Which Version of The First Star Ocean Should You Play? - Star Ocean: First Departure Remaster Review 

Loving the direction that this channel took. This guy really goes into detail of each and every specific version, making my life essentially easier when I decide to replay these classics.

Gotta love a remaster that gives you options. Change es much as you want. As long as I can choose for myself, it's all good.

You're the only person I will go to for these kinds of analysis, very thorough, great comparisons and always entertaining to watch, thanks for all you do 💙

I hope we get a Second Evolution enhanced port someday.

Personally I love the look of the original. I feel like there is a wonderful texture and atmosphere due to the color choices and pixel art. I definitely like the look of the newer versions though as well - especially the portraits.

I’ve been meaning to get into Star Ocean for years! I’m really glad you’ve done a video on this.

I honestly didn’t know there was a remaster. Definitely gonna pick it up, especially since I skipped the PSP release.

I would love to see Namco do this with the Tales of Destiny and Rebirth games.

Dude; I thought this game was completely forgotten, and I had no idea they did a remake after the SNES version. This is super exciting news

I don't often watch videos like these but I'm glad this popped up on my recommended and I gave it a shot. You certainly made it easy to understand the origins of the game and the history it has. Thank you!

Wow! What a thorough and well made video! The information is presented perfectly, concise and well thought out. This is exactly the kind of video I'm looking for when researching retro games with multiple versions. I can tell a lot of work went into making this video and I appreciate it. Thank you for the video!

The fan translation for the snes version is very good I would recommend it

During Tales of Phantasia's development, some people on the team didn't agree with some of the decisions that were being made so they broke off and formed Tri-Ace. It wasn't after the game was done, but 9 months before it.

Personally i'd like the field style of the Famicom version more (never played that one though, played the psp so far...might get it again on Switch since it's just $20 and the control sticks on the switch are better than the psp pad imo) but would probably never trade the First Departure versions for it only due to FD having more content overall.

The StarOcean I like was the 1st snes one. That one had such a great story! It could work with Chrono Trigger.

This was very informative and helpful! Awesome video!

Glad they get rid of this blurry filter on the sprites! For once. I would by that in a flash if it release physicaly. Also, can't wait for SO2 remaster.

Thanks a lot for this video and the research you did for the rebalancing ^^. Can't wait for tomorrow !

Star Ocean's fan translation was translated from Japanese by Clyde "Tomato" Mendelin who went on to do Mother 3 and Bahamut Lagoon and two chapters of "Live A Live".

Thank you so much. I started with the 3D Star Ocean but was curious to play this remaster of the original.

Hey man, I really love your all ports review. I hope you continue this and make more.

OMG I didn't know about the ZR/R2 sprint! Thank you!

This video pops up right no time! I wanted to see the differences and here there are, uploaded just three hours ago. Nice timing!

I love comparisons like this. Well done!

They should have included the original snes version in fdr.

Thank you for the video it answered all my questions

Currently playing it on the switch AND I'm loving it so far. Feels like an amazing story. Rn I'm on the town you warp after learning what's happening at the beginning. Amazing video as well.

Subbed, great in depth analysis!

This was helpful, thanks!

Nice comparison well made video! subbed👍🏽 Gonna cop and play FDR for the first time before Second Story comes out soon. Last time I played a SO game was SO3 when it came out but I think I got stuck at one point and never finished lol

Beat the fan translation on my hacked Wii a few years back I enjoyed playing this and will prolly get this

Excellent explanation! I remember being blown away by Star Ocean's visuals as a kid. I also remember having a real bitch of a time getting the ROM to work (a problem which apparently hasn't existed in more than a decade :P)

I just bought this game yesterday and I have to say it's pretty awesome so far! Awesome Review man!

This was a really helpful video.🤠👌🏻👌🏻

I’m curious tho. Will they make a STAR OCEAN: SECOND EVOLUTION port on the switch ????

Nice to hear and see all the stuff added to it, figured it was just a rereleased of the PSP version on the Switch but glad to hear it not.

Oh wow, didn't even realize. I remember my brother got me the PSP version, and I spent so much time playing it. Might go out and pick up the new one sometime soon.

what a fantastic review, good job

This is excellent; just what I'm looking for in a "which should you buy" video. I'll be getting this for the PS4. Thank you! :)

I want to start and say thank you for the detailed video distinguishing each release's difference, strengths and weaknesses and difference via HD balancing, music, translations and such. These videos always help me learn more about the remastered game. I like knowing that even with FDR the original still has a place too based on a variety of factors. My first experience with Star Ocean FD was the PSP remaster (though my first SO game ever was SO3). I still remember getting really excited to be able to play the first game with new art with the standard Tales of style at the time (Symphonia/Abyss specifically) and being able to play the past game HDed. I am really excited for the new version because it's been years since I played an SO game and I forgot a lot about the first since it's been so long. Also happy to know there's customizable choices, like art style and voice acting, and I like the idea of the game being more difficult (SO3 beat me up pretty good too). It seems like there was a lot of work involved to make it a very pleasant experience. My only nitpick is no matter the art style chosen there's the PSP style for animated cutscenes (great style just a little just jarring if someone chooses the new style in FDR but reanimating would be maybe too much?) and the music on the original is better than the remaster (can't explain it but sounds more complex with more depth? I wish there was a way to play the original music with the new remaster) but overall I think that this port is really cool. I'm definitely buying this for the Switch (maybe the PS4 too, I play both systems a lot) though I just wish it had a physical version. This game deserves a physical version.

Fantastic breakdown. Really well done.

Played both the PSP and SNES title, didn't realize it was on the Switch. Good video!

A fair and thorough comparison - that's refreshing! Nice job & thanks.

This is a fantastic video, my guy

I just want to thank you for the hard work you put to make these videos, it helped me 2 times before and am sure there are more people like me.

Thanks for this video. I didn't even know there were more games of this series other than Star Ocean the Second Story R. I'm really excited for both games and am looking forward to playing both games

Yay! Perfect description of all three. After playing all the versions, I totally agree that it comes down to preference. Although, FDR has been a total blast. Highly recommend! Hope they do the same for number 2! ❤️ I need Claude and Ashton on the Switch ;)

I'm probably the only person who would rather have a remaster of the Super Famicom version but with the cut content added back in.

I'm not really into the newer iterations of Star Ocean but this oldie is looking slightly more up my alley. Nice video.

Motoi Sakuraba is a legend. I love all his music. Tales of arise ost is a masterpiece too. Just wish it was on itunes

Good to see this, I played the SNES version about 15 years ago but never finished, I think I'll play again now on Switch and finish... thanks for this comparative video!

Nice vid! Liked and Subbed.

Thanks Austin! Based on your in-depth video comparison, I'll be starting with FDR soon. Cheers.

Great job! Subbed

The Cool Village is in danger! Signed, -Elder of Cool. Yep, that’s cool in my book

The new version however is the only one that does not come with a manual... I miss manuals.

Awesome review

Love your vids!

Came here after the PS Plus added games half october, had 7 other reviews open to see after this one... But got all my questions answered just with this one. Kudos!

Thank you very much for the video, it help me A LOT

Thank you so much for making this video, I've been dying to find out which version to play, I'm going with the original first, then later play the ps4 one, I love remakes and remasters, but I find that the originals are always the best, unless if there's a lot of glitches in it, keep making videos like this bro, thanks again. 😊

Very informative. Star Ocean is a big blind spot in my RPG knowledge. Sadly, FD doesn’t look like it’s available on the Vita via PSN so it looks like I’ll be waiting until I get a PS4 or Switch before I play it. Thanks for the video!

Really great video, thank you

Thank you for this! :)

was debating whether to get this for switch or PS4, thanks for the detailed reviews of both now I don't have to do research 😊 very informative

Very informative video! Man I would love an official localization of the Super Famicom version, I'd even take a port to Japanese NSO SNES. Nice to know about the difficulty bump, too. I played the PSP version way back when that came out and I swear I wasn't getting slaughtered as badly then as I am now... Difficulty options would have been nice 😖

Now give us Second Evolution R

Good review

Hey thanks for introducing me to such an awesome game

You earned a sub, simple as that. Thank you.

🤔 cant be the only 1 wanting a demake of the other games in this style

I enjoy this series. Great work

i want to support the franchise so i'll buy the remaster

Thanks for the video. Got interested with this game after the demo for the SECOND STORY R released and was ready to buy but unfortunately it's not available on steam damm...

Great I subbed. Look forward to checking other videos out. I always wondered about Lunar silverstar ports. Can you please do this treatment to that please.

Great video

Thanks for the analysis! :D Def gonna pick this up for Switch. Although perhaps I’ll just give the japanese original a go on my Analogue Snes. ^^

The fact that they didn't redo the cutscenes with the new art is completely baffling to me.

thanks! due to this video i'll probably be picking up FDR

Gonna pick this up in the hopes it helps get me a Star Ocean 2 remaster. Still one of the best rpgs ever made!

star ocean was one of the only games to have stereo surround sound on the snes

Totally missed out on the PSP version because I didn't know about it since I was studying in oddly enough Japan. But now, I can finally experience this game in Japanese. So glad it's fully voiced. Hate reading so much text in a JRPG.

Man I played the original with the fan translation so long ago but I remember how amazed I was at the level of detail and the graphical style. That game is art. Did you like SO3? For me, it's my favorite then 1 then 2 but I also like Star Trek a lot.

I played this on the psp before along with the 2nd one! The nostalgia

just a correction; Engine used was absed off Star Ocean the Second Story. Second Evolution got made AFTER First Departure remake. :)

Truly I thank you for your work, I've learned about new jrpg's because of you (I'm 34) and I've made the jump this week to jump on a bunch of them today cause of the TGS sales. (Also your distaste for ff5 &6 old pc port is hilarious. I actually went out my way to buy it directly from square directly from their EU store "I live in USA" those versions are the ones that visually looks enjoyable to me "my first 2d ff game was ff1 on psp so I like that hand drawn look vs the extra pixel sharp games")

Great video.

Bought it the moment it came out. So when do we expect the new Valkyrie Profile Hrist? I’ll die of old age...

Nice. I was trying to figure out if this was a remake of the original before buying it

Fully completed a playthrough, including the bonus endgame dungeon + Gabriel, and I never realized there was a Sprint option...

Wow. Well done

The SNES looks so good to me.

Why aren't the sprites following the new portraits tho ? It feels weird

Still waiting for Star ocean 3 remastered on PC with Universe and 4D bugs fixed.

Oh I remember this game! It's fantastic!

Just beat the game, never got the chance to play it on PSP, and I really enjoyed it! Definitely short, but I had a blast with the challenge. Gotta go do the post dungeon now. I really hope they decide to port the second game now, and then totally remake the 3rd

Totally picking this up!! And BRING ONNNNNN THE SECOND STORY/SECOND EVOLUTION!!!

thanks for the explenation. really helpful. now I'm hoping SO2 will get a switch port

Wish they'd included the option to switch between the original soundtrack and the remaster. I think the original has a certain charm that the new soundtrack is lacking.

OK im sold! Getting this for the Switch!