Sea of Stars

Many good RPGs of late have eschewed melodic soundtracks for a more ambient route, but Sea of Stars is full of great tunes. The battle music in particular is both enlivening and nostalgic, and changes ever so slightly from area to area. This attention to detail is what makes the game such a fabulous way to while away end-of-summer evenings. There are pirates and curses, necromancers and spies; there are moonbeam boomerangs, and stealthy stabbings through green portals in the air. Sea of Stars is no shallow mirror of RPGs past. Its depth and sparkle make it a modern classic in its own right.

I’ve really been impressed with Sea of Stars overall. I think it delivers the total package when it comes to retro-infused RPG’s, and it feels pretty unique in a field that’s full of like-minded games. It also helps tremendously that a lot of folks will be able to try the game out for free via Game Pass or PlayStation Plus, but I’d honestly recommend it regardless, it’s well worth checking out.

A game that wears its inspirations on its sleeve but then still has something unique to say with a flavour all of its own. Sea Of Stars is a truly unique, and brilliant title that must be experienced.

Sabotage Studio has accomplished its grand vision. With a mission statement of “creating definitive editions of the game genres we enjoyed as kids,” not only have they tactfully paid homage to their inspirations, but through a number of dazzling new ideas, they’ve now left an indelible mark on the JRPG genre. Sea of Stars is a modern classic.

Sea Of Stars is an excellent, retro-inspired RPG that I would recommend anyone play, with feel-good characters, intricate and engaging combat, a stunning soundtrack, and beautiful world with a wonderful sense of adventure, friendship and love. While the story doesn't break any molds, its characters are all charming and endearing, to the point where I feel like I'd follow them to the ends of the world and beyond.

Sea of Stars excels on so many levels. Much of Sabotage Studio’s work is homage to the games the developers and ourselves played as children, living in these vibrant worlds of fantasy and magic. But rather than work to be a carbon copy of the past to remind players of the fun they used to have, care was taken to play with expectations and design around an updated vision of these classics. Few games can feel as nostalgic and modern as this, while becoming a classic in its their right. And Sea of Stars is a classic.

Sea of Stars is a breathtaking ride through familiarity and originality, engaging in its mechanics and colourful in its story, culminating in some of the best twists and turns of any RPG I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

A beautiful homage to the JRPG genre that still manages to stand on its own, while taking care to let go of all the annoying gimmicks that plagued JRPGs in the past.

Sea of Stars rejects the abundance of content at all costs and offers a memorable journey, which could have dared a little more on the narrative front, but experienced by characters we couldn't help but appreciate. Through a series of well-thought-out solutions, the combat system proved to be more dynamic than expected and the accompanying activities offered gave us some pleasant moments of pause. Closing the circle is a high-quality audiovisual presentation, thanks to the excellent pixel art and an always guessed sound sector. A title like this, which is also available at launch on Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, shouldn't escape you.

Sea of Stars might not quite reach the legendary status of classics like Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy VI, but it's undeniably a stunning game that every genre lover should dive into. It's an adventure that's pure joy because it gets what makes JRPGs so darn captivating for decades.What really matters about Sea of Stars is that it's nailed that magical vibe from a bygone era that might never come back. Let Sea of Stars cast its spell on you, and let those waves of nostalgia wash right over you. You won't regret it.

Sea of Stars is undeniably the leading contender to win the title of the best indie game of 2023. Captivating from start to finish, Sabotage Studio's game is a love letter to the classics.

Top tier storytelling, environmental puzzles, and exploration make Sea of Stars a must play for RPG fans. Though the combat system wears slightly thin after a while, the rest of the game is absolutely stellar. Colorful, funny, and packed full of memorable characters and moments, this is a game that is not to be missed by RPG fans.

Sea of Stars sets itself apart with its unique look, relaxing vibes, engaging gameplay. Not only is it a great indie RPG, but it also currently sits at the top of my indie GOTY list.

With well-crafted writing, engaging and dynamic battles and luxurious pixel art embellished by vivid lighting, Sea of Stars nails the test of being a turn-based RPG that's both retro and modern. We can still notice some small outdated legacies of the genre, but that doesn't affect the pleasure of embarking as young heroes to save the world in an epic and witty campaign worthy of the new old days.

You can overlook Sea of Stars, but you shouldn't. Now or later you're going to need a modern slice of childhood like this.

Sea of Stars has everything from an excellent tribute to the biggest names in Japanese role-playing games of the 90s. A well-paced story, a cast of characters to which we quickly become attached for their assumed personalities. It manages to do the same amazing job as its role models, thanks to its jaw-dropping art direction and adventure-perfect soundtrack. If the fights are engaging and push the player to think about each confrontation, they tend to lengthen the good dynamics of the title. It is especially by the lack of evolution of gameplay for the characters that the players will be able to find a certain weariness. If Sea of Stars is therefore not as revolutionary as its spiritual masters in their time, it should still have a place of choice on a shelf of your toy library in 2023. It may well establish itself as the independent game of the year if Silksong remains discreet or even claim prices from much fiercer competition. More than a great performance for a UFO from the 90s.

Sea of Stars is an excellent retro-inspired RPG that will make you happy to explore its packed and beautiful world. It may get a little stale at parts for various reasons but what's here is still undeniably special.

Sea of Stars is a proper homage to old-school RPGs, thanks to a splendid pixel art and a combat system that, while not fully expressing its potential, refreshes the concept of the turn-based system.

While it’s not without its flaws, Sea Of Stars is a tremendous love letter to JRPGs and a huge achievement for a studio as small as Sabotage. [Issue#33, p.80]

Much like many Uncharted-style navigation gimmicks that aren’t really puzzles, there’s a lot to the RPG systems in Sea of Stars that are present as fun elements to play with rather than obstacles.

Sea of Stars is a perfectly balanced modern RPG with a beautiful world to explore. The game’s story is full of heart and charismatic characters that push it forward in emotional and meaningful ways. There is a plethora of amazing music and sounds that contribute to its classic vibe, and some great minigames. Its retro RPG inspirations are used only as a foundation; it comes into its own through clever storytelling ideas and vivid world interactions. Although it never quite reaches the heights of the classic RPGs it takes inspiration from, Sea of Stars stands out as a superb, modern turn-based RPG due to its incredible polish and refinement.

Sea of Stars is a Vergil for all the Dantes that want to explore the Hell and the Heavens of JRPG. Sabotage Studio learned from the genre’s master, but took away the boring grinding part giving life to something very catchy to play.

A welcome homage to JRPG classic Chrono Trigger and one of the best-looking 2D games of recent years, even if it’s not really doing anything new.

What I find most remarkable about Sea of Stars is that, despite not caring all that much about its characters, the gameplay was good enough that I was invested throughout. Managing the meters of each battle, and exploring the colorful landscapes and dungeons that connect them, is so entertaining that my quibbles about other aspects couldn't bring the experience down. The story isn't especially compelling, but it perfectly serves the purpose it needs to: getting you from the fun of A to the fun of B without any real hiccups in between. Howard Hawks once said that a movie needs "three good scenes and no bad ones" to be great. That's what Sea of Stars has going for it. Nothing that'll bother you too much, and plenty of good.

Overall, Sea of Stars is immensely enjoyable from start to finish. While it's been inspired by various classic RPGs, it sets itself apart with an engaging story, some brilliant characters, and surprisingly deep lore. On top of that, the combat is great fun thanks to its involving, strategic mechanics, and exploring the gorgeous pixelated world is rewarding. It isn't perfect, but it overcomes any flaws with its charming presentation, a world ripe with things to see and do, and no shortage of personality.