Star Ocean: The Divine Force

One of Square Enix's classic franchises has finally reached its peak – and it's no fantasy. Star Ocean: The Divine Force shows just how far the series has come in the last three decades, delivering a solid RPG experience that challenges some of the genre's best.

After a rocky last decade, it seems as if Star Ocean has finally found its footing. Featuring some of the most intense and fast-paced RPG combat we've ever seen, The Divine Force seems like the best game to get into the series – just beware that it makes the rest of the Star Ocean titles look like proof of concept.

Two Paths – One Destiny

The first step into your Star Ocean adventure will be to pick a character. This choice dramatically impacts the plot, as is to be expected. You can pick from a list of eight playable characters – each with a different path through the Star Ocean: The Divine Force plot.

Speaking of the plot, in true Square Enix fashion, it's one of the best parts of the game. Additionally, players can also immerse themselves in the so-called Private Actions, which are similar to Persona 5's confidant scenes. These serve as ways to expand upon each character's motivations – and also add a good 50 hours or so to the game's total playtime.

Fast-Paced Action

In recent years, turn-based RPGs have become increasingly rare. Titles like Dragon Quest XI and the aforementioned Persona 5 have become a rarity in their genre, and that's something that the developers behind Star Ocean: The Divine Force understood quite well.

Instead of waiting for their turn, players engage enemies in dynamic encounters reminiscent of the Xenoblade Chronicles series. Each battle is spiced up with flashy combat animations and tons of skills and commands. It's an evolution of the classic Star Ocean experience, to be sure, but a welcome one.

However, it's worth noting that, while the gameplay is one of the best in the series, the visuals might be a bit of a mixed bag for players expecting a gorgeous RPG experience.

Irregular Visuals

While it would be unfair to compare Star Ocean: The Divine Force with some other AAA titles, there are some visual issues that have nothing to do with the game's performance or its engine – it's a matter of visual design over anything else.

While most of Akira Yasuda's character designs look great in the game's concept art, the same can't be said of their in-game models. Some characters look a bit too much like emotionless mannequins, which, in a game of this scope, can severely hurt the player's immersion.

Fortunately, the overall presentation is not that terrible. Some of the open areas are genuinely breathtaking, and the myriad of special effects seen in battle adds yet another layer of stylish action to a pretty solid RPG title.

Pros

• Different characters severely modify the game's plot
• Entertaining exploration
• Gorgeous vistas

Cons

• Lackluster character models
• The story moves a bit too slowly at the beginning