There's like a 10-hour stretch in here that works really well. The story is moving forward at an exciting pace, characters are having compelling arcs, combat really hits its stride, and it just feels so engaging to play.
But the game is longer than 10 hours, and the first 5 or so are pretty boring. Combat doesn't get a chance to shine until you have four party members, and until then you just repeat the same tiny amount of moves on the same character archetypes. The lock system also doesn't really function until you've got a full party, since breaking locks can be genuinely impossible for a lot of the early game. But, and not to sound like the stereotypical rpg fan, it really does get good about 10 hours in. Swapping out characters and utilizing the massive amount of combo attacks feels great, and SP regen is less of a slog when you can just swap to somebody with a full bar. Some of the lategame optional bosses are so fun when they're allowed to take full advantage of your full moveset.
But, to be honest, I don't really play RPGs for the gameplay. It can be great, but I come in for solid stories supported by memorable characters. And, unfortunately, Sea of Stars just doesn't always have that. The story itself is interesting enough, with some fun twists within that 10-hour chunk, but most of the characters are just so boring. Valere and Zale are the biggest point of support for the return to silent protagonists in RPGs that I've ever seen. Like, sure, they talk, but they never say anything of consequence, and talk almost identically to each other. At least with silent protagonists your mind can fill in the gaps and make them look cool. These two just give you nothing to work with. There are two standouts, though, in Garl and Resh'an, who have actually decipherable personalities and are given by far the best material to work with. I'm a sucker for "normal guy trying his best," so Garl worked for me right away, but the lore behind Resh'an is so cool and exciting that I wish the game was almost entirely about him. The game fluctuates between the interesting conversations with fun characters that games like Chrono Trigger are known for, to flat pieces of cardboard contributing nothing of value.
I can't help but sound more negative than I am about this game, because so much of it is so close to being incredible. I had a really good time with this game sometimes, and the animations and pixel art are absolutely breathtaking the whole way through. I just think the writing and pacing could have been tightened up significantly, because it really is good when it wants to be.
also the game glitched out in the final dungeon and permanently softlocked me which kinda sucks lol
But the game is longer than 10 hours, and the first 5 or so are pretty boring. Combat doesn't get a chance to shine until you have four party members, and until then you just repeat the same tiny amount of moves on the same character archetypes. The lock system also doesn't really function until you've got a full party, since breaking locks can be genuinely impossible for a lot of the early game. But, and not to sound like the stereotypical rpg fan, it really does get good about 10 hours in. Swapping out characters and utilizing the massive amount of combo attacks feels great, and SP regen is less of a slog when you can just swap to somebody with a full bar. Some of the lategame optional bosses are so fun when they're allowed to take full advantage of your full moveset.
But, to be honest, I don't really play RPGs for the gameplay. It can be great, but I come in for solid stories supported by memorable characters. And, unfortunately, Sea of Stars just doesn't always have that. The story itself is interesting enough, with some fun twists within that 10-hour chunk, but most of the characters are just so boring. Valere and Zale are the biggest point of support for the return to silent protagonists in RPGs that I've ever seen. Like, sure, they talk, but they never say anything of consequence, and talk almost identically to each other. At least with silent protagonists your mind can fill in the gaps and make them look cool. These two just give you nothing to work with. There are two standouts, though, in Garl and Resh'an, who have actually decipherable personalities and are given by far the best material to work with. I'm a sucker for "normal guy trying his best," so Garl worked for me right away, but the lore behind Resh'an is so cool and exciting that I wish the game was almost entirely about him. The game fluctuates between the interesting conversations with fun characters that games like Chrono Trigger are known for, to flat pieces of cardboard contributing nothing of value.
I can't help but sound more negative than I am about this game, because so much of it is so close to being incredible. I had a really good time with this game sometimes, and the animations and pixel art are absolutely breathtaking the whole way through. I just think the writing and pacing could have been tightened up significantly, because it really is good when it wants to be.
also the game glitched out in the final dungeon and permanently softlocked me which kinda sucks lol