This game has a very good storyline and setting. If you're looking for an addictive combat system or that gripping desire to play the game because you can't stop thinking about it as soon as you get out of school or off work then if you are like me you will be disappointed. I bought this game on sale and would never pay full price unless you're replaying it for nostalgic reasons.

There are too many game mechanics that are completely unnecessary and not even useful. You can spend a lot of time in the IC/Specialty Skills area of the game, but what exactly is its purpose other than adding something to do if you're really really bored?
The only useful one is pickpocketing which could have been left out entirely and placed those useful items in the typical chest. I can see there being some value to crafting food/potions etc if you were playing the game in hard mode but for the average player the Specialty mechanics could be completely done away with. And then there is "Combat Skills". What and why??? Putting points into combat buffs that trigger randomly during battle is a silly concept if not plain stupid. Also you're going to max out all spells regardless so remove leveling those up and just allow leveling up to unlock new skills/spells seems logical.

The two main characters, Claude and Rena, are really interesting. Each having their own unique backgrounds. But... do I feel an emotional attachment to either? No not really.

Combat would have been likely amazing to play in the 90s, but playing as Claude in the lead feels a lot like Streets of Rage without objects lying around to pick up and bash your opponents with. Late game there are some flashy spells that will WOW you at first, but after several animations they end up being skipped which is a nice feature. A chest drops a ring that caps out physical damage at 9,999 and completely breaks the game. THANK GOD! The battles are so boring from start to end game! I have at least 5-10 more hours I should think before beating this game. I am so glad I found this Double Damage Ring so I don't have to mindlessly battle for near as long! I try my hardest to dodge enemies that look like the edible ghosts from Pac-Man. Grinding is just not necessary (again there is an emphasis on a new hard difficulty and for good reason. I tried early in the game to play in hard mode but the balance was just not. Rather than hard it was impossible so reduced back to normal after 2 long arduous monotonous boring never ending battles.

Flying a Psynard is pretty standard late game for Square RPG and implemented well.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is executed with finesse and well polished and all things work smoothly overall yet nothing special. Generic and bland taste is more like it with the aforementioned excess fat (Specialty junk) and clunky combat system seemingly appropriate for a 1990s game but does not stand the test of time some 20+ years later.

Overall a great story. I'm sure this game was an EPIC in its original form's release and nostalgic for many who did play the original. This is my first Star Ocean game and have always wanted to play a Star Ocean franchise game being a life long gamer since Atari.

I'm going to give Star Ocean The Second Story R(emake) a generous 6/10 and a thumbs up review simply because the story line is Groovy! Could it be better? Yes, but its science fiction RPG style is original for me. If I could give this a horizontal thumb neither up or down that is where my thumb rests for this review.

2 days after the above:
Completed Game: So thrilled to be done with this overrated game. Dropping my rating from a 6 to a 5/10. The bad guys/antagonists role is pretty bad. A game I would have rather missed out on.

The story is flaw and not exciting at all.

No. I just can't. Creepy and weepy yuk. It's not as awesome as the original. Yeah I'm old school.