A Sea of Constellations: Let's Play Star Ocean 2

I'm confused, this game has a guy with two dragons or serpents on his back right? I thought that was the Star Ocean I played... The one where I got half way through it and then the story wouldnt progress no matter what I did... I stopped playing convinced that the game had a bug that made it unbeatable after a certain point... If it hadn't happened so many years ago I might be able to better describe the point in the game I got to...

If this isn'tthat game, I'll shut up and go back to enjoying this game sans comments...

Where are you going to school where you have to get up at 5:30AM?!

So glad I'm done with school, though I miss all the freetime...

No worries we're a patient bunch, I mean most of us are still waiting for Duke Nukem Forever... :P

That's not normal? I got up that early for high school since class started at 7:00 AM. I got up earlier than that for college since I usually had classes at 6:00 AM.

That would be Ashton. Yes, this is the one. I've never heard of a bug making it unbeatable though.

ok lets not hi-jack the thread but school started at 7:30 am and I never needed to get up earlier than 30 min before it started sometimes only 20.. to ctach the bus and be there on time... and college? I didnt take classes that started earlier than 9am

I'll answer both your questions, feel free to threadjack away, the update may be delayed until tomorrow but I promise you all that it will be done by the end of tomorrow.

As for your question, the second disc opens up the game structure considerably, with the game telling you to go to 4 different locations and making a recommendation on where to go first but not forcing you in any way. You probably missed one of the 4 dungeons at some point. I've never heard of the game breaking like that.

As for the 5:30 A.M. thing, it's an early morning religious class (more specifically, study of the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants over the course of 4 years, moving from Old Testament to New Testament to Book of Mormon to Doctrine and Covenants). It starts at 6 so as not to interrupt people's normal classes. This is even more off-topic, but oh well.

Man... I fucking suck.

Good news though, I've finally stopped being a lazy bastard and am starting into an actual schedule again, expect some hot fresh SO2 LP this Monday.

Looking forward to seeing this thread move forward! Will it finish just in time for all of us to go out and buy the remake of this game for the PSP

Count yourselves lucky if I manage to finish before January 9th.

Okay, dumbest ass excuse ever, I sat down to write the last part of the update and compile the pictures and found myself asleep. I know, it's annoying and stupid, I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't happen again, but I'm getting more and more tired these days.

So, my worst joke ever aside (I considered changing the title to Chinese Democracy), this is where we head to the next plot point, a seaside city called Clik. This is in spite of the fact that we just mucked around in a cave to find writings in a language we don't understand but happen to know a place that can translate them in the direction opposite of that which we are heading in, no, it doesn't make sense to me either. Not much to remark about on the trip, I made this same trek last time, it wasn't worth talking about then, and it hasn't gotten more interesting, it's just something that should be mentioned.



Before we do anything else though, I have to set myself up for indescribable torture, since the consequences of this won't show up for many updates, I'll just spell it out.



I split the party up, PAs can't happen otherwise. Given that they are Private Actions this should have been obvious, but I like insulting your intelligence.



Fillia is yelling at random passersby that this town is headed for destruction, she says nothing about God's vengeance though se we can probably write off the idea that she's a crazy street preacher. Despite having been in the vicinity, Rena asks Claude and ???? what's going on, they respond that someone has been shouting about the town's destruction. She screams a bit more about death and destruction while people walk away saying it'll never happen and that she might be mentally ill.

As I said though, I'll spell it out since it will be near the end of the game before this matters again, I've just opened up the path to making the final boss (let's call him John Doe) infinitely harder, ya see, there's a second PA that opens up in a city we haven't seen yet after you save at the last save point before the final boss. You have to know about this or be the sort ot irrationally leave the final dungeon just before the game ends. When you do this PA, John Doe becomes infinitely stronger, raising from around level 90 to around level 250, commonly nicknamed "Infinite John Doe". He is a pain in the ass. Just keep in mind that I did it all for you. You sweet, beautiful reader.

With that accomplished, we leave Clik and return because, for whatever reason, the party can't be regrouped without leaving town.

After entering town, Rena's group makes a beeline for the ship in port. The captain demands a passport, though oddly no money. Also, this boat doesn't look like a boat normally used for passengers. I assume that he actually makes his money smuggling human beings to other continents and then selling their passports to people that look like them. More likely, I've gone crazy and am desperate for a joke.

The captain shows shock and awe at the fact that we actually have a passport, I guess he was all ready to send us on a fetch quest, I think he's crying inside at his missed opportunity. He expresses shock that the passport came from the king directly, obviously having never met him or seen him enough to realize that he doesn't seem to have anything better to do.

The rest of the conversation unfolds in a dull fashion, maybe it's the malaise I've been feeling, but I'm having trouble making jokes when all I'm given to work with is "go see the sights while we get our shit together" (oh how I wish that was actual dialogue). My bitching aside, the group takes Captain's advice and heads out for a day on the town.

Making sure to make the most of her time, Rena elects to sit on a bench rather then do anything involving something unique to the town, this girl sure knows how to spend an adventure. Just as this exciting plan is being put into action though, a brat with blue hair knocks her over, as Claude begins to fune and prove himself and old man at heart lo and behold it is shown that the little twit is a pickpocket. Thus facilitating another fetch quest!



(The scene just after the pickpocketing)

As a side note, I didn't get a screen before it stopped, but Claude had the most ridiculous reaction I've ever seen in a game when he finds out Rena's purse was stolen, he does this odd sort of mid-air dance like he's some sort of marionette, it was hysterical.

Let the fetch quest begin, COMMENCE WANDERING!



It's wonderful that such intriguing information can be offered.



So, he doesn't have friends. I feel like there's a reference I want to make.



He's a loser baby, so why don't we kill him (I feel like I should apologize for every bad joke, this LP will age as well as a Dreamworks film or episode of Family Guy)

Now that we know where he is, he appears, perhaps he has some sort of Predator-like cloaking device that only works if people don't already know where he is. Makes about as much sense as any explanation.

Claude, eager to get this done with, grabs the child and demands the purse back (strangely, Rena referred to it as a purse in the previous exchange, but Claude refers to it as a wallet in this scene, feel free to be confused as to whether I misread or if the game's just reusing a scene word for word between characters).

What follows is a truly idiotic display of emotion icons, nervous sweat flies from the child and Claude works up a storm of anger clouds as he fails miserably to intimidate a child.

After Rena uses a softer approach the kid becomes more willing to respond, he immediately shows himself to be a pampered rich child as he is surprised that people could trave on such a small amount of money. I'll say right here that, for whatever reason, this kid pisses me off more then a bit character in an RPG ought to. Feel free to ignore the nearly continuous vitriol.

Claude's anger clouds frighten the kid and he starts to stutter, Rena tells him to knock it off and questions why he took it, the child responds with the patently idiotic "I wanted to surprise everyone". Theft, for the money, or an idiot's cry for attention? He then outlines the reasoning that, apparently, if he could pickpocket a stranger, it proves that he's not just "some rich kid, [he] can do anything". My rage continues to burn.

The kid continues that people call him "rich kid" and other kids won't play with him, this seems unrealistic, but hell if the designers let that keep them from tackling bullying as a topic. Claude has the idea that, as "punishment", he has to give them a tour of Clik, because that's exactly what I want to do, spend time with this twit.

The kid finally gets introduced as Ketil, feel free to berate me for failing to have the foresight to rename someone Pot. I'm quite ashamed really.

As I eagerly head to take Ketil to the other kids so I can get rid of him, the rumblings of an earthquake begin, this town being (seemingly) full of complete idiots, not an eyebrow is raised.



In an effort to improve Ketil's life, the party talks to some of the other kids playing near the ships. Ketil run's off, warding off being actively ostracized, by passively allowing himself to be ostracized. I can't be the only one that sees a flaw in this plan. Rena attempt to convince the kids in a manner not dissimilar to an advertisement, she'll likely never have the success of the Micro Machines Man though.

The kids claim they don't play with rich kids, going so far as to claim they are parentally mandated to not play with rich kids. After a couple seconds of deliberaion, the children decide to throw out their idiocy and we get Ketil off our hands.

Finally, the earthquake threat comes to fruition. Our party heroically loses its collective shit and runs without helping the people obviously in need. I can't tell whether I find this amusing or horrible.









Wow, how destructive.



Yes, that's the tragedy here, your crepe stand, forget about human life.

A quick chat with the captain reveals that we can still get to El, it'll just take a great deal longer and be a painful ordeal for all involved. He gives us back the passport and instructs us to go to a completely different continent and cross to El from there. A long side trek in Lacour isn't inconvenient at all!

Wow, that's pretty rough, a quick survey shows 15 survivors, at least one of Ketil's new friends appears to be dead. We have no time to survey the losses in full though, we need to get to El. With that, we close the book on this lackluster LP update and look forward to Greener pastures as we stop off in the home city of ????, Mars.

Man, I just can't not pick the lunatic woman's pockets. Or rather, I can't not pick every pocket in sight.

I love pickpocketing; I always start over until the main character has Dexterity. Every NPC is a treasure chest, hooray!

I know! And her item is awesome. Free crap every two seconds for the REST OF THE GAME!

This one is so old though, I'm not sure it can actually get any worse. The best thing about LP's anyway is that someone can always do it again, and it'll be way different.
I opened this up on my file a long time ago, but haven't managed to divine how to last even a couple of seconds. I need more work is all, since I also get owned in about 10 seconds by the Evil Melody.

Okay, truth time. I was on a trip for most of the weekend and sick as a dog today. Hopefully I'll be feeling better tomorrow. Even if I'm not, I'll hammer out an update. I must stress again, it's all for you, you sweet beautiful reader.

Everything about the Mars Village sequence sucks, it should have been optional.

Sorry, got distracted, been playing Innocent Sin. As a consolation prize. Here's your

Tri-Ace Related Mid-Week Update! First Departure Spectacular!

So, Star Ocean: First Departure came out a few days ago, and I thought I'd list some impressions. I've only played the first 7-8 hours, but I'm liking it a lot more then Till the End of Time, which always felt too dissimilar to SO2 for my tastes. If you read the review for this game in EGM, you should know that my sentiments echo his, it feels like what I wanted from a sequel to SO2 in prequel form. I can't compare it to the original version, but I can say that it looks like it fell out of an alternate history where it was released either just before or just after SO2. A word of warning, if you dislike missing things, pick up a guide. I've already permanently missed out on 3 characters by my various choices.

In essence, the game looks and plays very similarly to SO2. The translation and VA are a lot better (an odd quirk, the game flagrantly says the main character's name in the voice acting, regardless of what you name him). The combat system is pretty near identical. The game's only major character connection to SO2 is Ronixis Kenni (possibly renamed, or perhaps just nicknamed, as Ronyx) who's one of four required characters, similar to SO2 you have 8 character slots, since 4 of those are filled automatically, you have to pick between the remaining 8 optional characters. The recruitment methods can be similarly esoteric though, and there is at least one character who will permanently leave your party if you choose to take another later on.

Overall, the game is excellent, and this bodes very well for Star Ocean: Second Evolution, which comes to NA on January 9th if memory serves. My recommendation, if you have a PSP, pick it up, it really is a gem of a JRPG.

The visual makeover disgusts me, but the improvements sound ace; I know when I get my own PSP I'll definitely be all over this one.

The original character designs were vastly better than this Tales-lite stuff, and the screenshots I've seen of FD make it look a lot brighter. The SNES version was less colorful, with a lot of blue especially as I recall, and I felt it fit the tone of the game really well. Graphics and plot are something that can make a game better for me but not really worse though, so I'll be able to overlook it.

Pseudo-attention whoring AWAY! So... yeah, this is utterly unacceptable, I can't let this go on, it's big on my list of things "to-do" to get this back up and running because every time I come to TT I feel like I've done something horrible by abandoning it. That being said, my time has gotten even more limited, however, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. All 1 and 1/2 of you that are somehow still interested despite my dreadful time-management will be getting updates starting January 26th. The only significance that day holds is that it's the first Monday after the release of "Star Ocean: Second Evolution". Seems as good a time as any, especially since my workload is supposed to start clearing up again, I can hammer out a few upadates in the intervening weeks and then not have to worry so much about scheduling my time. Hopefully someone still cares, as much as I'm worthy of doubts for my continuous complete mismanagement of this entire endeavor, I'll try to live up to it for once.

Surprised I didn't notice this thread sooner. I'd like to see more updates, and is it too late to vote for Opera?

Walla-wallas all the wicked people

So, updates are on track, you'll be seeing one this Monday.

This post is really more to point out that Second Evolution is out now and point out some of the more salient aspects.

It hasn't been as heavily remade as First Departure, they put in character portraits for certain characters speeches and there's voice acting for important scenes now. Luckily, this might mean the end of suffering through some of the worst noises ever to be considered "battle cries". The retranslation also reads a lot better, with characters now sounding like their talking rather then reading dialogue. Overall, those two things are enough to make it a significant improvement. There's one new character (if the internet is to be believed) and sadly, all existing character lockouts remain, no Ashton and Opera dream team :Sad Face:. Overall, definitely not as extensive a remake as First Departure, but not really worse off for it since First Departure's remade aspects seem to have been designed to put it closer to SO2.

Well, that was... too long to go without an update. I'll try not to let it happen again, but sadly, I'm an unreliable dullard by nature. Now, when last we left off Rena & co. had decided to make a pit stop in the city of Mars. Before that though, a brief explanation on something some people mentioned. Yes, I didn't pickpocket the Mischief and I'll say why right now. It feels like cheating. The other exploits I'll employ involve gaming the system in a way that, to me, feels less like cheating. Whatever, my key problem isn't just the item giving, but what I would be expected to do with the items it gives. It occasionally gives an item called the "Forged Medal" (if you wait long enough, the chances of getting it would obviously approach 1). The "Forged Medal" has the effect of lowering the experience required to gain the next level to 1 for whoever uses it. While its effect is one time, the duplication skill set makes it easy to gain levels rapidly, capping out at 100. I won't say I'd never utilize it. I intend to during my run on Second Evolution simply so I can get through quickly. However, this run won't be using it. There, I've made my peace. Perhaps I should have left this up to you, dear readers, but this is unchangeable now, once Clik is destroyed, it's irretrievable.

So, again. Sorry for the over-long hiatus. I'd call it a series break if I were British, but I'm not, and I don't think I can justify Sam & Max length seasons either. Whatever, I fucked up royally, it's out there, done.

Sorry, lost track again, so back to Mars.



Weird, doesn't seem that red. Half-hearted jokes aside, we'll get our first glimpse at Dias fighting prowess. So you shall see dear reader.









Pretty small, there's a forest around as well, but that's for later dear reader. Little to be said here.



So, ???? seems to have never told her companions where she came from as Rena is surprised to here ????'s mother and father are here. Claude remarks, without a trace of a joke "So, ????, you're from Mars". The party is invited to sit down as the Village Elder proclaims this to be the worst situation in the history of Mars! ???? reminds him that exclamations like that don't mean anything to us because "we don't know everything" I personally would replace the "everything" in that sentence with anything, but whatever.

????'s father Eglas says that two nights ago, all the children in the village disappeared, before a search party could be formed, the Elder of the village returned from the Heraldry forest having been given a list of demands from the group of bandits apparently behind the kidnapping. Given that nobody heard or saw them, I would assume that they were less bandits then Ninjas, but this is unlikely to be adressed. The ransom they desire is as follows: 500,000 Fol and a book of sacred Heraldic Arts. The villagers proceed to remark that it's troubling that they were able to get into the Heraldry Forest as there are supposed to be spells to keep evil people from entering. The conclusion that the leader of the bandits must be a powerful heraldic wizard. Sadly, nobody clues in to the fact that the only person who actually saw the bandits is a heraldic wizard of considerable power.

Further elaboration explains that the heraldic forest contains a place for wizards-in-training to stay. This wouldn't be a problem, if it weren't for the fact that it apparently is also a ready made fortress. Because of course it is.



JRPGs being the land of contrived coincidences, we find that a master swordsman happened to be wandering this part of the world. Perfect. it happens to be Dias "Jon Everybishonen" Flac. He accepted this mercenary work as a chance to prepare for the "Lacour Tournament of Arms" (A tournament, could it be that someone in the party will be entering?)

This is one of the few places that which character we're playing as has had any effect. Playing as Claude means fighting through with ????, playing as Rena means breezing through with Dias.

Before it's decided that Dias will be leading this expedition, the elder points out that he'd rather that someone they know and trust fought, thus, ???? suggests that she Claude and Rena do it. Dias says he doesn't care but that they shouldn't blame him if ???? gets somebody killed.

After a few more insults Dias leaves for the inn.



After ???? advises them not to hire Dias, the scene fades to black.







Rena's conversation makes it clear that it was ultimately decided that Dias should be hired. She then proceeds to ask Dias to join our party, no such luck, obviously. He proceeds to take the opportunity to insult the current party again. He's kind of a dick in case the long white hair and nickname of "Jon Everybishonen" didn't clue you in to what stereotype he was following. Fade to black again.

Crap, my screen capture habit leaves me for a minute and I fail to get a single shot of this next scene, suffice it to say that it's just some pleasentries between ????, Claude and, Rena. ???? asks if the only reason Rena wants to be with Dias is to talk to an old friend etc. Again, a freaking fade to black, why the devs suddenly became so fond of this is beyond me.

Cue another conversation with Dias where Rena proceeds to ask Dias why he's so rude, then, when Dias doesn't answer, launch into the traditional JRPG/Anime lecture about how friendship is real strength, not the ability to cut monsters up real nice.



Dias just tells her to stop preaching and that she's become a smart alleck. (Such a kind man, truly a hero for the ages). Rena says she's grown from the little girl he used to know, to which he responds by saying that it was only two years ago. Responding with "Oh... yeah" Rena acts embarrassed (or diseased, skin that red isn't healthy, even for blushing). Dias decides to stop being a dick and says that since "it's a request from [his] other 'little sister'" he should honer it. However, if Claude and ???? act like millstones, he's leaving. Rena leaves the inn with a musical note in her thoughts.

Back at the Elder's house though, Rena's compatriots let their jerkass sides show and make a veto on the "Dias comes with us" idea.



Rena is understandably upset and runs back to the inn proclaiming that Claude may not need Dias, but she does and that she'll go with him.



Dias is able to tell without looking that things didn't go as planned. Dias, sensing that Rena won't be taking no for an answer, decides it best to give up now. So our heroes have separated and we prepare for the assault on the Heraldry forest bandits. What horrors await them? We'll soon see, if by soon you mean a week.

Would have liked to have done more, but... I was a bit lazy and decided to split it up here. See ya next monday for another installment. I'll try to make them a bit more meaty.

EDIT: I went back and corrected some grievous factual errors about the forged medal (Second Evolution calls it the "Counterfeit Medal"). I never used the trick more then once years back, so chalk up the memory failure to a generally poor memory and tiredness. Also, for those interested in using this trick in Second Evolution, realize that the "Mischief" is now the "Sprite's Bracelet".

Sorry for the low quality (I seem to be making a habit of that phrase, don't I). I really think it suffered for being a "back in the saddle" update. Nevertheless, it's only up from here, I'd like to think.

Anybody else pick up Second Evolution? Spike Spencer (best known as the VA for Shinji Ikari) does a much better job then the guy for this version.

I've thought about picking it up, but if it's not massively changed from the PS1 version, voice acting aside, though playing a non-buggy Cave of Trials or whatever it was called might be worth it when I have a little more money... I did pick up First Departure and was pleasantly surprised, aside from all the character locking.

Man, I totally could've sworn Dias had hair that was much more blue than that. Or at least he did in the crappily drawn art in the manual (why was it sooo bad?)

Eh, was the CoT buggy? I don't remember it like that, and the last time I played the game I spent a good 10 hours or so in there. I love me my Star Ocean 2

It's no worse than P3's anime cutscenes. And yes, Dias' hair was much much more blue in the manual... I prefer the color in-game though. It's prettier.

fanboymaster, I salute you for not letting this LP die. /salute

It was a little bit, if I recall. It would rarely freeze when fighting some bosses, I think.