My stomach has flopped over with insane jealousy; I'm actually sick with envy. We've known about the PSP remake of the PlayStation classic RPG for some time now, but  being able to poke around Square Enix's newly launched Web site for Star Ocean: Second Evolution has gotten to me -- I need this game now.

The remake of one of my favorite games of all time has received a reworking similar to its PSP predecessor, Star Ocean: First Departure. As before, Second Evolution gets a ton of new content, new playable characters, and voiced dialogue.  Famed Japanese animation studio Production I.G. has given the game a new look, with brand new cutscenes, fancy artwork, and anime character portraits.

The official message board for the Star Ocean series was just updated, and it lists a April 8th release date for Second Evolution in Japan. On top of that, those that preorder the game will receive a bonus DVD that contains footage of the highly anticipated Star Ocean 4.

Fans of the series will definitely want to poke around the official Web site. Although it is a Japanese page, the menus are in English, and pictures are universal. You can also listen to music from Motoi Sakuraba's amazing score as well as hear samples from each of the game's new voice actors. 

There is still no US release date for either one of these titles, but I do not doubt that Square Enix has plans to bring them here. Will you still pick this one up when it's released? Please say yes, as Square Enix might be listening.

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

Bulrog

First?

crane0102

Graphics look like shit. Are we talking about the original psp or the slim modal?

Cheeburga

Fuck, I loved star ocean, too bad I traded in my PSP.

Darinisawesome

I would buy the fuck out of both of those games.

MasterMS

I'll buy

CaffeinePowered

I was really disappointed with 'Until the End of Time', I hope this one is better, but I wouldn't buy a PSP for it :(

Kyousuke Nanbu

Excellent, Star Ocean 2 was one of the best RPG's of the PS1 era, better than the dreck that Square was publishing at any rate.

The only bad thing about it is how it will show us just how much better Tri-Ace was, they've done nothing but shit during the PS2 era.

ZeroTolo

I'm going to buy a PSP for these games. So there better be an American release. If not, then I'm going to write someone a sternly worded letter.

atheistium

SO2 is one of my favourite RPG's evar.

saxiums

i'll buy

Justin Villasenor

I'll definitely be picking it up. While I already own the PS1 version I'm happy to support a good remake of a great game.

Impulsedaniel

will buy both without hesitation

Drop of Flame

Why is there a picture of a girl(/boy?) with snakes coming out of her back looking all worried? What could you possibly be worried about when you have snakes on your back?

Excel-2011

Those gallery pictures reminded me of Lunar.

Chris Morris

Oh, hell yes. My PS1 disc for SO 2 has some issues. :/ I would love to have a remake of both of these for my PSP!

ZeroTolo

@Drop

It's a guy named Ashton. Those are actually dragons on his back, and he happens to be one of the best fighters in the whole game.

interbutts

O_O.


I
Hate
JAPAN!

Knivy

OMG, that ocremix song has been one of my favorites for years!

Anyway, yeah I will buy both if they come to this side, I guess I'll have a PSP by then, and besides, I'm still not over the fact that my SO2 became unplayable near the end thanks to god dammed disk read errors.

@crane0102
Does that even make a difference?

Syn

You're damn right I'm gonna buy it. I might have to pick up a jizz rag at the same time too cuz I'm gonna nut all over it. Star Ocean 2 is a badass game. the story behind Star Ocean 3 was awesome too. Just the concept of the 3rd dimension being a video game for the 4th dimension is too exciting.
I'm really looking forward to Star Ocean 4 too. They better send all this shit Stateside.

Syn

Dammit, I forgot something.

Has anyone seen the Star Ocean anime?
They didn't complete the story but it was way cool to watch nonetheless.

Qalamari

Wow, I didn't know you were THAT Dale North. I've been enjoying that remix for months, very nice work!

Urashima

I will absolutely be picking these up if and when they hit the US. If they don't, well, then it's a good excuse to start learning Japanese.

SourGr8pes

If these were to be ported, I would buy them in a heartbeat. Everything about this game made me love it: The real time battrles, the item creation, character interaction, making that harsh choice which characters to pick (knowing you'll never get the other again...). Hell, SO2's game style should have been the future of RPGs, but what's popular now? Neo-luddite garbage like Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey that prefer to go backwards.

OK, I got that off my chest. As long as they redo the godawful voice acting from the first, I'm sold.

SourGr8pes

My bad, I meant the voice acting from the 2nd (*did the first even have primitively digitalized VA?). Yeah, listening to Claude do his techniques drove me to the brink of madness.

gomeja

Vigor

Looks ok i have the original for the ps1 i sold my psp. After how they butchered final fantasy tactics i really dont care for it. Jeanne D' arc was meh, I dont know square-enix is doing what they do best porting old series because they cant think of something original.

Kyousuke Nanbu

How did they butcher FFT? It had more content and a much, MUCH better script. Not to mention some added story.

Unless you're talking about the slight slowdown it had at with huge effects, if you consider that butchering then something is wrong with you.

And Jeanne D Arc sucked, only I agree on with you.

Bob Muir

I never played any Star Ocean games, but I'd still like to see a version like this on the big screen, where the game was originally intended to be.

Anemone

100% for sure. For as un-rare as it is, one of my most prized game posessions is a completely mint copy of that. Personal value-wise.

Syn

Seriously, how was FFT butchered? If you over-clock your PSP a little bit the slow down is hardly even noticable. And the new added content was way cool. Dark Knight? Do want.

matmanx1

Absolutely will purchase if brought over here. I've heard alot of great things about the first and second Star Ocean and I would love to play these updated versions in english on my favorite little Sony portable. Make it happen Squeenix!

Barcode

::changes pants::

Justin Villasenor

"My bad, I meant the voice acting from the 2nd (*did the first even have primitively digitalized VA?). Yeah, listening to Claude do his techniques drove me to the brink of madness."

I loved going to the voice gallery and getting a good laugh at some of them. A particular favorite are the "Come here, bunny." line that each character had.

crane0102

Hey guy's one quik question. Doe you the original psp is better than the slim?

frozenbabylon

I've always wanted to play SO1. And as long as SO2 isn't as disgustingly long as everybody says it is. I'll play it too. The little bit I got it play of it was awesome.

ankoku

I will totally buy it.

Hell. I already bought the limited edition PSP w/ SO1, and I'm going to be in Japan until after SO2 comes out....and I may well even buy the games in English...

That's just how completely awesome the SO games are.

And while everyone seems to hate SO3....it's awesome. And I'm sure that SO4 will be awesome too.