![]() ![]() ![]() A remastered version titled Star Ocean: First Departure R was released for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 worldwide in December 2019. However, the game was later remade by Tose for the PlayStation Portable under the title Star Ocean: First Departure, and released in English-speaking regions in North America, Europe, and Australia in October 2008. The Super Famicom version was never released outside Japan due to Enix closing its American branch shortly before the game was finished, as well as Nintendo's focus on supporting the then-upcoming Nintendo 64 video game console. Using advanced technologies and time travel, the group attempts to uncover the cause of the war and to find a cure for their planet. The story involves three friends who, while searching for the cure to a new disease, come into contact with a space-faring federation that is locked in a war with another galactic power. Additionally, the game had voice acting for the game's intro and voice clips that played during the game's battle gameplay, a rarity for games on the system. The game used a special compression chip in its cartridge to compress and store all of the game's data due to possessing graphics that pushed the limits of the Super Famicom. The first game in the Star Ocean series, it was released only in Japan in July 1996, and was the first game developed by tri-Ace, consisting of staff that had previously left Wolf Team due to being unhappy with the development process for Tales of Phantasia with Namco in 1995. To each their own, though.Star Ocean is a 1996 action role-playing game developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix for the Super Famicom. Fans of older RPGs and SO2 die-hards will probably have a ball, but those used to SO3, SO4, or other more recent ARPGs might be put off by SO1FD's relative simplicity (not that the combat is bad, per se). Granted, the combat is the main draw, but SO1FD's SO2-like battle system lacks some of the depth of latter-day SO titles. ![]() Not helping matters is the game's aggravating insistence on forcing the player to backtrack through previously-visited areas (although the new fast-forward feature should help to alleviate this issue). From what I recall, the story is lackluster, even by Star Ocean standards-there are very few (if any) intriguing twists or memorable setpieces (things that both SO2 and SO3 had, for better or worse) to liven up the rote A-to-Z journey, compelling character arcs are in short supply, and the game's antagonists are barely developed and/or have very little screentime/presence. Honestly, deep, interesting, and compelling are not the adjectives I'd use to describe SO1's story. For fans of old school JRPGs this is also a fun, nostalgic trip to the past and for fans of the Star Ocean series it is nice to be able to play the adapted first part of the series. Star Ocean: The First Departure R is not for everyone, but for newcomers who like a challenge and are not discouraged by the old gameplay and the high level of difficulty, this game is definitely recommended. Also the adventure itself with many side branches and interesting, sometimes humorous characters makes us curious about the other remakes that were released on the PS4. Who can best cook, draw, make music or write and what can you use for your adventure. It's nice to experiment a bit with your Specialty's to create or upgrade the best weapons and equipment. ![]() Yet it is not disturbing if you calmly explore the planet Roak, save enough and enjoy all the possibilities that the game offers you to make yourself stronger. Back to your last save, which is hopefully not too long ago. You are not kept close to hand and game over is final. Star Ocean: The First Departure R certainly brings me back to a time when the JRPGs were a lot more challenging. ![]()
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