If this is the sequel, where's the original?

[MadMinstrel]

I can't find anything about the original beyond a PSP version a good few years ago, so, did they not remaster it at all and jump straight to the sequel?

Or is this one of those series like Final Fantasy where they're not really a series and it doesn't matter if you just play the sequel?

I have never played a Star Ocean game, and this looks fun, but do I miss anything by skipping straight to Second Story?

[Cyflan]

All the Star Ocean games happen in the same world, but none of them require knowledge of the previous games to enjoy.
Except for Blue Sphere if that ever comes out in English, since it's a direct sequel to this.

[Taifun_Vash]

As an example, in six one of the characters you can play is the grandchild of two characters of five. They're all playing in the same universe, but at different times and with that you can play each game without knowing any of the parts that came before, with the exception of the above mentioned one.
The only thing you will likely miss are some minor mentions about characters from the part before this one that aren't really important to the overall story.

[Cyflan]

The games also didn't come out in chronological order, if you care, the chronology is...
4 > 1 > 2 > Blue Sphere > 5 > 6 > 3

Apparently the mobile game was canon too and happened between 5 and 6?

[toasty frosting]

Second Story has a few elements that are references to the first, but aren't necessary to enjoy it.

There's a version of the first game on PS4 and Switch--First Departure R--if you want to try that out. Pretty fun, wears its Star Trek inspiration on its sleeve, if a bit short due to the troubled development of the original SNES game. The game plays like the PSX and PSP versions of SO2.

[Tsuru]

Originally posted by MadMinstrel:

I can't find anything about the original beyond a PSP version a good few years ago, so, did they not remaster it at all and jump straight to the sequel?

https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/star-ocean-first-departure-r-switch/

[Nichronos]

Plot wise you're not really missing much. Any reference to the first game is just a wink to the audience. You can play any Star Ocean game without foreknowledge of the others.

[MadMinstrel]

Guess I don't have to worry about it then. Thanks guys!

[Haseo8]

They remastered the first game for ps4 and switch, odd that they didn't put it on steam. I did not know that

[lunasmeow]

Do NOT listen to the folks telling you that playing the other games doesn't matter. It's flat out not true.

Unlike MANY series games, there are a TON of things in Star Ocean games that you won't understand as well as you should if you don't play them all. Not that they won't explain them, but there are DEEPER meanings to things that they don't explain because they assume you know.

For example, they might not explain WHY a particular baddie is so "gasp-worthy" but if you played the prior game you know just how deadly they were and all the devastation they caused, and so everyone freaking out suddenly makes sense, where without that knowledge you're like "It's just another enemy, so what?"

These games don't REQUIRE knowledge from the prior games, but you will ABSOLUTELY miss out on a TON of the story without it.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope

It's right here on Steam. Get it, play it. Then go play Star Ocean.

First Departure technically is a later entry in the series... but it comes in earlier chronological order to everything else. So you can either play that one first, or play it fourth... either way. I recommend just playing everything in chronological order though, it gives WAY more context to everything.

[flyingmonkeyofus]

I downloaded a certain Switch emulator that starts with a Y and played First Departure R that way.

Go on Google and type in "where can i get games for [insert emu name that starts with a Y]"

Click on dumname2_1's link and follow the instructions and the links in the description. You can follow those instructions and with a little bit of patience you will be able to play First Departure R on PC.

When launched, you can hit Ctrl+U at the same time and it will unlock the framerate. If you have VSync enabled through your graphics card settings, the game will run at 60 fps even during overworld traversal and battles. The only downside to 60 fps is that some of the sprite animations and overworld animations will play at double speed but it's absolutely worth having the higher framerate and fluidity.

[Jayhova]

Remaster of the first one is on Switch/PS4/PS5.

Maybe not on PC because they might make a remake for it?

[Cyflan]

Originally posted by lunasmeow:

Do NOT listen to the folks telling you that playing the other games doesn't matter. It's flat out not true.

Unlike MANY series games, there are a TON of things in Star Ocean games that you won't understand as well as you should if you don't play them all. Not that they won't explain them, but there are DEEPER meanings to things that they don't explain because they assume you know.

For example, they might not explain WHY a particular baddie is so "gasp-worthy" but if you played the prior game you know just how deadly they were and all the devastation they caused, and so everyone freaking out suddenly makes sense, where without that knowledge you're like "It's just another enemy, so what?"

These games don't REQUIRE knowledge from the prior games, but you will ABSOLUTELY miss out on a TON of the story without it.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope

It's right here on Steam. Get it, play it. Then go play Star Ocean.

First Departure technically is a later entry in the series... but it comes in earlier chronological order to everything else. So you can either play that one first, or play it fourth... either way. I recommend just playing everything in chronological order though, it gives WAY more context to everything.

Uhhuh, sure, play Star Ocean: The Last Hope first, the game that has the highest amount of references to Star Ocean 1 and 2 out of all the games. (Yes, even though it happens before them)

[Spoonardo]

Originally posted by Cyflan:

All the Star Ocean games happen in the same world, but none of them require knowledge of the previous games to enjoy.
Except for Blue Sphere if that ever comes out in English, since it's a direct sequel to this.

They don't happen in the same world. They happen in the same universe (with some exception), within different points in time.

[chairman_mentos]

Not sure why everyone is saying you miss out if you didnt play all the games. It's your typical Final Fantasy/Dragon queest style thing.

In other words it's just the tropes/memes that reoccur, like the bunny, FOL, etc.. tbh it's been an awful long time since I played a star ocean game so I don't remember

Basically it's anime meets Star Trek .. The rabid fan base is asking you to way overthink it, just go in and have fun with it, but it's your classic late 90s JRPG and even a remake can't change that feel... If you are some kid born in 2010 then you aren't going to have a lot of context on what that means, so try to approach it with an open mind if you can

[REhorror]

There is a port of the 1st Departure PSP version to the PS4.
It's just not on PC for some damn reasons.