PS3 Fanboy

Don't get us wrong -- we know Tri-Ace and Square Enix haven't listed a console for Star Ocean 4 yet, but seriously, do you think this game will be a Wii exclusive? If you thought it possible, this new magazine scan might change your mind. We're taking a leap of faith assuming this game will come to the PS3 (exclusive or not), but since all the others have ... heck, all other Tri-Ace games have, it's not a very big leap.

Now we finally see the main character, previously hidden in all those trailers. He's not very attractive and is basically a Fayt clone with blond hair. They look different enough, but it's just not a big "evolution" between protagonists. We're not being picky -- the environments in the scan are brilliant looking. We wish the view outside of our windows looked that nice.

If you've watched the Star Ocean 4 trailer posted last Monday, perhaps you were a little annoyed seeing the main characters' faces purposefully cropped out of the picture. If that's the case, then be happy for today's Famitsu scans; they are equally pretty and most of all crop-free. The scans reveal character artwork for protagonists Edge Maverick and Reimi Saionji.

Aside from that, however, nothing else major has been revealed about this Star Ocean prequel. We do get a brief look at the in-game graphics though. As far as we can tell, the game is shaping up nicely. See the other scans at Gamersyde.

Tri-ace has an interesting way of crafting games. None of their titles outside of Valkyrie Profile have really gained cult status, and none have really broken the barrier between them and the mainstream market. Really, Radiata Stories was brilliant, but only for the few people with the perseverance to play it -- or those with a printed FAQ at their side. Anyway, this is the trailer for Star Ocean 4 that came on a DVD with Japanese pre-orders of the PSP remakes of the first and second titles.The audio sounds a little messed up, as a warning. It looks interesting, though gameplay footage is still nonexistent, as is a console announcement. Perhaps Tri-ace will use this game to break into a wider market. Perhaps not. Enjoy!

If we notice anything about the newly released scans/screenshots of Tri-Ace's Star Ocean 4, it's that they haven't yet pumped up the character designs from the critically acclaimed, but fanbase panned, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. Case in point: Fayt enjoyed keeping his sword at an awkward horizontal position around his bum. Sure, it may be convenient for quick-unsheathing, but for moving through a crowd that would be irritating! Seems the new main character of Star Ocean 4 has the same line of thinking, along with touting a lady friend at his side.

We're not complaining -- the games deliver fun and fast-paced battles and we're very excited to watch this newest entry mold itself into something spectacular. Seriously, the new generation of consoles need their RPGs and for a lot of people, Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata just won't cut the mustard. We'll keep looking for more info on this game as it develops, as it already looks to be on the right sci-fi track, as the screens depict. Despite this, we doubt it'll surpass the sheer quality seen in PS2 titles such as Unlimited Saga.

The latest issue of Famitsu magazine in Japan states that Square Enix is going to reveal something tasty next month -- the next entry into the Star Ocean franchise. It's getting its big reveal at the Square Enix Party 2007 event taking place next month. Next month, get it?

Whether the game will retain the futuristic elements its known for has yet to be announced, but we can only say this: don't let it suck so hard. While critics and fans hailed Star Ocean 2 and Star Ocean: Till The End of Time as great games... they just didn't do it for me. Tri-Ace is normally a fantastic developer in my eyes and Square Enix was smart to snatch them up. However, they've got to learn a few things about making games that Star Ocean generally misses out on:

1. Don't drag out a story that's ended. Star Ocean 2 did this pretty horribly once you reach the second disc. All you have to do is fight the 13 whatever-they-were, but no. Tons of little nonsensical quests sprouted up to drag the playtime out.
2. Hire better writers (I'm always available). We're not talking about the basic storyline, here. We mean dialogue. If you play Star Ocean: TTEoT, think about what each character is saying. Here's an example:

• Dude: "We need to get the random item to advance the story!"
• Lady: "The random item to advance the story?"
• Dude: "Yes, it has great power to make this game not suck!"
• Lady: "Great power?"
• Dude 2: "It is rumored it destroyed Nick Doerr's interest in this title."
• Lady 2: "His interest?"

Get the idea? Everyone had to question every single line of dialogue everyone else said. It was stupid.

Feel free to add your own issues to this list, but those are my main concerns. If those are addressed, I'd gladly give Star Ocean IV a shot. We'll come back with more details as they surface.