Link (http://ps3.ign.com/articles/817/817908p1.html). Copy pasta below for lazy people.


Following its surprise announcement at the Square Enix Party this past May, we at last have first details on Star Ocean 4. The latest issue of Famitsu has an interview with SO4 producer Yoshinori Yamagishi and assistant producer Hajime Kojima. The two spilled out a few tantalizing bits prior to the game's proper unveiling at the Tokyo Game Show.

Currently, the game is in a running state, Kojima revealed, with players able to take control of battle. Although, he admitted, the current battle system is, at best, temporary. Clarifying, Yamagishi stated that the basics of the battle system are currently in place, but the development team has to add and remove elements, and perform balance work.

The battle system, incidentally, will be party-based and support up to four allies. Kojima expects it to offer a different feel from the battles of SO3

The game's storyline is currently complete. But, it turns out, the first bit of story information was available as far back as the Square Enix Party, as Square Enix had figures of the characters on display! Most people didn't notice, Kojima regretfully admitted to the magazine.

The name of the game's hero is Edge Maverick. The heroine's name is Reimi; Kojima wouldn't reveal if that's just part of a full name, or if the heroine really does have just one name. These two characters are childhood friends who are now part of the same organization and have been stationed on the same ship.

Yes, ship. Star Ocean 4 will, expectedly, continue the same space theme of past entries. Players have their own ship this time around and can travel freely through the stars, landing and exploring as they like. The game will feature a large number of planets, although Kojima noted that players will be able to land their ship in places that aren't really properly formed planets.

Your ship is quite big. Yamagishi referred to it as a survey ship rather than a battle ship. He wouldn't confirm if the game will have ship-based battles.

Typical of the series, the game will offer a mix of science fiction and fantasy elements. Kojima feels that while the ability to get your own ship may make players picture a more sci-fi slant, the game's fantasy side hasn't taken a hit. He feels that more than previous titles, SO4 fits the "Star Ocean" name. Yamagishi chimed in here, stating that the balance between science fiction and fantasy will be better than any previous entry in the series.

The two wouldn't give out the details on the game's time period, but Yamagishi said that we should look forward to TGS, where the time period would be revealed in the form of a surprise. Don't worry too much about major changes, though, as the game will have characters and races connected to previous entries.

Sadly, the game's platform is still a mystery. As a hint, Kojima said the game would be released for a system capable of delivering beautiful graphics. In closing comments, Yamagishi added that the series traditional sees one game for one piece of hardware (this was true of part 1 for the SNES, part 2 for the PlayStation, and part 3 for the PS2 -- bug-free director's cuts aside). Star Ocean 4, he said, is also being made with the abilities of its hardware in mind.

Does that mean PS3 exclusive? Or PS3 and Xbox 360? Or, just for kicks, maybe even X360 exclusive? We're hopeful that the Tokyo Game Show will provide some clues. A trailer will be shown at the show, which kicks off on 9/20.

I am excited but trying not to get my hopes up. I don't like the new trend most JRPGs are taking (focusing on flashy graphics, unrealistic battle moves, killin guyz on my motorcyclez). However, I do love the idea of being able to explore various planets with your own ship. I hope its not too linear.

Bring back item creation from SO2 and I'd be thrilled. And change the main character's name, for heaven's sake. Fayt was bad enough.

My other concern is the platform, since I don't anticipate getting the PS3 or XBox 360. I guess if enough games I'd play came out for the particular platform SO4 will be on, I'd consider getting one. Lucky for me, SO4 is a long ways off, so the price will have dropped by then.

I'll get it if its on whatever system Suikoden VI is on otherwise it is a no go.

But that would be true of any game I might be interested in that is going to be either on the 360 or PS3.

EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO SUIKODEN FOR ME

I haven't really enjoyed any of the Star Ocean games. If they are actually planing to make this as non-linear as it sounds though I might give it a shot, providing I decide to buy a PS3 (word of mouth (http://www.ps3attitude.com/2007/09/star-ocean-4-ps3-exclusive-new-sites-go.html) is that it's a PS3 exclusive).

I'll get it if its on whatever system Suikoden VI is on otherwise it is a no go.

But that would be true of any game I might be interested in that is going to be either on the 360 or PS3.

EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO SUIKODEN FOR ME

That's awesome that SO4 is coming, but hell I haven't heard anything about Suikoden VI, any details on that?

Suikoden...i wish it came out like...NOW. That is...if there is one being planned.

But I'm a fan of Star Ocean and Til the End of Time was pretty good imo. It wasn't perfect but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The background plot/setting for this certainly seems interesting. Almost Gundam Seed-ish but not quite.

I'll probably end up getting a PS3 not matter what so I do hope that it goes to that system. i'll keep my fingers crossedxx

I completely agree with Cassie about freedom of exploration and non-linearity. A series like Star Ocean is just made for that sort of play. I think that was my main disappointment with Star Ocean 3 TTEOT. I remember having read about a vast universe with plenty of cool places and then when you found out that you only actually properly explore one or two planets, well it was a bit of a let-down to say the least. So I hope SO4 has more optional areas and sidequests. Something similar to FFX-2 but with less lame optional stuff and a longer main plot would be great. That level of freedom is what I would like to see, ideally.

I will probably get it if it comes out on PS3 as half-decent console RPGs are something of a rarity.

GameFAQs said it's on PS2?

Spam note:
I hope this one has the character select again between the main boy and girl of that game.

Bumping this because its my thread and its relevant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iraCEDfJoXI

I wish S-E would just reveal the platform already. :\

Than that would just kill everything... they want to leave
people wanting for more... which sometimes its a good thing
and sometimes really bad

Glad to see SE hasn't abandoned the franchise.

Although it's now a staple of the series, I'm a little tired of being stranded on backwater planets. It always seemed like an excuse to revert to classic medieval settings. A bit redundant for a game set in the future, no?

I'll get it if its on whatever system Suikoden VI is on otherwise it is a no go.

But that would be true of any game I might be interested in that is going to be either on the 360 or PS3.

EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO SUIKODEN FOR ME

haha, me 2 dude. I used to follow Final Fantasy, but I'll go wherever Suikoden goes now. SO4 should be pretty cool though. Suikoden VI, i check numerous sites everyday for a announcment

Man I just wished they changes up the music. Shit puts me to sleep.
I'll look forward to it anyway.

locke_ff6 i don't know who you are really but saying suikoden you are like top 10-15 for sure

locke_ff6 i don't know who you are really but saying suikoden you are like top 10-15 for sure


top 10-15 what? lol. Yes, I wish more people were into the Suikoden series.

haha, well cool, I got into the suikoden series a couple years ago, the only ones i dont have is I & II, because I ca'nt afford to throw 100+ dollars at them on ebay.

favorite people here @ ffshrine b/c suikoden

I've never played any of the SO games, but I might pick this up and see what it's like.

top 10-15 what? lol. Yes, I wish more people were into the Suikoden series.

haha, well cool, I got into the suikoden series a couple years ago, the only ones i dont have is I & II, because I ca'nt afford to throw 100+ dollars at them on ebay.

Man...Suikoden I and II are classics. Find a way to play them. Pact with the devil?

Or download the ISOs...

Same thing.

And don't forget to find one of those "PS controller to USB port" peripherals. PSX games + Keyboard = shitty experience.

Or put it on your PSP (CF)

I gave up on PSP Homebrew... too complicated for me.

Plus PSX on a PSP seems strange without the L2 and R2. Prolly just me though.

Try playing MGS Portable Ops for PSP?

With no L2 and R2...that shit's helluva difficult to get used to.

I used to have it. Didn't seem too bad since I had played AC!D.

Heh, Star Ocean NEVER sucks! I hope they put it out
for both PS2 and 3, as well as make this one have a
bigger 2P feature! The vs mode in SO3 rocks and I never
get tired of it! Even so, I'd prefer this to become cooperative
play for a brand new kick! :P

Heh, Star Ocean NEVER sucks! I hope they put it out
for both PS2 and 3, as well as make this one have a
bigger 2P feature! The vs mode in SO3 rocks and I never
get tired of it! Even so, I'd prefer this to become cooperative
play for a brand new kick! :P

holy shit, a noob on the forum that spells everything correctly. welcome. Yes the SO series is a unique and grand series of games.

this is getting of topic? anyways SOTET was the best of all Star Ocean

I hope the story is better than Star Ocean 3. I enjoyed the game overall, but I felt it had far more potential than it showed. The plot twist was poorly done in my book and the story seemed to crumble about halfway through coming to a low with the ending (although.. the first part of the story was very interesting, probably due to the mystery of the situation more than anything else.. but very long and drawn out to begin with)

GO STAR OCEAN

Most of the story in SO3 is unfolded within a medieval setting. Sci-fi elements are pretty scarce and it's a little ironic considering the game's name. But I don't really worry with 4. I really think they'll manage to balance it somehow and also add a quadruple number of locations. I'm sure the PS3 can handle it. Yeah, PS3. How many chances are there really to make its way on another platform? Unlike another game from tri-Ace (Infinite Undiscovery) which sounds very promising but will unfortunately be an Xbox 360 exclusive.

My first SO game that i played was SO3 TTEOT

and haven't finish it

don't know, just have no mood to continue playing it

Maybe SO4 is better...maybe...

I really did not care for SO3, made it about halfway through, and ended up watching the ending separately later on, based on what I had heard about the game. I'm sorta glad I didn't play through its entirety. But that's just me. The game did have some parts that were still good.

I really really really love SO2, you can probably guess from avatar/sig ;o I haven't played enough of the original to give an opinion on it, but since the original is closer to SO2 than SO3 is, I imagine I'll probably like it more than SO3.

Still crossing my fingers. I'd prefer if it came out on the 360 cos I'd like to try out tri-Ace's other game in development, Infinite Undiscovery, but we'll see how it goessss.

I hope the story is better than Star Ocean 3. I enjoyed the game overall, but I felt it had far more potential than it showed. The plot twist was poorly done in my book and the story seemed to crumble about halfway through coming to a low with the ending (although.. the first part of the story was very interesting, probably due to the mystery of the situation more than anything else.. but very long and drawn out to begin with)

Can't fault that. It was entirely annoying to be stuck on two different underdeveloped planets before the main story made any significant progress. The plot lost all of it's momentum. SO2's story played out much better.

I actually didn't mind SO3: TTEOT. It entertained me for quite some time. I will definitely need to download SO2 ISO for super happy PC RPG times.

Personally i liked SO3 well at least the first disk and then the story got really weird and all u did was lv up from 50-75 before u could really do anything but overall i liked it

SO games in general have horrifically long beginnings, as vague of a term that is. Seems strange to me that they'd make the opening areas so dialog heavy and drawn out for games that have good replay value. Every time I replay SO2, I swear that I need to make a permanent save after the opening scenes in Arlia/the mining town I can't remember the name of.

SO3's opening on Hyda took forever the first time through -- after that, it was easy enough to skip through the cut scenes and go only to the rooms you needed/wanted to.

I do think that some of SO's flavor comes from the sci-fi/fantasy mixing, and I've always enjoyed time on under-developed planets across the series.

honestly why dont they jus put a SO world were all of the old characters see each other i want to see Ratix in 3D it'll be like a crossover.
Also judging by the SO4 trailer it looks to close to a Final Fantasy game

@Cassie if u finshed the game then i hope u like the Lenneth, Iseria Queen, Gabriel, and Freya Battles am i wrong? then there should be nothing wrong with SO3

The gameplay was semi-enjoyable, but got stagnant over time. The story was lack-luster from the beginning, imo. Too much secrecy surrounding it, and when it finally did get interesting during the big battle cutscene, it was kinda blown over, and I stopped playing shortly after. Maybe it does get better later on and just has what was, imo, a shitty ending, but judging from that ending and from what others have said, I don't think it'd be worth it for me to play completely through. But who knows.

As far as those battles go, those are in the last "dungeon" or whatever? I can't remember the name. Those are optional and difficult sidequests and while I'm sure they might be enjoyable to some people, they aren't what I consider a deal maker (or breaker, for that matter) in a game for me.

I started playing SO3 again over the weekend. I had forgotten how mind-numbing some of the dungeons are and how random some of the solutions are. At last count I was struggling through the sealed cavern under Aquios (you know, the one where you have to use disintegration hammers to find your way through) I remember using a walkthrough last time after having tried to figure out the solution for hours, and it was the same this time (still can't remember it). That is all time that could frankly have been better spent doing something else, and I'd consider that to be a failing of the game.

Another thing is how unbelievable Fayt is as a character. I'm sorry, but I find his 'Captain Good' character archetype really baffling. I don't get why he cares so much about strangers he's barely met, why he would risk his life in a war that has nothing to do with him, and why he would blame himself for every little thing that happened. He's supposed to be human, but rarely shows a human, selfish side.

I know that rant probably doesn't add anything constructive to this discussion, but I felt like letting it out.

i do like the music tho anyway i do agree with the bad ending and slow story but paitence is a virtue and for that i liked te game

Quote: Sphere LVL 112-211 something like that
Urssa Cave Temple
And the Seraphic Gate like place

I can't beat that Freak Lenneith from VP who is one of the
last final bosses left. I destroyed everything else before her.
Already Lvl 255 (I play as Sophia), but still things get tight,
especially against those damn nukes!!


holy shit, a noob on the forum that spells everything correctly. welcome. Yes the SO series is a unique and grand series of games.

???

i personally love everything about the Star Ocean games... except the fact that IV will probably be on a system i don't have... man, thanks Cassie, now i gotta go play SO2! haha! oh man i love that game, especially the choose your character part at the beginning. Dias Flac rules too. too bad you can't use him when you're Claude...