To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
FREE Returns
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.

Star Ocean: The Second Story

Platform : PlayStation
Rated: Everyone
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 152 ratings

To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
FREE Returns
Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping.

Purchase options and add-ons

Product information

Warranty & Support

Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here

Feedback

Star

Star Ocean: The Second Story


Found a lower price? Let us know. Although we can't match every price reported, we'll use your feedback to ensure that our prices remain competitive.

Where did you see a lower price?

/
/
/
/
Please sign in to provide feedback.

Product Description

Product description

In an endless sea of stars, at the edge of the universe, a single fateful encounter is about to take place. The Gods have hurled a deadly meteorite into an unsuspecting planet, unleashing powerful mysterious and sudden chaos. Now, two people from different worlds will collide into a journey so deep, they might never make it back.

Review

Star Ocean: The Second Story is the 32-bit follow-up to Enix's original Super Famicom title, Star Ocean, a game that was released in the dying days of the system and did not receive the success it was due. A departure from the first game, Second Story, like most RPGs, offers you a fresh set of characters to play as. At the start of the game you select one of two characters: Crawd or Rena, and where the story begins depends on whom you choose. Your choice only affects the direction of the storyline, since the two of you ultimately meet up anyway and progress together through the game. As the story advances, you'll meet up with other key characters, whom you can also add to your party. Marking Enix's first major RPG undertaking in the next-generation wars, Star Ocean: Second Story is a decidedly conservative attempt to refine rather than reinvent, and it shows.

Second Story is 16-bit in nature but 32-bit in execution and is a conservative step forward in RPG gaming, coming across like a combination of Grandia and Saga Frontier. The backgrounds in the game are prerendered, like Saga Frontier, while the characters are sprite-based. Unlike in Saga Frontier, the citizens of Star Ocean blend well with their environments. Little touches like seeing your reflection on smooth surfaces like water, or seeing your characters darken whenever they walk through a shady area are very cool. Other details, like birds flying across the screen, are also very realistic and must be seen to be fully appreciated. Although tri-Ace is the developer responsible for the creation of Star Ocean: SS, it should be noted that the company was assisted in this project by Japanese CG house Links. Links may not sound familiar, but its works speak for itself. The company was responsible for much of the CG rendering in Final Fantasy VII and for creating the CG intros in all three Shining Force III games. Links' assistance is evident in Star Ocean's gorgeous opening movie, as well in the prerendered backgrounds which are easily on a par with FFVII and Parasite Eve. Although the game plays like an old-school RPG, it certainly doesn't look like one.

Battle scenes, on the other hand, switch to a fully polygonal backdrop, like Grandia, while the sprite-based characters duke it out in real time, which leads us to the next interesting feature of Star Ocean, and that's the battle engine. Depending on your familiarity with the Star Ocean battle system, you can choose from one of three settings during combat: standard, semi-active or full-active. Standard is for those who are new to the series, since the battles are fairly fast paced, while semi-active and full-active are for gamers who want more control over every aspect of the battles. In any case, as in the original, fights are fast paced and have an almost action-game feel to them.

During battle scenes, you can choose special attacks, which are learned during the course of the game. Once you have multiple characters in your party (which can number up to eight, with four on the battlefield), you can combine specials to create a super-specialty. Other features in the game include item creation, skill learning (after learning an appropriate amount of skills, you can combine them to acquire more-powerful specialties, and more.

Exploration takes you through myriad towns and villages, each of which has its own unique look. The usual suspects appear in great numbers: merchants, weapons shops, restaurants, inns, etc. Once you've filled your inventory with the necessary supplies, your travels will take you onto an overhead 3D-map, much like the one found in FFVII, where you will have to search for hidden caves and well-hidden harbor towns, among others. Spanning two discs, Star Ocean has plenty to see and do.

Possessing one of the more incredible soundtracks composed for a video game, Star Ocean's US translation is functional, although not as clever as some of Working Design's better work. Star Ocean: Second Story is an engaging RPG that ranks up there with the likes of Xenogears and Suikoden, with the storyline leading you on an incredible journey that's not as flashy as some, but certainly more substantial than others. With at least 50 hours of gaming in each character's scenario, Star Ocean might not be compelling enough to play through twice, but the first time is as engaging as any RPG you're likely to play. Highly recommended in any case. --James Mielke
--
Copyright ©1999 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited. GameSpot and the GameSpot logo are trademarks of GameSpot Inc. -- GameSpot Review

Looking for specific info?

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
152 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the quality, condition, and performance of the video game software. For example, they mention it's an amazing classic RPG with good gameplay and a fun combat system. That said, they say it works perfectly and has no issues.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

17 customers mention17 positive0 negative

Customers find the game to be a great classic RPG with good gameplay. They also say it's an excellent JRPG with a fun combat system. Customers also mention that the storyline is worthwhile.

"...It's amazing now and it was amazing then. The story line is just too awesome...." Read more

"Great game but really hard and takes a long time to develop your skills, etc...." Read more

"I can say the game was great and it surprised me that it was still functioning. I was usually expecting it to not work...." Read more

"...Battle is fun, and the storyline is worthwhile. I am aware they have made a remake, but I am more interested in replaying the genuine article!" Read more

12 customers mention12 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the condition of the video game software. They mention that the sleeves and booklet were in great condition. Some customers also say that the game discs and manual are in good condition. Overall, most are happy with their purchase and recommend it to others.

"Decent Quality item for the price asked l. Works perfectly and even got the Booklet." Read more

"The case and cd was in great condition. I played it on my brothers old ps3. This is my favorite jrpg of all time" Read more

"...Discs were mint and case was clean. Sleeves and booklet were in great condition as well. This is one of my favorite rpgs of all time...." Read more

"The provider of this item was true to his word that the item was in good condition. That says volumes of the man...." Read more

6 customers mention6 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the performance of the video game software. They mention that it works perfectly, has no issues, and runs in their PS2 perfectly.

"Decent Quality item for the price asked l. Works perfectly and even got the Booklet." Read more

"Game came on time. Game worked great. No issues" Read more

"...It came in a brand new just like detail said. The game ran in my PS2 perfectly.Love the game." Read more

"Works great great condition" Read more

3 customers mention3 positive0 negative

Customers find the character interaction in the video game very detailed. They also appreciate the many characters to choose from, which affects the game's ending.

"...Also many characters to choose from given your decisions. It's a bit old now so given everything not many people would play it through...." Read more

"...Character interaction is very detailed, with your choices affecting the game's ending. Battle is fun, and the storyline is worthwhile...." Read more

"my daughter likes this video game.it a role playing game,highly recommend this for everyone to play to keep you busy." Read more

Received damaged item
1 Star
Received damaged item
Was really excited for this game I played as a kid just to be pissed off and disappointed when I get it. The 1st disc is cracked as u can see.
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2011
2 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021
One person found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2014
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2015
3 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2022
2 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2023
Customer image
1.0 out of 5 stars Received damaged item
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2023
Was really excited for this game I played as a kid just to be pissed off and disappointed when I get it. The 1st disc is cracked as u can see.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image
Customer imageCustomer image

Top reviews from other countries

Hard Core
5.0 out of 5 stars Received thanks!
Reviewed in Canada on March 19, 2020
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on June 8, 2017
One person found this helpful
Report