Star Ocean: The Second Story (2nd story) is an excellent RPG with many different elements and plots. The story is roughly based around two characters, Claude and Rena. Claude mysterious disappears from his own world and by fate runs into Rena. Unsure of what to do next, Claude begins to search out a way to return to his home world. Rena reluctantly decides to join our hero. Here's where the game gets interesting. In the start of the game, you can play either Rena's scenario or Claude's scenario. Both story lines do the same similar tasks but may have side quests/side adventures that are slightly different on the way.

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During the course of the game, you'll occasionally see "Private Action" where Claude or Rena (or both) will interact with people/characters that have joined up with your party.

How you decide what choices to make, will depend on the ending. This game has incredibly amount of replay value because 1) You can play two scenarios, and 2) There are over 80, yes 80, possible endings to achieve! I have not beaten this game yet (will update when I do) so I'm not sure how I am doing. You can tell if you've made a bad choice or a good choice.

 

Graphically, the game is OK. It feels a little messy like Azure Dreams like a color book, but its more detailed than Dreams. What I do enjoy though, is the music excellent. I enjoy every music in the game! I plan to purchase the soundtrack to this game in the near future. Here's what seriously hurts the game in game play wise: It's Battle System. The battle system is VERY complex battle system and if you don't know what your doing, its very easy to get a game over. It's an RPG yet with a lot of action. For instance you control only one character at a time while the other characters do their actions depending on their AI. You might have one party member do nothing, one to use to mana, and another to do healing only. You can switch through out the fight which may be needed, but you have to be swift and know what you're doing. It takes a lot of time.

 

Another aspect of the game is its leveling up system. You can gain many skills that you apply to your characters to increase their powers. There's leveling up but you can gain AP to apply to your stats that increase HP, defense, magic power, and more. The storyline is excellent, but the combat system puts it to the limit in difficulty.

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Graphics: 0.750 (Average but a bit messy)

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Sound: 1.000 (I loved every music track on the game and the attack effects are great. Voice over gets slightly repetitive but I score this high because of the music)

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Control: 0.500 (Despite everything else, control can get hard, quick, and frustrating in the battle system.)

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Storyline: 1.000 (The story is well put and the games private actions are interesting too. There's a lot of drama, humor, and sadness in the storyline.)

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Gameplay: 0.600 (The combat system just makes hard, but everything else is pretty well done!)

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