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Star Ocean getting PAL Special Edition

by Xav de Matos { May 26th 2009 at 4:00PM }

European gamers are getting their hands on an exclusive special edition of Star Ocean: The Last Hope. Launching on June 5, The Last Hope has already made the trek to North American gamers, but European users have an exclusive pack headed their way to sweeten a possible purchase.

Included in the special edition is the game, a 32-page guide, five Last Hope character cards, a compilation CD soundtrack and limited edition packaging.

While we should be jealous of the bonuses included in the pack, we're more envious of the digistack packing used for the set. Thanks to this special edition, PAL users won't all have to deal with three discs stacked on top of each other, like North American gamers did. Lucky!

Star Ocean: The Last Hope arrives in Europe on June 5

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 29th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Star Ocean: The Last Hope will finally jump into European retail on June 5, according to a Square Enix press release (via VG247). The Xbox 360 exclusive found its way to Japan and North America earlier this year.

In fact, The Last Hope was another JRPG that set the Japanese sales charts ablaze with Xbox sales when it released in February. The game will release in Europe right in the middle of the summer doldrums and should keep JRPG fans entertained until the fall release onslaught begins.

Xbox 360 outsells PS3 in Japan for fourth time, Four Horsemen draw closer

by Ben Gilbert { Feb 26th 2009 at 12:20PM }

The Xbox 360 has only outsold the PlayStation 3 several times before, so we're reticent to bring the Four Horsemen out of their winter hibernation. However, if Japanese hardware sales tracker Media Create is to be believed, the 360 not only outsold the PS3 in Japan last week, it handily trounced all competition, with sales just over 25,000 units (compared to nearly 17,000 units for Wii and just over 16,000 for PS3).

Considering Star Ocean: The Last Hope was released this past week and is outselling every game on the chart by a margin of at least 3:1 (162,232 units, folks -- in one week!), we're taking a stab in the dark here and saying 360 sales had something to do with that. After all, the last few times we put out a call to the horsemen, two other JRPG titles were to blame: Infinite Undiscovery and Tales of Vesperia.

Can you remember the other game that put 360 on top in Japan for a week? Hint: It involves fire and liberation and ... fighter jets. Give up? Too bad! We're still not telling!

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Star Ocean: The Second Evolution gets European release date

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 13th 2009 at 1:45PM }

You won't have to wait too long for the next Star Ocean game, friends across the Atlantic. Square Enix is localizing and releasing the game just one month after its American counterpart. You can expect the PSP-exclusive remake to arrive on February 13th.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "2009 is set to be a landmark year for the Star Ocean series, I'm delighted that new fans can continue to experience this classic series with the release of Star Ocean: The Second Evolution for PSP and I hope players are excitedly looking forward to the forthcoming release of Star Ocean: The Last Hope."

Star Ocean: The Last Hope gets earlier release date

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 9th 2009 at 7:59PM }

Star Ocean: The Last Hope dares to go against almost every Square Enix convention. The game is supposedly the last of the franchise, a final fantasy in the Star Ocean universe. The game is being exclusively developed for Xbox 360 and is aiming for an almost-simultaneous worldwide release.

And now, Square Enix is throwing away yet another long-running tradition: delays. Fans have become so accustomed to waiting, and Square Enix has the gall to release this game earlier than expected? Star Ocean: The Last Hope will now appear in the US on February 24th, a full week earlier than previously announced.

Square Enix, we're warning you -- we don't trust your new ways. You stop making ambiguously gendered buckle-wearing heroes, and we won't know you anymore!

Resident Evil 5, Star Ocean 4 Xbox 360 bundles headed to Japan

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 6th 2009 at 6:15PM }

Japan continues to receive special Xbox 360 bundles, as Microsoft rolls out the neon green carpet treatment for Resident Evil 5 and Star Ocean: The Last Hope. The Biohazard RE5 bundle, which retails for approximately $370, features your standard 60 gigglebyte Xbox unit, along with a remote control clicker and the game's limited edition bonuses.

The Star Ocean 4 bundle comes with an Xbox Arcade unit (with 256MB of storage) and retails for about $263. It features an original face plate and the Star Ocean soundtrack collection. You can check out an image of that bundle after the break.

Source - TechPowerUp Forums
Source - GI.biz

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Resident Evil 5 and Star Ocean 4 bundles headed to Japan

by Richard Mitchell { Jan 6th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Microsoft has announced that two new Xbox 360 bundles are headed to Japan. The first is a Star Ocean 4 bundle which will be available February 19 and will include an Xbox 360 Arcade unit with 256MB of internal memory, a faceplate and a soundtrack CD for ¥24,800 ($263). The second is a Resident Evil 5 bundle which will include a 60GB Xbox 360 Pro console, the Resident Evil 5 Deluxe Edition and a headset. The Deluxe Edition -- which appears to be different from the Limited Edition announced last month -- comes in a collector's tin case and includes a soundtrack CD. The Resident Evil 5 bundle is set to arrive in Japan on March 5 and will sell for ¥34,800 ($370).

Source - techPowerUp! Forums -- Xbox 360 gets Star Ocean 4 and Resident Evil 5 bundles
Source - gamesindustry.biz -- Japan to receive Resident Evil 5 Xbox bundle

PSP Fanboy hands-on: Star Ocean: Second Evolution

by Alan Tsang { Dec 24th 2008 at 12:00PM }

Star Ocean: Second Evolution, as the title implies, is a remake of the second Star Ocean game released back in 1999 on the original PlayStation. It is a direct sequel to another PSP remake released earlier this year, Star Ocean: First Departure. Besides the updated graphics, what other new elements can RPG lovers expect? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Star Ocean: The Second Evolution

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Star Ocean: Second Evolution slips to Jan. 20

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 24th 2008 at 4:54PM }

Saucer-eyed space teenager news now, with a quick note from Square Enix announcing a delay for Star Ocean: Second Evolution. Originally scheduled for North American release on Jan. 6th, the remastered role-playing classic will now ship to eager PSP owners on Jan. 20th.

We've contacted Square Enix to find out why the date was changed, but we're not expecting a very interesting response. Like, "We woke up this morning and just hated the main character's hair."

Star Ocean: Second Evolution delayed two weeks

by Andrew Yoon { Nov 24th 2008 at 4:35PM }

Don't be rushing out to get Star Ocean's second game in Stores in the new year. Square Enix has just announced a new ship date for the Second Evolution: January 20th.

Star Ocean: Second Evolution is a PSP-exclusive remastering of the classic RPG, with new animated scenes, voice acting and a revised game engine. Read our review of the first game, First Departure, and check out gameplay footage here.

Deal: Star Ocean: First Departure for $26

by Alan Tsang { Nov 21st 2008 at 2:10PM }

They just keep coming today, huh? This deal is even more limited time than the ones posted earlier today: for about three hours from the time stamp on this post (or while supplies last), you can purchase Star Ocean: First Departure for only $25.98. Wanna read more about the game? Check out our full review. They are going fast, so head over to Amazon soon if you like this deal.

[Thanks, David B.!]

Square Enix dates full Q1 '09 lineup

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 11th 2008 at 5:00PM }

We're barely surviving 2008's consumerism climax and already publishers are dangling their 2009 wares in front of us. Alright, Square Enix, we'll play your despicable game, if only to take our minds off the current gaming glut. Square Enix's North American (and heavily subtitled) lineup for Q1 2009 is as follows:

Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP / 6 Jan.): Being the remastered portable version of the interstellar -- and considered by some to be just plain stellar -- sequel. Features new voice work, new cutscenes and people crying in space.
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (DS / 17 Feb.): Being the hitherto unlocalized entry in the venerable RPG series. Yes, Dragon Ball Z guy designed these characters too.
Star Ocean: The Last Hope (Xbox 360 / 3 Mar.): Being tri-Ace's long-awaited continuation of the science-fiction franchise. The subtitle implies that this is a big deal for the Xbox 360 in Japan.
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume (DS / 17 Mar.): Being the third instalment in the respected Valkyrie Profile series. If you're looking for an explanation of the title, we're afraid you're plume out of luck.

PSP Fanboy review: Star Ocean: First Departure

by Alan Tsang { Oct 20th 2008 at 10:00PM }

RPG fanatics have probably heard this tale before, but there's a bit of history behind the very first Star Ocean game. Back in 1995, a majority of the team that created Tales of Phantasia (which was released stateside on the Game Boy Advance back in 2006) left Namco due to creative differences. The team moved onto Tri-Ace, whose debut title was Star Ocean. One of the last games for the aging Super Famicom, the RPG pushed the console to its limits in terms of the cartridge size and graphics. The game even had limited voice-acting, which was unheard of (no pun intended) in those days. The question is, does this remake of the first game in the classic franchise have what it takes to stand out in the portable gaming market?

Gallery: Star Ocean: The First Departure

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TGS 08: Star Ocean secures worldwide release dates

by Xav de Matos { Oct 8th 2008 at 11:23PM }

Just announced at the Microsoft press briefing during the Tokyo Game Show, Star Ocean: The Last Hope will land in North America on March 3 after it debuts in Japan on February 19. Microsoft also announced that the title will be made available in European and Asian markets but did not announce specific release dates.

Developed by triAce and published by Square Enix, Star Ocean: The Last Hope joins the list of strong Japanese style RPGs to find life on the Xbox 360.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope comes to Japan Feb. 19, NA on Mar. 3

by Justin McElroy { Oct 8th 2008 at 11:22PM }

You might want to add space trunks to your Christmas lists this year, because according to the Microsoft press conference at Tokyo Game Show, you'll be taking a dip in the Star Ocean: The Last Hope on Mar. 3, just a couple of weeks after our friends in Japan on Feb. 19.

We're really sorry about that "space trunk" gag, by the way. We're still shaking jet lag.