Star Ocean: The Last Hope

 Xbox 360
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 163 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 107 out of 163
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 163
  3. Negative: 30 out of 163
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  1. Robbie
    Mar 10, 2009
    9
    Excellent. Absolutely excellent, nothing near perfect, but still simply a blast to play. Well, at least if you're a tri-Ace fan. If not, then I'd say this is pretty much a love it or hate it game. The unnecessarily-cheesy Japanese-ness of the game would probably turn most gamers who never got into console RPGs back in the SNES-PS1 days away from it quite promptly. If you can Excellent. Absolutely excellent, nothing near perfect, but still simply a blast to play. Well, at least if you're a tri-Ace fan. If not, then I'd say this is pretty much a love it or hate it game. The unnecessarily-cheesy Japanese-ness of the game would probably turn most gamers who never got into console RPGs back in the SNES-PS1 days away from it quite promptly. If you can stand the awkward, and often untentional, humor spread out heavily across what would be an otherwise pretty decent storyline, then the game is absolutely amazing. It's up there with Fallout 3 and Fable 2 in my book, but that's just me. Oh well, it's WAAAAAAAAY better than any Tales game that's come out in the last 7 and a half years(which pretty much means any entry after Tales of Eternia/Destiny II), and that I consider fact, not opinion, so that's a definite plus.… Expand
  2. MATTW
    Mar 3, 2009
    9
    The newest installment of Star Ocean does indeed deliver. The open environments are large enough to make you feel like you're in a new place each time you move along in the story, but small enough to lead you to your destination fairly quickly if you are not a grinder. The story line is slow, like most JRPG's, but excellent once it reaches fruition. This game absolutely blows The newest installment of Star Ocean does indeed deliver. The open environments are large enough to make you feel like you're in a new place each time you move along in the story, but small enough to lead you to your destination fairly quickly if you are not a grinder. The story line is slow, like most JRPG's, but excellent once it reaches fruition. This game absolutely blows the last few action rpgs that have been released for 360 out of the water. The combat system, story line, graphics, over all game-play, cut-scene animation, and even awkward dialogue prove far superior to the likes of Tales of Vesperia or Infinite Undiscovery. While this game doesn't stand up to other semi-recent titles like Lost Odyssey or Eternal Sonata, it easily and rightfully earns my mark as a 9 out of 10; a must play for any 360 rpg freak!… Expand
  3. ReginaldY
    Oct 11, 2009
    9
    Star ocean is a great game for those who wish to play an jRPG which is not turn based, as it has more of a RTS kind of feel to it.
  4. AbiB.
    Mar 2, 2009
    10
    Definitely the best star ocean along with Star Ocean 2! The battle system couldn't get any better than this really. And the graphics just WOWed me! this game is up there on the top of the list as long as graphic is concerned on current generation console. I love how the atmosphere this time, really keeps on the sci-fi feels as it should be. Unlike SO3, where half of the game were set Definitely the best star ocean along with Star Ocean 2! The battle system couldn't get any better than this really. And the graphics just WOWed me! this game is up there on the top of the list as long as graphic is concerned on current generation console. I love how the atmosphere this time, really keeps on the sci-fi feels as it should be. Unlike SO3, where half of the game were set on medieval setting (Really, it's suppose to be a space opera for god's sake!) anyway, i'm really glad they make it right this time! Did i say i love this game?… Expand
  5. JustinC
    Mar 11, 2009
    10
    As a long time fan of Star Ocean, this game hasn't failed to deliver. The graphics are beautiful, combat is easy to understand and fun, the characters are lovable and easy to relate to. I've been dying for a good RPG on the 360 and I've finally found it. SquareEnix and tri-Ace have delivered a good contestant for RPG of the year.
  6. Alan
    Mar 2, 2009
    9
    The game rewards the player who dedicates their time with a deep plot. It's agreed that the player will have to spend many hours before the plot really begins, but the patient player will in turn have plenty of laughs from the characters and many of moments where the plot plunges deeper.
  7. RyanS.
    Aug 27, 2009
    8
    Great game! Numerous cut scenes with great graphics. I LIKE the Dubbing!!! I thought the actors were fine and I far prefer the dubs than having to read everything!!! Too much fighting, and the leveling up process threw the pace of the game off. Had to back track and fight 50 battles just be able to beat the boss... Not cool Major Story gap at the end (WTF).
  8. AndrewC
    Dec 21, 2009
    9
    A very good game in my opinion, although I admit it may be an acquired taste. I have a high tolerance for Japaneese cheese. The disk changing is annoying, and some of the characters are a little annoying (Lymle, I'm looking at you), but quite a few are actually quite well written, a la Myuria. Okay, the voices for some characters are downright annoying at times *cough*Sarah*Cough* , A very good game in my opinion, although I admit it may be an acquired taste. I have a high tolerance for Japaneese cheese. The disk changing is annoying, and some of the characters are a little annoying (Lymle, I'm looking at you), but quite a few are actually quite well written, a la Myuria. Okay, the voices for some characters are downright annoying at times *cough*Sarah*Cough* , but hey, they gameplay is super-special-awesome. As are the bunnies. You have to love the bunnies.… Expand
  9. AbelCarrasco
    Feb 27, 2009
    8
    I love this game.. my current addiction. If you are a fan of japanese rpgs this game is a great choice. A few minor annoyances like bad character acting and mediocre story do not drag down the fun. But be warned .. as it is an rpg.. get ready for the experience grind.. it is part of the genre.
  10. SiphonedL.
    Jul 19, 2009
    8
    Another good RPG from Sq Enix.. gameplay is great although slightly long drawn in certain portions and yet too terse in others specially the ending dungeon.. Characters are great to play with specially the subscenes are hilarious.. although Sarah is irritating.. Amazing battles if you like Namco games like Tales of the Abyss (PS2).. Engrossing storyline.. Only negative aspect i can think Another good RPG from Sq Enix.. gameplay is great although slightly long drawn in certain portions and yet too terse in others specially the ending dungeon.. Characters are great to play with specially the subscenes are hilarious.. although Sarah is irritating.. Amazing battles if you like Namco games like Tales of the Abyss (PS2).. Engrossing storyline.. Only negative aspect i can think of right now which is really REALLY annoying is the collection subquests and completing the shop quests.. they take too much time to be of any enjoyment! Coliseum is great too in Disc 2.. I'd rate it 8.5.. Definitely not a bad game!!… Expand
  11. thebrock
    May 6, 2011
    8
    Star ocean is a rediculously addictive game. The graphics are decent, gameplay good and combat is fun. The leveling and upgrade system also works well. While graphically not as good as games like fallout new vegus the storyline is fantastic, characters are memorable and there are parts in this game that will leave you in tears of laughter. Only downfall is that you have to kill thousandsStar ocean is a rediculously addictive game. The graphics are decent, gameplay good and combat is fun. The leveling and upgrade system also works well. While graphically not as good as games like fallout new vegus the storyline is fantastic, characters are memorable and there are parts in this game that will leave you in tears of laughter. Only downfall is that you have to kill thousands of alien monstors to level up which can become monotonious at times. All in all a must for any rpg fan, a game well worth playing.… Expand
  12. batmoon7
    Dec 11, 2011
    10
    Fantastic game!! Beautiful planet and great sound effects! I finish the game in 150 hours!! One of the best rpg i never played. Sorry for my english...i'm italian!
  13. moonman1994
    Jul 15, 2012
    8
    Star Ocean: The Last Hope is overall a good game but it has some problems. First of all the voice acting is a major flaw in the game. The voice acting is annoying enough that you dread any of the female characters opening their mouths. So for voice acting Star Ocean TLH gets a D. As far as graphics I'd give it a B- because the game looks pretty in many instances but the game doesn't takeStar Ocean: The Last Hope is overall a good game but it has some problems. First of all the voice acting is a major flaw in the game. The voice acting is annoying enough that you dread any of the female characters opening their mouths. So for voice acting Star Ocean TLH gets a D. As far as graphics I'd give it a B- because the game looks pretty in many instances but the game doesn't take advantage to the capabilities that the X-box 360 has on terms of graphics and the games settles for a place graphically in between looking realistic and looking cartoony. The story in this game is pretty good. I'd give it a B. It keeps you interested but in comparison to the stories of Star Ocean: Till the End of Time and Star Ocean: The Second Story it's lacking due to the fact that it can be formulaic and predictable at times. Star Ocean does get a A in replay value however because it like other Star Ocean games has many Private Actions that end up changing the story a bit and lead to different endings and if you're a completionist that's a perfect way to spend a lot of time on a game. As for length Star Ocean TLH gets an A as well in this category due to a fairly long story and long bonus dungeons. The best part of the game is the battle system which is much better than in much RPGs. But I'd only give it an A- because although the battle system is great it's not as good as the battle system used in Star Ocean: Till the end of time. When taking the entire game into account Star Ocean: The Last Hope is an enjoyable game that is pretty good. That's why I give this game a B or an overall rating of an 8/10… Expand
  14. SilenceinmotioN
    Nov 28, 2012
    8
    Great game to dive into if you're looking for a long, expansive adventure. The only thing that keeps this game from a 10 is it's obvious flaws that, for some reason, the franchise refuses to do away with. Things such as the need for long sessions of grinding and seemingly arbitrary layout.
    However, the game's charm and ability to create items, upgrades, etc. make up for it.
  15. Rox22
    Dec 12, 2012
    8
    One of the better RPGs on the 360. A very by-the-book old school JRPG with a modern look. Granted the voice acting is REALLY hammy, but no worse than many animes seen on TV. I completely enjoyed it and really loved the depth of the characters and the complex story weave. Combat was extremely fun, graphics were generally good and the story (perhaps a little over done) very engaging, if youOne of the better RPGs on the 360. A very by-the-book old school JRPG with a modern look. Granted the voice acting is REALLY hammy, but no worse than many animes seen on TV. I completely enjoyed it and really loved the depth of the characters and the complex story weave. Combat was extremely fun, graphics were generally good and the story (perhaps a little over done) very engaging, if you could follow it. The only real complaint I would have to make would be all the disc swapping needed for the 360 version, particularly towards the end of the game.… Expand
  16. brockowski
    Apr 7, 2013
    8
    Cracking rpg game. Reminds me of the old final fantasy series. Not the shoddy new final fantasy games. Characters keep you engaged in the storyline and also the message the game tries to invoke is quite thought provoking. Graphically the game is well done and theres loads of weapon and armour upgrades. The skillpoint upgrade system in the game is done brilliantly. The downside to this gameCracking rpg game. Reminds me of the old final fantasy series. Not the shoddy new final fantasy games. Characters keep you engaged in the storyline and also the message the game tries to invoke is quite thought provoking. Graphically the game is well done and theres loads of weapon and armour upgrades. The skillpoint upgrade system in the game is done brilliantly. The downside to this game is the bad voice acting and poor animations. All in all this is a true rpg adventure game and gets a solid 8.… Expand
  17. Charllize
    Aug 6, 2013
    10
    One of best JRPG for X360.Maybe game dont have superior story, but gameplay is 10 out 10.Lot a end game content, optional dungeons, bosses, collectors things etc. Character development and combat system is fun and rewarding. This game is treasure for real JRPG gamer.
  18. Bokxie
    Oct 1, 2013
    9
    Star Ocean: The last hope introduced me to this franchise and delivered in a great way. The concept of the story, which might not be the most original, was still a please to the eyes. Exploring is something I'm always doing and this game allows us to explore several worlds, meet the inhabitants and creatures roaming the planets and do side quests. The story itself ain't bad either, withStar Ocean: The last hope introduced me to this franchise and delivered in a great way. The concept of the story, which might not be the most original, was still a please to the eyes. Exploring is something I'm always doing and this game allows us to explore several worlds, meet the inhabitants and creatures roaming the planets and do side quests. The story itself ain't bad either, with many characters, love-able or hate-able which depends on your taste. The game play takes notes from games such as the Tales Of franchise, which have a great game play overall. And so does Star Ocean. The graphics fit the game very well. They aren't outstanding in any way, but definitely good enough. This game is often overlooked, but I would really advice people to try it out. It has a love-hate difficulty, roaming from easy to galactic (the most difficult version). You will unlock harder difficulties after you have completed the difficulty before it. The only two available at the beginning are easy and normal, which is a bit of a letdown considering I usually play games on hard or probably even the most difficult journey. But therefore, it gives a good chunk of replay ability. After you have completed the storyline, there is still a lot to do, including secret dungeons, missions (some come available even after you have completed certain story parts on certain planets) and more. Oh, and for achievement hunters, this might not be the best game to start on, considering it will take roughly 250 hours to get all achievements.

    I would really advise this game to people who are just getting into this genre or want to try out new franchises. The Last Hope is the fourth installment of the franchise and fortunately, you do NOT have to play the other games first for story continuation, as all the games supply different story lines.    … Expand
  19. kingdomgeekdom
    Feb 26, 2018
    10
    This is an amazing game, one of the most underrated of all time I think (if you don't count games that are considered cult classics today). The graphics, battle system, fight initiation are all really good. I love that enemies can be avoided (they appear on screen and aren't random encounters) you can sneak up on them and get the advantage. The action happens in real time with fullThis is an amazing game, one of the most underrated of all time I think (if you don't count games that are considered cult classics today). The graphics, battle system, fight initiation are all really good. I love that enemies can be avoided (they appear on screen and aren't random encounters) you can sneak up on them and get the advantage. The action happens in real time with full control not turned based, with a battle board that van be easily build up to reward you with good bonuses. The only place it even remotely struggles is in the cheesyness of the story, but that is common in JRPGs. The thing that puts this game above so many others I've played is the crafting system. It has that perfect balance of accessibility and complexity. Every creature you battle drops something, and every dropped item can be used to create something that is actually helpful to you characters whether it's a stat boosting meal, and card that cast certain magic or something that can be synthesized into equipment being worn. I understand this is an incredibly niche aspect, but it delivers upon it perfectly. If you have any interest in item creation systems or JRPGs at all, you need to play this game, even if you don't like others in the series because I've played the 3 most recent and this is the only one I recommend to anyone who isn't a die hard JRPG fan.… Expand
  20. VendonJura
    Sep 27, 2018
    10
    Star Ocean 4 was in my opinion one of the best rpg games ever made. You had allot of hidden stuff you could explore. Many characters and an arena. I can't tell how many thousands of hour I've been playing this game but it was allot. The only 2 things I did not like in this game was

    1. Very complicated questing when you've done 1 thing wrong and you failed in a huge amount of other    Star Ocean 4 was in my opinion one of the best rpg games ever made. You had allot of hidden stuff you could explore. Many characters and an arena. I can't tell how many thousands of hour I've been playing this game but it was allot. The only 2 things I did not like in this game was

    1. Very complicated questing when you've done 1 thing wrong and you failed in a huge amount of other quest, achievements and so on. Without any information it was very hard to not mess something up so you didn't had to start all over.

    2. Some very long dungeons did not have any Savecores where you could save your progress. Very huge dungeons had a very high chance that the game freezes or something else so you've done all the hour of work for nothing. This happened to me billion times.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2009
13
#13 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 56 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56
  1. Game Informer
    70
    The Last Hope is plagued by a number of problems, but if you can invest the time needed for this game to blossom (that's a big if), the combat system and mysterious plot reward you well for your time. [Mar 2009, p.90]
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  2. IGN
    80
    Not an RPG for the ages, but it is a lot of fun to play. The way the story is delivered, through awkward dialogue and drawn out cutscenes, could be a lot better. The strong points of The Last Hope, namely the combat and level progression, keep things lively and engaging and help make this one a good way to kick off your JRPG gaming for 2009.
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  3. G4 TV
    80
    Star Ocean: Last Hope won’t make anyone forget that FF XIII is on the horizon. But as far as holding us over in the meantime, this game more than succeeds.
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