Star Ocean: The Second Story
Encyclopedia
is a action role-playing
PlayStation video game developed by tri-Ace
and published by Enix
. It is the second game in the Star Ocean
series and the first game in the series to be released in North America (in 1999) and Europe (in 2000), courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment
. A PlayStation Portable
remake was announced prior to the 2007 Square Enix Party event and released in Japan in 2008 and in North America and Europe in 2009.
The game was the basis of manga
and anime
adaptations.
The Second Story's gameplay is broadly similar to that of most RPGs. The player goes from town to town and dungeon to dungeon, following the central story and occasionally branching off to perform side quests
. Characters gain Experience Point
s from battle and level up as a result, becoming gradually stronger as time passes and more battles are fought.
However, The Second Story is a member of the Star Ocean franchise, and as such features various deviations from the standard RPG format. Battles are much more action-oriented: they take place in real time, during which the player has manual control over their character, as opposed to choosing options from a menu. Battles take place on a broad battlefield, over which the player's character can move without limit, allowing them to trade blows face-to-face with the enemy or circle around for a flanking attack. The other party members (up to 3 others) are controlled by the game's AI; the player may change an ally's Strategy to one of six different pre-determined options (ranging from "Spread out and attack" to "Save your Magic Point
s" to "Stand Still and Don't Do Anything").
Star Ocean: The Second Story features a comprehensive Skill system. Nine different batches of skills are sold in in-game shops; once unlocked this way, they must be learned by committing battle-earned "Skill Points" to them. Some skills raise a character's statistics; some unlock Specialty abilities; and some provide bonuses in battle (such as the ability to counter-attack). Specialties allow the characters to create a wide variety of items, and include Cooking
, Writing
, Composing
and Musicianship, Pickpocketing
and Training
. Furthermore, the entire party can contribute to "Super Specialty" skills such as "Master Chef", Blacksmith
ing, Publishing and "Reverse Side
", which allows the character to counterfeit valuable items at the risk of lowering their allies' opinion of them. Every item created has some sort of tangible benefit—foods restore Hit Points and/or Magic Points, training increases the gain in Experience Points, and written novels can be submitted to a publisher, with royalties collectable later—but every attempt requires the expenditure of a consumable item, and may fail to produce anything useful.
Finally, a mechanic called "Private Actions" allows the player to influence the relations between their characters. During a "Private Action", the player's party temporarily breaks up during a visit to a town, with each character going their own way to shop, visit friends and family (if applicable) or otherwise relax. The player's main character (either Claude or Rena) can then interact with their allies, often with the option of making one of those allies like another character more (or less). This "relationship point" mechanic can have a major effect in battle—if Character A's close friend is felled, Character A will get major combat bonuses for a short time—and also determines what ending the player will see, as each party member's scene plays out differently depending on who they did (or didn't) befriend. There are 86 possible endings (or 87, depending on how one wants to count them).
. The game tells the stories of Claude C. Kenny, son of Ronixis J. Kenny, and Rena Lanford, a young girl living on the planet Expel. Claude, having recently been commissioned as an Ensign in the Earth Federation, is given his first mission under the supervision of his father. This first mission is to survey the planet Milocinia, where a mysterious energy field appears. Finding a mysterious device on Milocinia, Claude begins to examine it close-up, despite orders to keep away from it. As he approaches, the machine activates, teleporting him to Expel. Once on Expel, Claude meets Rena who mistakes him for the "Hero of Light," spoken of in legends on Expel because he wields a "Sword of Light" (actually the standard-issue Phase Gun all Federation officers carry) and is dressed in "alien raiments." She takes him back to her village, Arlia, for corroboration.
In Arlia, it is explained to Claude that a meteorite crashed into Expel. Almost immediately afterwards, monsters began appearing, and natural disasters occurred with increasing frequency and intensity. Believing that these events were related, the people of Expel called the meteorite the "Sorcery Globe". Though he explains that he is not the Hero of Light, Claude offers to investigate the Sorcery Globe, in the hopes that it might help lead him home. Rena assists him as his native guide and hopes to find knowledge about her origin, being an orphan.
Though their journey takes them the long way around, Claude and Rena (and whichever characters the player decides to recruit) manage to travel across Expel and finally reach the Sorcery Globe and encounter the Ten Wise Men. The Sorcery Globe, which the Ten Wise Men call the "Quadratic Sphere", is a device they planted on Expel in order to steer it into a massive energy formation called Energy Nede, from which the Ten Wise Men were exiled thousands of years ago. It is their hope to return to Energy Nede using Expel as a vessel. They succeed and the entire planet of Expel is destroyed by its collision with Energy Nede.
Through unspecified means, Claude and Rena survive the impact and wake up on Energy Nede. They are met by Mayor Narl who explains who the Ten Wise Men are, why they were exiled, and that, now that they are back, they hope to destroy the entire universe using advanced Heraldry (magic). Narl furthermore announces that Energy Nede has the ability to restore Expel by using powerful Heraldry to turn back time, but this is only possible if the Ten Wise Men are defeated. Claude and Rena agree to help in the resistance, and embark on various voyages to strengthen themselves, obtain information and learn about the enemy.
Eventually Claude and Rena along with their friends assault the Ten Wise Men's stronghold at Fienal, where they put an end to the enemy once and for all. The ending is composed of scenes describing the fates of the party's characters, and changes slightly depending on if you discovered the Ten Wise Men's true identity and " raison d'être " through the means of Private Actions.
(Japanese original), Jimmy Freeman
(English original), Daisuke Namikawa
(Japanese PSP remake), Spike Spencer
(English PSP remake), Hiro Yuuki (Japanese anime dub), Matt Hill
(English anime dub)) and the Nedian (member of a pointy-eared humanoid race) Rena (Voiced by Aya Hisakawa
(Japanese original), Donna Mae Wong (English original), Nana Mizuki
(Japanese PSP remake), Claudia Lenz
(English PSP remake), Mayumi Iizuka
(Japanese anime dub), Nicole Bouma
(English anime dub)), and upon starting a new game the player is asked to choose one of them. The choice has impact upon the game's plot and story, though the vast majority of content is identical to both lines. There are ten other playable characters in the game, though the player can only recruit six of them to fill out their eight-member party, and some recruitment choices will make other characters no longer available.
Celine Jules
Ashton Anchors
Precis F. Newman
Bowman Jeane
Opera Vectra
Ernest Raviede
Dias Flac
Leon D. Geeste
Noel Chandler
Chisato Madison
s from Christian theology. In the initial English release, they are renamed, but the original names are restored in Second Evolution.
Indalecio, originally Gabriel
Cyril, originally Lucifer
Decus, originally Michael
Vesper, originally Haniel
Berle, originally Metatron
Zaphkiel, originally Marsilio
Jophiel, originally Shiego
Zadkiel, originally Rupercht, Raphael, originally Jibril, and Camael, originally Nicolus
. It serves as a sequel to Star Ocean: First Departure. The first details of the game were revealed at the "Star Ocean Special Stage" during the Square Enix Party 2007. Yoshinori Yamagishi, producer of the series, stated that he wants the remakes to feel as though they are completely new games. The game has seen a release in Japan on April 2, 2008, in North America on January 19, 2009, in Australia on February 12, 2009 and in Europe on February 13, 2009.
Second Evolution features new content, including new playable character
. Production I.G provided new artwork and animated cutscenes for the game. There are new voice actor
s and extensive amounts of new, fully voiced dialogue. The opening song is "START", performed by SCANDAL
.
Hori, the Japanese game peripheral manufacturer, have unveiled a Second Evolution-branded PSP accessory set to be released alongside the game on April 2, 2008. The kit includes the following: a limited, gray PSP case with the Star Ocean logo (not a new PSP entirely, like some thought), matching headphones, a cell phone strap, and finally, 2 UMD cases to hold both First Departure and Second Evolution games. The kit's release seems to coincide with First Departure Eternal Edition package.
As of November 30, 2008, Star Ocean: Second Evolution has sold 141,218 copies in Japan. Star Ocean: Second Evolution was the 90th best-selling game in Japan in 2008, selling 143,434 copies.
series was written and illustrated by Mayumi Azuma
. Based on the tri-Ace
video game of the same name, it follows the exploits of Claude C. Kenny, a young ensign in the Earth Federation who finds himself stranded on the Planet Expel. He meets Rena Lanford, a young girl living in the village of Arlia who declares that he is the legendary warrior their legends speak of who will save their troubled world from disaster. The series was serialized in Shōnen Gangan, premiering June 22, 1999 and running until December 21, 2001 when it ended without reaching the conclusion of the story.
Studio Deen
adapted the manga series into a twenty six episode anime series entitled Star Ocean EX which aired on TV Tokyo
from April 3, 2001 until September 25, 2001. The anime series was released to Region 1 DVD by Geneon Entertainment. To complete the story left unfinished by both the manga and anime, five drama CDs were released in Japan, using the same voice actors from the anime series.
Star Ocean: The Second Story is based on the tri-Ace
video game Star Ocean: The Second Story. It first premiered in Shōnen Gangan on June 22, 1999. The final chapter was published on December 21, 2001, having covered only half of the video game and without concluding the story. Enix
published the series in seven collected volumes in Japan starting on June 1999. Two volumes were released per year until the seventh volume was released in November 2001.
adapted the manga series into an anime series, naming it . The series premiered on TV Tokyo
from April 3, 2001 and ran for twenty-six episodes until September 25, 2001. Movic
released to VHS
tape and Region 2 DVD across nine volumes, with the first released on July 27, 2001 and the final volume released March 29, 2002. Each volume contained two episodes, except the final volume which had three.
In 2004, Geneon Entertainment announced they had acquired the license to release the series to Region 1 DVD. They released the first of six volumes on January 4, 2005 and the final volume on November 22, 2005. In Geneon's release, the first two volumes contained five episodes each, while the remaining volumes contained four. On August 8, 2006, Geneon released all twenty-six episodes in a series box set.
This is a complete episode listing for the anime
series . Adapted from Mayumi Azuma
's seven-volume manga
series Star Ocean: The Second Story, the twenty-six episode series is directed by Hiroshi Watanabe
and was produced by Studio Deen
. The series first premiered in Japan
on TV Tokyo
from April 3, 2001. The final episode aired on September 25, 2001. The source manga was based on the video game Star Ocean: The Second Story, however it only covered the first half of the game, resulting in both it and the anime adaptation telling an incomplete story.
Star Ocean EX was released to VHS
tape and Region 2 DVD by Movic
, with the first volume released on July 27, 2001 and the final volume released March 29, 2002. Movic also released a series of five drama CDs
to complete the story. In 2004, Geneon Entertainment announced they had acquired the license to release the series to Region 1 DVD. They released the first of six volumes on January 4, 2005 and the final volume on November 22, 2005. In Geneon's release, the first two volumes contained five episodes each, while the remaining volumes contained four.
Two pieces of theme music are use for all twenty-six episodes. "To the Light", performed by Amika Hattan is used for the opening theme. Saori Nishihata
's "Hearts" is used for the ending theme for the first twenty-five episodes, while the twenty-sixth episode uses "To the Light" for its ending.
Geneon Entertainment announced that they had acquired the license to release Star Ocean EX to Region 1 DVD in July 2004. They first released the series in six individual volumes with each volume included English and Japanese audio tracks and English subtitles. The first two volumes contain five episodes each, and the remaining volumes have four each. With the first four volumes, the on-disc extras included character profiles, while last two volumes had galleries of illustrations and the original Japanese cover art. The first volume was available in both regular and limited editions, with the limited edition including an art box that could hold all six volumes of the series.
Geneon also released the entire series as a box set that includes all six volumes in their original cases, but features a different art box.
Star Ocean EX was originally released to Region 2 DVD and VHS
in Japan in nine individual volumes by Movic
. The first volume, containing two episodes, was released on July 27, 2001. Subsequent volumes, each containing three episodes, followed on a monthly schedule.
s were released in Japan by Pony Canyon
for the Star Ocean EX series. The first soundtrack, , contained forty-seven tracks and released on August 1, 2001. Among the tracks are the TV length versions of the opening and ending themes and background music played during various episodes. The second, was released on September 19, 2001. It contained an additional forty-five tracks of background music from the series.
Neither official soundtrack includes the full version of either the opening or ending theme of the series. Amika Hattan did release the full version of the opening theme "To the Light" as a CD single. Likewise, Saori Nishihata
released a single with the full version of the ending theme "Hearts".
, the company which released the Star Ocean EX anime series to VHS and DVD, also had a series of drama CDs produced. These CDs take the place of the series' missing second season and complete the story left incomplete by both the manga and anime series. The CDs feature the same voice actors as those in the anime and each volume contains approximately one hour of dialog. The first CD was released in Japan on July 7, 2001, picking up where the last episode of the anime stopped. The fifth and final volume was released December 8, 2001. All five volumes are now out-of-print.
Enix published two art books for Star Ocean. The first, was published in October 2000. Spanning eight-eight pages, it included sixty four pages of color art and a full-color fold out poster created by artist Mayumi Azuma.
The second art book, was published in August 2001. It contains sixty pages of color illustrations, twenty pages of black-and-white images and some character profiles.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
PlayStation video game developed by tri-Ace
Tri-Ace
is a Japanese video game development company formed in 1995 by former Telenet Japan employees Yoshiharu Gotanda , Masaki Norimoto and Joe Asanuma . The name is a play on words regarding the "three aces" who formed the company...
and published by Enix
Enix
The was a Japanese company that produced video games, anime and manga. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975 as and renamed Enix in 1982...
. It is the second game in the Star Ocean
Star Ocean
is a franchise of action role-playing video games developed by tri-Ace and published and owned by Square Enix .-Creation and influence:...
series and the first game in the series to be released in North America (in 1999) and Europe (in 2000), courtesy of Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
. A PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
remake was announced prior to the 2007 Square Enix Party event and released in Japan in 2008 and in North America and Europe in 2009.
The game was the basis of manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
adaptations.
Gameplay
The game gives the player the choice of playing as Rena or Claude, with the journey evolving and ending differently depending on the choices one makes.The Second Story
Quest (gaming)
A quest in role-playing video games — including massively multiplayer online role-playing games and their predecessors, MUDs — is a task that a player-controlled character or group of characters may complete in order to gain a reward...
. Characters gain Experience Point
Experience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
s from battle and level up as a result, becoming gradually stronger as time passes and more battles are fought.
However, The Second Story is a member of the Star Ocean franchise, and as such features various deviations from the standard RPG format. Battles are much more action-oriented: they take place in real time, during which the player has manual control over their character, as opposed to choosing options from a menu. Battles take place on a broad battlefield, over which the player's character can move without limit, allowing them to trade blows face-to-face with the enemy or circle around for a flanking attack. The other party members (up to 3 others) are controlled by the game's AI; the player may change an ally's Strategy to one of six different pre-determined options (ranging from "Spread out and attack" to "Save your Magic Point
Magic Point
Magic Point is a coastal headland in Maroubra, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is about 10 km south of Sydney’s central business district. It is a rugged heathland area with cliffs overlooking the ocean....
s" to "Stand Still and Don't Do Anything").
Star Ocean: The Second Story features a comprehensive Skill system. Nine different batches of skills are sold in in-game shops; once unlocked this way, they must be learned by committing battle-earned "Skill Points" to them. Some skills raise a character's statistics; some unlock Specialty abilities; and some provide bonuses in battle (such as the ability to counter-attack). Specialties allow the characters to create a wide variety of items, and include Cooking
Cooking
Cooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
, Writing
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
, Composing
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and Musicianship, Pickpocketing
Pickpocketing
Pickpocketing is a form of larceny that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person of a victim without their noticing the theft at the time. It requires considerable dexterity and a knack for misdirection...
and Training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
. Furthermore, the entire party can contribute to "Super Specialty" skills such as "Master Chef", Blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
ing, Publishing and "Reverse Side
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
", which allows the character to counterfeit valuable items at the risk of lowering their allies' opinion of them. Every item created has some sort of tangible benefit—foods restore Hit Points and/or Magic Points, training increases the gain in Experience Points, and written novels can be submitted to a publisher, with royalties collectable later—but every attempt requires the expenditure of a consumable item, and may fail to produce anything useful.
Finally, a mechanic called "Private Actions" allows the player to influence the relations between their characters. During a "Private Action", the player's party temporarily breaks up during a visit to a town, with each character going their own way to shop, visit friends and family (if applicable) or otherwise relax. The player's main character (either Claude or Rena) can then interact with their allies, often with the option of making one of those allies like another character more (or less). This "relationship point" mechanic can have a major effect in battle—if Character A's close friend is felled, Character A will get major combat bonuses for a short time—and also determines what ending the player will see, as each party member's scene plays out differently depending on who they did (or didn't) befriend. There are 86 possible endings (or 87, depending on how one wants to count them).
Plot
Star Ocean: The Second Story takes place twenty years after the original game, Star OceanStar Ocean (video game)
is the first game in the Star Ocean series developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix, made for the Super Famicom and released in 1996. It is also the first game that was developed by tri-Ace. It was never released outside of Japan due to the closing of Enix's American division, Enix America...
. The game tells the stories of Claude C. Kenny, son of Ronixis J. Kenny, and Rena Lanford, a young girl living on the planet Expel. Claude, having recently been commissioned as an Ensign in the Earth Federation, is given his first mission under the supervision of his father. This first mission is to survey the planet Milocinia, where a mysterious energy field appears. Finding a mysterious device on Milocinia, Claude begins to examine it close-up, despite orders to keep away from it. As he approaches, the machine activates, teleporting him to Expel. Once on Expel, Claude meets Rena who mistakes him for the "Hero of Light," spoken of in legends on Expel because he wields a "Sword of Light" (actually the standard-issue Phase Gun all Federation officers carry) and is dressed in "alien raiments." She takes him back to her village, Arlia, for corroboration.
In Arlia, it is explained to Claude that a meteorite crashed into Expel. Almost immediately afterwards, monsters began appearing, and natural disasters occurred with increasing frequency and intensity. Believing that these events were related, the people of Expel called the meteorite the "Sorcery Globe". Though he explains that he is not the Hero of Light, Claude offers to investigate the Sorcery Globe, in the hopes that it might help lead him home. Rena assists him as his native guide and hopes to find knowledge about her origin, being an orphan.
Though their journey takes them the long way around, Claude and Rena (and whichever characters the player decides to recruit) manage to travel across Expel and finally reach the Sorcery Globe and encounter the Ten Wise Men. The Sorcery Globe, which the Ten Wise Men call the "Quadratic Sphere", is a device they planted on Expel in order to steer it into a massive energy formation called Energy Nede, from which the Ten Wise Men were exiled thousands of years ago. It is their hope to return to Energy Nede using Expel as a vessel. They succeed and the entire planet of Expel is destroyed by its collision with Energy Nede.
Through unspecified means, Claude and Rena survive the impact and wake up on Energy Nede. They are met by Mayor Narl who explains who the Ten Wise Men are, why they were exiled, and that, now that they are back, they hope to destroy the entire universe using advanced Heraldry (magic). Narl furthermore announces that Energy Nede has the ability to restore Expel by using powerful Heraldry to turn back time, but this is only possible if the Ten Wise Men are defeated. Claude and Rena agree to help in the resistance, and embark on various voyages to strengthen themselves, obtain information and learn about the enemy.
Eventually Claude and Rena along with their friends assault the Ten Wise Men's stronghold at Fienal, where they put an end to the enemy once and for all. The ending is composed of scenes describing the fates of the party's characters, and changes slightly depending on if you discovered the Ten Wise Men's true identity and " raison d'être " through the means of Private Actions.
Protagonists
Star Ocean: The Second Story has two main characters, the human Claude (Voiced by Yuji UedaYuji Ueda
is a popular Japanese seiyū.He is most known for the roles of Sagara Sanosuke , Akito Tenkawa , Takeshi , Horohoro , Johannes Krauser II and Keitaro Urashima ....
(Japanese original), Jimmy Freeman
Jimmy Freeman
Jimmy Lee Freeman is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who made two brief appearances with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1970s. He batted and threw left handed....
(English original), Daisuke Namikawa
Daisuke Namikawa
is a Japanese voice actor who is affiliated with Across Entertainment.He started acting in 1984. He is sometimes mistaken for fellow voice actor Daisuke Hirakawa, as their names only differ by one character when written in kanji. Despite his wide range of voice casting, he is usually cast as young,...
(Japanese PSP remake), Spike Spencer
Spike Spencer
Charles Forrest "Spike" Spencer is an American actor best known for dubbing Japanese anime films. He is best known for roles in ADV Films dubs of Neon Genesis Evangelion , Martian Successor Nadesico , and Excel Saga . He has also performed voice acting for radio, especially commercials...
(English PSP remake), Hiro Yuuki (Japanese anime dub), Matt Hill
Matt Hill
Matthew "Matt" Hill is a Canadian voice actor. He is known for several roles, including Kevin Keene/Captain N in Captain N: The Game Master, Kira Yamato in Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny, Ed in Ed, Edd n Eddy, Raphael in Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation, Ryo Sanada in Ronin Warriors and Artha...
(English anime dub)) and the Nedian (member of a pointy-eared humanoid race) Rena (Voiced by Aya Hisakawa
Aya Hisakawa
is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer born in Kaizuka, Osaka. In addition to releasing various solo CDs, she is well known for her anime voice roles, and has also done some work in video games. She is best known for her role of Sailor Mercury of the Sailor Moon fame and also Cerberus from...
(Japanese original), Donna Mae Wong (English original), Nana Mizuki
Nana Mizuki
is a popular Japanese singer-songwriter and voice actress. She was born and raised in Niihama, Ehime, Japan, Mizuki was trained as an enka singer. She made her debut as a voice actress in 1998; however, she released her debut single "Omoi", under the King Records label on December 6, 2000...
(Japanese PSP remake), Claudia Lenz
Danielle Judovits
Danielle Judovits is an American voice actress, who has also been credited as Danielle Judovitz and Danielle Judouits.-Career:...
(English PSP remake), Mayumi Iizuka
Mayumi Iizuka
is a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who was born in Tokyo and grew up in Taiwan and Yokohama. Iizuka is a member of Gekidan Wakakusa and Tokuma Japan Communications....
(Japanese anime dub), Nicole Bouma
Nicole Bouma
Nicole Bouma is a Canadian voice actress who works for Ocean Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Filmography :* Boys Over Flowers as Makiko Endo* Dokkoida?! as Kosuzu Sakurazaki/Tanpopo...
(English anime dub)), and upon starting a new game the player is asked to choose one of them. The choice has impact upon the game's plot and story, though the vast majority of content is identical to both lines. There are ten other playable characters in the game, though the player can only recruit six of them to fill out their eight-member party, and some recruitment choices will make other characters no longer available.
Celine Jules
- Voiced by: Yuki KaidaYuki Kaidais a voice actress and radio personality from Tokyo, Japan. Although she has an extensive vocal range, voicing a large variety of characters throughout her career, she is commonly typecasted as young males, achieving mainstream success as her roles in Hunter × Hunter as Kurapika, The Prince of...
(Japanese original), Kana Koinuma (English original), Saki Nakajima (Japanese PSP remake), Allison Hollingshead (English PSP remake), Mami KingetsuMami Kingetsuis a Japanese voice actress and Japanese pop singer. Kingetsu is currently affiliated with Aoni Production.-Anime:*Burn-Up Excess as Maki*Gasaraki as Miharu*One Piece as Miss Merry Christmas*Peach Girl as Misao Aki*Princess Nine as Izumi Himuro...
(Japanese anime dub), Venus TerzoVenus TerzoVenus Terzo is a Canadian actress best noted for her role as Detective Angela Kosmo in Da Vinci's Inquest and its spinoff, Da Vinci's City Hall. She was nominated in 2002 for the Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role in that same role...
(English anime dub) - She hails from the Expelian town of Marze, which is known for its well-trained magicians; she is a treasure hunter, wandering the world in search of money and new loot.
Ashton Anchors
- Voiced by: Daisuke SakaguchiDaisuke Sakaguchiis a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Aoni Production.-Television animation:*Atashin'chi *Baccano! *Bamboo Blade *Black Jack *Bleach *Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo...
(Japanese original), David Babich (English original), Akira IshidaAkira IshidaAkira Ishida is a prolific male seiyū born in Nisshin, Aichi, Japan.He was a part of Mausu Promotion from 1988 until March 2009...
(Japanese PSP remake), Jeffrey Maxwell (English PSP remake), Tomokazu SekiTomokazu Sekiis a Japanese voice actor. He formerly worked for Haikyou and is now the head of Atomic Monkey.-About:Some of his most notable roles include Shinichi Chiaki from Nodame Cantabile, Gilgamesh from Fate/stay night, Rob Lucci from One Piece, Gundam characters Domon Kasshu and Yzak Joule, from G Gundam...
(Japanese anime dub), Gabe KhouthGabe KhouthGabe Khouth is a Canadian voice actor who works for Ocean Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Biography:Gabe Khouth is the younger brother of voice actor Samuel Vincent. He has played several roles in anime, most notably Nicol Amalfi in Gundam SEED. Khouth also acted in the...
(English anime dub) - He is an Expelian warrior whom the party meets while attempting to defeat a marauding two-headed dragon. Much to Ashton's consternation, they become fused to his body; though he constantly bemoans their presence, he refuses to separate them from himself when given the option. He serves as comic relief in the game and anime.
Precis F. Newman
- Voiced by: Yuuko Sumitomo (Japanese original), Kana Koinuma (English original), Rie KugimiyaRie Kugimiyais a Japanese voice actress affiliated with I'm Enterprise.Kugimiya's most famous roles include Alphonse Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Happy in Fairy Tail, Kagura in Gintama, Nagi Sanzenin in Hayate no Gotoku!, Shana in Shakugan no Shana, Louise in Zero no Tsukaima, Taiga Aisaka in Toradora!, and...
(Japanese PSP remake), Jhoanna Trias (English PSP remake), Tomoe HanbaTomoe Hanbais a Japanese voice actress who works for Arts Vision.-Anime:* Etna Makai Senki Disgaea* Phil Phleira Deed in The Candidate for Goddess* Viro in Elemental Gelade* Aura and Moogle in Final Fantasy: Unlimited* Maki Amakasu in Iketeru Futari...
(Japanese anime dub), Tabitha St. GermainTabitha St. GermainTabitha St. Germain is a Canadian stage actress. She has made the transition from stage work to voice work, and has since become one of the core female voice actresses working with Ocean Productions in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Anime :* .hack//Roots - Asta, Nazo Grunty* Black Lagoon -...
(English anime dub) - She is the rebellious daughter of an Expelian inventor, who is foisted on the player's party because her father feels she needs friends.
Bowman Jeane
- Voiced by: Ryo HorikawaRyo Horikawais a Japanese voice actor. He is married to fellow Japanese voice actress Hitomi Oikawa, whose birth name is also . His former stage name is also Ryo Horikawa, which has his given name, Makoto, pronounced as Ryo.-Career:...
(Japanese original), Michael G. Davis (English original), Keiji FujiwaraKeiji Fujiwarais a Japanese voice actor from the Tokyo Metropolitan area who is affiliated with Air Agengy.His best known projects include Crayon Shin-chan as Hiroshi Nohara, Eureka Seven as Holland, Fullmetal Alchemist as Lieutenant-Colonel Hughes, Zoids: Chaotic Century as Irvine, Final Fantasy VII Advent...
(Japanese PSP remake), Doug ErholtzDoug ErholtzDouglas J. Erholtz is an American voice actor. He is well known for voicing Asuma Sarutobi from Naruto and Ichimaru from Bleach.- Anime roles :* Battle B-Daman - Joe, Biarce* Bounty Dog - Additional Voices...
(English PSP remake), Yasunori MatsumotoYasunori Matsumotois a Japanese voice actor. He currently works for Sigma Seven, formerly for Production Baobab.-About:Some of Matsumoto's most notable roles are Wataru Akiyama in Initial D, Jean Havoc in Fullmetal Alchemist, Magnum Ace in Shippū! Iron Leaguer, Gourry Gabriev in Slayers and Ryou in Sonic Soldier...
(Japanese anime dub), Alistair AbellAlistair AbellAlistair Abell is a Canadian screen and voice actor who works for Ocean Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He has played several roles in anime, most notably Colin MacLeod in Highlander: The Search for Vengeance and Lord Djibril in Gundam Seed Destiny...
(English anime dub) - He is an easy-going Expelian pharmacist from the same town as Precis, who makes herbal medicines for a living. He is a skilled martial artist, using fists, feet and poisons in combat.
Opera Vectra
- Voiced by: Yuko NagashimaYuko Nagashimais a Japanese voice actress who works for Aoni Production.-Anime:* Ceres, The Celestial Legend - Gladys Smithson* Eden's Bowy - Fennis, young Yorn* Magic Knight Rayearth - Caldina* Martian Successor Nadesico - Erina Won* Naruto - Tsubaki...
(Japanese original), Marie Shell (English original), Atsuko TanakaAtsuko Tanakais a Japanese voice actress who works for Ezaki Productions. Her deep and sultry voice is often used to portray villainesses and mature female characters.-TV anime:*Angel Links *Black Cat *Berserk *Cowboy Bebop...
(Japanese PSP remake), Nickie Kendall (English PSP remake), Rica MatsumotoRica Matsumotois a Japanese voice actress and J-pop singer who was born in Yokohama, Japan. Her name is also sometimes romanized as Rika Matsumoto. She was one of the original members of the popular vocal group JAM Project. After the way of the stage, she embarked on voice acting and a singing career...
(Japanese anime dub), Willow JohnsonWillow JohnsonWillow Johnson is a Canadian voice actress working for the Ocean Productions based in Vancouver. She has performed the roles of several characters for many anime series...
(English anime dub) - She is noblewoman from the Tetrageniot race who is visiting Expel in search of her boyfriend Ernest.
Ernest Raviede
- Voiced by: Hiroki TouchiHiroki Touchiis a Japanese voice actor. He has frequently appeared in many anime and appeared in some video games mainly created by tri-Ace.-Games:* Aluze in Valkyrie Profile, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, & Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria...
(Japanese original), Phillip Mayall (English original), Hiroki TouchiHiroki Touchiis a Japanese voice actor. He has frequently appeared in many anime and appeared in some video games mainly created by tri-Ace.-Games:* Aluze in Valkyrie Profile, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, & Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria...
(Japanese PSP remake), Terrence StoneTerrence StoneTerrence Stone is an Irish-American voice actor who is also known as Terry Stone.-Anime Roles:* Ah! My Goddess as Photographer* Apocalypse Zero as Kagenari...
(English PSP remake), Hiroshi YanakaHiroshi Yanakais a Japanese actor and voice actor who is affiliated with Seinenza Theater Company.-TV Anime:*Avenger *Baby and Me *Battle Programmer Shirase *Chuka Ichiban...
(Japanese anime dub), Trevor DevallTrevor DevallTrevor Devall is one of the various voice actors who works for Ocean Group, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.Trevor has performed various anime roles, most notably Mu La Flaga of Gundam SEED. Other anime roles include Mukotsu of InuYashas Shichinin-tai, as well as the multiple faces of...
(English anime dub) - He is a Tetrageniot archaeologist who travels across the galaxy with his girlfriend Opera; he came in hopes of important archaeological discoveries.
Dias Flac
- Voiced by: Ryo Horikawa (Japanese original), Erik Bergmann (English original), Tomokazu SugitaTomokazu Sugitais a Japanese voice actor employed by Atomic Monkey. Best known for his role as Gintoki in Gintama, he also voices Kyon in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. He is also one of the three hosts on the radio show Bururaji promoting the videogame Blazblue which is produced and released on Nico Nico...
(Japanese PSP remake), Kyle HebertKyle HebertKyle Henry Hebert is an American voice actor and podcaster who works with anime films, television series, as well as video games...
(English PSP remake), Takehito KoyasuTakehito Koyasuis a Japanese voice actor.-Career:Koyasu is part of the voice actor quartet Weiß consisting of Weiß Kreuz voice castmates Shinichiro Miki, Tomokazu Seki, and Yuuki Hiro...
(Japanese anime dub), Brent MillerBrent MillerBrent Miller is a Canadian voice actor who works for Ocean Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He has played several roles in anime, most notably Sting Oakley in Gundam Seed Destiny...
(English anime dub) - He is an experienced swordsman from Rena's home of Arlia. He left his home after the tragic loss of his sister. Rena considers him the older brother she never had. Their closeness and Dias' clear skill with a sword engenders something of an inferiority complex in Claude, but the two eventually establish a mutual respect.
Leon D. Geeste
- Voiced by: Yuki KaidaYuki Kaidais a voice actress and radio personality from Tokyo, Japan. Although she has an extensive vocal range, voicing a large variety of characters throughout her career, she is commonly typecasted as young males, achieving mainstream success as her roles in Hunter × Hunter as Kurapika, The Prince of...
(Japanese original), Grant Wachspress (English original), Yumiko KobayashiYumiko Kobayashiis a Japanese voice actress. She is currently a freelance voice actor but until August 2007 was affiliated with Arts Vision.She and fellow Excel Saga voice actress Mikako Takahashi are known as the duo "The Excel Girls"...
(Japanese PSP remake), Zack Goldman (English PSP remake), Kanako MitsuhashiKanako Mitsuhashiis a Japanese voice actress from the Hodogaya-ku ward of Yokohama, Japan. She is married to fellow voice actor Kōji Yusa. Mitsuhashi is probably most known for her roles as Killua Zoldyck from Hunter × Hunter, Rico from Gunslinger Girl, and Suzuka Asahina from Suzuka.-Anime:* Absolute Boy - Miki...
(Japanese anime dub), Reece ThompsonReece ThompsonReece Daniel Thompson is a Canadian actor. Thompson started his acting career by voice acting in several animated television series and minor roles on television shows before transitioning to films. His first major role came in the 2007 film Rocket Science...
(English anime dub) - He is a young Fellpool genius with numerous scientific and magical accomplishments to his name. He often brags about his intellect, but is deeply insecure, especially when out from under his parents' wing.
Noel Chandler
- Voiced by: Daisuke Sakaguchi (Japanese original), Jimmy FreemanJimmy FreemanJimmy Lee Freeman is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who made two brief appearances with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1970s. He batted and threw left handed....
(English original), Takahiro MizushimaTakahiro Mizushimais a Japanese seiyū. He is affiliated with Production baobab. When voicing adult games, he is known as .-TV Anime:Lead roles in bold.* Adam * Amezo * Billy * Bob...
(Japanese PSP remake), Peter Doyle (English PSP remake) - He is a Nedian zoologist and reclusive nature-lover who lives alone in a cabin.
Chisato Madison
- Voiced by: Rumi KasaharaRumi KasaharaRumi Kasahara is a seiyū. She is currently represented by Aoni Production.-Selected Voice Roles:*Chrono in Ah! My Goddess The Movie*Alia in the Mega Man X series...
(Japanese original), Jessica K. Heidt (English original), Fuyuka Ooura (Japanese PSP remake), Julie Ann TaylorJulie Ann TaylorJulie Ann Taylor is an American voice actress who is best known for her role of Ai Tanabe in Planetes, Mutsumi Otohime in Love Hina, Yukari Hayasaka in Paradise Kiss and Taiga Fujimura in Fate/Stay Night among others...
(English PSP remake) - She is a Nedian newspaper reporter who initially stalks the party as a way to get her next story written. Once she learns that Claude and Rena are on a quest to save the world, she offers to accompany them.
Antagonists
The main antagonists of the game make their first appearances mid-way through the game, introducing themselves as the "Ten Wise Men." In the original Japanese game, they are named after various angelAngel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s from Christian theology. In the initial English release, they are renamed, but the original names are restored in Second Evolution.
Indalecio, originally Gabriel
- Voiced by: ??? (Japanese original), Erik Bergmann (English original), Rikiya KoyamaRikiya Koyama' is a Japanese actor and voice actor who is a member of Haiyuza Theatre Company.He has done popular voicing roles in Hajime no Ippo, Utawarerumono and Kamen no Maid Guy.He is also known by the nicknames "Rikki" and "Riki-chan".- Biography :...
(Japanese PSP remake), Richard EpcarRichard EpcarRichard Epcar is an American actor voice actor / director, mostly specializing in the field of voice acting in games, animation and anime. He is the husband of voice actress Ellyn Stern, with whom he owns and operates Epcar Entertainment, Inc., a voiceover production service company based in Los...
(English PSP remake) - He is the "leader" of all the 10 Wise men, but secretly he has his own plans for Universe destruction. He is only contained by his love Filia, whom limits his abilities to do battle. If the right events occur in the game and Filia dies, Indalecio can become a much more formidable foe.
Cyril, originally Lucifer
- Voiced by: ??? (Japanese original), Brian Vouglas (English original), Shinichiro MikiShinichiro Mikiis a Japanese voice actor. He is a member of 81 Produce.Miki is most known for the roles of Kojiro , Takumi Fujiwara , Kisuke Urahara , Akira Yuki , Lockon Stratos , and Roy Mustang .According to the Anime News Network, as of Spring 2007, Miki is...
(Japanese PSP remake), Dick Neptune (English PSP remake) - He is the second in command, but, like Gabriel, also has his own plans for domination and/or destruction of the universe.
Decus, originally Michael
- Voiced by ??? (Japanese original), J.S. Gilbert (English original), Hiroki TouchiHiroki Touchiis a Japanese voice actor. He has frequently appeared in many anime and appeared in some video games mainly created by tri-Ace.-Games:* Aluze in Valkyrie Profile, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, & Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria...
(Japanese PSP remake), Peter SpellosPeter SpellosPeter Spellos is a voice actor who is also known as G. Gordon Baer, Gordon Baer, G. Gordon Bear, David Conrad, and Orville Ketchum.-Anime:* Black Jack - Mr. Brane* Bleach - Koganehiko, Dordonii...
(English PSP remake) - He is a pyromaniac.
Vesper, originally Haniel
- Voiced by ??? (Japanese original), Brian Vouglas (English original), Taiten KusunokiTaiten Kusunokiis a male Japanese voice actor and actor from Machida, Tokyo. He is affiliated with Miki Productions.-Television animation:*Bleach as Edrad Leones, Zommari Leroux*Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z *Digimon Savers as Commander Rentarō Satsuma...
(Japanese PSP remake), Steven Memel (English PSP remake) - He accompanies Micheal.
Berle, originally Metatron
- He is the first Wise man in the game at Eluria Tower. He attacks the party to tests it strength, and later reappears in the town of Armlock, where he attacks the blacksmith that was creating the weapons needed to kill the wise men.
Zaphkiel, originally Marsilio
- He is the second Wise man, encountered at lower tower of Fienal. Through this encounter, the party learns that the wise men cannot be killed with normal equipment. After the party obtains the necessary weaponry, Marsilio attacks the party as they train to use it.
Jophiel, originally Shiego
- He is an android wise man. He speaks in all capital letters, and has no emotion at all. It is not known whether he was created by other wise men to serve his true immortality as a machine, or if he was created by residents of Nede in an experiment concurrently along with the other wise men.
Zadkiel, originally Rupercht, Raphael, originally Jibril, and Camael, originally Nicolus
- They are the 3 guardian Wise Men of the Fienal tower entrance.
Second Evolution
Star Ocean: Second Evolution is an enhanced remake of Star Ocean: The Second Story for the PSPPlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. It serves as a sequel to Star Ocean: First Departure. The first details of the game were revealed at the "Star Ocean Special Stage" during the Square Enix Party 2007. Yoshinori Yamagishi, producer of the series, stated that he wants the remakes to feel as though they are completely new games. The game has seen a release in Japan on April 2, 2008, in North America on January 19, 2009, in Australia on February 12, 2009 and in Europe on February 13, 2009.
Second Evolution features new content, including new playable character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
. Production I.G provided new artwork and animated cutscenes for the game. There are new voice actor
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
s and extensive amounts of new, fully voiced dialogue. The opening song is "START", performed by SCANDAL
SCANDAL
is a Japanese pop rock band. The group consists of four members: Haruna Ono, Tomomi Ogawa, Mami Sasazaki and Rina Suzuki.The group was formed in August 2006, and they started performing at Osaka Castle Park shortly after their formation...
.
Hori, the Japanese game peripheral manufacturer, have unveiled a Second Evolution-branded PSP accessory set to be released alongside the game on April 2, 2008. The kit includes the following: a limited, gray PSP case with the Star Ocean logo (not a new PSP entirely, like some thought), matching headphones, a cell phone strap, and finally, 2 UMD cases to hold both First Departure and Second Evolution games. The kit's release seems to coincide with First Departure Eternal Edition package.
Reception
Star Ocean: The Second Story was a commercial success, having sold approximately 1.09 million copies worldwide, with over 700,000 copies sold in Japan alone and 370,000 copies sold overseas. It was the 13th best-selling game of 1998 in Japan.As of November 30, 2008, Star Ocean: Second Evolution has sold 141,218 copies in Japan. Star Ocean: Second Evolution was the 90th best-selling game in Japan in 2008, selling 143,434 copies.
Manga and anime adaptations
A 7 volume mangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series was written and illustrated by Mayumi Azuma
Mayumi Azuma
is a Japanese manga artist who is the creator of the now completed manga Elemental Gelade, which finished with eighteen volumes and was adapted into a 26-episode television anime series, and its ongoing spinoff manga Elemental Gelade: Flag of Blue Sky...
. Based on the tri-Ace
Tri-Ace
is a Japanese video game development company formed in 1995 by former Telenet Japan employees Yoshiharu Gotanda , Masaki Norimoto and Joe Asanuma . The name is a play on words regarding the "three aces" who formed the company...
video game of the same name, it follows the exploits of Claude C. Kenny, a young ensign in the Earth Federation who finds himself stranded on the Planet Expel. He meets Rena Lanford, a young girl living in the village of Arlia who declares that he is the legendary warrior their legends speak of who will save their troubled world from disaster. The series was serialized in Shōnen Gangan, premiering June 22, 1999 and running until December 21, 2001 when it ended without reaching the conclusion of the story.
Studio Deen
Studio DEEN
is a Japanese company that produces anime. Three years after Sunrise was founded in 1972, Studio Deen was established by Sunrise's members in 1975. As a result of this, anime shows such as Cowboy Bebop that were produced by Sunrise may have had assistance from Studio Deen.-Produced anime:* Urusei...
adapted the manga series into a twenty six episode anime series entitled Star Ocean EX which aired on TV Tokyo
TV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
from April 3, 2001 until September 25, 2001. The anime series was released to Region 1 DVD by Geneon Entertainment. To complete the story left unfinished by both the manga and anime, five drama CDs were released in Japan, using the same voice actors from the anime series.
List of manga
Written by Mayumi AzumaMayumi Azuma
is a Japanese manga artist who is the creator of the now completed manga Elemental Gelade, which finished with eighteen volumes and was adapted into a 26-episode television anime series, and its ongoing spinoff manga Elemental Gelade: Flag of Blue Sky...
Star Ocean: The Second Story is based on the tri-Ace
Tri-Ace
is a Japanese video game development company formed in 1995 by former Telenet Japan employees Yoshiharu Gotanda , Masaki Norimoto and Joe Asanuma . The name is a play on words regarding the "three aces" who formed the company...
video game Star Ocean: The Second Story. It first premiered in Shōnen Gangan on June 22, 1999. The final chapter was published on December 21, 2001, having covered only half of the video game and without concluding the story. Enix
Enix
The was a Japanese company that produced video games, anime and manga. The company was founded by Yasuhiro Fukushima on September 22, 1975 as and renamed Enix in 1982...
published the series in seven collected volumes in Japan starting on June 1999. Two volumes were released per year until the seventh volume was released in November 2001.
List of anime episodes
Studio DeenStudio DEEN
is a Japanese company that produces anime. Three years after Sunrise was founded in 1972, Studio Deen was established by Sunrise's members in 1975. As a result of this, anime shows such as Cowboy Bebop that were produced by Sunrise may have had assistance from Studio Deen.-Produced anime:* Urusei...
adapted the manga series into an anime series, naming it . The series premiered on TV Tokyo
TV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
from April 3, 2001 and ran for twenty-six episodes until September 25, 2001. Movic
Movic
is a Japanese company which specializes in the publication of trading cards, figures, CDs, and other general media related to the anime industry. Movic is a part of the Animate group.-Anime involved in:*Ah! My Goddess: The Movie: Production...
released to VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tape and Region 2 DVD across nine volumes, with the first released on July 27, 2001 and the final volume released March 29, 2002. Each volume contained two episodes, except the final volume which had three.
In 2004, Geneon Entertainment announced they had acquired the license to release the series to Region 1 DVD. They released the first of six volumes on January 4, 2005 and the final volume on November 22, 2005. In Geneon's release, the first two volumes contained five episodes each, while the remaining volumes contained four. On August 8, 2006, Geneon released all twenty-six episodes in a series box set.
This is a complete episode listing for the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series . Adapted from Mayumi Azuma
Mayumi Azuma
is a Japanese manga artist who is the creator of the now completed manga Elemental Gelade, which finished with eighteen volumes and was adapted into a 26-episode television anime series, and its ongoing spinoff manga Elemental Gelade: Flag of Blue Sky...
's seven-volume manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series Star Ocean: The Second Story, the twenty-six episode series is directed by Hiroshi Watanabe
Hiroshi Watanabe
is an anime director and animator.-Works:*Detective Loki*Guyver: Out of Control*If I See You in my Dreams*Jing: King of Bandits*Magical Princess Minky Momo*Orphen*Shining Tears X Wind*Slayers The Motion Picture...
and was produced by Studio Deen
Studio DEEN
is a Japanese company that produces anime. Three years after Sunrise was founded in 1972, Studio Deen was established by Sunrise's members in 1975. As a result of this, anime shows such as Cowboy Bebop that were produced by Sunrise may have had assistance from Studio Deen.-Produced anime:* Urusei...
. The series first premiered in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on TV Tokyo
TV Tokyo
is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime...
from April 3, 2001. The final episode aired on September 25, 2001. The source manga was based on the video game Star Ocean: The Second Story, however it only covered the first half of the game, resulting in both it and the anime adaptation telling an incomplete story.
Star Ocean EX was released to VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tape and Region 2 DVD by Movic
Movic
is a Japanese company which specializes in the publication of trading cards, figures, CDs, and other general media related to the anime industry. Movic is a part of the Animate group.-Anime involved in:*Ah! My Goddess: The Movie: Production...
, with the first volume released on July 27, 2001 and the final volume released March 29, 2002. Movic also released a series of five drama CDs
Radio drama in Japan
Radio drama in Japan has a history as long as that of radio broadcasting in that country, which began in 1925. Some consider the first Japanese radio drama to have been "" which was a radio broadcast of a stage play. Others consider the Japanese translation of Richard Hughes's "Danger" or to be...
to complete the story. In 2004, Geneon Entertainment announced they had acquired the license to release the series to Region 1 DVD. They released the first of six volumes on January 4, 2005 and the final volume on November 22, 2005. In Geneon's release, the first two volumes contained five episodes each, while the remaining volumes contained four.
Two pieces of theme music are use for all twenty-six episodes. "To the Light", performed by Amika Hattan is used for the opening theme. Saori Nishihata
Saori Nishihata
is a Japanese singer.- Single :AH! MY GODDESS OST - "Try To Wish" 〜キミに必要なもの〜 "No Pain no gain" Star Ocean EX ED Single - "Hearts" -External links:...
's "Hearts" is used for the ending theme for the first twenty-five episodes, while the twenty-sixth episode uses "To the Light" for its ending.
| # | Title | | Original air date |
|---|
Region 1
Geneon Entertainment announced that they had acquired the license to release Star Ocean EX to Region 1 DVD in July 2004. They first released the series in six individual volumes with each volume included English and Japanese audio tracks and English subtitles. The first two volumes contain five episodes each, and the remaining volumes have four each. With the first four volumes, the on-disc extras included character profiles, while last two volumes had galleries of illustrations and the original Japanese cover art. The first volume was available in both regular and limited editions, with the limited edition including an art box that could hold all six volumes of the series.
Geneon also released the entire series as a box set that includes all six volumes in their original cases, but features a different art box.
| Volume | Title | Release Date | Eps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Ocean EX - The Inception | January 4, 2005 | 1-5 |
| 2 | Star Ocean EX - Dragon's Teeth | March 22, 2005 | 6-10 |
| 3 | Star Ocean EX - Magical Moonlit Flowers | May 24, 2005 | 11-14 |
| 4 | Star Ocean EX - Ruins and Hopes | July 19, 2005 | 15-18 |
| 5 | Star Ocean EX - El Continent | September 20, 2005 | 19-22 |
| 6 | Star Ocean EX - The Legendary Warrior | November 22, 2005 | 23-26 |
| NA | Star Ocean EX - Complete Box Set | August 8, 2006 | 1-26 |
Region 2 (Japan)
Star Ocean EX was originally released to Region 2 DVD and VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in Japan in nine individual volumes by Movic
Movic
is a Japanese company which specializes in the publication of trading cards, figures, CDs, and other general media related to the anime industry. Movic is a part of the Animate group.-Anime involved in:*Ah! My Goddess: The Movie: Production...
. The first volume, containing two episodes, was released on July 27, 2001. Subsequent volumes, each containing three episodes, followed on a monthly schedule.
| Title | Release Date | Eps |
|---|---|---|
| Star Ocean EX 1 | July 27, 2001 | 1-2 |
| Star Ocean EX 2 | August 24, 2001 | 3-5 |
| Star Ocean EX 3 | September 28, 2001 | 6-8 |
| Star Ocean EX 4 | October 26, 2001 | 9-11 |
| Star Ocean EX 5 | November 22, 2001 | 12-14 |
| Star Ocean EX 6 | December 21, 2001 | 15-17 |
| Star Ocean EX 7 | January 25, 2002 | 18-20 |
| Star Ocean EX 8 | February 22, 2002 | 21-23 |
| Star Ocean EX 9 | March 29, 2002 | 24-26 |
Soundtracks
Two CD soundtrackSoundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s were released in Japan by Pony Canyon
Pony Canyon
is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966 , which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. It is a subsidiary of Japanese Media Group, Fujisankei Communications Group.-History:...
for the Star Ocean EX series. The first soundtrack, , contained forty-seven tracks and released on August 1, 2001. Among the tracks are the TV length versions of the opening and ending themes and background music played during various episodes. The second, was released on September 19, 2001. It contained an additional forty-five tracks of background music from the series.
Neither official soundtrack includes the full version of either the opening or ending theme of the series. Amika Hattan did release the full version of the opening theme "To the Light" as a CD single. Likewise, Saori Nishihata
Saori Nishihata
is a Japanese singer.- Single :AH! MY GODDESS OST - "Try To Wish" 〜キミに必要なもの〜 "No Pain no gain" Star Ocean EX ED Single - "Hearts" -External links:...
released a single with the full version of the ending theme "Hearts".
Other
MovicMovic
is a Japanese company which specializes in the publication of trading cards, figures, CDs, and other general media related to the anime industry. Movic is a part of the Animate group.-Anime involved in:*Ah! My Goddess: The Movie: Production...
, the company which released the Star Ocean EX anime series to VHS and DVD, also had a series of drama CDs produced. These CDs take the place of the series' missing second season and complete the story left incomplete by both the manga and anime series. The CDs feature the same voice actors as those in the anime and each volume contains approximately one hour of dialog. The first CD was released in Japan on July 7, 2001, picking up where the last episode of the anime stopped. The fifth and final volume was released December 8, 2001. All five volumes are now out-of-print.
Enix published two art books for Star Ocean. The first, was published in October 2000. Spanning eight-eight pages, it included sixty four pages of color art and a full-color fold out poster created by artist Mayumi Azuma.
The second art book, was published in August 2001. It contains sixty pages of color illustrations, twenty pages of black-and-white images and some character profiles.