millie and Ronyx. Then there's Millie, your boring and typical annoying girl who gets jealous easily. Though, I wonder what kind of kid would've popped out of Roddick and Ilia instead of Claude. Sadly the private actions didn't seem to affect the ending all too much as they had to make Claude happen no matter what, for the sake of SO2.

My optional characters were Ashlay, Ioshua, Mavelle, and Welch (the conditions needed to get another secret character). Mavelle's story was interesting until her story ended. Then it felt like there was no real follow up with the other character involved with her scenario. I hoped for something more coming from Welch too because she was our awesome shopping/crafting lady from SO3. She had this whole mysterious background of "waiting for us all this time" and the fact that she was not a local but the truth was never revealed. Ever so disappointed.

SOUND 3/5
I did not particularly like the theme song. 'Nuff said.

The music was your typical Sakuraba Motoi stuff. The sound effects were all recycled from SO2. The voices were decent though there were many of those awkwardly spoken sentences. Strangely enough I recognized Yuri though. Also in the credits, there was a voice actor called Dick Smallberries Jr. *snicker*

GRAPHICS 3/5
Again recycled so it's hard to judge it as it is.

The new character designs aren't bad, though I'm not a fan of the anime-style. The character designs themselves are clean but quite plain. As for the other characters, T'nique looked like a direct rip off of Ranma. What's with that...?

The opening movie was the usual Production I.G. quality but the music that went with it was kinda of meh.

GAMEPLAY 2.5/5
Recycled. Even how you can jump on someone's head in battle. /cry

Only one (or two) optional side quests... a dungeon and the hardest enemy in the game, so there wasn't much extra you can do to extend the game.

OVERALL 3/5
I think I would've appreciated this game a lot more if I played the original. Maybe if I haven't already heard so much of Motoi Sakuraba's music, I would've enjoyed the music more too. Maybe I'm just expecting too much from a remake, even though it's Star Ocean. :|

20 or so hours, one playthrough, completed everything. The voice gallery is another story however.

I still love my SO LE PSP regardless.

I fear a bit for SO4 though. What is this...?!