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vCheats.com - Star Ocean: First Departure
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List Price: $39.99
Our Price: $28.00
Your Save: $ 11.99 ( 30% )
Average Customer Rating: 
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Square Enix
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Amazon Maximum Age: 20
Amazon Minimum Age: 144
Batteries Included: 0
Binding: Video Game
Brand: Square Enix
EAN: 0662248908199
ESRB Age Rating: Teen
Feature: Highly anticipated PSP remake of the original Star Ocean that was never released in the United States
Is Autographed: 0
Is Memorabilia: 0
Label: Square Enix
Manufacturer: Square Enix
Model: 662248908199
Platform: Sony PSP
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: 2008-10-21
Studio: Square Enix
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Features
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Highly anticipated PSP remake of the original Star Ocean that was never released in the United States
Classic RPG action with private actions that alter the outcome of future actions
Enhanced game play and more dynamic battle features, as well as new playable characters
New artwork and animation make for beautiful backgrounds and cut-scenes
Item creation system and skill system allow for character development throughout the story
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Old fashion fun
Comment: If you played Star ocean second story or the Tales series then this game is for you. This game is a remake of an snes game and it kind of shows but it was remade from scratch for the psp and man is it fun. I really enjoyed this game the battles where fun and when you grasp the craft system it really made the game easy. If you like rpg's with action then this game is for you and if you are thinking about getting it just get it you won't be sorry. Bottom line this game is fun.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great game, very solid RPG, must have for the PSP.
Comment: First off do not believe negative reviews on GameSpot and others. This game is very good, can be a little slow at times and with backtracking, but what RPG doesn't get that way sometimes? The combat system is very well thought of, with the skills system and specialties, its a very solid game with great amine based characters and story. This game is no Crisis Core, which is probably the best RPG for the PSP in general, but this is definitely up there with it. So if you are debating buying this game and you want a good RPG, with a hint of something different, you will not regret this buy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Much-anticipated,and for once,not disapointed.
Comment: I haveto applaud that they FINALLY brought this game over from Japan. Ever since Star Ocean 2 I have been waiting and waiting for the first one to come out over here. It took more than a decade,but when it finally arrived,I played and beat it three times within a week and a half. That's how much I played it,because it is NOT a short game. The first time,without a strategy guide,the other two,with one. My only complaint is about the strategy guide,which I corrected SEVERAL times,including paths in the Cave of Seven Stars! (the bonus dungeon) The game itself is VERY playable,amusing,and has the same endearing qualities and Star Ocean 2 which I loved so much and missed in Till the End of Time. THANK YOU.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Doing justice to a game long overdue for a release
Comment: I played this on a ROM some time ago when DeJap released their translation patch. I loved it, just thought it needed some polishing. And, honestly, I couldn't be more impressed. I thought the systems in the second Star Ocean were some of the best I've ever seen in an RPG, despite the learning curve, and this game is basically Star Ocean done in the style of the Second Story. I couldn't be happier. The game is beautiful, the environments look fantastic. I always thought the original was a little cramped, and now the areas are much, much larger. The storyline isn't the most original, by any means, but it's pretty good for standard RPG fare, and the characters and events have a nostalgic charm that really reminds the player of the classic 16 bit RPGs of yore. The item creation and skill systems, as well as Private Actions, have been updated to the depth of the second game and really add that little something that set The Second Story apart from its contemporaries. All I have left to say is I can't wait for the release of Second Evolution.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: The First Departure in the US
Comment: Pros:
+Well done cutscenes
+Visually stunning
+Fun gameplay and mechanics
+Fairly good storyline
+There are various ways for the story to unfold
+Tons of custimization, side quests and secrets
+Well developed characters
Cons:
-The difficulty is a little steep; it'll require some level grinding which some may not enjoy as much as others
-A lot of exposition throughout the game
-The voice acting can grate on the nerves
In Japan, a little company called Enix (now Square-Enix) crafted an RPG called Star ocean where it was released on the Super Famicom in 1996. Star Ocean never made it to US shores. However, American gamers were able to play Star Ocean: The Second Story, which became a cult classic in 1999 and later Star Ocean: Till the End of Time in 2004. Now we have a chance to play the first Star Ocean and see just where those elements came from.
Star Ocean is probably best known as being one of the RPGs which really brought Science Fiction to the RPG realm. On the planet Roak, there is a disease that is turning the denizens of the world to stone. In an attempt to rescue his friends and family and his world from this disease, Roddick and company must travel through time and space to locate the origins of the disease to find a cure. The story itself may seem somewhat dated by today's standards, but it still manages to be really good. Particularly because its got a lot of heart and a fairly good cast of characters. The story is told through traditional text boxes and from time to time through some really well done animated scenes.
If there was any problem with Star Ocean's story, it would be that there's just too much exposition in some areas. There's a lot of dialog and a lot of talking, even for a JRPG. On the other hand, even this has an upside. As a result of some of its exposition Star Ocean really does a good job of fleshing out its characters. You'll be quite surprised at just how absorbing this story can really be when you start to enjoy the characters more and care about them. From time to time you will be tempted to skip scenes because of the exposition but at the same time you may find yourself not wanting to just for the sake of missing something. In spite of having such a simple story, there's a lot to take in. Even more than that, Star Ocean can be a different experience on subsequent play throughs. There are many playable characters in the game, but it is impossible to recruit them all. You'll find that the story unfolds in different ways depending on who you recruit and when you recruit them. Recruiting specific characters does more than alter the story. It also alters the events of the quest and sometimes in what order you'll take care of things. You may even skip over certain boss fights as a result of recruiting a different character.
The Star Ocean series also contains a well known battle system. Rather than being turn based like many JRPGs on the market, Star Ocean opts instead for real time battles where the player is able to run around freely and perform melee attacks and special attacks. You're able to switch party members at any time you need to and open up menus to use items, magic, etc. If you've played any games in the "Tales of..." series, then you probably have an idea of just how the battle system in Star Ocean works--it's almost exactly the same. Whoever you choose to be in battle, the AI controls the others.
The battle system may take some a while to learn, and that's bad when you consider two key things. The first is that Star Ocean is not an easy game. You'll have to level grind from time to time. The difficulty isn't helped any when you consider that your AI controlled allies aren't exactly bright. They often waste their MP in a flash and attack mindlessly. Your adversaries do quite a bit of damage that adds up quickly. While some could attribute it's difficulty to old school charm, Star Ocean has never been known to be an easy game series. Most will welcome the challenge, but the level grinding can be a chore for some gamers who want to move the story forward.
There's a lot more to the battle system, however. Characters also gain skill points which they can use to learn how to do many different things such as crafting items, or pickpocketing non-playable characters in the towns, cooking and many more things. The amount of customization is tremendous. Spend your skill points wisely, however. The game begs for you to make each character useful for different things. It works in such a way that you wouldn't even want to make all your characters the same.
Visually, Star Ocean First Departure obviously looks better than its Super Famicom counterpart. It doesn't take the PSP to its full potential but there's a lot of detail in the towns and character artwork. Artistically, Star Ocean First Departure is a grand game. Musically, however, there aren't nearly as many memorable tracks. There are a few good ones, but for the most part you probably won't be humming too many of Star Ocean's tunes. The voice acting, however, needs work. They can be very annoying, especially when they say the same phrases over and over again in battle. The voice acting isn't always bad, but it is most certainly annoying.
If you're a Star Ocean fan, then picking up the First Departure is a treat to see where the roots of the series come from. When the game debuted in 1996 it was ahead of its time. While much of what you find isn't fresh and some of it dated, it's still a huge game and it's still fun to play. If you're looking for a satisfying JRPG experience on the PSP, then Star Ocean First Departure is not to be missed.
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