 |
| Peter Triezenberg |
Learn about the game's planets, characters, and more.
09.29.15 - 9:04 PM
Next year, RPG fans everywhere will get to once again sail the sea of stars with Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness. Square Enix has been giving us a steady feed of information about the game, and now we have a whole host of new details to share with you.
Centuries after leaving Earth, after a multitude of trials, with the creation and spread of the 'Galactic Federation,' humanity was on the verge of unified order and peace.
But the embers of conflict have begun to burn again.
Over 6,000 light years from Earth, on the unsettled planet, 'Feycreed.'
Just as so many times before, the waves of history begin from a remote planet.
The Leslia Kingdom. A continent representative of a major power, it is surrounded on three sides, has a warm climate, and is blessed with natural beauty and rich soil.
But despite the fact that this country should have been more powerful than its neighbors, its people’s peace was always being disturbed. Between a spellmark that caused animals to turn ferocious and a band of thieves called Eitron wreaking havoc in the frontier regions, Leslia was plunged into an unstable period known as "The Dark 7 Years." Stahr, a village located on the southern edge of the kingdom, was brought to verge of collapse.
One young man stood up to face this crisis...
Fidel Camuze...
His father was a royal fencing instructor, and he himself is a swordsman who teaches. He leaves on a journey accompanied by his old friend who was raised as his sibling, Miki.
This voyage would take them into battle and change the fate of the stars.
As previously reported, Star Ocean 5 will begin on the planet Feycreed. Feycreed is 6000 light-years away from Earth, unexplored by the Pangalactic Federation, and has technology roughly equating the 16th or 17th century. Located on Feycreed's largest continent Vestir is the Lesalia Kingdom, from which our heroes hail.
However, that's not the only location players will be able to visit. Square shared a screenshot of the "Unknown World," a separate dimensional space with more advanced science and technology. With this among other unknown worlds, a unique story combining science-fiction and fantasy will be told (which is kind of the gimmick of the Star Ocean series, truth be told).
Of course, this wouldn't be a Star Ocean title without a cast of eccentric characters, and Integrity and Faithlessness looks to be no exception. We've already been introduced to Fidel Camuze and Mira Sauvester, our two leads. Fidel plays an important role in maintaining order in his village during the "Dark 7 Years." While he is unable to use magic, he wields a one-handed sword and can string together quick combos. Several of his special moves will be from prior Star Ocean games.
Mira, on the other hand, specializes in healing-based Spellmark magic, although she is capable of using Elemental attacks as well. Spellmarks are engravings on the user's body that serve as the magic system on Feycreed. The more complex the mark, the more mental strength it takes to control the spell. She wields a staff in battle. Mira thinks of Fidel as an older brother, due to the difference in their ages and the fact that they were raised together.
Another character is Viktor Orkvil, a soldier in the Lesalia Kingdom Special Forces. Like Fidel, he is unable to use Spellmark magic, but uses both his one-handed sword and its scabbard in combat. He is faithful to his duties and beloved by his subordinates, but is conflicted when it comes to killing others in warfare.
Last, but not least, we have the identity of "Checkers," as she has been affectionately dubbed on the RPGFan forums. Fiore Burnelli is a voluptuous mage who is one of the strongest Spellmark users on Feycreed. She wears a revealing outfit because she needs to breathe through her skin... oh, wait, wrong game! It's because she wants to show off the advanced Spellmark on her leg.
The battle system retains several Star Ocean staples. Distance will play a role in battle, automatically switching between long-range and short-range attacks depending on your proximity to an enemy, and characters will be able to use light and heavy attacks, as well as guarding and "Guard Counters" that reward players for well-timed blocks. Battles will occur seamlessly within the overworld map, and the player will be able to switch between characters at the touch of a button.
On the right-hand side of the screen is the "Reserve Gauge," which essentially functions akin to the Bonus Board from Star Ocean: The Last Hope (I know we try to forget about that game, but cut me some slack, it's the only one I've played!). Landing light and heavy attacks, as well as successful combos and guarding, will grant various bonuses to the player such as increased experience or money, and when the gauge is full, the character can use their "Reserve Rush" special attack.
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness will release in Japan on February 25th for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, and for the PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe sometime next year. We have a whole bunch of additional screenshots in our freshly updated gallery, so be sure to give that a look, and keep a close eye on RPGfan as we bring you all the latest news concerning Star Ocean.
