History VideoGame / StarOceanTheSecondStory

The game has been re-issued several times. An UpdatedRerelease for the Platform/PlayStationPortable, titled ''Star Ocean: Second Evolution'', was released in early 2009, upgraded with re-recorded voice acting, {{anime}} {{cutscene}}s and a new recruitable character. ''Second Evolution'' was ported to Platform/PlayStation3, Platform/PlayStation4, and Platform/PlaystationVita in 2015, but only in Japan. A full VideoGameRemake entitled ''Star Ocean: The Second Story R'' was then released on November 2, 2023 for the Platform/NintendoSwitch, Platform/PlayStation4, Platform/PlayStation5, and PC via Platform/{{Steam}}. As with ''[[VideoGame/StarOcean1 Star Ocean: First Departure R]]'', the game allows Japanese-language players to switch between the original [=PlayStation=] voice cast and the ''Second Evolution'' cast. (English-language players are stuck with ''Second Evolution'' cast; the [[{{Narm}} somewhat uneven]] [=PS1=] cast is nowhere to be found.)

** The remake adds an ultimate weapon for every character with unique effects not found on any other equipment which either function as sidegrades for the Levantine for characters that can use it or are their actual ultimate weapons due to not getting one with compareable power in the previous versions: these are found from specific chests on the world map or new chests in [=CoT=], beating the ultimate CookingDuel opponent with a specific character, from a raid enemy or from completing the FishingMinigame. The latest update adds the ability to upgrade them into an even more powerful form with the materials gained from beating the new raid battles, at which point none of the other weapons can match them in power.

* MultipleEndings: 87 possible endings, depending on characters' relationship values with each other. See WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue.

%%* OurElvesAreDifferent: The Nedians.

* EvolvingAttack: The killer moves.

** When playing The Devil's Aria using the Music specialty, the player can now choose which level to play, so it is no longer necessary to hold back one character's music skill to use different levels.

''Star Ocean: The Second Story'' is the second game in the ''VideoGame/StarOcean'' series. It was first released for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation, and unlike [[VideoGame/StarOcean1 the first game]], ''did'' get a Western release.

There was a UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor sequel to ''The Second Story'' entitled ''VideoGame/StarOceanBlueSphere'', [[NoExportForYou that was not released outside of Japan.]] This was remade for cell phones in 2009. There were also manga and an anime, called ''Star Ocean EX'', which documented the adventures of the cast up until the end of the first half of the game. It was cancelled before it could go any further; the story was later completed with the second half released as a series of five drama [=CDs=]. There were quite a few changes to the plot, but the characters and overall structure remained the same. Most of its art-direction changes were retained for the PSP version.

The game has been re-issued several times. An UpdatedRerelease for the UsefulNotes/PlayStationPortable, titled ''Star Ocean: Second Evolution'', was released in early 2009, upgraded with re-recorded voice acting, {{anime}} {{cutscene}}s and a new recruitable character. ''Second Evolution'' was ported to UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, and UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita in 2015, but only in Japan. A full VideoGameRemake entitled ''Star Ocean: The Second Story R'' was then released on November 2, 2023 for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4, UsefulNotes/PlayStation5, and PC via UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}. As with ''[[VideoGame/StarOcean1 Star Ocean: First Departure R]]'', the game allows Japanese-language players to switch between the original [=PlayStation=] voice cast and the ''Second Evolution'' cast. (English-language players are stuck with ''Second Evolution'' cast; the [[{{Narm}} somewhat uneven]] [=PS1=] cast is nowhere to be found.)

** Cue [[spoiler:not only Claude but all of party members, save for Noel and Chisato, falling into the overdeveloped world of Energy Nede]]. While a number of party members such as [[spoiler:Claude, Opera, Ernest, and even Rena (for other reasons)]] are used to the sudden advanced state, it is surprising that culture shock amongnthe other cast members [[spoiler:namely the Expellians]] is minimal.

*** Not so in the anime where Leon is inexplicably able to repair it. Claude only fires it one time after that, but one has to wonder how Leon figured out technology centuries beyond his own and how such a huge laser could only do [[GameplayAndStorySegregation about 700 damage]] in the game.
*** In ''Second Story R'', Narl now gives you a fixed Phase Gun which can be upgraded to deal more hits.

%%* TrueCompanions: The party.

-->'''Claude:''' There's something odd about [[DialogueTree this menu]]... none of the choices let me say no! I've never been asked to make a decision that didn't have two real choices before...

** The Orchestra Super Speciality, which was essential for increasing IC success rate in the original version, wouldn't really serve much of a purpose in the remake, as all IC success rates have been vastly increased, often granting you a base 100% success rate if you have the respective support item(s) and high enough skill level for it. Instead, it greatly increases the chances for the support items' ability to not consume the material items, letting you use the same stack of 20 items for up to 5-8 times, as opposed to 3-4 normally.

** Item Creation (IC) and Combat skills now consume separate SP, so there's no need to worry about focusing which first. The IC Skills menu can also be toggled on whether to focus on leveling up skills individually or if the player wants to level up the IC itself, making all of the required skills to be leveled up altogether.