Star Ocean: First Departure R

 Switch
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 19
  3. Negative: 3 out of 19

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  1. Jman1115
    Dec 8, 2019
    9
    Game is engaging both from a combat and story perspective. Amazing how well a game can hold up over 20 years later. Well worth the 20 bucks if you like rpgs.
  2. Starfree
    Jul 27, 2020
    8
    Star Ocean is an amazing game with a very interesting story. Even tho it tackles Space Travel, Time Travel, Teleportation, and Intergalactic politics it’s simple enough to not feel like an alien to this vast world, even tho you play as one. Now this game is a port of a 2007 remake of a 1996 game so it definitely shows its age. The combat is extremely simple and not nearly as engagingStar Ocean is an amazing game with a very interesting story. Even tho it tackles Space Travel, Time Travel, Teleportation, and Intergalactic politics it’s simple enough to not feel like an alien to this vast world, even tho you play as one. Now this game is a port of a 2007 remake of a 1996 game so it definitely shows its age. The combat is extremely simple and not nearly as engaging compared to other RPGs, and transitioning between scenes are very blocky and always sudden. And as most Japanese RPGs that took this long to be translated into English there are a lot of scenes that feel like the missed the mark. And the some of the English voice actors are painful to listen too. Luckily the game gives you the opinion to chance the voice acting to Japanese. Still won’t next the text problem but at least you’ll get passion for the corny text. There are a lot better RPGs out there. But at only 20 hours and a low price it’s not a bad game to get invested into. It’s a cute little experience that I’m glad I started and am excited to finish.… Expand
  3. SocratesGoneMad
    Jul 5, 2022
    10
    Despite originally being released in 1996, this game feels way ahead of its time and is one of the best games I've ever played. The characters are fantastic and they have so many unique and interesting interactions. What's even more amazing is how many characters are optional, yet they still have enough lines of dialogue with each other that they never feel half baked. In addition, theDespite originally being released in 1996, this game feels way ahead of its time and is one of the best games I've ever played. The characters are fantastic and they have so many unique and interesting interactions. What's even more amazing is how many characters are optional, yet they still have enough lines of dialogue with each other that they never feel half baked. In addition, the plot is excellent, feeling like a classic Star Trek episode. Lastly, the customization you can do with the characters is incredibly sophisticated, especially for an older game. If you like jrpgs this one is not to be missed.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Nintendo Insider
    Dec 19, 2019
    70
    At this game’s core, it’s a very average game that set the framework for a very great sequel. I think if Square Enix gets an opportunity to do this again with Star Ocean: Second Evolution, I can easily see them knocking it out of the park.
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  2. Nintendo Life
    Dec 4, 2019
    60
    There's certainly still some fun to be had for sure, the mixing of fantasy and sci-fi on offer here is an endearing one, and it's noteworthy for the handful of novel features it introduced to the genre back in the day but - with a story and gameplay that were pretty average at the time of its release and haven't aged particularly well in the interim - it's definitely an experience recommended specifically for fans and those of us who wish to see the superlative second game in the series get the chance of a Switch re-release.
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  3. NintendoWorldReport
    Dec 4, 2019
    80
    Star Ocean: First Departure R is an overall port of a good game. It stands out in a few ways from its contemporaries, mostly in its Tales-esque battle system and character recruitment and affection minutiae. My best recommendation for First Departure R might be that it’s a story-heavy RPG that spins a yarn compelling enough to keep you engaged while also delivering a battle system that is breezy and not as technical. Star Ocean has a lot of complexities underneath the hood, but taking it at face value can leave you with an approachable and enjoyable adventure.
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