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Star Ocean for Europe out October 24
Star Ocean: First Departure was first announced for Europe in late August, though a specific date was yet to be determined. However now, we now know that the tri-Ace space voyager will be releasing in Europe on October 24 -- three days behind the North American date.That's good to know for all you RPG fanatics that live over yonder. In celebration of this news, we've got ten new screenshots in our gallery for you to enjoy.[Via press release] Gallery: Star Ocean: The First Departure
PSP Fanboy hands-on: Star Ocean: First Departure
Having played all the Star Ocean titles officially available in North America, I was more than eager to try out Square-Enix's remake of the game that started it all. As most Star Ocean fans know, the original title was released on the Super Famicom in 1996 but never saw the light of day in the US, so this PSP-exclusive remake is the first time many of us will be playing the game. Read on to find out my thoughts after spending a couple of hours with the game.%Gallery-27197%
Star Ocean box art splits the world in two
The US box art for the upcoming PSP Star Ocean remakes are surprisingly void of anime characters. Instead, Square Enix USA has opted to go for something a bit more subtle: cracking the world in half. Like those friendship rings of yesteryear, buying both First Departure and Second Evolution and putting them together creates a whole image. As the Square Enix blog says, "How can you own one and not the other?"[Thanks. T.J. F.!]
Star Ocean announced for Europe
Back at E3, Star Ocean: First Departure and Star Ocean: Second Evolution were both announced for North America. Since then, our European readers may have wondered if the titles would see release across the Atlantic. Luckily, Star Ocean actually will be crossing ... an ocean into Europe and releasing this October. However, only First Departure has been announced with a wide open October date. North Americans should still look out for October 21, 2008 for SO1 both titles and January 6, 2009 for SO2.%Gallery-27197%
Star Ocean's first English screenshots depart
So we posted a trailer for Star Ocean: First Departure the other day, and today we have the very first screenshots of the English version of the game. It's not a huge gallery brimming to the top with screenies, but it's better than nothing. We've got four pics: two showing off that nice widescreen format in battle and the other two are from the fully-voiced anime cut scenes.%Gallery-27197%
Star Ocean trailer reminds us NA release in October
This trailer for Star Ocean: First Departure, a remake of the original PSOne SNES classic RPG, mostly shows off the all new anime cut scenes that have been added. The voiceovers are still in their original Japanese during this trailer, but the provision of subtitles makes sure you're not left scratching your head as to what's going on.The game was launched back in December of last year in Japan, and has only recently been announced for North America. Specifically, the game will come out in North America on October 21 of this year.
Star Ocean officially set for US release, coming October
After tons of retailer leaks, it looks like Square Enix has finally announced Star Ocean is coming to the US. The first PSP game, The First Departure will be available for the US market on October 21st. The Second Evolution will be available on January 6th.While we're glad to see this news, it's a little disparaging to note that for PSP fans, this is all Square Enix will have to show at E3. Other high profile PSP releases, like Dissidia and Kingdom Hearts, will not be making an appearance at the show. Guess we're going to have to wait until Tokyo Game Show to get our hands on Square's other titles.
Square Enix E3 lineup loaded with sequels, remakes
With 2008's edition of E3 just days away, the role-playing steam engine that is Square Enix has revealed what titles that it will spring on press types as they shuffle past. Of the eleven titles on display, the company's lineup this year is noticeably remake and sequel heavy, with over half of the games representing a return to the well for another drink. Boasting "simultaneous global releases for several platforms," the company has also re-confirmed dates for much of its lineup as well, with the following games also noted as being playable during the show: Chrono Trigger (DS; Holiday 2008) Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (DS; September 16) Final Fantasy IV (DS; July 22) Infinite Undiscovery (Xbox 360; September 2) Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes (iPod; Now Available) In addition, the remainder listed below will be shown in non-playable form: The Last Remnant (Xbox 360, PS3; Winter for Xbox 360, TBA for PS3) Star Ocean: First Departure (PSP; October 21) Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP; January 6) Star Ocean: The Last Hope (Xbox 360; 2009) Exit DS (DS; October 7) The Legend of Kage 2 (DS; October 7) And coming soon to a grocery store near you, Star Ocean: Whole Wheat Clusters.
Star Ocean discovered in GameCrazy system, for November release
Square Enix's PSP Star Ocean games should be hitting the States this November, if this listing from a GameCrazy store is to be believed. The RPG remakes will retail for $39.99 each. Square Enix has yet to officially announce a localized version of the game, but with this new evidence (and the listing found on GameFly), it's clear that the games are coming to the US.[Thanks, Chibi-L!]
Star Ocean 4 currently Xbox exclusive, Last Remnant delayed on PS3
Fans of Square Enix RPGs may have assumed PS3 was the safe bet this generation of consoles. However, during a press conference in Japan today, the famed RPG maker announced its plans to support Xbox 360, with at least one exclusive, and two timed exclusives for Microsoft's current generation platform.Star Ocean: The Last Hope, the fourth iteration of the popular RPG series, has been announced for Xbox 360 only. The official website makes it clear that the game will be a 360 title, but plans for a PS3 version haven't been completely ruled out yet. "We cannot announce anything on that. We can say that it will be released first [on the Xbox 360]. Whether we'll release it on the PS3 is undecided. We may release it, we may not." [Source]Another Square Enix game, The Last Remnant, will be multiplatform. However, the game will debut on Xbox 360 first this year, with a PS3 version to come some time after, perhaps next year. This continues Microsoft's aggressive push to secure the Japanese RPG market, with Square Enix's Infinite Undiscovery being an Xbox 360 exclusive as well. PS3 fans need not fret too much, because at the very least, the Final Fantasy XIII games are still exclusive on PS3. For now.[Via Joystiq]
Star Ocean: The Last Hope announced for Xbox 360 [Update]
Update: An original trailer, using some of the clips in the footage above, for Star Ocean: The Last Hope (then referred to simply as Star Ocean 4) debuted with the PSP release of Star Ocean: The First Departure. This in mind, we can safely say the new RPG will be multi-platform (to be clear, Star Ocean going multiplatform is our uneducated guess, not a confirmation).Combining the West's love of space marines and the East's love of effeminate heroes, Square Enix and Tri Ace have announced that Star Ocean: The Last Hope will hit the Xbox 360 in 2009. The fourth in the popular Japanese role-playing series, Star Ocean: The Last Hope marks Microsoft's latest attempt to make a splash in the Japanese gaming market.Taking its heroes from a dying Earth and into deep space, Star Ocean: The Last Hope is the first established series brought to the Xbox 360 from popular publisher Square Enix since it introduced gamers to a ... somewhat ... hi-res edition of Final Fantasy XI. Based on the trailer above, the title looks like it could be an epic and hopefully gamers in the East will agree. Also, keep in mind no mention of exclusivity was made during the announcement of the title at Microsoft's Japanese RPG event.
'Star Ocean: The Last Hope' announced for Xbox 360
Are role-playing games the last hope for a struggling Xbox 360 in Japan? It's not really a question so much as a trite joke we'll be abusing over the next several months, as Square Enix and Microsoft have announced a new endeavor that's actually called, "The Last Hope." Oh, and those words are preceded by ones that may excite you: "Star Ocean." Now we know what all that "lineup" business was about.According to IGN's liveblog of the announcement, made yesterday at a press conference in Japan, Star Ocean: The Last Hope has a "science fiction feel to it," with humanity heading into the universe after completely wrecking planet Earth, as usual. Important things like customization and battle systems were apparently not mentioned, but there's plenty of time for that yet. For now, Star Ocean: The Last Hope is slated "for Xbox 360," but common sense tells us if a PlayStation 3 version is in the works (and funnily enough, this game looks just like the PS3's "Star Ocean IV"), it probably wouldn't be trumpeted at a Microsoft conference. [Trailer via X3F]
Star Ocean makes an apperance on GameFly
Square Enix's PSP remake of Star Ocean may finally be getting a US release. At least, if this information on GameFly is to be believed. The popular online rental site lists a September 30th date for the game. Most likely, this is simply a placeholder.It's not a question of if, but when, Square Enix will officially announce a US release for the Star Ocean remakes. With many finishing Crisis Core, tons of PSP fans are awaiting their next RPG adventure.[Via Siliconera; Thanks, Joe!]
Listen in on Star Ocean: Second Evolution's sountrack
Of course, you could wait and assume the soundtrack for the Star Ocean: Second Evolution remake will be awesome, or you can take the advice from SiliconEra and check out this promotional page Square Enix has put up for everyone. Under the "check" section you can sample six songs from the game and even fade between two songs via the slider on the webpage. Not sure why you'd really care enough to do that, but it can be strangely intriguing to listen to two songs at once. The soundtrack goes on sale May 2nd in Japan, with an album of arranged music tracks to follow on the 21st.
Take a peek at Star Ocean Second Evolution's battle system
Star Ocean Second Evolution has been out in Japan for over a week now and still the gameplay footage keeps rolling in. This latest video showcases the game's battle system which is obviously very similar to the original game, but with much prettier graphics. Check the video out for yourselves and keep your fingers crossed for a Western release for both Star Ocean PSP remakes.
Star Ocean: Second Evolution startup montage
Square Enix hasn't revealed any information about a US localization of Star Ocean. That's too bad -- we're hankering for a new PSP RPG. The Second Evolution is the second PSP-exclusive remake released in Japan so far, and this is the opening cinematic from the game. The production values, as expected from a Square Enix title, look pretty fantastic. See more non-gameplay cinematics, head on over to GameTrailers.
Star Ocean 4 scans unveil main character artwork
If you've watched the Star Ocean 4 trailer posted last Monday, perhaps you were a little annoyed seeing the main characters' faces purposefully cropped out of the picture. If that's the case, then be happy for today's Famitsu scans; they are equally pretty and most of all crop-free. The scans reveal character artwork for protagonists Edge Maverick and Reimi Saionji. Aside from that, however, nothing else major has been revealed about this Star Ocean prequel. We do get a brief look at the in-game graphics though. As far as we can tell, the game is shaping up nicely. See the other scans at Gamersyde.
Download new Star Ocean themes
The Second Evolution has just gone on sale in Japan, and Square Enix is celebrating the release of this new PSP-exclusive remake by making new themes and wallpapers available on their official website (click on "Special"). Initial impressions from Tokyo's Akihabara suggest that the game has done rather well in its first week: finding a new copy proved difficult, due to eager early demand.With Monster Hunter and Star Ocean, we expect the Japanese metro system to be filled with PSP players.[Via PSPHyper]
Star Ocean 4 trailer feature space opera battles galore
Tri-ace has an interesting way of crafting games. None of their titles outside of Valkyrie Profile have really gained cult status, and none have really broken the barrier between them and the mainstream market. Really, Radiata Stories was brilliant, but only for the few people with the perseverance to play it -- or those with a printed FAQ at their side. Anyway, this is the trailer for Star Ocean 4 that came on a DVD with Japanese pre-orders of the PSP remakes of the first and second titles.The audio sounds a little messed up, as a warning. It looks interesting, though gameplay footage is still nonexistent, as is a console announcement. Perhaps Tri-ace will use this game to break into a wider market. Perhaps not. Enjoy!
Four minutes of Star Ocean: Second Evolution [Update]
The first Star Ocean PSP remake hasn't made it out of Japan yet, but The Second Evolution is already getting ready for its big debut in a few weeks. This remake of Star Ocean 2 features anime cutscenes and voice acting and yet another Jpoppy theme song. Catch more than four minutes of this RPG remake in this brand new trailer. [Update: New embedded trailer.] [Via NeoGAF]
