Star Ocean: The Second Story R

 PC
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. RPG Fan
    Nov 1, 2023
    92
    I feel no hesitation in calling Star Ocean: The Second Story R not only the definitive version of the second Star Ocean title but also one of the best games in the series and one of my favourite games of the year. I can only hope it speaks for the future of the Star Ocean franchise and the developer of this remake, Gemdrops.
  2. Destructoid
    Nov 1, 2023
    90
    Star Ocean: The Second Story R recaptures all the otherworldly wonder of its PlayStation predecessor.
  3. PC Invasion
    Nov 28, 2023
    85
    Star Ocean The Second Story R is a fantastic remake with a gorgeous visual style. The specialty and item creation systems create a beautiful harmony with the gameplay to make this one of the most satisfying gaming experiences of the year.
  5. INVEN
    Nov 9, 2023
    85
    Star Ocean: The Second Story R splendidly decorates the sentiments of JRPGs from the '90s and '00s with a modern touch. The game boasts a compelling story, excellent music, and outstanding character design, with numerous party members and exploration elements adding depth to the game.
  6. Jeuxvideo.com
    Nov 1, 2023
    85
    Created with the aim of convincing players to go back to the origins of the saga, Star Ocean The Second Story R is a very careful remake which really allows you to personalize the experience as you wish. The adventure is thus explored in a much less austere manner than in the past thanks to a complete dusting of the fundamentals which succeed in updating the formula without sacrificing its authenticity.
  7. GamingTrend
    Nov 1, 2023
    70
    Star Ocean The Second Story R is a wildly inconsistent package, with the ending portions falling off greatly in quality, but still a mostly fun game. Battle and its surrounding systems can have a lot of variation depending on your party and how you choose to play. However, it lacks polish in many areas making it very difficult to want to finish.
  8. Attack of the Fanboy
    Nov 20, 2023
    60
    Star Ocean: The Second Story R is a product of its time as both a hardcore-adjacent PS1-era JRPG and as a host to several problematic romance mechanics. Its plot is exciting yet generic and is wildly insistent about how certain characters should end up together. But beyond that, you'll find a brilliant and modular character stat-building system, glorious battles, some fabulous character portrait art, and a wonderful 32-bit-inspired world for you to explore.