Intergalactic Adventure

Sci-fi is undoubtedly flavour of the month at the moment so let's not pretend that we're too cool for space ships, robots and monsters because we're not. Just as this summer's blockbuster movies have a distinct sci-fi bent, so do the big games making waves on the horizon.

What's the story?

Adding to this list is the latest instalment in the Star Ocean saga, Star Ocean: The Last Hope, which is set, you guessed it, in space. Building on 13 years of Star Ocean provenance, this prequel has gameplay so compelling it's difficult to tear yourself away in a great space opera setting.

All RPGs need a decent story and this one is a prequel to the previous four Star Ocean instalments - set a good few centuries earlier at the tail end of the 21st century. The hero is the flamboyantly-named Edge Maverick, who, after the planet is all but destroyed in World War III, lights out to new territories in space. As a first-generation member of Star Renaissance Force, he travels the galaxy looking for a new home for humans. Inevitably, however, the search draws him into combat with dark forces and into allegiance with various friends, sorcerers and, of course, a love interest.

The story covers all of the key elements required of a Japanese RPG, and it unfolds through the action of the game and some rather lengthy cut-sequences (some up to half an hour long). While on the long side, these sequences add to the narrative, and there's always the option to skip them if you're really desperate to get back to the action. What makes The Last Hope so engaging, and leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessors, is its advanced battle system. As monsters appear on the field you fight them in real time with a band of up to four characters. During the battle you can switch control between any members of your crew, while the rest of them will behave according to predefined characteristics. Each of the characters has distinctly different skills and styles, and this diversity ramps up the action and makes fighting bad guys more fun than watching a whole season of Battlestar Galactica back to back.

The cast of evil in The Last Hope is diverse and you will have to use different tactics to defeat each of them. But experimenting is half the fun and through this you'll unlock some of the game's most compelling features such as Rush Mode, which enables you to perform outlandish combos involving every member of the team to take down your foes. Along with this, real-time controls keep the action flowing. Aside from the battles, another real-time thrill is controlling Maverick's colossal space ship, the Calnus. You can fly this across the galaxy and visit various planets and spaceports, controlling all manoeuvres with a pilot's precision.

Bonuses

As with all good RPG's, even when you've "finished" there's still loads to go back and do. There is a galaxy of side-quests and trophies to win, so enough to keep your interest well beyond the finish line. This is a great traditional RPG, with some fantastic visuals, a strong soundtrack and some impressive cut-sequences. What sets it apart from the crowd however, is the advanced fighting system that keeps action levels high and will have even the most seasoned gamers breaking a sweat.

GAME's Verdict

• Fantastic real-time battle controls.
• A diverse and challenging cast of enemies.
• A world of bonuses and extra quests.

• The cut sequences are on the long side.
• The story is a little predictable.
• What kind of name is Edge Maverick?

Review by: Simon 'Captain Slog' Kirrane
Version Tested: Xbox 360
Review Published: 05.06.09