JRPG Star Ocean: First Departure R is coming to PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. The game is an enhanced remake (hence the R) of Star Ocean: First Departure, itself a remake of the original PS1 Star Ocean.
Square Enix announced news of the remake yesterday (that source is in Japanese). The developer is promising additional new features in the R version of the game. We don't yet have a release date or expected retail price for Star Ocean: First Departure R. The game will be released worldwide, so European and American Star Ocean fans will be able to get their hands on it. Accompanying news of the release was some nice character art of playable characters Roddick, Millie, and Dorne. Check it out below:
Square Enix has shown love to the Star Ocean series pretty consistently. Back in 2017, the company released a 4K remastered version of Star Ocean: The Last Hope, the fourth game in the series. This enhanced version of the game added support for 4K resolution on PC and PS4 Pro, as well as a photo mode on PC. A PC release for Star Ocean: First Departure R is looking pretty unlikely at this stage, given the western announcement omitted the platform. The last game in the series, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, only appeared on PS3 and PS4. Square Enix has also left PC out of their release plans for the game.
Star Ocean: First Departure originally launched for PSP back in 2008. The remake added new voice actors, new characters, and new animated cutscenes, as well as overhauling the game's engine. First Departure R is being billed as a remake of that remake with additional enhanced features for PS4 and Switch. Square Enix says it'll divulge more info on Star Ocean: First Departure R in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned for more.
Are you looking forward to playing Star Ocean: First Departure R? Let us know in the comments below!
