Sea of Stars | Review| An Indie Great! 

Pick up the game and support the channel at the same time! streaml.ink/pdac-yt-davidvinc Follow me on Twitter! twitter.com/TheDavidVinc Watch me stream! www.twitch.tv/davidvincstreams

I backed this game 3 years ago because I loved mario RPG and Chrono trigger and this looked amazing and I loved the idea of having my name in the credits of the game for supporting this one. I loved it so much i bought the limited edition physical copy from it as well. I am glad i took the chance back then as it was my first ever game I have ever backed and it just feels a little extra special to have gotten to be a part of this in a small way.

The review we've been waiting for!

The game is personally a 9/10 for me. My main issue was I wish there had been more characterization among the party members. A lot of the supporting characters really stood out and had great personalities, but some of your main party members didn't have enough to either distinguish them or did not have enough interpersonal dialogue with other characters. It felt like there were some missed opportunities in that, though I did overall like the character designs. I definitely agree there could've been more creativity in the combat department as well, especially when some enemy locks could not be broken easily without specific combos. Overall however, the positive points listed in this video are also what I enjoyed about it. Gameplay was engaging, puzzles were fun and often made it way easier to backtrack in certain places, and the story was easy to follow along with optional, additional context through the historian's book. It definitely is a fantastic rpg especially for a team with no background in designing them. It's definitely up there with Chained Echoes for a wonderful indie rpg experience, and I hope they choose to do more after they finish up the dlc on this one.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through now and its too soon for me to call it my RPG of the year because I have no touched BG3 yet, but to say I am in love with this game is an understatement. The story, characters, and writing are WAY better than I expected for a small studio and i love the break the fourth wall jokes as it reminds of me of playing old FF games where there was always one NPC in one random town that would always break story and talk directly to the player. I love and miss that stuff in games. And the music is god tier, Mitsuda has done it again and I can hear that Chrono Cross/Xenogears influence in some of these tunes. If its not my RPG of the year it will definitely be in the top two. This game delivered in spades to the point where I grabbed their old Ninja Gaiden style game "The Messenger" and am playing it simultaneously and loving it too. Sabotage Studios has a fan in this guy for sure. lol

Just finished this game yesterday with the True Ending. I thought it was so worth getting that ending, and I had a ton of fun with the game. I really like the way the game encourages you to use combos and special moves, where in others I feel like I'm hording my MP for the hard fights. I usually hate very limited inventories, but it didn't bother me in this. I think it again encouraged you to use your food items so you can then craft the newest recipe you received to fill its spot. I honestly felt there was a point in the middle where it felt a bit repetitive, but I think that might have been because I was playing a LOT. I started taking small breaks here and there and I think that helped a lot. Either way, it's a great game with an absolutely amazing soundtrack.

I backed Sea of Stars, and I’m happy that it’s getting great reviews, but this is the review I was waiting for above all others.

I backed it on Kickstarter and currently have about 33 hours of gameplay with (what I assume is) the final dungeon unlocked and I'm just working my way round the world map collecting secrets. Absolutely superb game. Definitely in my top 3 RPGs this year with Trails Into Reverie and Baldur's Gate 3. Sabotage Studio are two for two with Sea of Stars and The Messenger (which is an excellent platformer). I'm definitely looking forward to their next game and expanding their world!

Who knew baking bread would make me cry so much. This game was beautiful from start to finish. I am in the Fated Hour and I am not sure I want it to end :(

9:14 Yeah, not too many skills or combos, but the Mario RPG button timing keeps it fun. Like Valere's Moonarang skill. I prolly use this skill the most!

I totally agree. First game in a long long time that I just didn't want to stop playing until I was done. A perfect RPG. I really hope Sabotage keep making games like this.

Im playing it now, I’m glad I finished The Messenger beforehand. Also if rumors are true about chrono trigger getting a remake, they will have to bring their S game because Sea of Stars has raised the bar beyond the stratosphere!

For someone even a month ago I hadn't even heard of, you are quickly becoming one of my favorite rpg reviewers.

I haven’t been able to play much of the demo, but the little I did play got me excited because of the heavy Golden Sun vibes. I do hope that we can eventually see more of the psynergy/djinn style puzzles and mechanics that Golden Sun had. Everything I’ve seen about this game so far has made me want to pick it up, so I might try and pick up a physical version.

Playing this on my OLED is so beautiful. This and Baulders Gate have been my Favorite RPGs this year.

😂 Saying something has no right to be [insert praise] in this particular context is not the compliment you think you're saying btw. Everybody knew what you meant, but the typical context for that phrase, for posterity's sake, is when people are prepared for something to be middling or mediocre(aka pessimism) and turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Among jrpg fans and supporters, the optimism was sky high for this work of art from kickstart to finish. As always, David, absolute pleasure hearing your thoughts!

I was looking forward to your review of this. Between Sea of Stars and Chained Echoes, it feels like we're in a mini golden age for retro RPGs.

I really like how you reviewed this. Of course I’m thrilled with the result (buy it), but the way you talk through the mechanics and various aspects of the game, it gave me a good idea of what to expect and why I might enjoy it. I’m going to check out more of your videos now!

i'm 25 hours in the game, doing side quest, before go to the last boss. Like the puzzle. I agree with you on the lack of skill, wish they double the skill. But overall is a good RPG.

You just explained what I love about this game , Retro RPG just like back in old days

I actually like both styles of JRPGs, retro and modern with the bonding and dating, but I can't say I didn't sorely miss a good retro JRPG. The last truly amazing one was Dragon Quest XI, I feel, and this game kinda blows that one out of the water.

If there is a poll released for RPG of the year, my money is on this game. The writers, creators and developers did this game justice in spades! Had to download it after the demo and im glad a lot of supported them during the initial Kickstarter and we get to enjoy the fruitions. Battle mechanis is fun. Sure, I get game a lot but man, it forces you to pay attention to skills and practice makes perfect mindset. Graphic is really pretty with a lot of small details to enjoy. Square Enix, pay attention - this is how you should be making a game.

Reluctant to actually call it a JRPG given the developer is based in Canada.

Loving Sea of Stars. Yolande is hilarious with her digs at old rpg tropes. And I found Captain Klee' Shae a great name for an rpg character. I revert to my younger self when I play it. Then I revert to my current self when I have to go to work and my back hurts for no reason.

Honestly it's one of the best jrpgs I've played In a very long time! It keeps you hooked to see what happens next in the story, it's not grindy to the point you want to drop it and the characters are awesome!! Not to mention music and art style are on point too

Trying to experience this game as blind as I can, but I'll definitely come back to this once I've finished

Amazing game. Amazing review. When you talked about your gaming notebook, you spoke straight to my soul

I backed it on Kickstarter, and just got the platinum trophy on PSN for it yesterday. It is definitely one of, if not my Game of the Year, without question.

I wasn't a huge fan of the demo, but all of these glowing reviews make me want to give the real game a shot. I'm going to start The Messenger today so I can fully dive into that world once I start SoS proper.

I just got the platinum trophy for Sea of Stars and I thought it was fantastic! I really want to try Chained Echoes as my next indie turn based RPG. A lot of people seem to compare them lol

Jrpg of the year I can't put over octpath traveler 2 and baldurs gate 3 may have been rpg of the year and game of the year.

I'm absolutely getting this. I loved Lufia 2s puzzles. I can solve everything with no guides.

Honestly it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played. I have been using the pendants to make the game easier as I don’t like too much of a challenge and it’s perfect. Great characters and adventure, wonderful graphics and music, exemplary map/level design, fun engaging combat. 10/10

This game is great, I've also been craving some rpg puzzles that aren't just basic switch puzzles. I especially like when you can alter the dungeon itself like in Golden Sun! I do think the two leads are a bit flat as characters though. Thankfully Garl is there to pick up the slack! Also I totally agree that it would be nice to have more moves. I've been using moonerang and sunball the whole game with very little else. It sucks that there's not much variety, but the lock breaking system helps keep battles from being monotonous. There's also not an overwhelming number of encounters. I reaaally like the bosses in this game too, I always look forward to them!

Just got the 5th party member. Really awesome game so far. I revisited a lot areas looking for every treasure and rainbow shell. The incentive to find everything is there.

I like the review as a gamer but also respect the muscles you have as a man. I also like the shirt you are wearing. It gives you a summer vibe while you are in the video.

I'm trying to hold out for the physical release next year, but man I am so looking forward to playing this!

As someone without nostalgia lenses or nostalgia driven emotions due to being kinda still new in jrpgs. I mean, my first approach to Chrono trigger was like a year ago in ny android phone, so i probably didn't felt the same as the ones who played when was realesed. So I'm gonna play Sea of stars and see for myself, but the art is quite outstanding.

Garl is Ramus! Well, they look similar. But as you learn more about Garl, you'll find their personalities are quite different.

Sold! I should finish SMT V this week and then I'm moving SoS to the top of the queue.

I haven't watched one of David's videos in a while but I swear he gets more jacked every time I see him.

Armored core 6 is my goty, but Sea of Stars is 2nd. Such badass games

David could I recommend a future video idea? Just seeing as sea of stars and chained echoes are both love letters to the 16 bit golden age of rpgs and arguably both sit at the top of the list with the very best of them and were both released within a year of each other, what are your thoughts on a chained echoes vs sea of stars video with insight into your personal favourite out of the two (I know it's difficult but if you absolutely had to choose) or if that's impossible to decide maybe an analysis of what you think each one does better and worse? Just a thought!

Yeah, I'm at the part where we see l shiel without her mask. I think the game is one of the better RPGs out there with a modern twist. Combat is a little stale, and I found myself quickly putting the relic on for +40% enemy damage, and still finding the game easy tbh. I've only died like once or twice from not hitting timed blocks. I wish there was more strategy in the combat, or maybe status ailments to consider. No sleep, confusion, DoT, etc. I wish it had that

Im loving Sea of Stars. Doesnt break into my top 10 favorites, but I think a lot of that may be due to nostalgia reasons. SoS feels like a great combo of Super Mario RPG, Golden Sun, and a bit of Chrono Trigger.

Finished it yesterday and it was definitely as good as I'd hoped. I really liked The Messenger and Sea of Stars was just as good. They really struck a good balance between firmly tying the games' settings together and not turning off those who hadn't played The Messenger too, I think. I have some of the same minor complaints as the others - combat gets pretty repetitive, Garl and Seraï are amazing while everyone else is pretty boring, etc. - but they are very minor compared to how well made everything else is. It has just the right amount of everything too, side quests, puzzles, collectibles, it all felt like any more or less would have been too much or not enough. A lot of people talk about the visuals in general, or the lighting (which is very nice) but I think the real stand-out visual was the animations. They're some of the best if not the absolute best I've seen in pixel art, particularly with the big bosses. They also did a good job of honoring their Kickstarter backer promises without ruining a major area of the game with a bunch of portraits like so many others. Well except for that one part where they did exactly that by putting some dumb RU-vidr's face in there. So close!

Just got this tonight at tour recommend and I love it. I also got it cause of the bright colors. I am starting SMT3 nocturne for the first time as well. I think I needed something like sea of stars in contrast. Thank you again

Just finished it yesterday, true ending and all. I had a great time with it, but I feel the narrative is a bit rough in some parts, along with some questionable grammar choices. If I were to compare it to Chained Echoes, I'd say Chained Echoes beats it hands down.

If this game is better than Octopath II like you say, this has the potential to be one of my favorite games of all time! I adore golden sun and mario rpg and all the ganes you mentioned, so im so excited to play this!

Been waiting to see your opinion on this one!

I completed the game 100%, and this review is correct. If you get it, you get it. I was nodding aggressively when you talked about the things that annoy you about other open world games and modern jrpgs. Too many of them are rehashing things that DONT need to be redone. I guess where I’d slightly disagree is in the difficulty. I found the game to be a little too easy, especially because of another point you make~ the limitation on abilities that each character has. I thought it was always pretty obvious which character/ability to use, because there’s usually only one option that makes the most sense. It was just about determining the order of priority on which enemy to hit first. And I’m pretty good with timed button presses, so that just wasn’t an issue for me personally, at least I also really like simple puzzles, and while I thought maybe the puzzles were still a bit TOO simple in this game, at least they kept you engaged. Reminded me of wild arms, which I love. I think a DLC could do wonders for this game. They just need to give each character 3 more abilities, a few more combos, and some extra side content that expands on the story, and they’ve got something almost perfect here. I think it was kind of a missed opportunity to use the accessory slots to give each character more abilities. For example- an accessory that would boost your atk by a few points, but also gives you a poison spell, so that you had more ways of breaking locks on different characters. Or even a status ailment system so that each character could get some recovery spells, or more ways to break locks. It could’ve been more intricate

I have been SO excited for this game. Side note: I really like your shirt, David. It made my wife and me laugh.

Good puzzles are always cool. I want the physical copy

I played the demo. Hopefully the final version is a bit tighter, because more than a few times I definitely timed correctly but didn't get the bonus. I wish the star relic thing fired off to indicate the timing, rather than telling you "good job," because by then you've already done it.

I'm a sucker for physical releases, so I'm buying this game twice!! Its a near 10/10.

love your content, dude. since the 'top ds rpgs' vids. good vibrations all over you, david ❣

My only major complaint about the game is the way backtracking is handled. Say you just got a load of Conch shells, or need to fulfill a minor sidequest. If there's a dungeon between you and your destination, you are CRAP OUT OF LUCK, son, cuz' you're going to slog your way through that place TWICE (once there, once on the way back). As much as I like having an overworld, you'd think there'd be a better way of traversing it, other than your plates of meat (I'm about 17 hours in). Yeah, Chrono Trigger was a little guilty of this as well, but most dungeons were either very short (like Guardia Forest or the Cursed Woods) or the game just let you walk through them on the overworld without any issue (like Zenan Bridge 600 AD). Getting back to the Mole Village or trading in my shells should take ten seconds, not ten minutes. Also, is it just me, or is "the fifth character" kind of useless?

Like spending the day at the Millennium fair

I never thought I'd find anyone as perfect as you

Got it on game pass and completed it, was hooked all the way and really enjoyed the story. Just be aware there is an ending and then a true ending. The normal ending i felt a little let down and went from a 9/10 to a 8.5/10 and also just another minor complaint being a few characters were not as useful in battle. But the true ending bumped it back to a 9/10. Pixel art/interactive battle elements were so damn good.

I've already played a bit of it myself on Switch. Definitely hoping to find opportunities to put more time in.

Another amazing review and content, David! Although, I find it ironic that you criticise modern open world games for their emptiness, or the hallway simulators, but you praised and loved FFXVI, which suffers from both, ironically. A real bummer, that game for me.

Started it this weekend and having alot of fun so far! Still had to see your review though

It's been busy at work, but later this week, I'll finally have the time to dive into this one. I'm so happy to hear a good report.

Awesome review! It looks fantastic and I cannot wait to get it. I'm holding out for the physical!

I thought I was imagining the Golden Sun influence. Glad I'm not the only one. Was it just me or was there a reference to that horrible sliding tile floor puzzle from Beyond The Beyond just before getting a certain amumet?

Dude I love this game. I have Starfield and blasphemous 2 to play as well as a bunch of stuff on the backlog and I’m choosing to play this game first over everything.

Dungeons that don't suck? What a concept!

Ugh the parts at the end of the game with Garl made my grown ass cry. Btw I also played the game to get the true ending. Loved this game soooooo much

Tx David enjoying it so far on Switch.

This game made me ugly cry from sadness and joy. I've NEVER had that happen to me in the 30 years I've played video games. Damn this game is good!

Just got the game and just got through the three trials thing that happens early on. Really enjoying this game considering golden sun was by far one of my favorites. I also love doing valere moonerang move 😂

Loving this game. Approaching the end; well into act 3. There aren't chapters or acts per se, but they're easily defined within the story. Classic 3 act structure.

Guess u can say this game almost feels likes an spiritual successor to Chrono Trigger than Chrono Cross ever has.

My brother, that shirt is amazing!

I find myself agreeing with David on games much more than I disagree, so I will take this as my cue to buy this game. Thanks brother, keep up the good work.

I'm excited to see what they do with the recently announced DLC!

I'm going to have to play this now, I had been holding off since I found games like Chained Echoes to be overrated; this was the review I needed. Although, I'm not sure any game is topping Baldur's Gate III this year, and that's coming from an old school jrpgist like yourself.

I am 7 hours in and enjoying it so far. LOVE that it’s not Anime troupe or jiggly girls.

WTF are you talking about? 90% of the "puzzles" in Sea of Stars are exactly the "there's a barrier, I'd better go to this room right next door and hit the switch" type, only the switch isn't in another room, it's right next to the "barrier". Just because they replaced a locked door with a gap that you can't cross yet, doesn't mean that it is a better "puzzle". It adds variety in the mechanism, but not in the solutions. It's now, "oh look a big gap I can't jump accross. hit the switch now there are platforms that I can jump accross, or now there is a post that I can grapple accross, or now there is a platform that I can jump to that will carry me accross." The "gameplay" solution to these "puzzles is still hit the switch to "solve the puzzle". I loved almost everything about this game, but the dungeon designs just pissed me off so much that the rest of the game can't make up for that.

It's great!! I'm really digging it. For 35$ it's a steal!

I just bought Octopath Traveler 2 and I think this will be my next game after I finish it since Suikoden is still MIA

Rite iv decided that's my number 1 favourite top for u

Omg I love your shirt! Amazing. My brother and I just got Sea of Stars on Playstation with a shared account so we can both play it 😊 looking forward to it!

Awesome review as always, Keep up the good work! You mentioned you were a supporter on their Kickstarter, were you on the tier that got a little tombstone and quote in the crypt? If so, whats your assigned number? I thought it would be cool if us fans coud see your tombstone and quote in the crypt! :)

Absolutely loving this game too!! I also agree with you about missing puzzles like they used to have in old games ☺️ great review

Amazing review David, I was gonna pick up this game regardless, but this video has cemented that decision even more!

I was waiting to get this with my next paycheck, but I got FOMO after watching the documentary on the making of this on RU-vid, I ended up getting this and The Messenger 😅

epic man going to play it. I love wild arms and finale fansty 2 and 3 awe the days and soul blade

i will play this game eventually im still playing octopath 2 on my switch

So major issue is not enough skills/tech. I want the physical though.

I'm 3/4s of the way through and I concur this game is 🔥🔥🔥

Going to get this, I am sold

Love that tank!

I'm actually thinking of purchasing the physical release even though I have already purchased the digital version just to support this game. Although octopath 2 was amazing this gem may be tied for rpg of the year for me.

I don’t see what people really praise in this game seriously, the graphics and art style are beautiful, just to be clear, I haven’t finished this game yet, but I already have all 5 party members (unless there is more), so you can say i have a clear picture of the game. The combat system while fun at first is extremely repetitive, there is little to no variety in enemies in the almost 20 hours i have played this game. I actually get tired of fighting for how repetitive it is. While they tried to implement some puzzles for immersion in the dungeons, most of them feel like something i have done already in other games also none of them give you a challenge, they are all so obvious they feel more like fetching than an actual puzzle. Im really struggling to finish it, cause i love the cute looking graphics but is so boring at the same time. I know this is your opinion but “best JRPG of the year”??? LOL no this is not at all. It is a good decent jrpg to play if you can struggle with it’s boring combat.

Well if you declare so, it must be! Still looking forward to remakes of SMRPG and Star Ocean 2, it will be hard to top those but glad to hear a new game is amazing!

I totally disagree, OT2 is a much better game. Sea of Stars has some nice gameplay innovations and nice graphics, and the boss fights surprised me in that they are challenging, but the music is nothing special, and especially the story and world are just terribly insipid, uninspiring JRPG fodder. The funny thing about it though is that the developers are from Quebec City, where I live, and they are working on a Quebec French slang dialog patch.

what baffles me about big studios like square-enix is, they could make a game like this but even bigger and better- but refuses? Iga didnt get funding for a 2.5D castlevania from Konami and went to kickstarter. Yu suzuki wanted to make shenmue 3 and SEGA didnt help out and went to kickstarter. Keiji Inafune one of the guys behind mega man had to go to kickstarter to make a 2.5D mega man type of game as well after capcom refused to make a Mega Man 11 (they changed their mind later). Japan is weird to me, lower budget, 16 bit styled games is a big NO NO for them. I dont get it. Right, I remember DQ 11 had a 16 bit style option, so they know fans like "retro" styled games.

My only complaint with this game: the cinema scene/ character portraits art style. It's just a bit too bland and generic. Tho maybe this was impossible to succeed in. The game looks and plays like Chrono Trigger, but without the unique Toriyama art style. But all the pros definitely outweigh this con.