r/starocean

I haven't played through this since the PSP, and I can't fine any concrete information that isn't AI generated nonsense. I know the Ruddle side quest was important, but I don't remember what to do. I told him portmith was north and talked to him there, but where do I go from here?

I was going to try to platinum this game. Luckily before i did, i did some research. This is the hardest star ocean game to platinum, taking some players over 800 hours to platinum. This made me stop caring about platinuming games. Its not worth it

So what I'm working on is a method to splice in characters in memory using a debugger or hex editor for the original PSX version of Star Ocean: The Second Story. Is there anybody out there like me who still thinks this is the best version of the game? Or does everyone think the PC HD2D remake is the best and this work is moot? I digress.

I'm about halfway mapping out all of the bytes for a non glitchy starting version of each character (except Claude and Rena - because why)? Anyways, I did this fairly successfully to swap in Dias into a Claude Scenario about 15 years ago. Finally recovered what I failed to properly document back then. I know there's gameshark code to swap the byte for which character is in a slot but this is the whole enchilada for each character. So dream layouts of non-glitchy will be entirely possible with their proper starting stats and other mystery bytes in RAM.

What this is not going to be is me creating a tool insert characters dynamically where they're supposed to be - because I frankly don't want to write the byte search routines for a game that uses ASLR to obfuscate. You will need to be comfortable using a debugger or a hex editor.

What I will provide for each character:

1. The 112 bytes detailing the first half of the stat block
2. The 192 bytes detailing the second half of the stat block
3. A map to the best of my reckoning of what each byte does - some are still genuine mysteries but seem to have something to do with the specific character.
4. How to find each in memory (each chunk type is clustered and ordered but there are two distinct blocks)
5. How to find and modify friendship and romance values

A favor: If there's no interest, just move on and ignore this post. Please don't downvote and mask other's interest. If there is interest please upvote or leave a comment - not karma farming (I don't care TBH) nor do I have some special threshold. You can just leave a comment if you don't want to upvote. Just using it for signal to gauge interest.

If there's a nontrivial amount of interest, I will publish something to GameFAQS. Probably this weekend. I just don't want to go through the effort if no one really cares.

I just finished it and wondered how should i continue the series onwards

I'm planning to replay the game with the unlocked difficulty but i've read it's still quite easy.

While Tri-ace games usually provides a decent amount of challenges, it does not seem to be the case with this one, which is a bit sad.

The problem seems to be simply that you level up too fast for the enemies... So i guess a speed run might be hard, but i'm not really into speedrunning, i just want harder fights, especially bosses which are really cool in this game !

I might do "no synthesis" (which is sad cause i love crafting in games) but not sure it will be enough.

on the other hand "no item" would probably be too hard and not really fun

is there a mod that can reduce xp gains ? Other suggestions ?

https://preview.redd.it/rso5clqd3oah1.jpg?width=1139&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4d83b6ffd22a5bae483d4d303a4ee9e7723ee6a8

Debug room location on Whipple

UPDATE: Turns out the player can access this debug room (see screenshot attached) on Whipple. We don't yet know how, but several SO community members are trying to figure this out as I type.

Buried in SO3’s script is a leftover developer/QA debug menu, framed as conversations with three enemy NPCs: Robinwind, a succubus, and a nobleman. Between them, they allow the player to jump to events in the story, force a given recruitment path, max out a character's AP for Fayt and/or increase Fayt's AP for a character by 20, max out fol and item inventory, watch game cutscenes/cinematics on demand, and more.

tri-Ace has a documented track record of leaving hidden debug menus in Star Ocean games. Both Star Ocean: First Departure and Star Ocean: The Second Story feature debug rooms (accessible via cheat device codes) where a green haired NPC offers dialogue trees allowing players to jump to story checkpoints/force recruitment/edit character stats/reveal every game ending by combining a character selector with edited AP values. In SO2, some of the debug dialogue differs from what was actually presented in the released game.

SO3 was previously confirmed to contain leftover debug symbols in its executable, per a TCRF contributor's compiled list of PS2 games with debug info intact - it was unconfirmed whether those symbols were present only in the Japanese release or in the English localization as well. I was able to find that leftover debug/dev-menu dialogue in the English localized game - reproduced in its entirety below. That being said, I have no clue whether a player can actually access this debug room via cheat device codes (as is the case in SO2 or SO1R) - given this dialogue was translated to English, though, my instinct says it's possible...  I’ll leave that to the rest of you guys.

The script:

Robinwind: "Where in space and time do you wish to go? I'll try my best to transport you to another time, another place."

- Chapter 1: Hotel to Vanguard III

Robinwind: "Okay, another question for you. Where in Chapter 1 do you want to go?"

• After Arriving on Vanguard
• Evacuation Corridor
• Transport Ship Helre
• Crash Landing in Pesotto
• Morning Niklas Disappeared
• After Norton Was Defeated
• On to the Eagle

- Chapter 2: First Half of Elicoor II (Up to Outbreak of War)

Robinwind: "Okay, another question for you. Where in Chapter 2 do you want to go?"

• Right After Crashing in Airyglyph
• Encounter with Nel
• Arrival in Arias
• After Completing Kirlsa Training Facility
• Encounter with Ameena
• Castle Aquaria
• Ameena and Dion's Reunion
• Right Before Decisive Battle

- Chapter 3: Second Half of Elicoor II (After War)

Robinwind: "Okay, another question for you. Where in Chapter 3 do you want to go?"

• Right After War
• Heading to Protect Sacred Orb
• Maria's Confession
• Summit Between Airyglyph and Aquaria
• Heading to Airyglyph Castle
• After Defeating Crosell

Robinwind: "Oh yeah. Who will you take along with you in Chapter 3?"

• Nel
• Albel
• Roger

Robinwind: "Incidentally, did you save Roger from the Moonshadow Clan?"

• Yes
• No

Robinwind: "Incidentally, did you take Peppita with you?"

• Yes
• No

Robinwind: "Has Adray joined your party?"

• Yes
• No

- Chapter 4: Executioners' Appearance

Robinwind: "Okay, another question for you. Where in Chapter 4 do you want to go?"

• Diplo
• Kirlsa Training Facility
• Aquaelie
• Moonbase
• Destruction
• Earth's Destruction
• Arrival on Styx

- Chapter 5: 4D Space

Robinwind: "Okay, another question for you. Where in Chapter 5 do you want to go?"

• Arkives
• Gemity
• Arrival at Sphere Company
• Styx (Before Earthquake)
• Return to Elicoor
• After Obtaining Sacred Orb

Robinwind: "Who did you most recently ask to join you? You can change your mind if you don't need them anymore. But, don't pick the same person as last time."

• Nel
• Albel
• Roger

Robinwind: "Was Adray in your party?"

• Yes
• No

After choosing any of the above, Robinwind says “Be careful, okay? At least don't do anything crazy.”

Succubus: "So... What is it you desire?"

• Turn On All Dictionary Entries
  • Succubus: "Though not numerous, there are places where the game may say you've already met someone even though you really have not."
• Max Bunny Race Points
  • Succubus: "All right. Are you happy now? It's hard getting points the usual way, isn't it?"
• More Money
  • Succubus: "I wonder if this will be enough? Goodbye."
• Halve Main Character's HP
  • Succubus: "You sure are a curious creature. Oh yeah... I can change other settings, too. Just let me know what you desire."
• Have All Craftsmen Join Your Team
  • Succubus: "All right, done. But please wait a moment because the join events are related to game balance. Sorry for the delay."
• Turn Ring of Disintegration On
  • Succubus: "All right, it's done."
• Adjust Emotion
  • Succubus: "I'll adjust Emotion for the Epilogue. I'll raise the character's Emotion toward Fayt by 80. Incidentally, you must go to MAP353, the ending (blank) map, in order to begin. However, characters that are not in your party will not be available for the Best Friend Ending. And Roger will only be available if you saved him from the Moonshadow Clan."
    • Raise Fayt's Emotion Toward Everyone by 20
    • Raise Sophia's Emotion by 80
    • Raise Maria's Emotion by 80
    • Raise Cliff's Emotion by 80
    • Raise Nel's Emotion by 80
    • Raise Albel's Emotion by 80
    • Raise Roger's Emotion by 80
    • Raise Peppita's Emotion by 80
    • Raise Mirage's Emotion by 80
    • Raise Adray's Emotion by 80
• Get All Valuables:
  • Succubus: "Okay, is this what you wanted?"
• NEXT:
  • Succubus: "I see... Goodbye then."

Nobleman: "This is for checking movies."

• Attack on Hyda
• Start of Helre Warp
• During Helre Warp
• Vendeeni Ship on Helre's Bridge Screen
• Escape Pod
• Eagle Taking Off
• Eagle Traveling in Space
• Vendeeni Ship on Helre's Bridge Screen
• Eagle Warp
• Eagle's Emergency Landing
• Vendeeni Attack (1)
• Vendeeni Attack (2)
• Vendeeni Attack (3)
• Vendeeni's Appearance
• Dogfight
• Diplo Evading Creation Cannon
• Approaching the Invisible
• Maria's Awakening
• Diplo Taking Off
• Picture of Executioners
• Defense Line Breached and Earth's Destruction
• Enforcers vs. Aquaelie
• Monitor at Flad's House
• Fayt's Awakening
• Crosell vs. Vendeeni Ships

Cave of seven stars got me mentally drained lmao

Hey everyone, I just finished this game for the first time. I enjoyed 99% of it, but the ending didn't quite suit me. I maxed out Claude and Rena's relationship level, and the ending saw Claude return to his officer post, but so busy with work that he often left Rena home alone, not even noticing her pregnancy.

Considering Claude's character arc, this seems ironic, as he always tried to escape his father's shadow, yet ended up becoming a clone of him. It makes you wonder if, when Claude Jr. grows up, he'll see Claude as a similarly neglectful and irresponsible father.

Afterwards, I adjusted the relationship level... I saw the "second-best" ending: Claude becomes captain and takes Rena aboard the warship, the two traveling through space together. In my opinion, this ending is much better than the first, but it still feels like something is missing. It's very short, like another PA event, and it doesn't explain what happened to the other companions. In my imagination, there should be a wedding ceremony for Claude and Rena, witnessed by all the companions and people they met on their journey, including the king and Rena's mother.

I admit I really love the romance between Claude and Rena, a feeling stemming from the Star Ocean EX anime I watched as a child. So I wonder if they have a truly perfect ending? I know the game has 99 endings, but I don't have the energy to unlock them all.

I am looking to start the Star Ocean series, and I was wondering how much better the remake is compared to the original game?

I am very familiar with SNES JRPGs, some of my favorites are on the system. But are there any major reasons to get the remake over the SNES version?