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Star Ocean: First Departure - IGN review

Oldschool

Oldschool

Member
I finished First Departure in about 27 hours. For an RPG, that's not a particularly long time, but considering the style and substance of the game, I'd say the length is appropriate. If you can look at First Departure and understand that it's based on a very old title, you'll likely be able to overlook the problems and get a fair amount of satisfaction from the simple but mildly rewarding gameplay and old-school themes. Otherwise, a bland, awkwardly told narrative and weak characters prevent Star Ocean from being anything more than an amusing tribute to an old hit.

7.4

http://psp.ign.com/articles/920/920901p1.html

:(
 
I enjoyed the Japanese version, and I don't even like Star Ocean games.

It's pretty short, though, yeah. I beat it in less time than the reviewer.
 
I still feel that First Departure isn't as good as it could be, especially when compared to recent RPGs on the system.

And what recent RPG's is he talking about Crisis Core??? And isn't the battle system the same as Star Ocean the 2nd story the game he profoundly enjoyed? I swear I think the IGN Playstation team just hate the PSP and PS3(to a certain extent) 7.4 is a decent score but still.
 
Paznos said:
I still feel that First Departure isn't as good as it could be, especially when compared to recent RPGs on the system.

And what recent RPG's is he talking about Crisis Core??? And isn't the battle system the same as Star Ocean the 2nd story the game he profoundly enjoyed? I swear I think the IGN Playstation team just hate the PSP and PS3(to a certain extent) 7.4 is a decent score but still.
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The battle system is the game's worst aspect. It's mashy and imprecise. I waltzed through 99% of the game using no strategy. When I did use strategy all I did was switch to a healer and spam the mass heal spell; only needed to do this for a few bosses.

That said, I did enjoy First Departure immensely. If you like side-quests, exploring or just screwing around in RPGs I think you'll feel the same. I liked going everywhere I could, messing around with the out-of-battle skills and doing those personal action things.

Unlike Second Encounter the graphics are both the proper aspect ratio and not scaled-up and blurry. I think the 2D backgrounds and sprites look really good; except for battles. The soundtrack is typical of the composer. I found it to be fitting, but immediately forgettable.

I actually enjoyed the story, and liked most of the characters; especially Joshua, Ronixis and Big McLargeHuge. Millie is awful though.

Took me about 23 hours to finish.
 
I find myself enjoying shorter and shorter rpgs these days. As I mature and rpg plots keep repeating themselves, I find the story and gameplay can only hold me for about 30 hours. Probably it's just I have less and less time to game as I age.
 
HamPster PamPster said:
The second game isn't widecreen on the PSP?
Click to expand...

It is, but none of the 2D is running at its original resolution, so it's all upscaled just enough to make it blurry, fuzzy and ugly.
 
Don't really care about the score, it is a classic game and I never played the original, so I'll be grabbing it by xmas with some other PSP rpgs.
 
I finished First Departure in about 27 hours. For an RPG, that's not a particularly long time,
Click to expand...

what the hell ?

for a portable RPG that's meant to be played in short bursts, its the perfect length.
 
chandoog said:
what the hell ?

for a portable RPG that's meant to be played in short bursts, its the perfect length.
Click to expand...


Huh??


SO:FD is an enhaced remake of the original SNES game.

What the hell makes you think that "portable" RPGs are supposed to be short?

The lenght of the game has nothing to do with how long do you play for on a single sit. Besides most, if not all RPGs since the GBA (probably since Pokemon in GB) have a save anywhere function.

Don't talk nonsense.
 
Pff Tri-Ace are king (Infinite Undiscovery is fun, I don't care what people say) and this looks like a great time as well, so eff the reviews.
 
Paznos said:
I still feel that First Departure isn't as good as it could be, especially when compared to recent RPGs on the system.

And what recent RPG's is he talking about Crisis Core??? And isn't the battle system the same as Star Ocean the 2nd story the game he profoundly enjoyed? I swear I think the IGN Playstation team just hate the PSP and PS3(to a certain extent) 7.4 is a decent score but still.
Click to expand...

it is the same reviewer that gave Disgaea 3 a 6.7 :|

watch IGN be on the low end of reviews for Star Ocean just like they were for Disgaea 3
 
-Kh- said:
Huh??


SO:FD is an enhaced remake of the original SNES game.

What the hell makes you think that "portable" RPGs are supposed to be short?

The lenght of the game has nothing to do with how long do you play for on a single sit. Besides most, if not all RPGs since the GBA (probably since Pokemon in GB) have a save anywhere function.

Don't talk nonsense.
Click to expand...

call it a preference thing but atleast on my handhelds i don't like to play console length RPG's , and i for one have only played one psp RPG so far that has a save anywhere option (legend of heroes)
 
Princess Skittles said:
I like short RPGs. 30 hours is a wonderful length.
Click to expand...

Yup, 30 to 40 hours is the best length.
I like to play as many games as possible (and finish them), so I really don't have time to play anything longer than that. I'll make an exception for FFXIII though :P

I don't really care about the score of the review, SO1 mixed with SO2 elements can't be anything but awesome !
Too bad the sequel is basicaly a port with scretched graphics (but it didn't really annoy me in VPL. It was awful but not enough to hate the game :P). I didn't go far in the PS1 version back then, so it'll be like a new game for me :)
 
Whoa... 27 hours I'd consider a long game for me, even an RPG. I honestly don't have the attention or desire to play throw 60+ hours in to an RPG like I did when I was a kid.

Can anyone whose played this game (or the original) confirm or deny IGNs claims of "simple but mildly rewarding gameplay and old-school themes" and
"bland, awkwardly told narrative and weak characters"? My favourite JRPGs are from the 16bit era and I'm playing the old-school DQ4 right now and loving it so I feel like this criticism might not matter for me.

Still worth picking up? What are the downsides if I like simple battle systems and old school gameplay?
 
For a handheld game, 27 hours is more than enough. I have never played any star ocean game before but this would look nice in my psp :D
 
Tiktaalik said:
Whoa... 27 hours I'd consider a long game for me, even an RPG. I honestly don't have the attention or desire to play throw 60+ hours in to an RPG like I did when I was a kid.

Can anyone whose played this game (or the original) confirm or deny IGNs claims of "simple but mildly rewarding gameplay and old-school themes" and
"bland, awkwardly told narrative and weak characters"? My favourite JRPGs are from the 16bit era and I'm playing the old-school DQ4 right now and loving it so I feel like this criticism might not matter for me.

Still worth picking up? What are the downsides if I like simple battle systems and old school gameplay?
Click to expand...

Didn't read my post?

I think their comments on the gameplay are too nice and their comments on the story are too mean.

I think it's worth playing if you like RPGs. The battle system is not simple in a good way (like Brave Story or Valkyrie Profile to use other PSP games), it's shallow and vapid.

I don't know what you mean when you say "old-school gameplay"... It has a world map, random battles, side-quests, etc. Though I wouldn't call them old-school, they are fairly traditional.
 
Aru said:
Yup, 30 to 40 hours is the best length.
I like to play as many games as possible (and finish them), so I really don't have time to play anything longer than that. I'll make an exception for FFXIII though :P

I don't really care about the score of the review, SO1 mixed with SO2 elements can't be anything but awesome !
Too bad the sequel is basicaly a port with scretched graphics (but it didn't really annoy me in VPL. It was awful but not enough to hate the game :P). I didn't go far in the PS1 version back then, so it'll be like a new game for me :)
Click to expand...
God dang it. I thought Tose did the SO2 port right this time, and that the graphics were improved?
 
I'd at least give it an 8...

And it took me a bit longer (about 2-4 hours) than people in this thread apparently, but I did a lot of goofing off (IC and some sidequests). I liked the length personally, not really the type of game that has enough to keep me going for like 50 hours or something.

Battles are a lot better than the original's at least (those were just weird and clunky). But if you liked or at least played SO2 you should know what to expect in that regard.
 
I'm really killing myself with portable RPGs. But I decided to start this one anyway. First I'd like to get my usual out of the way: Motoi Sakuraba is a hack. Secondly, the game looks GORGEOUS. It's really disheartening to hear that Star Ocean 2 PSP is just the PS1 game with ugly stretched graphics like Valkyrie Profile. Sigh. Third, I think I might quickly become a Star Ocean fan from this, I can't believe I've waited this long to play one considering my love for action RPGs!
 
eXistor said:
Pff Tri-Ace are king (Infinite Undiscovery is fun, I don't care what people say) and this looks like a great time as well, so eff the reviews.
Click to expand...
Tri Ace didn't even remake SO1 lol
 
Aeana said:
I enjoyed the Japanese version, and I don't even like Star Ocean games.

It's pretty short, though, yeah. I beat it in less time than the reviewer.
Click to expand...

If an IGN reviewer actually finishes a game in time for the review, yes, it is too short.
 
I loved SO1stDep! It's extremely well done! Even if it's a remake of an old game! The real pain is SO2, because SO1 remake is better then that crappy port under every single point of view... I wish they used SO1stDep graphic engine to port SO2 too...
SO2 is ToE all over again. Stretched backgrounds are just ugly.
 
I ordered it on Monday and got it yesterday via Amazon Prime, haven't had a chance to fire it up yet with Fable 2 taking up my time. I'll do so tonight and post some impressions.
 
chandoog said:
so how many of y'all have the game yet ? good, bad, worth it ?
Click to expand...
I picked it up yesterday, put about seven hours in so far. If you liked Second Story or Star Ocean in general you'll probably love it. The skill system is crazy, item crafting is fun, and it looks and plays great.
Plus you can easily break it at the beginning by getting lots of loot you shouldn't have until much later in the game!

It gets a thumbs up from me, but I'm very biased. Back to playing...
 
Couldn't finish part 1 of the Japanese version, even though it is short. Battle system was boring and characters were kinda boring too.
 
Picked it up. I'm about an hour in, and I want to kill every voice actor.

Also, whoever thought it would be a good idea to have the X button cancel the VA but NOT flip the dialog box to the next batch of text needs to be fucking fired.

I shouldn't have to hit X twice to scroll through each text bubble, during voiced scenes (and then only once durning non-voiced scenes).
 
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