Game: Star Ocean The Last Hope: International
This latest game, released on the Xbox 360 last year but jazzed up with some language extras for this PS3 release, is a quality RPG experience that genre fans should enjoy.
A space opera story, the game begins during the aftermath of World War III. The Earth in tatters, the last of humanity looks out to space for a new planet to call home. As the main character you set off on a ship that’s part of a scouting party checking out a possible colonisation planet, but things don’t go according to plan…
Unfortunately its let down by its hugely generic aspects - those you find in almost every RPG - cheesy combat music, obvious love interests, bad camera angles, annoying dialogue and, the most OTT character names -Edge Maverick anyone!
However, an interesting combat structure saves it. You fight in real time and can choose to battle offensively, defensively or neutrally. You have skills and abilities to take advantage of whatever style you focus on, which include blindside and rush attacks, the latter allowing you to chain some impressive combos together and beat the enemy down.
Instead of random battles you are faced with roaming bad guys that you can either choose to dodge or surprise with preemptive attacks - be warned they can sneak up on you too, so heal and save often.
Perhaps not spectacular, The Last Hope is still an enjoyable RPG, with bright and colourful graphics and difficulty settings to suit the newbie through to the hardcore.
We reckon…3*
Star Ocean The Last Hope: International
Square Enix, PS3, £49.99
Out: 12 February
Rating: 12+
