Most people are busy playing SFIV but I spent my money on SO4 instead. AH, don't yell at me and call me crazy -- I love SFIV and I have played it. But I have been eager for SO4 since I'm a fan of the SO series. I will make this one statement:
This is NOTHING like SO3 -- THANK GOD! I really hated that game and couldn't finish it. Let me tell you how I feel towards this new, beautiful game.
I'm really not a graphic whore but let me say this: SO4 makes The Last Remnant look like the biggest POS ever. SO4 has such beautiful graphics and they do NOT lag at all, unlike The Last Remnant. I am very, I mean VERY, pleased with that. I was honestly worried that this game would have that same problem.
The dubbing is pretty GOOD, unlike that thing called SO3. The boys are definitely going to love Reimi because she is incredibly ADORABLE. I'm not going to waste my breath talking about Edge or I'll get into a major spazzgasm about him.
And for anyone who decides to pick up this game, let me clarify something that people don't seem to understand about Lymle. Lymle is the little, loli girl who has a bad habit of saying "kay?" after ALMOST EVERY SENTENCE. She also gives nicknames to the characters. I read somewhere that people believed this was some bullshit that the American game has but it isn't -- she says "yo" at the end of all her sentences in the Japanese version so their translation for that is "kay". In terms of the nickname, she DOES give them nicknames in the Japanese version so that isn't some stupid thing they just stuck in there, 'kay?
From what I've seen, the translations are staying pretty true to the Japanese. I am sad that we don't have the anime faces during the battles and the menu but the CG faces didn't end up bothering me too much.
In terms of the battle system, it really sticks to how all the
good SO ones have previously been -- but with a faster pace, of course. At first, it feels pretty slow and it can be aggravating. But the more you level up, the more fun it can be. But I need to complain about this: even though the monsters are visible on the fields and dungeons, you'll find yourself bumping into them more than running away. It really annoyed me when I was doing one of the dungeons, holy SHIT. I guess you don't have to worry about leveling up.
I'm pretty addicted to the game, even though I haven't had too much time to play it. I'm sitting here at anime club wanting to go home to play my game, haha. But really, in my opinion, this game is really good. Only good games really get my attention in the beginning. I hope you RPG lovers will give this game a chance.
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I haven't got my hands on it yet. I was unhappy about the version changes too. Especially the dialog portraits. I could live with all the other changes but that one. I am a huge SO fan though. I actually pushed further into SO3 and ended up kinda digging it. I will be picking my copy up soon. I suppose I can't wait. I mean, it has been my most anticipated title 2 years running.
@John Solgrim: Hurry up and pick it up so we can talk about it! :D
@Christiangamer: Yeah, it's on 360.
I've never played a Star Ocean game. Ever.
Besides this, since I need to rebuy a 360, what other Star Ocean games do you, or anyone else, recommend?
I have no PSP, but I do have a(slightly) working PS2.
AAAAAAAADICT!!!
@Daxelman: Star Ocean 2. Maybe I'm biased but it's my favorite. But since you don't have a PSP, then I guess SO1 is out of the question. :( Star Ocean 3 is for the PS2, but um ... meh. I don't really recommend it to you but it's always up to the player to try a game out to see if they'll like it or not. You can still play SO4 without playing the other 3 because they aren't strongly connected.
@TDiddy9182: SHUSH YOU! XD
Was Star Ocean 3 Til the End of Time (or something like that)? Because I remember I went into a town, coasting through the game, then I crossed a river, to go save a kid that was kidnapped in a mine or something and BAM! All the enemies rape my face off. Not like tough fights, but total skullfucking. Like hey whats up, dick in your eye!
Well all my rambling leads to, this game is on my Gamefly Q and I hope to get it. Hopefully this will live up to Persona 4's awesomeness or I will just toss it aside.
Only SO game I've tried so far is #1 on PSP. It's fun but it feels pretty average. I also sadly own SO3 as well I just never had a chance to play it. Stupid PS2 back catologue.
i only played star ocean til the end of time, which pissed me the fuck off. same as what happened to tdiddy. should i pick this one up?
@TDiddy9182: I'm going to hit you for real. XD Don't compare this game to Persona 4. They are two different kinds of games.
@ZServ: Well, I think I said enough times how stupid SO3 was. I think you should give SO4 a chance. :]
You are so addicted to this game, Eva. Admit it.
I still stand by the fact that there is no such game as Star Ocean 3: Til The End Of Time.
Having said that, I'm looking forward to picking this up as soon as I can. Nice writeup :D
I can go Bargin bin search for 2 and 3, since I've scene 3 at Gamestop, but don't actually have it anymore, ans 2 is PS1. Least my PS3 is BC with PS1 games.
Or I can try Amazon. I love Amazon.
Thanks Saku!
Also, I know some very helpful people who help others with addictions...I mean, Amazon rocks!
Hey, SakuChan, have you ever played Valkyrie Profile Silmeria (PS2)? I ask because from what I've seen of SO4, it seems to follow most of the battle system from VP2, what with the on-field movement and all (sans attacking since that switches to VP1's style).
I got interested in the banner at the top and looked up the names and I realized that I had played Tales of Symphonia so many years ago. Unfortunately I only got to play for about an hour till my cousin took his gamecube back...
Is their an order I should play the Tales of.. Games? I remember loving the battles.
@DaxelMan: I stay away from Amazon because I know I would go crazy buying things there, haha! Well, if you had a PSP, you could play 2 on there but finding one would be a little hard for PS. And you're welcome. :]
@Doomsday Forte: Sadly, I haven't played it. :( So I'm sorry I can't compare for you. I can only say if you've played the other Star Oceans, they're pretty alike to each other. But yeah, it does have an on-field movement -- having a big area and can move around it.
@Sukes: There isn't any order since they're not connected to each other (except like Tales of Destiny 1 and 2 and now Tales of Symphoina 2 for the Wii). If you play the older ones, the battles might get on your nerves because they're nothing like the new ones -- and you can't run away from battle, omg. XD You should try Tales of the Abyss *coughsbeingextremelybiasedcough* -- the story is honestly unique and the concept and ideas in the story have major depth. But surely give Tales of Symphonia another try if you're able to. :D
I don't know. I was pretty hyped for this game, but after reading various reviews my interest has waned a little. Maybe I'll pick it up when it goes down in price, as I did with Lost Odyssey.
@Saku: Did you like the packaging? I got my copy on Tuesday, and I HATED the packaging. First of all, I had no idea that the game had 3 discs. While trying to get the first disc out I felt the second disc and thought "Oh sweet! A OST!" Then I saw that it was just a "disc 2". Then I saw there was a 3rd disc and I had a really tough time even getting it off of the green disc holding column thing. I was afraid I was going to snap it in half or something. It's pretty cheap of SE to just jam all three of the game discs on top of each other inside of the box. :/
Firing this one up for the Dtoid review, so keep an eye out for that coming up soon! I happen to know Saku has excellent taste, though... :)
JRPG whores ASSEMBLEEEEEEEE! (I count myself in that group)
I'll be honest, but I thought that the in game models didn't look that similar to their Anime counterparts, so I'm glad they switched to using the CG faces on the menues and such(even if I don't have a 360 to actually see them in play).
Oh hey, don't worry about it. It's the best comparison I can make, given tri-Ace and Enix, after all. I need a 360 so I can get this someday.
@Diverse: HAHA ME EITHER! Though, it shouldn't have been surprising that it would was going to have more than 1 disk. But yeah, I didn't know either. I have no problem with the packaging though, to be honest. :P As long as it has the game, I'm fine with it.
I'm a pretty big RPG fan and in some occasions I've tried to give SO3 a far shake. But I found the game utterly unbearable I got 5 or so hours in before I completely gave up and sold it. I'm a little wary about buying another SO game after that little disaster. But from what you've said and what some of my friend have said I just might drop the cash to play it and give the SO series another try.
I'm enjoying this one way more than IU. Tri Ace has somewhat redeemed themselves. Hopefully I can get through it all from start to finish, I just had to give up on IU at some one point
In japanese, putting "yo" at the end of your sentence just creates an exclamation mark.
For example;
"Kyandi ga Suki da yo" = "I love Candy!"
So it's weird that they would translate that is 'kay'.
Oh well I'm excited for this game. Playing through Second story again to get ready for it's eventual release in Europe (April I believe).
@Atheistium: Actually, "yo" is used to emphasize your statement more than just being an exclamation mark. I guess 'kay is good enough to emphasize wtf she's saying but EH, whatever. XD
Geez, sucks you guys have to wait until April for that. :/
Huh! & Australia doesn't even have a release date yet. Plus it's region locked so no importing for me.
- I still remember the first trailer for Ocean 4, the floating rocks in the sky, that was amazing. Yet does any part of the game look like that Saku? of what you have played anyway?
I know you didn't like TLH but i quite like it, & I'm determined to finish it too! ....right after I get around to finishing the lat bit of Lost Odyssey.... Mings boobs have veins.... : (
Holy crap! also, You look like Reimi! .....Cosplay! Cosplay! Cosplay!
it's the eyes!.....
Holy crap! also, You look like Reimi! .....Cosplay! Cosplay! Cosplay!
it's the eyes!.....
Hmmm, I might have to play me some Star Ocean . . . -_-' I don't have the PS2 one yet, but I did manage to snag Second Story on PS for like $10 with everything . . . =D I could show my 360 some RPG lovin' . . .
Okay, I was looking forward to this game, but then I heard it has 30-40 minute long cutscenes. In the past, this would be no big deal; sitting at home with nothing to do play play games after work, I can deal with that. But, with 2 kids and limited game time, having to sit through a really long cutscene is a deal-killer.
So...have you hit any long scenes, or was this just a rumor?
@LastSkySamurai: ROFL! Your comment about the veins made me laugh, hahaha. The trailer isn't lying, the game is really beautiful. And thanks about the comment to cosplaying Reimi. I actually thought about it but she's way too cute xD; I don't think I could really do it.
@ZombieKiller13: I don't recall any long cut scenes. I mean, the beginning of the game felt kind of long but it's the beginning of the game. Besides that, no, I haven't seen super long cut scenes like that. And I know it would be pointless to skip cut scenes in a game but they actually put a summary of what was in the scene if you don't feel like watching. I found that pretty cool. :)
Well then, seeing as though that is the reason I was hesitant on purchasing it, I may go out and get it now. I don't mind a long intro sequence. And the summary thing would definitely be helpful.
Thanks :)
@SAKUCHAN well that;s what my Japanese teacher taught me. And being an explanation mark is the same as making a statement, don't you think?
@Atheistium: I'm not gonna say your teacher is wrong because she isn't. xD But not all sentences with "yo" end in exclamation marks. But in terms of what the exclamation mark does to a sentence, then it can be the same thing because it makes the statement seem stronger. :) It's hard to translate that over to English so I guess that's why they used 'kay because it's kind of like "What I said is what I say, so you better understand that" -- it's confusing, haha.
Cool. The only Star Ocean I've ever played was SO3 and I couldn't get in to it, but I was aware that it was the black sheep of the series so I'm willing to give SO4 a chance. That and I'm jonesing for a new JRPG right now.
SO3 is the only SO game I have played, from a friend's recommendation. I hated it. Good to know the others are not like it.
I bought SO4 on launch day and I have only beaten the first boss so far (I am finishing up Mirror's Edge), but so far I am extremely happy with my purchase. It restores the series' good name after the train wreck that was Til the End of Time.
So Far SO is a big win for me. Loving every second I play. One thing I'm not fond of is the feeling like I have to baby the camera when I'm anywhere other then a huge field.
"i'm sitting here at anime club wanting to go home to play my game, haha."
I was the exact same way in my classes. Actually, that's how I feel all the time. I'll be thinking the same thing tomorrow when I get done with my 8 hour Ambulance run and my 4 hour class. The more I think about it the more sad I become. Hahaha.
It's been a good long while since I played it, but from what I remember I liked SO3.
*dodges thrown objects*