Sea of Stars

Sea of Stars is a modern tribute to Super Nintendo-era Japanese RPGs that doesn't just copy the look, but also the pacing and mood of games like Chrono Trigger. The player leads a duo of Children of the Solstice — Valere, who wields the power of the moon, and Zale, who commands the power of the sun — who have been training since childhood to fight the creations of an evil alchemist. They're joined by a childhood friend who can cook, and gradually by more companions with pasts of their own. The story starts out as a classic tale of chosen heroes, but surprisingly turns in its second half, raising questions about the price such a destiny demands.

Combat is turn-based and built on two key ideas. The first is timed hits: pressing a button at the exact right moment increases damage dealt or reduces damage taken, so the player stays alert even during the enemy's turns. The second is the lock system — before an enemy unleashes a big attack, elemental symbols appear above it, and the party has a few turns to knock them down with matching attack types, weakening or fully canceling the attack. The result is a turn-based system that plays actively and never slides into mashing a single command. Exploration matters just as much: characters climb ledges, swim, swing on ropes, and the maps are built with real verticality.

Visually it's one of the most beautiful pixel-art games ever made, with dynamic lighting, a day-night cycle, and gorgeous ocean views. It runs completely smoothly on Switch and belongs among the titles that look flawless on the small screen. Alongside the in-house composer, Yasunori Mitsuda, one of the names associated with the genre's classics, contributed to the soundtrack, and it shows in the result. Reception was excellent, and the game earned wide acclaim as proof that a retro format can carry fresh content. Today it's a great and fairly approachable entry point into the genre. The game never punishes players with pointless grinding, sticks to roughly thirty hours, and its pacing is tuned so it never drags.