Star Ocean: Second Story - PlayStation

Star Ocean: The Second Story for the PlayStation 1 is a sweeping sci-fi JRPG developed by tri-Ace — one of the most ambitious and beloved RPGs on the console, and widely regarded as the finest entry in the entire Star Ocean franchise.

The story takes place 20 years after the original Star Ocean, following Claude C. Kenny, a young ensign of the Earth Federation who is accidentally transported through a mysterious portal to the underdeveloped medieval planet Expel. Almost immediately he encounters Rena Lanford, a young healer who mistakes his futuristic laser pistol for a divine miracle and concludes that he is the legendary Hero of Light prophesied to save her world from destruction. Players can choose to play as either Claude or Rena at the start, with each protagonist experiencing the story from a different perspective — and the choice determining which characters and story scenes become available throughout the adventure. Together they assemble a party to investigate the Sorcery Globe, an alien meteorite whose landing has begun warping the monsters and environment of Expel into something far more dangerous.

The gameplay is a blend of real-time action combat and deep systemic RPG mechanics. Battles take place in a separate arena where characters move freely, chase down enemies, and unleash powerful special moves that hit large areas. A rich skill system lets characters develop professions such as blacksmithing, alchemy, cooking, and science — and the item creation system is a series hallmark, allowing players to craft some of the most powerful equipment and items in the game from raw materials.

Up to twelve playable characters are available in the PS1 version, but many are mutually exclusive — certain characters cannot be recruited if others have already joined, and some require completing specific side quests to find. The Private Actions system is the game's most celebrated feature: between story events, the party splits apart in towns and the player can seek out individual companions for conversations that raise or lower affinity, unlock unique scenes, and ultimately shape which of the game's 80 distinct endings is reached.

Developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix, Star Ocean: The Second Story was released in Japan in July 1998 and in North America in September 1999. The original PS1 game is often cited as one of the best non-Squaresoft JRPGs on the console, and the game has since been remade twice — first as Star Ocean: Second Evolution for PSP in 2008, and again as Star Ocean: The Second Story R in 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC — a testament to its enduring legacy. The original PS1 disc remains a prized collector's item and the authentic way to experience the game that started a devoted fanbase that has followed it across three decades.

Japanese Title: スターオーシャン セカンドストーリー (Star Ocean: Second Story)
Language: English
Rating: T (Teen)
Platform: PlayStation 1
Genre: Action RPG
Players: 1 player
Developer: tri-Ace
Publisher: Enix (Japan) / Sony Computer Entertainment America (North America)
Release Year: 1999 (North American release: September 2, 1999)

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