Star Ocean: The Divine Force

Star Ocean: The Divine Force isn’t the best in the series, but a revamped battle system and a charming cast of characters at least make it feel like a return to form.

Rather than aiming for evolution similar to Bandai’s Tales of Arise, tri-Ace and Square Enix went back in time for Star Ocean: The Divine Force. The result is solid, but The Divine Force had the potential to reach even greater heights and establish an identity for the series as a thoughtful reflection on technology and philosophy. If nothing else, at least it proves Star Ocean is still brimming with possibility and deserves another chance, one that will hopefully be more forward-thinking and give the series a chance to shine at last.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force is like a comfortable pair of JRPG slippers. If you're in the mood for a Japanese role playing game and you've played all of the good ones then you can rest assured that this one is fine. It's okay. It's comfort food. You know that feeling when you just wish Netflix would make another season of Mindhunter and so you end up watching Criminal Minds? That. Only in space.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force is developer tri-Ace's latest foray into the stars with this latest entry of their long-running science fiction RPG series, and after a rocky previous entry, this new game may have righted the ship towards a bright future.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force is a return to greatness thanks to a new and exciting spin on the action RPG combat the series is known for, the endearing dual protagonists, and a solid story that manages to dodge the pitfalls of its predecessors.

Even with some issues here and there, Star Ocean: The Divine Force is undoubtedly a return to form for the series by tri-Ace. The game delivers a solid JRPG experience that both fans of the series and newcomers will enjoy thanks to the best battle system in the series to date, likable characters, and an engaging but a little slow and not particularly surprising story. Some technical issues and by-the-books game design do take something away from the experience, but for those looking for a traditional Japanese role-playing game with plenty of heart, Star Ocean: The Divine Force is the game to get.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force feels drained of life.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force blends classic sensibilities with fresh design for a satisfying new installment in a classic JRPG series.

Star Ocean: The Divine Force is an interesting game, with a lot of mixed feelings. The game doesn't have any fundamental flaws that ruins the experience, but what someone likes varies from person to person. The game has a lot going for it -- it's a fun sci-fi adventure with a great cast of characters, interesting locations to explore, high speed action combat system, and is very story focused.

This is the best new Star Ocean game in a good while. Star Ocean: The Divine Force makes great use of the power of current gen consoles to create a visually great world and incredibly pretty, almost doll-like characters. The story is a nice short-ish length and is compelling enough to drive the player forward.