Star Ocean: The Second Story R Reviews
Check out Star Ocean: The Second Story R Review Scores from trusted Critics below. With 30 reviews on CriticDB, Star Ocean: The Second Story R has a score of:
As I said at the start of the review, Star Ocean 2 is the masterpiece of this series. As a hardened, die-hard Star Ocean fan, I can even excuse the fifth entry in the series in my head, and almost no one likes that one. However, the second occupies a particularly special spot in the upper echelons of the genre. With this remake, Star Ocean The Second Story R, the original has been modernised in the most clever and appropriate way, maintaining all the great qualities that people remember from the PlayStation 1, while giving the aesthetics a luxurious overhaul that makes the game comparable as a…
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a tremendous remake. It gives the original game a visual overhaul that is simultaneously modern and nostalgic. But it doesn't stop there. It breaks open the mechanics to offer much more depth without destroying the spirit of the original. It's far and away the best way to experience one of the best Star Ocean games and one of the best RPGs ever made. If you're a fan of the genre, you owe it to yourself to check out The Second Story R. It's an absolute gem of a game that's endlessly playable and effortlessly stylish.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is one of the best remakes I’ve ever played. From its polished combat to its lush visuals to its gorgeous sound design, this game has it all. And somehow it manages to make a game from the late 90s feel like a cutting-edge title. I am genuinely in awe of how Square Enix pulled this off.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R had many RPGamers screaming at their TVs with the announcement. But is the game more than a 8 out of 10?
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is an example of how remaking a classic game should be done. From the overhauled graphics to additional quality-of-life improvements that can make the frantic battle system even more enjoyable, Star Ocean: The Second Story R takes the best game in the series and makes it even better. Gemdrops could have just increased the resolution and called it a day, but instead put in the effort to make a truly worthwhile remake of a classic. This remade version is a must play for Star Ocean veterans, but would also serve as a good entry point for RPG fans who haven't got around to this series.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R features the same classic story fans love combined with modern elements that make this enhanced release easily the best way to experience this beloved RPG.
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a fantastic remake for a wonderful, classic JRPG. And it can run great on the Steam Deck!
Star Ocean: The Second Story R recaptures all the otherworldly wonder of its PlayStation predecessor. The rough edges of the original are now smooth to the touch, and the enhanced visuals amplify that classic pixel art aesthetic in a way that few remakes pull off. It’s a thoughtful snapshot encapsulating RPGs of the era, retaining all the passion and whimsy I remember so fondly. I loved this look back at Star Ocean‘s past, and I hope this marks a new beginning for the series’ future.
I knew Star Ocean: The Second Story R would be able to rope me back in with little effort, but I was nonetheless amazed by just how much it improves on the original game. Every angle I looked at seemed reformed with care and consideration to make the visuals and sound more beautiful, the combat more tactically refined, and the side jobs rewarding. It’s a shame the level grind is still here, but at least there are also options to alleviate it. I also wish you could test your battle strategies in some sort of training battle mode. However, outside of these small complaints, I stand by my belief that Star Ocean: The Second Story remains the best setting of the franchise in story and combat. I’m also happy to say that The Second Story R is a nearly perfect way to experience or revisit everything it has to offer.
In this science fantasy RPG, choose between Claude or Rena, play through their perspectives, and unlock various endings. Recruit allies and defeat foes in fast paced real-time battles. Switch version reviewed.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a masterfully done remake. The goal envisioned by the creators was to bring a classic game up to modern sensibilities, and they have truly outdone themselves. Star Ocean: The Second Story R takes the masterfully crafted systems of the original game, combines them with the updates from Star Ocean: Second Evolution, and wraps them up in a gorgeous and smooth package. Any qualms that can be found lie within things like the story and characters, which remain true...
I have to also shout out how much I LOVE the new art. I am not a big fan of the new art the game got on its PSP port so I am very happy to let everyone know the new art is just plain beautiful. ESPECIALLY the art for the big enemy antagonist group shows how menacing they should feel, in a way I don’t think their sprites ever really conveyed visually in the past.
Star Ocean: Second Story R takes what made the original so great and, instead of reworking it, went out and built a better experience around it. The excellent art design, the fantastic action combat, and the striking visuals come to life in what is easily one of the best RPGs of 2023 and a blueprint on how to make a great remake while keeping the spirit of the original alive.
Newcomers should hop right in, but Star Ocean: The Second Story R might not warrant a second full-price purchase for existing owners.
This native Switch 2 port presents the definitive handheld way to experience a JRPG masterclass, offering smooth 60 FPS performance and vibrant 2.5D visuals.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R returns as a 2.5D remake of the classic 1998 RPG.
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a fantastic remake with a gorgeous visual style. The specialty and item creation systems create a beautiful harmony with the gameplay to make this one of the most satisfying gaming experiences of the year.
Star Ocean has always been a more underappreciated franchise in Square Enix’s repertoire. Never reaching the highs and fandom of their hallmark series in Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy, it’s sort of the weirdo RPG pick one might get into and surprisingly find themselves having a damn good time. I know this because this is now me. Having wrapped up my 20-odd hours with Star Ocean: The Second Story R, a brand new remake of the IP’s second entry, I am now all in on Star Ocean.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a great remake of a less heralded PlayStation RPG. Unlike First Departure R and some of the other ports and remasters out there, this is a smart, modern upgrade to a decades-old adventure. It’s an enjoyable action RPG with a wealth of player choice and a lot of charming quirky aspects. If you’ve ever been curious about Star Ocean and have an affinity for old-school action RPGs, this is a must-play. Even beyond that, the beautiful presentation might be worth the price of admission by itself.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is the remake of the Star Ocean sequel that was first released back in 2023. Now in 2026, Square Enix has ported the title to
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a beautiful recreation of a wonderful RPG. It gives players plenty of options and multiple viewpoints to try the story out on. If you’re looking for a classic-style RPG to play, I recommend this one!
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a modern remake that respects your time yet makes me disrespect it anyway by being so damn engrossing.
Rena and Claude are back in STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R and this iteration of the classic RPG is the best one yet. Thankfully, I got a chance to play it early so here are my thoughts after enjoying the latest version of Rena and Claude's adventure.
When the issues of a game are rolled and stomped by its greatness, then it’s something to invest in if you have some spare.
Second Evolution is an engaging action role-playing game that's just as enjoyable as its PlayStation forebear.
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a wildly inconsistent package, with the ending portions falling off greatly in quality, but still a mostly fun game. Battle and its surrounding systems can have a lot of variation depending on your party and how you choose to play. However, it lacks polish in many areas making it very difficult to want to finish.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a product of its time as both a hardcore-adjacent PS1-era JRPG and as a host to several problematic romance mechanics. Its plot is exciting yet generic and is wildly insistent about how certain characters should end up together. But beyond that, you'll find a brilliant and modular character stat-building system, glorious battles, some fabulous character portrait art, and a wonderful 32-bit-inspired world for you to explore.
Ultimately, Star Ocean: The Second Story R on Switch 2 is an extraordinary remake of a classic JRPG. If you already completed the adventure on the original Switch, the lack of an upgrade path or save transfer makes double-dipping hard to justify. But if you have yet to experience this science-fantasy masterpiece, or simply want the definitive handheld edition of a deep, beautiful, and action-packed RPG, this Switch 2 port is an absolute joy to play among the stars.
Much like classic JRPG tropes, their quest to get answers entwines with each other that could affect the fate of the world. While the overarching story might seem predictable, it is full of twists and riveting side stories that cement an emotional bond with party members. In fact, there are 11 party members you can come across during the adventure, each having a side story that adds more life to the overall experience. These are known as “Private Actions,” which give more background about party members and their origins using cutscenes in a town or an area of interest. However, Star Ocean: The Second Story R takes it even further by introducing a friendship system that can directly affect the story’s ending.