The Ultimate Recap of Star Ocean: The Second Story (RECAPitation)

[@c-handle2676]

I love having ya back, Oni. I use a lot of your shorter videos (Chzo Mythos) to fall asleep with, and your longer videos to keep me entertained and learning while working on something monotonous. Thank you for coming back, for making the recapatation series, and for being awesome.

[@OniBlackMage]

Glad to hear it! Which video of mine is the best sleeping aid?

[@Bloodshade]

@@OniBlackMagenot OP but I do the same thing. Your videos about FF 7,8,9, Chrono Cross, Legend of Dragoon, Legend of Legia, and a few others of my childhood/teen classics are on my sleep shuffle playlist. I’ll also watch longplays of games like Monkey Island or Sly Cooper for that reason.

[@OniBlackMage]

@@BloodshadeThat's cool with me! I take it as a compliment that people can be soothed when I narrate something.

[@c-handle2676]

@@OniBlackMage for those who like active listening when working towards sleep, I definitely suggest any of the videos on Final Fantasy (especially 6). Your descriptions of the finer details make for great dream building material. For those needing more passive sound and less complicated but still engaging stories, the Chzo Mythos is my favorite.

[@MrVlogerGuy]

@@OniBlackMagei use thé longer ones to fall asleep too my favs would be your Xenosaga and Xenogears series

[@dylanbratton2176]

You did great putting together all of the different character recruitment and stories with so many different playable characters.

[@OniBlackMage]

Thank you... I love framing it as if every route it done and perspective is seen. Some people may not think it's 'canon', but I like to think it's 'complete'

[@isaacgraff8288]

I beat Second Story and already have the remaster preordered. I can't wait to revisit this game.

[@coltonhorn1229]

This is my favorite ps1 rpg and I have dreamed of you making a recap of this. I'm only just now starting but I haven't been this hyped for something in a long time. Thanks for what you do, and in case you haven't heard this in a while, you're doing a good job.

[@coltonhorn1229]

AND I EVEN LEARNED TWO NEW STORY FACTS! YOURE AMAZING!

[@OniBlackMage]

That's awesome, but I now gotta ask which two story bits were they?

[@coltonhorn1229]

Celine and Chris sidestory, and some of the wisemen origins. Not sure how I missed that, but thanks for teaching me something new after all of these years!

[@coltonhorn1229]

Like, I don't know what the hell I did wrong, but I dont even think I knew Chris existed...

[@SarahsKnight0]

A damn fine game, and one that I must have played over as much as ten times as a teenager in the first two years or so after it came out originally on the PS1. Thanks for recapping this one, Oni. You have a great voice for doing these types of informative videos, and thanks to you I also was refreshed on some particular lore about the game that I had long forgotten, such as the identities of FIlia and her father Dr. Lantis, so it was almost like I was playing and discovering this story again for the first time ever. Big ups to you, man.

[@OniBlackMage]

The secret files quest is such a good twist to reward players and add context to the whole game. I can only wonder how many new and returning players won't even catch it

[@SimTrixSon]

The best story ocean of the series, can't wait for the new remake coming out soon.

[@cronoesify]

Let us all collectively forget what SO3s story twist meant for this amazingly well written SO2 story

[@baconatorrodriguez4651]

Man, considering there were really only a couple of planets (well...one and a half), the 'Star Ocean' name is wasted. Such huge potential for this story, but I guess they really ran out of budget to flesh out Lacuer building a frickin WMD, Shin/Cynne being underdeveloped, and the whole Disc 2 just being a barely more fleshed-out Xenogears Disc 2. Still, one of the most robust-playing RPGs (espcially R) with the crafting system, real-time battles, all the customisations with regards to levelling and bodyguarding, and looks great to boot. The PA system and two-character system were surprisingly well done too. Just sad the story could have taken more risks.

[@syphon_filter84]

You ain't slick with that "Rated E for everyone" reference! 😂

[@georgehatzimanolakis1904]

I know it's kinda cringe but I love it haha

[@HandsomeRagz]

The day is finally here, I thought it would never come. Amazing work as always!

[@100Servings]

I played a ton of this on my PlayStation when it first came out. I'm really looking forward to the remake, but there's no way the crafting system will be even close to as amazing as the original. Watching the polygons flip around until they made the item you were trying to make was pretty advanced for the time. Thanks, OBM. You're definitely the high point of my day.

[@AkaiAzul]

There is a demo available, but you're right, there is no morphing polygons during crafting anymore.

[@100Servings]

@@AkaiAzul A downgrade from a 25 year old game. Welcome to the future of gaming?

[@OniBlackMage]

I was honestly impressed they had spinning 3D models for all of the equipment, that's more effort than I see in most games today. Very ahead of their time.

[@thatguywesmaranan]

OBM!!! great to see you back!!!

[@OniBlackMage]

Glad to be back

[@JohnOethGuitar]

Thanks for the video! I'm heavily anticipating the remake.

[@JamesHarris-s1c]

SO GLAD TO SEE WHEN YOU UPLOAD VIDEOS BROTHER - especially excited about this one, can’t wait for November 2nd to come around!

[@MrRemmington]

I recall playing a lot this game long ago, but its like a fever dream honestly. A lot of it looks very familiar, but I dont recall the story in the slightest xD

[@BradFoust1826]

Great video as always. I've yet to play this game, but I'm looking forward to the remake coming out in a few weeks.

[@captainkidd22]

The GOAT is back 😤😤😤

[@benjamindonahue9434]

Great Recap, and great to see you back. Actually just finished Divine Force so this was pretty well timed. I played through this so many times so long ago, it's interesting to see the stuff I missed or may have been added in later releases

[@Nrdyco]

I never knew there was a marriage side quest with Cecil

[@lens_hunter]

The only issues I have with the story is Dr. Lantis wanting to destroy the whole universe just because his daughter died.

[@SeoulMan]

Long time, no see! Looking forward to the re-release next month!

[@hellwaker153]

Lets gooooo! Thanks Oni, i have literally watched all your videos so far. Some more than i can count hahaha

[@OniBlackMage]

Wow, ALL of them? That is a lot of battlefields to cover, which one was your favorite?

[@hellwaker153]

Final Fantasy Tactics is my favorite with Xenogears coming in a close 2nd, I rewatch them on my 2nd monitor whenever i am playing a mindless game hehe. Looking forward to your new stuff, thanks for making these videos :D

[@kidkilla11alex]

Im so glad you're back, I had to do a double tale when I saw that you uploaded a new video

[@EndorphinSauce]

Bless you for doing this. Right in time for the 2nd story remake. This is my favorite game every. Thank you for real.

[@StrBad1]

So awesome to see videos from you again! Seen everyone them!

[@eleventyseven3742]

Excited for the remake! This is the only star ocean game I haven't played so I'll save this video till after I beat it ✌️

[@OniBlackMage]

I think the remake will probably be the best way to experience the game in many ways, but how did you play the other 5 games and skip this one?

[@eleventyseven3742]

@@OniBlackMage SO3 on the PS2 was my first ever star ocean game! Then played 4, 5, 1 when they released it on ps5 and then 6 most recently! I really loved 6, and hearing that it took inspiration from 2 makes me very excited to experience this one soon

[@jzblue345]

Just in time for the big release! I love this channel you put so much effort into these videos.

[@ninjatech4154]

Awesome! missed your content, always a big fan!

[@QuayDawgg]

I have waited years for you to cover this game! Thank you so much!!!

[@OniBlackMage]

Glad I got to it in time! I hope the wait was worth it!

[@blacklancejeo6625]

You even managed to obtain the secret files! Cool! However, triggering the Filia sequence in Nede will cause Gabriel to get his limiter off and deal tons of hurt on our heroes.

[@Ragefat]

My English still sucked and I didn't understand much of the story when I first played, also couldn't defeat the last boss, so thanks for the recap Oni! And welcome back!

[@christopherbronson3275]

Yes, yes, YES. LITERALLY one of my favorite games I've ever played.

[@Johan87577]

Perfect timing before 2.5D remaster/remake releases in 2 weeks

[@kazsshack7963]

HELL YEAHA! Thanks Oni!

[@ther0n1nnamed47]

One if my absolute favorite games ever... I bought it for ps5, but my sister bought it for me for switch for Christmas, and a friend of mine bought it for me on steam. And I already had the original, and second evolution

[@laelhochberg9497]

I haven't played the original, nor the 2nd remastered version. But, I did see the trailer, and I do enjoy listening to Spike Spencer's voice. And now, just because I can… *GET IN THE ROBOT, SHINJI!!!!!!!*

[@tofoe]

watch this just in time i got the 99th ending on SOTSSR

[@emwbjr]

I enjoyed that "Hands rated E for Everyone" line

[@fanfictiondreamer7836]

It's good to have you back making videos again. I've missed you. It must have been so much to deal with when having to break off from making videos. I do understand what that can be like.

[@OniBlackMage]

Sounds rough, everything ok with you?

[@fanfictiondreamer7836]

@@OniBlackMage Been doing OK. Dealing with a lot. I would really love if you could cover FF16. Maybe someday whenever you can. No rush.

[@OniBlackMage]

@@fanfictiondreamer7836 I will for sure, it just has story DLC coming out so I will wait until then

[@fanfictiondreamer7836]

@@OniBlackMage Any chance you would like to cover the Xenoblade series?

[@OniBlackMage]

@@fanfictiondreamer7836 There is, I just want to pace myself with the long RPGs

[@charles_nico]

my first game on the ps1 and still one of my favorites till this day, cant wait for the remastered edition on steam

[@elevate07]

12:54 "The ripe old age of 27" End me please

[@OniBlackMage]

25+ in rpgs = senior citizen

[@charlesajones77]

@@OniBlackMage One of my biggest problems with JRPGs. I'm almost 50, I don't want to be playing as children.

[@Luso1221]

One strange thing about this game is the story is really good but nobody talks about it.

[@novastorm4187]

At least Oni-kun finally came in out of the wood works (it seems) and started posting more content.

[@MikeScott55]

I played this game when it originally came out back in the 90s and now I want to replay it so badly. 😂. I remember back when I played it, there were so many systems that I couldn’t understand how to really do anything and eventually just stopped playing in frustration.

[@Yeaster]

Good story. I replayed this game about 100 times

[@adrianmartinez9406]

I can’t wait until remaster. This game defined my childhood. I own the psp and original ps1 version I play them once a year 😊

[@solomoneom7665]

Holy shit you did my request!!! You are awesome!

[@OniBlackMage]

I hope you enjoyed! This was a fun one to cover

[@solomoneom7665]

@@OniBlackMage I'm very impressed that you included the hidden story dialog that tells the true story and unlocks a harder version of the final boss.

[@AnnChovies]

This is so great thank you 🙏 would you ever do one of these for Blue Sphere? That would be so amazing

[@OniBlackMage]

If they ever released an official english localization, yes

[@AntyGreatwood]

These get so good!

[@journeytrials]

Can you do any of the Tales game?? Seems you haven’t done any of that, just wondering.

[@OniBlackMage]

So far I have recapped Phantasia, Symphonia and Xillia... you can check them out in a playlist on my channel.

[@journeytrials]

@@OniBlackMage oh really? My bad didn’t see those on the video list! Thanks again!!

[@neogotham2k39]

Good luck for 100K subscribers!

[@OniBlackMage]

Thanks, getting close now!

[@THESUPREMEDJ]

Oni back just in time for the Star Ocean Remake 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@10nepiece]

Loved the original but I am now looking extremely forward to playing the remaster as the demo restored some faith in remasters

[@Burden-THE]

I liked the annunciation "rey-na" as this was what I knew it as 20 years ago... But Claude has a sound bite when KO'd that annunciated Rena "ree-na." Perhaps I am misremembering though

[@calvinmatthews1527]

Even though some of the story is nonsense, it's still a fun, grandiose adventure with great characters. I look forward to playing the remake.

[@ayuvir]

Star Ocean 3 was my first SO game and to this day I consider it the best. Integrity and Faithlessness was super weird and I just couldn't play much of it, SO1 and 2 didn't grab me and 4...has its moments. Haven't played the latest SO but I haven't heard many good things about it.

[@funkmastaC]

It feels crazy that you can describe the insanity of this game with such detail in under an hour. I’ve put in at least a few weeks of my life into this one over a few different platforms. Hell, with the remake coming out I’m about to do it again. I do wish it let you collect the whole roster in one play through like the anime but there is charm in replaying it and no shortage of endings.

[@OniBlackMage]

Which endings were your favorite?

[@funkmastaC]

@@OniBlackMage I’m all about those Claude male friendship endings. All the guys are real bros. Even Dion. And the Ernest ending is A++. Running from opera in space is so on brand for the series.

[@mageius]

But he completely forgot to see all of the over 80+ different endings lol. And yes the game is an amazing game. And do highly recommend the Remake that's coming out in a few weeks. And this is coming from someone who owns the original game has beaten it and also owns its PSP remake and is planning on buying the new one as well

[@OniBlackMage]

'Forgot' isn't the right word ... I just stuck to the important ones of what was either heavily implied in-game or was a 'special' ending tied to a quest. As you know, everything else is just permutations on the various shippings/pairings, and largely redundant.

[@mageius]

@OniBlackMage I mean it's still a great game. Besides if you started to abuse the item creation system you can usually see most of them. Because, well the game does let you break a lot of things in a good way. Side note, the endings actually do change based on who likes who more or if the affection is the same. That's true for every couples ending.

[@OniBlackMage]

@@mageiusThe combat in the game holds up for sure and is my favorite part. I have also seen all of the endings and just wish many more of them were more substantial.

[@killerb255]

@@OniBlackMage Yep, and what you said likely explains why subsequent Star Ocean games didn't have endings for every possible paring--only those with the main character. Granted that's too bad for people that want to see a Maria/Albel, Myuria/Bacchus, Victor/Fiore, or Albaird/Leticia ending.

[@brucestuckey7316]

I truly enjoyed The Second Story.

[@akumaten]

Now I'm ready for the remake!

[@kalamafraggre1]

@Oni Black Mage is Devil May Clive 16 in the queue?

[@OniBlackMage]

After the story DLC they are making comes out

[@alexisyukioyamato1127]

fuck.. is the captan of the starship of xenogears!

[@SSJCyan]

only beat last boss once!

[@TheFinalFantasyX]

I had to re-watch that lil secret of Phillia. That was mind blowing. I played this game like 3 times and never used Chisato so I never knew about the military secrets

[@jrpgaddict7726]

Ty!

[@smallfedoraproductions743]

Please do shining force because it's my favorite game of all time

[@OniBlackMage]

The first one?

[@smallfedoraproductions743]

@@OniBlackMage yep, my uncle would come over to my house with shining force on some kind of emulated iPad and I would play it for hours, I still remember the first time I beat the dark dragon

[@Chairmanmau]

Wild arms 2 recap!

[@hellwaker153]

YESSSS! i want this so bad

[@OniBlackMage]

That is definitely on the queue, please look forward to it

[@Chairmanmau]

@@OniBlackMage let’s go!

[@JohnnyWorld]

Did bowman / keith ever translate that sacred text?

[@svdrevolver5109]

After you finished Star Ocean Till the end of time, you can't see the Star Ocean series the same again, those forbidden knowledge tho

[@robcotto7081]

Why call Second Story R a remaster though? It is a remake, Second Evolution is the remaster

[@AkaiAzul]

I can't blame him when the terms have been so mixed around. Remake, remaster, re-imagining, they've all gotten confused.

[@ThomasJeff1898]

Though in this case, Second Story R is definitely a full-fledged remake. While something like First Departure R is a remaster. Note that this comment is for the person above me and the uploader of this video.

[@AkaiAzul]

@@ThomasJeff1898 I don't disagree. It's absolutely a remake and not a remaster.

[@robcotto7081]

@@AkaiAzul indeed there’s a lot of misinformation around, sadly.

[@OniBlackMage]

As mentioned earlier, there are a lot of semantics argued over where the line is drawn for calling something a remake, made more complicated that things that should be called a remaster maybe should be called a remake and vice versa. For me personally, the catch-all term is remake, and can apply more specifically to remaster/reimagining/reboot/etc. In the case of Star Ocean, the story is the exact same across all of the versions, and if all you are changing is QoL, UI, graphics, and tweaking combat or translations a little, it is more specifically a remaster (since the story is the exact same and the main changes are a fresh coat of paint and how it drives). So, I DO think it is a remake, because all remasters are remakes. Remaster is just the more specific context for HOW it is remade.

[@biozkop]

Ah.. the ten wise men.. want to defeat them again..

[@usvidragonslayer3091]

Nice

[@Matt_M_again]

For da algaaahhh

[@olivierpoidvin7039]

Thanx! Don’t need to buy the remake now😂

[@mageius]

You had better buy it now lol. Honestly the game is quite fun and even if you know the story to some degree the gameplay is just worth it as well besides you didn't even talk about all the different endings and all of the private actions that are in the game.

[@toyotam.7100]

Already paid for the pre- order

[@veghesther3204]

Since Celine Ashton Precis Noel Leon still suck (so does Welch remakes only) they will still NEVER be in my party permanently for the R remake EVER either.

[@omensoffate]

Shut up

[@joaopereira7261]

its a remake not a remaster.

[@mrnobody2683]

GD man

[@ArcaneEther]

I hate the English names of the Ten Wise Men from the PSP and R versions of the game. The original names were much cooler, especially "Indalecio" over "Gabriel".