STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE - what you need to know

The new sci-fi fantasy RPG is coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Steam in 2022! Find out all about it here.
By Duncan Heaney

STAR OCEAN is back!

We’re excited to unveil STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE - a brand new sci-fi fantasy RPG that will take you on an exhilarating journey into an expansive world.

STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE TRAILER

Featuring two main protagonists and several playable ally characters, freedom of movement and character illustrations by renowned artist Akiman (Street Fighter series) it’s a bold new entry for the series that takes exploration and combat to another level - literally!

Read on and we’ll tell you all about it:

STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot

What is STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE?

Developed by tri-Ace, STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE is a thrilling new adventure that fuses science fiction and fantasy. Although it’s the sixth mainline entry in the STAR OCEAN series, THE DIVINE FORCE will be an excellent starting point for newcomers as it tells a completely original story with brand-new characters.

STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot
STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot

For existing fans, the game brings back the popular dual protagonist system from STAR OCEAN: The Second Story and puts you in the shoes of two very different protagonists: Raymond and Laeticia.

Raymond is from an advanced civilization, and the captain of the space trading ship Ydas. Laeticia, meanwhile, is a princess-knight from a kingdom on an underdeveloped planet. When they meet, the fate of the galaxy will change forever.

STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot
STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot

You’ll get to choose which of the two heroes to control and the events that take place during the story, including the allies who’ll have your back by the end of the game, will change depending on your decision. Naturally, once you finish playing as one of the protagonists, you’ll want to start another playthrough with the other character to see all the story twists and turns that await you there.

STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot
STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot

Regardless of which protagonist you go with, you’ll have amazing freedom over how you explore this galactically imaginative world. Characters have amazing mobility around areas - everything you see is there to be explored… from the ground and the air.

Not only can the characters move in 360 degrees on the ground, they can also fly up into the air, too! See a cliff or rockface that looks interesting in the distance? You can fly over there and poke around. Want to get up to the rooftops for a better look at the city? Up you go!

From towering mountains, to dark, vast valleys and even imposing castles, there’s an incredible variety of places to explore… but not all of them will be safe.

STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot

Sooner or later, you’ll encounter enemies and that means it’s time to battle. Fortunately, the sense of nimbleness extends into the combat system, too!

The heroes can take down hordes of enemies with super high-speed movement attacks. For example, you have a skill that lets you vanish for a moment in front of enemies’ eyes or take out a foe in a single hit.

Combat flows seamlessly into exploration too - there are no random battles, and all enemies are present on the field. If you see danger ahead, it’s up to you how and when you engage them. Do you rush in head-on or swoop down from the sky?

It’s the fastest, most impactful action the series has ever had, and we can’t wait for you to try it for yourselves!

STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot
STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot

When will STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE release?

STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and STEAM in 2022.

Unfortunately, we can’t give you an exact date right now, so please make sure you follow STAR OCEAN on social media for more information in the future:

STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE screenshot

What if you want to play STAR OCEAN right now?

Though STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE won’t be out until next year, if the trailer and screenshots have left you craving some sci-fi RPG fun, then we have some recommendations.

If you’re a veteran of the series, you’ll no doubt have your favorites, newcomers should bear in mind that STAR OCEAN games (including THE DIVINE FORCE) are designed to be enjoyed standalone, and all provide a great entry point to the series.

STAR OCEAN First Departure R screenshot

A personal favorite is STAR OCEAN First Departure R - a remastered version of the very first game in the series. That was already a terrific RPG, but the new version enhances it further with full voiceovers, new character illustrations, a high speed mode to accelerate traversal, and rebalanced combat.

It’s available now on PS4 and Switch:

STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE

Alternatively, STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE - 4K and FULL HD REMASTER is available for PS4 and STEAM. As the name implies, it’s a remaster of the fourth game in the series - a fantastically action-packed RPG with a super-satisfying battle system and some really likeable characters.

Finally, why not check out STAR OCEAN: INTEGRITY AND FAITHLESSNESS on PS4. The most recent game in the series, it’s another great adventure that, like the upcoming game, features amazing character designs by Akiman.

For more information on STAR OCEAN THE DIVINE FORCE, visit the official site at https://starocean.square-enix-games.com/

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