Star Ocean 4 Review | The Last Hope For The Series | The Retro Perspective

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Thanks for checking out my review of one of my favourite games of all time. I hope you enjoyed it but it seems that 99% of people watching are not subscribed 🤣 I'll be taking on Star Ocean 3 some time in the future but I also have a load of other reviews, video essays and interviews with composers and game devs. So please check out the channel and if you like it, subscribe! Cheers! 😊

[@90sborngamer21]

⁰00⁰0⁰pp⁰0000⁰0⁰⁰😊⁰⁰000😊⁰0

[@SolisOfDreams]

Now this? This is a high quality and honest review. Glad I subscribed.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it! Looking forward to covering SO3 in the next few months =D

[@tazmanceltic]

Playing this now it's a fantastic jrpg man, glad I got it

[@Chapterhouse86]

The remastered edition is on sale for 8 bucks, so this video really made me want to pick it up. I played some of the old SNES star ocean games but never a 3d one. Everyone describes the newer games as Anime Star Trek, and that sounds sick. I hope it lives up to your great review!

[@nezkeys79]

Star Ocean 4 is peak Star Ocean for me ❤️ I played this for the first time a few months ago and obsessed over it. Trolling metal scumbags lol, getting to 255 as well. Awesome game

[@notyoursavior78]

I was playing Star Ocean Departure R on the PS4 lately for the first time as I saw it half off and then just started thinking of all the other Star Oceans I played in the past. I decided to see if there were any new opinions on this one. I remember this game getting slammed hard most times. It did irk me occasionally, but the combat was solid and the characters while nothing special were still mostly fine. I think I was one of the few people who liked Lymele too hehe she was one of my favorites actually. One of the best things about it is that it actually felt like a space adventure. Star Ocean: 2nd Story is one of all my time favorites so I liked that in the 4th one there was some actually space travel/more sci-fi (I expected more in the third one). I guess just to finish the thought while this game did some things I definitely liked and is still sort of just an average game in many categories, there were a lot of things I enjoyed about it anyway and was a positive overall experience. I liked how you mentioned that Microsoft was getting all these rpgs for the Xbox 360 at the beginning. What a weird time that was. I had a Playstation 3 and felt like I was missing out on so many I wanted to try.

[@aznablerey398]

Fantastic review, I’m amazed by how thorough you were. You got a subscriber dude.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Thanks so much! It means a lot because I'm attempting to change my review style a bit to match my earlier long-form stuff with more detail and focus on each individual element of the games. This one was a bit easier to do as it's one of my favourites, let's see how the next ones go! xD

[@claudiegarnier4560]

Amazing review as always u deserved way more sucribers brother and u will got them ! Keep doing this amazing reviews and take care !

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Thanks very much for the kind words! =)

[@davidroudebush6947]

I am currently playing the 360 version on my series x and it’s really great

[@teighhoken2618]

I might have to pull the trigger on this game, it looks pretty rad and you make a very passionate sales pitch for it. I couldn't get into First Departure but I'm still curious about the sci-fi-JRPG promise that Star Ocean makes. Thanks for the great video! Subscribed!

[@TheRetroPerspective]

In terms of Sci-fi RPG the earlier games don't really deliver much and SO3 only delivers in the intro and second disk but this I think got it much better =) Thanks, glad you enjoyed the vid!

[@reinsama2.09]

A fair and actual review on SO4 that doesnt bitch about things that don't matter? SIGN ME UP

[@murraykriner9425]

Even though I've limited experienc with JRPG's in the strictest senses, ive always been an enormous fan of their prowess when the art and music are concerned. I've watched a few playthroughs from just one of the people who share your own view of the brilliance entwined with this series. Though I have the three disk, 360 set, and have an early 1st edition console, I'll just have to deal with prying the disk from within as I jet from location to location. Really haven't progressed very far (level 3 and 4 respectively) I'm still gaining the significant power of the story & its mechanics. Thanks for the best write-up yet found on this game.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Amazing, cheers for the kind words. Glad you're enjoying the game =)

[@murraykriner9425]

@@TheRetroPerspective very little that isn't stellar, but I'm really short on how to load the bonus board, and keeping the leveling steady between party members. Trying to look for balance betwixt all the characters but gather that might be rather optimistic in some cases. Hoping to slowly construct a system that permits a near ideal playthrough, but sure there will be blocks to stumble over as the game wears on. Thanks for your time and efforts to lend clarity to this games mechanics. Very best wishes.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

@@murraykriner9425 Some characters can fill the bonus board a lot easier than others! haha =)

[@murraykriner9425]

@@TheRetroPerspective sure I'll find out just who they are on way to the end. Heard the comment about Faize already, so I'll count him as a debit to some degree. Thanks.

[@debrucey]

1:28 tentacle monster from the void

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Haha yeah I thought that too 🤣

[@birchmahogany2718]

How funny. Can't believe you noticed that.

[@Oggre]

I just buy it ! My 1st Star ocean ever ! You got a suscriber !

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Amazing, thank you 😁 hope you enjoy the game!

[@Oggre]

@@TheRetroPerspective Yeah I like the game ! Thanks a lot ! Actually you hyped me so much with your review than I bought all the star ocean games for 10$ each on the ps store (except the sequel to first départure R but I got it on emulation ^^) Keep doing these awesome reviews, I am watching them from Guadeloupe island a french island near usa . Take care man !

[@TheRetroPerspective]

@@Oggre I definitely will, cheers! Looking at pictures Guadeloupe looks very nice, =O I had heard of it but don't know much about it.

[@natedog2I0]

My first star ocean game... I loved this one. Good review bro

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Thanks very much!

[@cjwilliams1124]

Killer review, brother! I'm glad other fans of The series love this game As much as I do (SO2 is still my fav of all time tho), but I spent the TIME on this one when it came out and loved it.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Thanks for checking it out, yeah this has to be one of the biggest time-sink games I've ever played! Got all the hidden endings, now working on the battle trophies xD

[@mesutramsey3620]

love the combat system. instantly got hooked. so satisfying to do different kinds of combos. n if everything fails, just use Reimi and beat everyone lol

[@soulrebel6309]

Is it worth getting?

[@Alucard5715]

The loss of one character hits so goddamn hard

[@nezkeys79]

I loved lymle (used her as a controlled healer / lightning blast stunlocker for most of the early game) but when I got OP I ended up with just all the damage dealers Bacchus Meracle Arumat Edge Actually included edge because he gets a ridiculous slam type move that does 99999 in a single hit and is fast and permastuns enemies outside of their rush mode

[@CanadianBacon4.0]

Wonderful review! Thank you for your work!

[@davidsabillon5182]

Just got this on the steam sale! This video gave me everything I need to know before I play. Thanks! Like commented and subscribed 👍

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Awesome! Maybe even too much info haha!

[@dkr4673]

thanks for a more indepth look into SO4!! really enjoyable also subbed :D i forgot how much i loved the cast of this game (besides sarah she was boring as shit to me besides tying in more featherfolk lore bits) decided to buy the pc port! also never noticed this until you mentioned it but star ocean 2 is the only game where the heroine isnt your childhood friend o_O so1=milla & rodderick so3=fayt & sophia so4=reimi & edge so5=fidel & miki not sure how i never noticed that trend until now lol.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Much appreciated! Yeah it's a common trope with a lot of Japanese writing. It's one of the reasons I've kinda fallen out of love with Japanese games of late. Except Yakuza of course. I just feel like we've seen these stories a million times, it's pretty much every Tales Of game too! In terms of gameplay I absolutely adore these kinds of games but unless the characters grow on me like they have with Star Ocean 4 I find most of them forgettable.

[@ISesseriI]

I think possibly the only thing that aged like moldy socks is the models. They didn't look good when the game came out, and now they look even worse. However like you said, the gameplay is amazing, there's alot of depth to it, and I personally hold it as the standard I believe all jrpgs should try to reach when they make action combat

[@deathonadinosaur]

Great review homie

[@jesusmanuelquero6751]

You've just sold me this game man, awesome review, thanks!

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Thanks for watching, hope you enjoy it as much as I do if you end up playing it! =)

[@MILDMONSTER1234]

Most people usually play Jrpgs for the characters and story but this game is so interesting to me because I always hear how this is a arpg that manages to be up there with the likes of God damn Devil May Cry. It seems like an SMT or a KH game post 2 to me, great combat that redeems the so so plot, and that seems to be the general consensus

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Yep, the combat is definitely the highlight, though again I would say tales of graces f has better combat that is also more comparable to devil may cry. (it also has better characters 🤣)

[@morriganrenfield8240]

So so plot? SMT has the better story over persona. Dunno whatcha mean!

[@MILDMONSTER1234]

@@morriganrenfield8240 Smt games in theory have a better plot. In Actuality something like Nocturne is like 50% earthbound tier whacky dialogue, 20% non important side story and 30% actual plot.

[@morriganrenfield8240]

@@MILDMONSTER1234 I mean, there's a helluva lot more than nocturne out there.

[@nezkeys79]

Loved Tales of Graces F too my fave tales of game. However I also love Star Ocean 5 and think it gets a lot of undeserved hate and its my second fave Star Ocean

[@birchmahogany2718]

I had this for the PS3 but don't remember much of it. I just noticed the other week that it's available on PS4 as well as a host of other JRPG remasters. Trying to figure out which one I should get. Thanks for video

[@sarlndr]

If you're in N. America it's on sale right now for $10.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

This, Tales Of Graces and Ni No Kuni are the top 3 PS3 JRPG's I would say =D

[@theultimaterush]

Absolutely love this game!

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Awesome!

[@nezkeys79]

Interestingly Tales of Vesperia and Lost Odyssey I love so including SO4 there's a pattern evolving there about xbox rpgs (I also loved Morrowind). Don't get me wrong not getting ahead of myself the PlayStation always has more rpg exclusives but these three are total gems. Shame Lost Odyssey never got released in ps4 cause I'm certain the PlayStation only audience would love it

[@TheRetroPerspective]

I really want to play Vesperia and Lost Odyssey. I do own LO but only recently got an Xbox360 and my games are in storage xD

[@nezkeys79]

@@TheRetroPerspective get on it! Great games

[@SwordsmanOrion]

I've only played the original Xbox 360 version. Is the version on Steam the better PS3 version?

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Yeah pretty much, with nicer textures. =D

[@jonathansoko1085]

while 5 has its issues, i feel like people let their emotions dictate their feeling towards 5.......... 5 isnt nearly as bad as yall led me to believe. It does alot right

[@TheRetroPerspective]

A lot of my review is pointing out objective facts about the game and backing it up with footage. That's how I try to do my reviews as much as possible. An emotional review would only tell you "I didn't like it" not "it was a bad game" and I can't stand the former kind of review so not really sure what you mean there. But I'm willing to hear what you thought the game did right...not likely to agree though as it's not often I find a game as offensively bad as SO5. xD

[@PJ-gm1hb]

Played this 5 times, it's my favorite star ocean game.

[@femorllarina9395]

I'm an Xbox One player and I'm exclusively attracted to japanese games (Except things like Echo, a PS4 only western game...) Star Ocean 4 is one of the reasons I got this system (I don't have a PS360 and I won't buy 2 consoles). Your opinion makes me sad as its the reasoning why I can't play 13 Sentinels, Ys VIII or Blue Reflection, but if I sell my ONE and get a PS4, I won't be able to play Panzer Dragoon Orta, Radiant Silvergun, Guwange, Initial2 (chinese japanese-styled), and the BC sonic games

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Radiant Silvergun? The Saturn game? =S

[@femorllarina9395]

@@TheRetroPerspective Yes. The Xbox version is the only one translated, Saturn version is only in japanese, and I wanted to play the game for the story (Thank you for reading my comment) also I just saw star ocean 4 is also in ps4...

[@Bradley_Lute]

I picked this game up for cheap recently and was so unimpressed with the uncanny Valley of the characters, with the bad voice acting and not quite right character animations. But upon hearing so many testimonials of the games greatness and seeing this gameplay, I feel I was too quick to judge. I wish I could play the Remaster because I think that would throw most of my nitpicks away, but I don't think I'll need to just yet. The game does some stunning stuff with its graphics along with the bad and the gameplay looks fun. FFXIII may look amazing but I don't think there is enough game to justify the beauty.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Yeah the character models are weird but the rest of it is really beautiful!

[@Bradley_Lute]

@@TheRetroPerspective it's mostly Edge so far that is just weirding me out. He looks like a chucky doll or something. The rest are fine. I'm about 4 hours in and it's pretty fun so far. The music is amazing.

[@shaheerjazbhay1717]

I've seen many reviews say that the story and characters suck. I've never played a star ocean game before and while it seems like the story may not be as good as the previous ones, how does the story and characters stand on their own for someone who's new to the series?

[@TheRetroPerspective]

I think that depends entirely on whether you enjoy other JRPG games such as Tales Of... The characters are very tropey and typical of JRPGs but if you can enjoy cheesiness then the characters do grow on you as you play. The story is nowhere near as good as SO3 but as I say, this is the 1st game chronologically and also has the most sci-fi elements throughout so might appeal more than the others to certain people. =)

[@shaheerjazbhay1717]

@@TheRetroPerspective funny that you mention that because I'm currently going through tales of zestiria now. I don't mind jrpg tropes because In general, I find that most characters end up endearing. Overall though would you say that the story kept you entertained?

[@TheRetroPerspective]

@@shaheerjazbhay1717 Definitely kept me entertained yeah, there are a few threads running through it that keep you invested and the overarching mystery is a unique one that basically ties in with SO3 but it doesn't mean you have to play that game to really get it. Plus like with most games that involve space travel, seeing what's in store on each of the new planets you visit is another thing that keeps the pace of the story going.

[@shaheerjazbhay1717]

@@TheRetroPerspective well then, I think this is something I should definitely check out. Great review and video, keep up the good work!

[@TheRetroPerspective]

@@shaheerjazbhay1717 Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it! =)

[@KarmaSpaz12]

I didn't even know what a Star Ocean was until this year. Thanks to steam I can still experience this game and I have to say, I am surprised it holds up, barely feels like an old game at all. I then found SO5 just copy pasted the monsters and soundtrack and now with SO6 I see the same monsters yet again on the website! What bad world building is this? We're on an undeveloped planet with 343 Guilty Spark wrecking the UP3 SO4 story set up? Why even bother! And then I find the devs, who made the beautiful Valkyrie Profile are not responsible for making the next one! How much of this is the devs and how much is Square Enix not caring about their owned properties I don't know. I can still say I enjoyed SO4 in spite of this but it was a sad adventure. Maybe the series should have ended with SO4, give us a new IP to muck around with.

[@Walamonga1313]

This game is 5 bucks on steam rn, had me tempted. Now watching this to make an informed decision

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Definitely tried to put the details in this one! xD

[@awakenedsoul2638]

This game do not deserve low score. It deserves a 9 out of 10!

[@TheRetroPerspective]

That's true, it's a shame mainstream games journalism are too busy with call of duty 🤣

[@awakenedsoul2638]

@@TheRetroPerspective If Enix is not a wealthy company Square Soft will not exist as Square Enix. I am tired of them recycling Final Fantasy Games. They should focus on Star Ocean now! STOP MAKING IT ONE GAME PER NEW CONSOLE RELEASE! Do you agree?

[@awakenedsoul2638]

@@TheRetroPerspective Enix should stop making it exclusive for Sony it should be a cross platform game. It will help it in sales and popularity. They must act now remaster and remake the old games and port it to PC and Switch and X-Box.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

@@awakenedsoul2638 As I mention in the beginning of this video, that was a terrible idea the first time round and sales were poor. Also, the game is on PC xD

[@TheRetroPerspective]

@@awakenedsoul2638 Definitely, they put far too much budget into Final Fantasy and the results are often terrible.

[@OwtDaftUK]

I never played the PS3 version. I loved it on 360, so I need to get it on PS3.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Didn't you get annoyed with the disk swapping? =)

[@OwtDaftUK]

@@TheRetroPerspective I didn't remmeber it.

[@countryboyred]

This is a really good game and I’m not sure why it doesn’t get more love. The voice acting is cringy but I like the characters, plot, and worlds to explore. Also the battle system is fun.

[@soulrebel6309]

Is it worth getting?

[@countryboyred]

@@soulrebel6309 Yes, also I think it’s on sale on the ps4 store for 9 bucks

[@TheRetroPerspective]

If you like games that are good, it's worth getting xD

[@deathclockrlz]

Thank you for this fren, i was musing over buying it or not but you sealed the deal for me.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Niiice, thanks for watching! =)

[@ChairmanMeowNZ]

'Paraphobia or fear of perverts' 😮🤣

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Apparently it's a thing 🤣

[@TheRetroPerspective]

@Hotep Yakub Enword Jogger I'm not sure I see the relevance here...

[@MrSTVR]

I had never heard a good word said about this game until now. I might look into the PS4 remaster.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Very surprising! I was desperate for this game to come out on PS3 and when it finally did I was floored xD it was my number one favourite game for a long time.

[@dc7981]

I've heard only exclusively good things about the games combat, and *exclusively* terrible things about the story

[@TheRetroPerspective]

@@dc7981 Not terrible by a long shot, terrible is a word I'd reserve for FFXII through XV's story and characters.

[@dc7981]

@@TheRetroPerspective XVs characters are ok and arguably good at times. The problem is that the game is unfinished so the development is screwed even with the dlc This is just going off what I hear for SO4 tbh

[@mfntonberry]

Playing through 4 again waiting for 6 to release. Man I love this game. 5 was a straight fart of a game. I beat it but I didn't enjoy it

[@nezkeys79]

Great review Subbed

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Much appreciated!

[@AnbenK]

If Xbox we're using blueray it would be a different story

[@TheRetroPerspective]

It would have been better but still wouldn't have sold better 😁

[@bugman7starsifu]

Great game in the series. However, I felt like the dungeons took half my life! They were...lengthy!

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Definitely on first time playng. I felt like they went much quicker on replays but then again, this is one of my favourite games so of course they would xD

[@anthonyi784]

Good review man :)

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Thank you very much!

[@paulyd9634]

Why hate for xbox ? 360 was a great system. Plus if you download game to hard drive, you do not have to switch discs.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

I explain in the video right? 🤣 Microsoft threw their money around to buy exclusivity deals for franchises that had always been PlayStation or at least were more suited to that market and I believe 100% of those franchises suffered as a result. Tenchu, Tomb raider, sonic, dino crisis, any JRPG released on the system. Their advertising campaigns were dishonest by taking over the multiplat space. Also the 360 has one of the highest fail rates of any system ever right? 🤣 When the PS1 started taking over the market in the 90s, companies like square with Ff7 gravitated to it because it was a revolutionary system with superior hardware. They also invested in first party studios like psygnosis who made some of the best selling games in the world. All Microsoft did was pummel everyone with gargantuan advertising campaigns. They spent hundreds of times more on advertising than any other company.

[@paulyd9634]

@@TheRetroPerspective interesting take. You seem like you know your stuff. I played lost odyssey and the fables on xbox. Great rpgs. You're missing out if you haven't🤷‍♀️ Still play jet set radios on xbox too My 360 works awesome to this day

[@TheRetroPerspective]

@@paulyd9634 Thanks for that! I was doing some research the other day actually on their marketing budget because I'm planning a video at some point about the history of Microsoft from a Sony fan's perspective. I have a few paragraphs written but I have so many other videos planned and in the making, at the moment it's getting ridiculous now haha. =) I have them yeah, I haven't played Lost Oddysey yet but looking forward to It, will probably do a review.

[@trillpillcosby6320]

I like all star ocean dependungeon games. I was lowkey mad faize was the VILLIAN lol i used him in my main party and no one else lol

[@omensoffate]

If you play new game plus or whatever you can keep him

[@trillpillcosby6320]

@@omensoffate word? I’m currently replaying end of time but ima def so that

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Yeah, it's a great feature which allows you to get all his battle trophies too!

[@shmackatrotsky5394]

cehtainleh, the fuckus is on foon.

[@TheRetroPerspective]

I don't remember those characters...

[@Radio_CosmicRay]

Lol *while you aren't totally wrong and there will always be a install base for them* it's funny to see you say that japanese games/rpgs are home to sony when *especially now* they are losing the japanese audience badly to nintendo and more rpgs nowadays are multiplat not being exclusive to sony outside of a few like ff7 remake, we aren't in eras like the ps2 or early ps4/vita anymore Anyway *unlike infinite undiscovery and other 360 rpgs* There was actually no deal with microsoft for this game on the 360, square and moreso tri ace simply put it on the system because of the better console architecture at the time *in which it was a situation of microsoft merely taking advantage of that* and they did say it would come to ps3 later in which it happened Great review despite me not enjoying the game *mainly because of gameplay, not story/characters* I feel its a bit shallow and blindside is really overpowered and boring to spam, there was more nuance to the system in star ocean 3

[@TheRetroPerspective]

I guess that's because the Japanese, despite not even being able to move on the subway, claim they are playing these games on handheld sytems more and more.

[@funniestkross]

Grow some hair

[@TheRetroPerspective]

Can't, too much testosterone.

[@funniestkross]

@@TheRetroPerspective 😆👍