Star Ocean: The Second Story was one of the premier JRPGs when it hit the scene back in the original PlayStation days in the ’90s. From its flashy anime graphics to its incredible depth of crafting, it hit high notes across the board. It arguably helped popularise “active” RPG battles, paving the way for all the games that came after it. Doing a remake of such a key part of the genre makes sense, but how does it stack up to modern gaming?
When it comes to classic JRPGs, Star Ocean: The Second Story holds a special spot in the hearts of many fans. Quirky, sprawling, and distinct, it represents the craziness of late-’90s RPGs. With Square Enix’s announcement of a remake, excitement mingled with a measure of nervous anticipation. Would the spirit of the original survive the transition? After spending dozens of hours with Star Ocean: The Second Story R, it’s clear this remake succeeds on all fronts, faithfully honouring the original while delivering a fresh and polished experience.
Visually, this remake impresses right from the first moments. The hand-drawn sprites, bursting with personality, traverse fully realised 3D environments filled with vibrant lighting and weather effects. This “2D-HD” style strikes a harmonious balance, evoking nostalgia while looking modern. Both classic and reimagined character portraits breathe new energy into returning characters, and the monster designs remain as wild and imaginative as fans remember. While some may still yearn for the old-school pre-rendered backgrounds of the original, the new environments add visual depth and make familiar locales feel revitalised and engaging. The effort to blend tradition and innovation shines throughout.
Perhaps the only complaint is the sprites are still in the PS1 “style”. In some regard it is heavily jarring seeing these beautiful backgrounds and how simple…and bad the sprites look. Contrast this to a mobile game named Last Cloudia that had some characters from this game in it, updated to modern sprite style, for how beautiful they could have been.
Combat in The Second Story R is fast, impactful, and far more intuitive than before. Direct control over characters, fluid chaining of special moves, and strategic battle formations elevate each encounter. Random battles are now a thing of the past; visible enemies on the map allow for choice and strategy, improving dungeon navigation and pacing, including an option to simply stand still and auto-farm experience.
Numerous systems have been modernised—skills are more approachable, the crafting system is streamlined, and a bonus battle gauge rewards momentum with extra loot. Even in the late game, battles remain compelling and full of opportunities, from hunting rare drops to unlocking the myriad Private Actions in town.
The remake’s greatest triumph lies in its accessibility that old games simply lacked. Quality-of-life features abound: fast travel, enhanced mini-maps, multiple difficulty options, and optional tutorials make the journey smoother than ever. Even those who struggled with the original’s challenging late-game spikes will find this version far more welcoming.
One of the biggest surprises at the time was the two branching storylines. Add the vast roster of recruitable characters, and the blend of sci-fi and fantasy, and there is a potent mix that won fans over 20-plus years ago. The dual-protagonist system—offering different paths, character perspectives, and unique story events—remains a standout feature that deepens replayability and engagement.
The writing remains as whimsical, merging grand melodrama with light-hearted humour. These days the story isn’t going to turn any heads, but it is enjoyable enough, and some of the twists are memorable. Updated voice acting in both English and Japanese injects fresh emotion into each scene, and character interactions feel vibrant and authentic. There is a sense that the development team had genuine affection for the cast and story, resulting in a game with plenty of heart. For better or worse, some of the classic aspects (like the badly acted killer moves) are gone. Spamming “poison pills” or “explosion pills” just isn’t the same anymore, unfortunately.
No remake is without imperfections. Interface tweaks, such as small item text or busy menus, may occasionally be distracting. Purists might take issue with some visual changes or the slightly more approachable overall challenge. However, these are minor issues compared to the wealth of improvements and enhancements. As stated before, everything else was touched up and improved, but the lack of sprite update for the main characters stands out in a negative light amidst everything else largely positive.
