Star Ocean: The Second Story R Switch Review: A Classic Reborn, Nostalgia and Innovation Coexist

Hello everyone, I'm your old friend, a seasoned player and game critic with over ten years of gaming experience. Today, I want to talk to you about the recently released Star Ocean: The Second Story R on the Nintendo Switch. As a remake of the classic JRPG Star Ocean 2, it has undergone a comprehensive modernization while retaining the essence of the original. Can it evoke nostalgia in veteran players, and can it attract new players to join in? Let's take a closer look.

1. Star Ocean: The Second Story R Game Introduction: A Modern Revival of a Classic JRPG

Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a remake produced by Square Enix, based on the PlayStation game released in 1998 with the same name. The game tells the story of Claude, an officer of the Galactic Federation, and Rena, a mysterious girl who meet on the fantastic planet Expel, and together confront the evil forces threatening world peace.

The highlight of the game is the dual protagonist system, where players can choose to play as Claude or Rena, experiencing different story perspectives and gameplay. In addition, the rich character development system, the exhilarating battle system, and the world map full of exploration fun are all classic elements of the Star Ocean 2 series. This remake has fully upgraded the graphics, music, and battle system, striving to bring players a better gaming experience. Considering the potentially released Nintendo Switch 2 platform in the future, this game may also achieve better visual performance on the new platform.

2. Gameplay Review: Combat System and Exploration Experience

2.1 Combat System: Refreshing and Exciting Real-Time Combat

Star Ocean: The Second Story R's combat system adopts a real-time battle mode, where players can freely control their characters to attack, defend, and unleash skills. The battle pace is tight, requiring players to flexibly use various tactics to achieve victory.

The remake optimizes the combat system by adding a Break system. When an enemy is broken, they enter a weakened state, making it easier for players to perform combos. In addition, a more convenient chain attack has been added to further enhance the exhilarating feel of combat. Game characters possess a wealth of skills, and players can mix and match according to their preferences to create personalized combat styles.

2.2 Exploration Experience: A World Map Full of Surprises

Star Ocean: The Second Story R's world map is vast and full of exploration fun. Players can freely explore various towns, dungeons, and wilderness areas, discovering hidden treasures and side quests.

The remake has redesigned the map, adding new exploration elements. The game also includes a convenient fast travel system for players to move between locations. During exploration, players can interact with various NPCs, learn about the game world's background story, and trigger various events.

2.3 Skills and Development: Create Unique Characters

The game has a rich character development system. Players can earn experience points through battles to increase the character's level and attributes. In addition, players can learn various skills, including combat skills, crafting skills, and support skills.

Crafting skills allow players to create various items, including weapons, armor, medicine, etc. Support skills can improve the character's attributes or provide various convenient functions. Players can freely develop the character's abilities according to their preferences to create a unique combat style.

3. Graphics and Sound Effects Review: Classic Remastered, A Visual and Auditory Feast

3.1 Visual Presentation: HD Remastered, Detail Upgrades

Star Ocean: The Second Story R's graphics have undergone a complete HD remaster, with more refined character models and richer scene details. The game adopts a 2.5D visual style, which retains the classic charm of the original while bringing a more modern visual experience.

The game's graphics are brightly colored, and the lighting effects are excellent. The overall visual performance is satisfactory. Considering the performance improvement of the future Nintendo Switch 2, this game should achieve smoother frame rates and finer visual details on the new platform. nintendo switch2 first look may bring us more surprises regarding visual enhancements.

3.2 Sound Effect Performance: Classic Melodies, New Interpretations

The music of Star Ocean: The Second Story R is rearranged by original composer Motoi Sakuraba, retaining the classic melodies of the original and adding new musical elements. The game's musical style is diverse, with both grand combat music and warm and pleasant town music.

The game also features full voice acting, giving the characters more vivid personalities. The voice actors' performances are excellent, adding a lot to the game.

4. Story and Character Review: Dual Protagonist Perspective, Deep Story

4.1 Story Depth: Grand Epic, Choices Matter

Star Ocean: The Second Story R's story is grand and profound. The game tells the adventure story of Claude and Rena on the planet Expel, interspersed with various political conspiracies, racial conflicts, and personal emotional entanglements.

The development of the game's story is full of suspense, and the player's choices will affect the direction and ending of the story. The dual protagonist system allows players to understand the story from different perspectives and experience the game's worldview more deeply.

4.2 Character Shaping: Distinctive Personality, Full of Emotion

Star Ocean: The Second Story R's character shaping is very successful. Claude and Rena have distinctive personalities and each have their own charm. Other characters also have their own characteristics, with their own backgrounds and emotional ties.

The game shows the inner world and growth process of the characters through a large number of dialogues and events. Players can build deep friendships with the characters and experience their joys and sorrows.

5. Handling Review: Simple and Easy to Use, Details Need Optimization

Star Ocean: The Second Story R's handling is generally smooth, simple and easy to use. The game's operation method is similar to traditional JRPGs. Players can control the character's movement through the joystick and attack, defend, and release skills through buttons.

However, in some details, the game's handling still needs to be optimized. For example, switching characters in battle is not convenient enough and is prone to misoperation. I hope future updates can improve these issues. Considering the performance improvement of the future Nintendo Switch 2 and the possible new controller design, it may bring a better operating experience to the game.

6. Comparison with Similar Games: Clash of Classic and Modern

Compared with similar JRPG games, Star Ocean: The Second Story R has the following advantages:

• Dual Protagonist System: Allows players to experience the story from different perspectives.
• Rich Character Development System: Allows players to freely develop the character's abilities.
• Refreshing Real-Time Combat System: Allows players to experience the excitement of combat.

However, the game also has some shortcomings:

• The plot is slightly old-fashioned: For players who have played a large number of JRPGs, the plot may feel unoriginal.
• Handling needs to be optimized: In some details, the game's handling still has room for improvement.

Overall, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an excellent JRPG remake. It has undergone a comprehensive modernization while retaining the essence of the original. For players who like JRPGs, this game is definitely worth a try.

7. Purchase Advice: A Must-Buy for Nostalgic Players, Recommended for New Players

Star Ocean: The Second Story R is suitable for the following people:

• Star Ocean 2 series fans: The remake has undergone a comprehensive upgrade while retaining the essence of the original, which will definitely evoke nostalgia in old players.
• Players who like JRPGs: The game has a grand plot, rich characters, refreshing combat, and a vast world map, which can meet the needs of JRPG enthusiasts.
• Players who want to experience classic JRPGs: The remake has fully modernized the graphics, music, and combat system, allowing new players to better experience this classic.

If you are sensitive to the price of the game, you can pay attention to nintendo switch2 price related information to see if the release of Nintendo Switch 2 will affect the price of the game. In addition, you should also pay attention to nintendo switch2 compatibility to understand the compatibility of this game on the new console.

8. Nintendo Switch 2 Outlook: Stronger Performance, Better Experience

Although Nintendo Switch 2 has not yet been released, there have been many rumors about its performance improvement. If Nintendo Switch 2 can have a more powerful processor, more memory, and faster storage speed, then Star Ocean: The Second Story R should achieve better visual performance, smoother frame rates, and faster loading speeds on the new platform.

In addition, Nintendo Switch 2 may also adopt a new controller design, bringing a better operating experience to the game. Let us look forward to the arrival of Nintendo Switch 2 and the performance of Star Ocean: The Second Story R on the new platform!

9. Score and Summary:

Overall, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a JRPG worth recommending. It has undergone a successful modernization on the basis of the classic, and both old and new players can find fun in it.

My Score: 8.5/10

IGN Score: (To be updated, refer to the original IGN score)

Metacritic Score: (To be updated, refer to the original Metacritic score)

Reason for Scoring:

• Advantages: Beautiful graphics, beautiful music, deep plot, distinctive characters, and refreshing combat.
• Disadvantages: The plot is slightly old-fashioned, and the handling needs to be optimized.

All in all, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an excellent JRPG remake, and it is worth your time to experience. I hope my review can help you. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a message in the comment section, and I will try my best to answer them.