Square Enix has announced that STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R, the remake of the beloved second chapter of the STAR OCEAN series, will be playable on Nintendo Switch at Lucca Comics & Games 2023, the largest European festival dedicated to comics, games, video games and much more, taking place from 1 to 5 November in the Tuscan city. The title will be featured inside the pavilion Nintendo in Piazza Bernardini, where visitors will have the opportunity not only to play it on the hybrid console, but also to receive a special shaped fan depicting the two protagonists.
First released in Japan on in 1998, PlayStationSTAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R will be a 2.5D remake releasing on 2 November 2023 .This RPG will be available on Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4also digitally on PC. Pre-orders are already open.
STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R is characterised by an incredible art direction, action gameplay, battles, and brand-new character illustrations created by Yukihiro Kajimoto, a veteran artist of the series, alongside a remixed soundtrack by the original composer, Motoi Sakuraba. The title has an intriguing 2.5D style that combines stunning 3D environment graphics with 2D pixel-art characters, offering a gameplay experience halfway between classic and modern. You’ll find some of the most distinctive features of the original alongside some fantastic new additions, such as frantic real-time combat, strategic battle dynamics, and group progress customisable through a wide selection of skills, including Cooking, Art, Metallurgy and more. Three new difficulty levels have also been added — "TERRA" for a relaxing adventure, "GALAXY" for a satisfying challenge, or "UNIVERSE" if you have the courage to truly test your abilities.
This epic story begins when Claude, a Federation officer, is accidentally transported to a mysterious planet. While searching for a way home, he meets a girl who draws him into a mission to save her people, as foretold in an ancient prophecy. You'll start your adventure with Claude or Rena, and depending on your choice, the narrative perspective and available allies will shift. You can deepen your understanding of the group members through the private actions system, which will help you build bonds and unlock various endings.
STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R will release with English and Japanese text and voice acting performed by members of the original cast. Subtitles in Italian, French, German and Spanish will also be available via a game update at launch.
