Sea of Stars (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): August 29, 2023
- Release Date (EU): August 29, 2023
- Publisher: Sabotage Studio
- Developer: Sabotage Studio
- Genres: Turn-based RPG
- Also For: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Game Features:
After years of training, the two magic-wielders Valere and Zale are ready to take on their role as Solstice Warriors. Bearing the latter title, they are tasked to counter the evil forces spawned by the alchemist known as The Fleshmancer. Their quest against evil forces will be filled with new encounters (friendly and otherwise), vast explorable environments, as well as paradigm-shifting twists.
A nostalgic feast
Sea of Stars isn’t shy of its inspirations; so much so that its promotional banner boldly states that it is “a retro-inspired turn-based RPG”. Further hammering this influence, the game features some guest tracks by Yasunori Mitsuda, the composer behind classic titles such as Chrono Trigger and Xenogears. And the result does not disappoint.
The soundtracks are among the most memorable I’ve encountered in recent RPGs. The battle theme is catchy while each area of the game features distinctive audio that feels fitting to the scene.
As for the visuals, the pixel art harkens back to SNES-era titles while bearing a modernised look. Environments are varied, colourful and highly detailed, and one might initially confound them for a retro game but the animations testify to its modern launch. From small details such as water ripples as your party swim across lakes and flickering torch flames to more prominent ones such as magic attack effects and boss animations, developer Sabotage Studio struck a delicate balance between a retro-inspired presentation and modern animations. They even spiced up the presentation with occasional anime-styled cutscenes that add some originality to the game.
Retro-inspired gameplay with modern touches
It’s not just the visuals and soundtrack that are retro-inspired with Sea of Stars but also the gameplay. The title plays from a top-down fashion during exploration segments, akin to games like Chrono Trigger and Golden Sun, and it also shares similar combat aspects as it is also turn-based. That said, Sabotage Studio has brought its own touch to the gameplay to make it feel like a modernised take on the retro template.
For one, exploration is not limited to the land. You’ll get to swim across water bodies, carefully tread along ropes and hoist up ledges. On top of these, there are also sailing, fishing and cooking sessions. Environments are also intricately designed with multi-layered explorable areas that hide chests and other secrets. There are also some occasional puzzles that aren’t too demanding but add a welcome layer of diversity to the gameplay.
Regarding combat, encounters are not at random which enables you to avoid some by taking a different route than one where enemies are patrolling. When you do engage in combat, they unfold in an intuitive turn-based fashion. You’ll successively control each member of your party, choosing an action between simple attack, character-specific skill, performing a combo (if the combo gauge allows) or using an item. You can make those actions more potent by hitting A at the right time. For example, to deal extra damage you can press A. Same goes for defending to incur less damage.
Sea of Stars further shakes things up during combat with the “lock” system. As some enemies gear up to deal a powerful attack, their upcoming move will be associated with attack types such as moon, sword and sun. The game visually depicts these in icons, as well as displays a count-down regarding the number of turns before the attack takes place. If you manage to land damage of the associated types before the counter reaches 0, you can weaken (if you only hit some of the types) or even completely cancel (if you hit them all) the upcoming attack.
This adds a layer of strategy to combat as it gets you to consider the attack sequence of your party members. Indeed, each member has a different set of attack types and skills which can be more appropriate against certain enemy types or to break certain lock combinations. An adequate planning will further reward you with a successful combat outcome.
However, fully breaking locks can be challenging to pull off considering some combinations. This led to some battles to last longer than I’d like, such as sandworms calling reinforcements on repeat. That said, if encounters feel taxing, Sea of Stars is more accessible than its SNES counterparts as it features “Relics” that can help you reduce (or increase) the difficulty.
Slow burn plot, but worth sticking to
Sea of Stars successfully executes its modernised take on retro RPGs with a gorgeous presentation and an engaging combat. However, sticking to the game can be testing during the opening hours as it has a slow burn aspect. The intriguing twists and captivating beats are only experienced further down the line but the wait is worth it. In addition, while the game features a unique cast from magic users to pirates, some characters and their relationships would have benefited from more exposure.
Overall, Sea of Stars won’t disappoint for fans of RPG games, especially retro-inspired ones such as Chained Echoes. Its ~30 hours of play time will evoke a sense of nostalgia while bearing a touch of originality and modernity; making it more than just a tribute but an inspiration for pixel RPGs to come.
Sea of Stars | Launch Trailer
Verdict
- Detailed and well-animated pixel art
- Memorable, retro-inspired soundtrack
- Innovative Lock System that adds a tactical aspect to combat
- Slow burn aspect of plot
- Successfully breaking battle locks can be challenging
