We know a lot of you are pretty excited to play Star Ocean: The Second Story R. After all, the original game is a true classic of the RPG genre and this new remake improves it even further! It adds a beautiful new 2.5D art style, a revamped combat system, a rearranged soundtrack, new illustrations and a galaxy's-worth of quality of life improvements. To cut a long story short, this crown jewel of the Star Ocean series now sparkles even brighter than before! The game releases on November 2, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4 and PC via Steam… but what if you want to play it earlier? Good news then because a free demo is available right now! Read on and we'll tell you all about it:

What's in the STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R demo?
The free demo lets you experience this interstellar adventure for three hours or until you make your way to the exit of Krosse Cave - whichever comes first. In that time, you'll get to see how the story gets underway as Pangalactic Federation officer Claude C. Kenny is transported to a mysterious location by an equally mysterious mechanism. Around that time, a local named Rena, is attacked by a monster in the Sacred Forest. Claude jumps into action and saves her, but his advanced technology means Rena mistakes him for a hero of myths from her homeland. She hopes he can save her nation, while he wants to find a way back home. Together, they set off for the village of Arlia… and an epic adventure begins.

Every STAR OCEAN fan has their favorite game in the series, but if you asked them all at once, we'd wager that one game in particular grabbed hearts and minds: STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY. Widely considered one of the crown jewels of the series, this beloved RPG is being completely remade for Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4 and PC (Steam) as STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R.

Set to release November 2, 2023, It features a stunning new 2.5D visual style, a revamped battle system and quality of life improvements galore, while retaining everything that made that original adventure so beloved. If you've never played the original game, or even the STAR OCEAN series before, you are in for a true treat… and if you're a longtime fan, get ready to experience this classic adventure in a bold new way. Read on and we'll go into much more detail about what you can expect from the game.