Star Ocean: The Last Hope International

Star Ocean: The Last Hope International is the expanded PS3 version of the fourth installment of tri-Ace's Star Ocean series, serving as a prequel to the whole series and following the crew of humanity's first expedition into space after Earth is devastated by nuclear war. The player travels through space full of planets, alien races, and ancient mysteries alongside main hero Edge Maverick and his companions, as the story gradually links the fate of humanity to a wider cosmic conflict and questions about the meaning of humanity's expansion into space, after the crew encounters both more advanced and more primitive alien civilizations.

The combat system continues the series' tradition, built on real-time action battles that take place directly on the game map, where the player switches between characters and combines attacks with dodging and special abilities called Blindside and Rush Mode. The International version for PS3 added, compared to the original Xbox 360 release, improved graphics, new voice acting, additional costumes and scenes, and further content, making it the definitive version of the game. Visually, it was one of the graphically most ambitious JRPGs of its time, though not always fully consistent, complemented by striking orchestral music that accompanies the player from claustrophobic spaceships to sprawling alien planets.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope International is prized especially by the series' devoted fans for its extensive crafting system, deep combat mechanics, and sci-fi-flavored story that sets it apart from the fantasy focus of most competing JRPGs. Although its reception was mixed due to certain design and technical shortcomings, it remains an important title for genre fans and one of the few major sci-fi JRPGs of its generation, offering dozens of hours of content including a rich postgame and an extensive crafting system that rewards patient players.

Why play it: For devoted series fans and lovers of sci-fi JRPGs who'll appreciate the extensive crafting, deep combat system, and dozens of hours of content including a rich postgame, despite minor shortcomings.