Star Ocean is getting the Octopath Traveler treatment, and it looks magical

Preorder Star Ocean: The Second Story R At A Big Discount

Back in 1998, one of the best RPGs of the year was sadly overshadowed by the arrival of newer and more 3D entries in the series. Almost two decades later, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is back with a refreshed lease on cosmic life. It includes a number of big upgrades to its core systems along with a gorgeous visual overhaul. If you're looking forward to the remake of this classic RPG, Star Ocean: The Second Story R preorders are live ahead of its November 2 release, and you can save big on your preorder for PC.

Currently, Green Man Gaming is offering the game on PC (Steam key) for just $40 if you have a free GMG XP account. Retail price is $50, so this is a very good preorder deal. Without a GMG XP account, you can get the game for $42 with promo code JUN16.

If you're a big Star Ocean fan, you may want to check out the Square Enix Store for a physical edition on consoles. Standard edition physical preorders are still available. The Collector's Edition sold out quickly, though. The $200 version of the game comes with a four-disc soundtrack, artbook, and a 24-piece box set of mini acrylic stands, featuring pixel art of main characters from the game including the thirteen party members and the Ten Wise Men.

Overall, the game has received a massive overhaul. This new 2.5D direction is similar to Octopath Traveler, and combines new 3D graphics with 2D pixel characters and striking original character illustrations by long-term series artist Yukihiro Kajimoto. Mechanically, the game now has faster-paced combat and new options to break enemies by constantly attacking them and then following up with an Assault Action to deal massive damage.

All event scenes are now fully voiced using the same voice cast from the original game and all tracks have been redone by famed composer Motoi Sakuraba. Additionally, the game now has three difficulty modes to choose from, that range from relaxing to challenging.

Like the 1998 game, The Second Story R is a sprawling journey across an entire planet, and as either Claude or Rena, you'll encounter new characters that you can recruit to your cause.

Preorder at GMG Preorder at Square Enix Store

For more games coming out this year on Switch, you can check out our gallery recapping everything that was shown off at the June Nintendo Direct, and for more preorders, check out our guides for Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario RPG, Detective Pikachu Returns, and WarioWare: Move It.

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Star Ocean: The Second Story Nintendo Switch PC Xbox Series X PlayStation 5

This story originally appeared on: GameSpot - Author:UK GAG