Embarking on the captivating adventure of “Sea of Stars” was like delving into a realm where nostalgia and magic intertwine. Developed by Sabotage Studio, renowned for their work on “The Messenger,” this game proved to be a heartfelt homage to the classic turn-based Role-Playing Games of the 90s, reminiscent of the iconic “Chrono Trigger.” As I immersed myself in its world, I did a bit of research and found something rather interesting, with “Sea of Stars” is actually a tale in the same world of “The Messenger,” but just predates it by thousands of years. The narrative unfolds around the intertwined fates of Valerie and Zale, the Children of the Solstice, destined to wield the powers of the sun and moon through Eclipse Magic. Their journey kicks off as they enroll in a magical academy, setting the stage for their destined role as the Solstice Warriors tasked with vanquishing the enigmatic Dwellers – formidable creatures vulnerable to the combined might of celestial forces.
The gameplay and story, spanning a commendable 25 to 30 hours, embraces traditional turn-based battles while introducing something new and innovative in the mechanics that made it so the game always demanded my attention. There is this timing element during attacks which added a neat layer of engagement, as mastering precise button presses would lead to enhanced damage dealt or mitigated. On another note, enemies bore distinct blocks above them signifying their vulnerabilities, encouraging strategic combinations of attacks that will greatly weaken them if you choose to do so. These mechanics may seem to be a little over complicating or daunting to some players, but the game offers these “relics” in the menu that you can turn off or on, in doing so, it will streamline some of the gameplay mechanics and do them for you. If you stick with it though, you will get the hang of the game and you won’t need to use these relics, but I appreciate that they’re there.
The variety of attacks or magic for each character in your group is surprisingly limited to just a few, which is a bit of a bummer and over time you begin to notice the repetition of the battles. The overall charm can be waned gradually due to the recurring patterns, it left me yearning for way more varied magic abilities. Admittedly, one other aspect that slightly tarnished the experience was the presence of grammatical errors within the dialogue text boxes. While such blemishes may go unnoticed by some, those of you that studied English a lot could find them distracting. “Sea of Stars” has optional side quests, while not obligatory, served as charming diversions that enriched the game world. Among these quests was the enthralling “Slides” mini-game, an imaginative tabletop experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. Engaging in fishing will provide ingredients for cooking, which leads to creating health-boosting concoctions, which could offer a strategic edge in battles. Remarkably, the game achieved equilibrium in its difficulty curve, ensuring that challenges remained consistently balanced regardless of my progress. While that may be a good thing to many, it does make the game not as challenging as some may have hoped for, I never really needed to use any of the health potions I made.
Now onto what was the most compelling part of the game for me at first, the sprawling exploration across islands illuminated the stunning pixelated graphics that painted the game’s enchanting landscapes. These intricately detailed visuals bore the soul of a bygone era, seamlessly blending modern design with the nostalgia of classics. The vibrant color palette heightened the allure, crafting an illusion of depth within the flat surfaces. I marveled at the feat accomplished by a small team, a triumph that even larger studios might envy. The music of “Sea of Stars” also proved to be equally enthralling, with a soundtrack that almost rivaled the game’s stunning visuals. Certain melodies lingered long after I put down the controller, which basically means I had to incorporate them into my personal playlist on Spotify. Though “Sea of Stars” might not cater to the most hardcore RPG enthusiasts in terms of difficulty, it offers an exceptional blend of nostalgia and accessibility. As a seasoned RPG player, I appreciated the trip down memory lane, while also recognizing its potential as a welcoming introduction for newcomers to the genre. The journey through “Sea of Stars” felt like unearthing a treasure trove of emotions, encapsulating the essence of a time-honored gaming era while propelling its magic into the present.
8.5/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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