Square Enix and Gemdrops are hard at work onStar Ocean: The Second Story R, the forthcoming remake of the secondStar Oceantitle and the first ever to be released in the US.Square Enix’s remake is due in early November and will feature remastered graphics, combat, and quality-of-life improvements such as a fast travel system.
Game Rant recently spoke with Yukinori Masuda, the Art Director ofSOSSRwho first joined the franchise’s original developer Tri-Ace in 1999, about the remake’s graphical upgrades. With an impressive resume spanning classic titles such asStar Ocean: Till The End of Time,Valkyrie Profile, andInfinite Undiscovery, Masuda has high hopes for this new retelling of a classic title.
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A Refreshing Take On Retro RPG Pixel Art
Like the originalStar Ocean: The Second Story,SOSSRfeatures a2.5D art stylethat superimposes pixel sprites onto pre-rendered 3D backgrounds. Yuichiro Kitao, the development producer and director ofSOSSR, advised Masuda to maintain that style in the remake, while modernizing the visuals to appeal to a new generation of gamers. Masuda described striking the balance as such:
“We wanted the pixel characters to stand out in the environment, so we made sure that they had sharper visuals instead of duller ones. We then applied appropriate shadings that helped them look realistic within the environment. By doing this, we were able to develop a visual experience that delivered nostalgia for the older players, but also a new and refreshing experience for the newer players as well.”
The difference between a port and a remakeis an important distinction to Masuda and Kitao, and they felt that overhauling the graphics with modern flourishes was a crucial element toSOSSR.More advanced lighting and shading effects mark the biggest changes to the new environments, adding another dimension of realism to characters present in the pre-rendered environs of the planet Expel, but the background art and character sprites have been sharpened themselves as well.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R Takes a ‘Retouches Over Redesigns’ Approach
In terms of visual design, Claude, Rena, and company are the same characters they were in 1999. But to make sure their remastered pixel art looked consistent across the cast, Masuda made certain tweaks to a few character sprites:
“On the base level, they are very similar to the original title. That being said, we did make some minor adjustments to the sprites because, when put together, some the characters felt slightly ‘off.’ For certain characters, we applied shadows and different lighting on their outlines.”
Something as subtle as changing a character outline can have a massive impact on visual clarity and consistency. And between the graphical power of modern consoles and the acuity of high-definition displays, minor mistakes that might be passable in an earlier era would be glaring in the present day. These retouches will help ensureSOSSRoffers a visually compelling experience that is competitive withHD pixel graphic games likeOctopath Travelerand others.
At the same time, resisting the urge to alter characters' appearances shows reverence for the source material that fans of the original title will likely appreciate. Some of the most controversial remakes and sequels in the annals of video games are infamous for makingdrastic changes to character designs.
A Happy Homecoming in Star Ocean: The Second Story R
The originalStar Ocean: The Second Story wasreleased nearly 25 years ago in the US and was the first installment in the series to hit North American shores. While Gemdrops is looking to give new players a refreshing take on aretro RPG, Kitao and Masuda stated that they hope returning players feel like they are revisiting a town they lived in 25 years prior.
The face-lifted 3D environments are reminiscent of the original PlayStation RPG glory days when pre-rendered 3D backgrounds reigned supreme. Even with the improved lighting and shading systems, returning to familiar environments like Rena’s home village of Arlia will likely feel like a blast from the past that stands distinctly from other retro RPGs featuringhigh-definition pixel art.
Star Ocean: The Second Story Ris releasing November 2 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Switch.
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