Square Enix's PSP Star Ocean games should be hitting the States this November, if this listing from a GameCrazy store is to be believed. The RPG remakes will retail for $39.99 each. Square Enix has yet to officially announce a localized version of the game, but with this new evidence (and the listing found on GameFly), it's clear that the games are coming to the US.

After speculation and wonder as to whether or not either (or both, or which, or whatever) of the two Star Ocean series remakes for PlayStation Portable would receive English translation, Square Enix USA is ready to officially settle the matter. Both Star Ocean: First Departure and Star Ocean: Second Evolution are on track for North American releases, and videos of each will be shown at E3.

Also on video will be Star Ocean IV: The Last Hope for Xbox 360, and the multiplatform The Last Remnant. Playable demos of Dragon Quest IV’s DS remake, Final Fantasy IV’s DS remake, Chrono Trigger’s DS port, Infinite Undiscovery for 360, and Song Summoner for iPod will appear for media members to play and unanimously report that all were in fact “So awesome,” as per annual tradition.

man i wish i still had my PSP.

After tons of retailer leaks, it looks like Square Enix has finally announced Star Ocean is coming to the US. The first PSP game, The First Departure will be available for the US market on October 21st. The Second Evolution will be available on January 6th.

Did yours get stolen by Va1dius?

What's the word on these anyway? Full blown remakes or ports with a fancy extra or two?

Either way I'm buying.

Oh, yes, it's been a while since we rejoiced in the original Star Ocean and the positively received Star Ocean 2, back on the SNES and PlayStation, respectively. Well, we say SNES, but we mean ZSNES or any other emulator that would play it for the non-Japanese audience, since we hadn't seen it stateside. Regardless, the two titles are getting PSP remakes and the facelifts come in more sizes than just re-translations and bug fixes, as shown in the scans you can reach through the NeoGAF forums.

The first game gets a new battle system that better resembles the action-oriented ones found in the latter two titles, along with updated sprites and backgrounds. The second title gets similar upgrades, but will also feature facial pop-ups when a character talks (just imagine any anime or Gust-inspired RPG). Sadly, the story in the second one will still suck. Yes, we said it. The second disc was a killer for momentum -- too many fetch quests and sidetracking before the final battle, if you ask us. Regardless, the games were very good, so we'll definitely try these out. Perhaps we'll get a hands-on at Tokyo Game Show. Perhaps not.

Second Evolution trailer:

http://media.psp.ign.com/media/905/905545/vids_1.html

IGN has Second Evolution down for a January 9, 2009 release (not sure if that’s just North America or Europe as well.).

Last I check, S-E not releasing Star Ocean 1 and 2 in Europe.

Aren;t these 360 exclusive?

It was an attempted joke/prod at Square for the SO4 controversy in as little words as possible XD

Aren;t these 360 exclusive? ;)

Multi-platform. Didn’t you hear their big E3 announcement a couple months ago?

I forgot if these were ports or remakes? I never played the first two Star Ocean games, so if I get a PSP I might check this out. Otherwise I'll probably play them on PS2.

The original was never released outside of Japan and it was on the SNES. Only Star Ocean 2 was released on the PS1. Yeah, like Pes says they're remakes the original is getting remade using the Star Ocean 2 (PS1) engine, with new characters and cut scenes which the sequel will also get I think.

Having played all the Star Ocean titles officially available in North America, I was more than eager to try out Square-Enix's remake of the game that started it all. As most Star Ocean fans know, the original title was released on the Super Famicom in 1996 but never saw the light of day in the US, so this PSP-exclusive remake is the first time many of us will be playing the game. Read on to find out my thoughts after spending a couple of hours with the game.

Star Ocean: First Departure begins with an anime sequence and a catchy J-pop song that really grows on you, especially after listening to it every time you turn the game on. The animated cutscenes by Production I.G really are quite beautiful and inject a shot of vigor into the narrative as you progress further into the game. You begin the game by taking control of three friends from a small town; Roddick, Dorne and Millie attempt to find a cure to a strange plague which infects a nearby town that is slowly turning all of its residents into stone. The trio climbs a dangerous mountain in hopes of retrieving a cure in the form of an herb, but Dorne has already been infected by the time they reach the summit. Out of nowhere, two representatives from a space federation appear before their eyes to offer them the chance of a cure, but they have to board a spaceship and never return to their home planet ever again. Roddick and his friends barely hesitate before they agree, hence beginning the game's awkward transition from fantasy to sci-fi.

Unfortunately, the story of the game is its weakest link, though you have to put into consideration it is twelve years old. Star Ocean is full of RPG clichés and one-dimensional characters -- you know, the hot-headed tough guy, the responsible hero, the cute-but-annoying female sidekick, to name a few. The battle system, on the other hand, is my favorite aspect of SO: First Departure. Unlike other turn-based RPGs, the game's battles play like a hack-and-slash title. Enemies still appear in random encounters, but the fights take place in a field where you directly control one of your characters who is free to walk around and attack, cast magic or use special skills in real-time. You can switch between different members of your party during the battle while the CPU guides the actions of the other members. Other aspects of the game I enjoyed were "private actions" which are optional sequences that reveal additional background information on the story and skill points you can earn which allow you to customize your character with skill sets such as stronger attacks or the ability to cook food that can restore your hit points.

Ultimately, fans of the franchise will enjoy Star Ocean's debut on the PSP. Other RPG fans seeking a game with a more lively battle system and more customizable options than other titles of the genre should also check this out. Look for the game when it is released in the US on October 21st.