
- STAR OCEAN FIRST DEPARTURE R VOICE ACTORS UPGRADE
- STAR OCEAN FIRST DEPARTURE R VOICE ACTORS PORTABLE
- STAR OCEAN FIRST DEPARTURE R VOICE ACTORS SERIES
A big annoyance in battles is getting struck by a status ailment such as Paralysis or Petrify. Millie, the default healer of the game has offensive spells, but never used them in battles, though she did a fine job of keeping her allies healed. The mages hardly move, and cast spells at a slow rate. Usually the AI rushes into the thick of battles, often getting pincered and beat down if the enemies are decently leveled. Players directly control one character, while orders determine how the AI-controlled characters act in battles. The action combat system breaks characters into two groups: physical fighters and mages. There is a point system with each character, and Private Actions can raise or lower this hidden attribute, which has a lasting effect. Depending on the Private Actions taken, among other factors, players can expect to see small changes to the ending scenes. Most of the time a character’s backstory will get fleshed out, but items, or skill books can be acquired as well. The Private Action option allows the party to wander the town and, if certain conditions are met, skits will occur with Roddick and certain characters.

There is also a lack of a true arch nemesis in Star Ocean, though the game presents a well-placed faux ending before revealing the culminating area and giving a small introduction to the final villain. While not all the side characters get a detailed story, the ones present are decent. The four additional characters that join offer little to the main story, whereas Roddick will routinely talk with Millie, Ronyx, and Ilia in additional story scenes. Three other characters join Roddick in his adventure automatically, and with only eight total spots on the roster and nine additional characters that can be recruited, it’s going to take more than one playthrough to see all the characters’ stories. These otherworldly beings tell the young hero and his friend Millie that there is no cure for this disease and that the Space Federation is quarantining the entire planet and the only option is to abandon their home world.įrom there the story opens and more characters are introduced. Except upon reaching the top of the mountain, Roddick is greeted by two humans from space that warp down to his planet in a beam of light not unlike the kind seen in a Star Trek episode. There is an epidemic that is turning people to stone, and it’s up to the game’s protagonist, Roddick, to climb a mountain and find an herb that is said to be able to cure this disease. Unlike most RPGs, where the hero starts off on an early fetch quest, Star Ocean throws a curveball. Star Ocean has a fantastic story and sets players up for a wonderful ride right out of the gate. Being able to choose between the English, Japanese PlayStation Portable, or the original Super Famicom Japanese voice actors is also a nice touch. New characters and endings have also been added.
STAR OCEAN FIRST DEPARTURE R VOICE ACTORS UPGRADE
There is an upgrade to movement speed on the world map, which is tremendous since travelling with the original snail-paced speed is torturous, especially given the lack of a fast-travel option.
STAR OCEAN FIRST DEPARTURE R VOICE ACTORS PORTABLE
The new character portraits done by Katsumi Enami improve upon the original PlayStation Portable art, with players able to switch between either artwork, though the cutscenes are stuck with the old design regardless of which style is picked.

Star Ocean: First Departure R is the PlayStation Portable game in high definition, with other improvements. Thankfully, Star Ocean: First Departure R came along at the perfect time and after playing through it, I can safely say the game was worth the two-decade wait. Unfortunately, the original game never made it west, and when the remake arrived on the PlayStation Portable, other games occupied my interest. After a Nintendo Power article highlighted the original 1996 Star Ocean, showing off its impressive sprites and unique Sci-fi setting, my interest was piqued immediately.
STAR OCEAN FIRST DEPARTURE R VOICE ACTORS SERIES
During the golden era that brought waves of glorious Super Nintendo RPGs to the west, a small magazine clip introduced a new series to me that was out of this world.
