The Star Ocean franchise has been going on for a long time now, and remains a quietly successful aside to the more famous JRPGs out there. In 2009 the Xbox 360 was treated to the latest installment within the franchise; Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope. The game was well received, but a Playstation release was not announced. Now, finally, players can find Playstation 3′s Star Ocean.
The production of this version isn’t a straight port, but instead is titled the ‘international’ edition, and offers some small extras. Firstly, the original Japanese vocal track has been included as an alternative. This can be a welcome extra for those who prefer their JRPGs with a little more authenticity. Additionally, players can toggle the HUD display to reveal the original Japanese artwork for characters. Not a large addition, but welcome all the same.
Now the title itself, and Playstation 3′s Star Ocean can not disappoint. The game expands the combat system of previous entries within the franchise, offering a easy yet fun attack approach that is gradually levelled up as time progresses. Fresh features like the Rush gauge add a new take on the combat, rewarding fast handed players with further benefits.
The storyline that runs throughout Playstation 3′s Star Ocean is suitably grand, as one would expect from developers Square Enix. A nice addition is the optional Personal Actions, which allows gamers to interact amid their characters to achieve a deeper sense of character development. This may not be vital to the storyline, but is nice for gamers hoping to fully immerse themselves with the characters.
It may have taken a while, but Playstation 3′s Star Ocean is unquestionably worth the delay. The graphics, whilst perhaps not up to Final Fantasy standards, are still lovely and the storyline can reward you the more you put into it. Any fans of the genre ought to definitely look into this brilliant title.
