The Story Timeline Order of Star Ocean Games
Star Ocean is a series of RPG video games set in sci-fi environments, often alien planets, with some medieval elements in between, for example swords, as well as action gameplay in the battles of the games. The first game in the series, Star Ocean, was released in 1996, and already featured many of the characteriscal elements of the Star Ocean series that would also be seen in subsequent games.
Due to being set in sci-fi environments and featuring space opera elements, the Star Ocean video games can be a refreshing experience for RPG fans, specially RPG fans that are used to RPG video games set in medieval environments. Also, like other classic RPG franchises, Star Ocean games are rich in dialogues, which expand on the backstory of each game and also the lore of the Star Ocean games universe. For this reason, it is accurate to describe Star Ocean games as story-rich, or story-focused.
One important hallmark of Star Ocean video games is the combat. Different from other classic RPG franchises, such as Final Fantasy, Star Ocean games feature real-time combat, ever since the first Star Ocean game, released in 1996. Due to this reason, Star Ocean games are sometimes called action RPGs. However, this definition of action RPG should not be confused with the definition of isometric action RPGs, which often feature hack-and-slash gameplay, randomized loot, randomized dungeons. Star Ocean is an action RPG in the sense that it features an action combat gameplay, but the gameplay of the Star Ocan video games is quite different to the gameplay of isometric ARPGs such as Diablo and Grim Dawn.
Is There an Order in Which to Play the Star Ocean Games?
While each Star Ocean game can be played separately and enjoyed for its gameplay, it is suggested to play the Star Ocean video games in story order to have a better story experience. While each game tells a different story, the different Star Ocean games are set in the same overall universe, and are connected by different elements. Playing the games in story order is suggested to appreciate this connection between different games of the series.
It is important to note that the release date of the Star Ocean video games is quite different to the chronological order in which the story events of each game take place. In other words, the story order of the Star Ocean games is very different to the release order of these games. For example, Star Ocean: The Last Hope was released after multiple Star Ocean games, when in fact the events of that game are set before many of the events of other Star Ocean games. For this reason, it is suggested to play these games in story order, and not necessarily in release order, to have the best possible story experience in the Star Ocean series.
The Chronological Story Order of Star Ocean Video Games
This is the chronological story order of the Star Ocean video games. In other words, this is the chronological order in which the story events of the different games take place. This is the most suggested order in which to play the Star Ocean games to have a comprehensive understanding of the story of the games universe, as well as experiencing a reasonable, logical and continuous development of the backstory of the Star Ocean series.
Considering that Star Ocean is a series that has multiple games and that some of the games were released decades ago, it is understandable that some of the games received updates, enhanced versions and remakes. However, these versions, remakes and updated versions generally do not change the main story of the game, and most often focus on improving the gameplay and other game features. For this reason, I consider these different versions of the same game to essentially tell the same story, and for this reason they receive the same entry in the chronological story order list that I've written. To keep things simple, I've included the multiple names and different versions of each game in this list. So for example, when you read in this list "Star Ocean | Star Ocean: First Departure", it means that these are two different games that tell the same story, and one is a remake of the other, or an update to the other, or an enhanced edition of the other, and so forth. Thus, either of these games can be played for the same story narrative.
Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Star Ocean | Star Ocean: First Departure
Star Ocean: The Second Story | Star Ocean: Second Evolution
Star Ocean: Blue Sphere
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness
Star Ocean: Anamnesis
Star Ocean: The Divine Force
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
The first game in the series, Star Ocean, received a remake, called Star Ocean: First Departure. Some time later, this remake was remastered, and the remastered version was called Star Ocean: First Departure R. However, Star Ocean, Star Ocean: First Departure and Star Ocean: First Departure R, while being different games, all tell the same story, in regards to the Star Ocean story continuity. For these reasons, even though they may be different games, with different names, either of those games can be played in order to have the same core story experience, although there may be differences in the gameplay and in the game in general. However, considering that, generally speaking, in remakes and remastered versions, previously unavailable content is often included, it is suggested to Star Ocean fans to play the latest version available, which in this case is Star Ocean: First Departure R.
The Story Timeline Order of the Star Ocean Video Games
For the Star Ocean fans and RPG fans, this is a timeline list that includes the exact year in which each Star Ocean video game takes place. In other words, this is the chronological order of the story events in the different Star Ocean games. It is important to remember that these years are fictional years that represent the passage of time in the Star Ocean games universe. In other words, these can be called "Star Ocean years", "years in Star Ocean time" or "years in the Star Ocean games universe". I've decided to include these years in S.D. because in my opinion that is the measure that makes the most sense in the Star Ocean games universe lore.
S.D. 010 Star Ocean: The Last Hope
S.D. 346 Star Ocean | Star Ocean: First Departure
S.D. 366 Star Ocean: The Second Story | Star Ocean: Second Evolution
S.D. 368 Star Ocean: Blue Sphere
S.D. 537 Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness
S.D. 539 Star Ocean: Anamnesis
S.D. 583 Star Ocean: The Divine Force
S.D. 772 Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
What is S.D. in Star Ocean Time?
S.D. is the measure by which the years are counted in the Star Ocean games universe. This measure is quite useful in order to have a notion of the passage of time. In the Star Ocean games universe, S.D. means Space Date.
If you are interested in the story timeline order of RPG video games, you may also be interested in checking out the story timeline orders of Dungeons & Dragons, Final Fantasy, The Elder Scrolls and The Witcher.
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