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Star Ocean getting PAL Special Edition

by Xav de Matos { May 26th 2009 at 4:00PM }

European gamers are getting their hands on an exclusive special edition of Star Ocean: The Last Hope. Launching on June 5, The Last Hope has already made the trek to North American gamers, but European users have an exclusive pack headed their way to sweeten a possible purchase.

Included in the special edition is the game, a 32-page guide, five Last Hope character cards, a compilation CD soundtrack and limited edition packaging.

While we should be jealous of the bonuses included in the pack, we're more envious of the digistack packing used for the set. Thanks to this special edition, PAL users won't all have to deal with three discs stacked on top of each other, like North American gamers did. Lucky!

Star Ocean: The Last Hope arrives in Europe on June 5

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 29th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Star Ocean: The Last Hope will finally jump into European retail on June 5, according to a Square Enix press release (via VG247). The Xbox 360 exclusive found its way to Japan and North America earlier this year.

In fact, The Last Hope was another JRPG that set the Japanese sales charts ablaze with Xbox sales when it released in February. The game will release in Europe right in the middle of the summer doldrums and should keep JRPG fans entertained until the fall release onslaught begins.

Xbox 360 outsells PS3 in Japan for fourth time, Four Horsemen draw closer

by Ben Gilbert { Feb 26th 2009 at 12:20PM }

The Xbox 360 has only outsold the PlayStation 3 several times before, so we're reticent to bring the Four Horsemen out of their winter hibernation. However, if Japanese hardware sales tracker Media Create is to be believed, the 360 not only outsold the PS3 in Japan last week, it handily trounced all competition, with sales just over 25,000 units (compared to nearly 17,000 units for Wii and just over 16,000 for PS3).

Considering Star Ocean: The Last Hope was released this past week and is outselling every game on the chart by a margin of at least 3:1 (162,232 units, folks -- in one week!), we're taking a stab in the dark here and saying 360 sales had something to do with that. After all, the last few times we put out a call to the horsemen, two other JRPG titles were to blame: Infinite Undiscovery and Tales of Vesperia.

Can you remember the other game that put 360 on top in Japan for a week? Hint: It involves fire and liberation and ... fighter jets. Give up? Too bad! We're still not telling!

Continued →

Video: Star Ocean "Hope for the Future"

by Xav de Matos { Jan 26th 2009 at 12:50AM }

The more we see of the upcoming tri-Ace developed, Square Enix published, Star Ocean: The Last Hope, the more excited we seem to get. Not only is the Star Ocean series one of the most beloved, classic role-playing franchises still kicking around, both the CGI and in game footage of the game look impressive. Honestly though, we just get overly excited when effeminate heroes jump out of their spacecraft pilot seats to stare blankly at a monitor and luckily this trailer showcases that move twice. 'Round these parts we call that, "Supreme pimp pointing." Star Ocean: The Last Hope lands Stateside on February 24.

Rock the Star Ocean slightly early

by Xav de Matos { Jan 12th 2009 at 11:45AM }

Late last week Square Enix announced they were doing something the industry very rarely sees, release a title early. The Square Enix published, triAce developed Star Ocean: The Last Hope was originally set to hit shelves during the first week of March but now will arrive in North America on February 24th. Currently, Star Ocean is set to release in Japan on February 19th and on April 24 in Europe.

We're so accustomed to waiting for Japanese role-playing game releases that we won't know what to do when Star Ocean lands in stores earlier than expected. Our whole world has been turned upside down!

[via Joystiq]

Star Ocean: The Last Hope gets earlier release date

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 9th 2009 at 7:59PM }

Star Ocean: The Last Hope dares to go against almost every Square Enix convention. The game is supposedly the last of the franchise, a final fantasy in the Star Ocean universe. The game is being exclusively developed for Xbox 360 and is aiming for an almost-simultaneous worldwide release.

And now, Square Enix is throwing away yet another long-running tradition: delays. Fans have become so accustomed to waiting, and Square Enix has the gall to release this game earlier than expected? Star Ocean: The Last Hope will now appear in the US on February 24th, a full week earlier than previously announced.

Square Enix, we're warning you -- we don't trust your new ways. You stop making ambiguously gendered buckle-wearing heroes, and we won't know you anymore!

Video: Star Ocean "Deadline" trailer defies all logic

by Xav de Matos { Dec 19th 2008 at 11:45AM }

We're going to say what needs to be said; no one named Edge should be that adorable. However, Star Ocean: The Last Hope stars an adorable character named Edge. The Deadline trailer above, released in Japan, showcases some of the locales gamers will visit when Star Ocean: The Last Hope hits the Xbox 360 on March 3, 2009. The latest trailer also shows off some impressive combat, combos and ... okay, seriously though a dude named Edge shouldn't make you want to hug him. Guys named Edge force you to hug them, awkwardly. On a related note, the game looks extremely pretty in cut scenes and in action. Definitely something to look forward to if you're down with Japanese role-playing games.

Square Enix dates full Q1 '09 lineup

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 11th 2008 at 5:00PM }

We're barely surviving 2008's consumerism climax and already publishers are dangling their 2009 wares in front of us. Alright, Square Enix, we'll play your despicable game, if only to take our minds off the current gaming glut. Square Enix's North American (and heavily subtitled) lineup for Q1 2009 is as follows:

Star Ocean: Second Evolution (PSP / 6 Jan.): Being the remastered portable version of the interstellar -- and considered by some to be just plain stellar -- sequel. Features new voice work, new cutscenes and people crying in space.
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (DS / 17 Feb.): Being the hitherto unlocalized entry in the venerable RPG series. Yes, Dragon Ball Z guy designed these characters too.
Star Ocean: The Last Hope (Xbox 360 / 3 Mar.): Being tri-Ace's long-awaited continuation of the science-fiction franchise. The subtitle implies that this is a big deal for the Xbox 360 in Japan.
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume (DS / 17 Mar.): Being the third instalment in the respected Valkyrie Profile series. If you're looking for an explanation of the title, we're afraid you're plume out of luck.

TGS 08: Star Ocean secures worldwide release dates

by Xav de Matos { Oct 8th 2008 at 11:23PM }

Just announced at the Microsoft press briefing during the Tokyo Game Show, Star Ocean: The Last Hope will land in North America on March 3 after it debuts in Japan on February 19. Microsoft also announced that the title will be made available in European and Asian markets but did not announce specific release dates.

Developed by triAce and published by Square Enix, Star Ocean: The Last Hope joins the list of strong Japanese style RPGs to find life on the Xbox 360.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope comes to Japan Feb. 19, NA on Mar. 3

by Justin McElroy { Oct 8th 2008 at 11:22PM }

You might want to add space trunks to your Christmas lists this year, because according to the Microsoft press conference at Tokyo Game Show, you'll be taking a dip in the Star Ocean: The Last Hope on Mar. 3, just a couple of weeks after our friends in Japan on Feb. 19.

We're really sorry about that "space trunk" gag, by the way. We're still shaking jet lag.

E308: Star Ocean: The Last Hope gameplay trailer

by Xav de Matos { Jul 14th 2008 at 4:07PM }

Available now on the Xbox Live Marketplace is a new trailer showcasing footage of Star Ocean: The Last Hope. Taking clips from its original release, the new trailer also shows off new in game footage as well as the recently announced 2009 release date for the role-playing title.

Square Enix: "No Plans" for Star Ocean on PS3

by Xav de Matos { Jun 13th 2008 at 5:00PM }

Since announcing Star Ocean: The Last Hope for the Xbox 360 earlier this week Square Enix has been playing coy on the subject of exclusivity. When speaking with Yahoo Japan's financial site, Square Enix took side stepping to a new level by stating there are "no plans" to release the fourth installment of Star Ocean on the PS3.

Of course the careful wording of "no plans" could mean the title may see life on other platforms. As we've mentioned before, the initial announcement of the title was made via a Sony branded device ages ago (the first Star Ocean 4 trailer was on PSP) and based on the history between Sony and Square Enix a PS3 version is a possibility. Either way, Microsoft fans are in store for one of the most well known and respected Japanese role-playing franchises from developer tri-Ace. As it stands, Star Ocean: The Last Hope will launch on the Xbox 360 exclusively in 2009 ... for now.

[via Wired]

See screens of Microsoft's JRPG lineup

by Christopher Grant { Jun 12th 2008 at 6:00AM }

Microsoft held a press conference on Tuesday morning Joystiq Time to show off its upcoming Japanese RPGs, including Star Ocean: The Last Hope (just announced for Xbox 360), The Last Remnant (launching "on the Xbox 360 first" this Winter), Infinite Undiscovery (whose "worldwide" release isn't quite simultaneous), and Namco Bandai's Tale of Vesperia (reaching North America in August with an Xbox demo this month). Hit up the galleries below to get a peek at each of these four titles.

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Star Ocean: The Last Hope announced for Xbox 360 [Update]

by Xav de Matos { Jun 10th 2008 at 6:15AM }

Update: An original trailer, using some of the clips in the footage above, for Star Ocean: The Last Hope (then referred to simply as Star Ocean 4) debuted with the PSP release of Star Ocean: The First Departure. This in mind, we can safely say the new RPG will be multi-platform (to be clear, Star Ocean going multiplatform is our uneducated guess, not a confirmation).

Combining the West's love of space marines and the East's love of effeminate heroes, Square Enix and Tri Ace have announced that Star Ocean: The Last Hope will hit the Xbox 360 in 2009. The fourth in the popular Japanese role-playing series, Star Ocean: The Last Hope marks Microsoft's latest attempt to make a splash in the Japanese gaming market.

Taking its heroes from a dying Earth and into deep space, Star Ocean: The Last Hope is the first established series brought to the Xbox 360 from popular publisher Square Enix since it introduced gamers to a ... somewhat ... hi-res edition of Final Fantasy XI. Based on the trailer above, the title looks like it could be an epic and hopefully gamers in the East will agree. ~~Also, keep in mind no mention of exclusivity was made during the announcement of the title at Microsoft's Japanese RPG event.~~

'Star Ocean: The Last Hope' announced for Xbox 360

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jun 10th 2008 at 5:30AM }

Are role-playing games the last hope for a struggling Xbox 360 in Japan? It's not really a question so much as a trite joke we'll be abusing over the next several months, as Square Enix and Microsoft have announced a new endeavor that's actually called, "The Last Hope." Oh, and those words are preceded by ones that may excite you: "Star Ocean." Now we know what all that "lineup" business was about.

According to IGN's liveblog of the announcement, made yesterday at a press conference in Japan, Star Ocean: The Last Hope has a "science fiction feel to it," with humanity heading into the universe after completely wrecking planet Earth, as usual. Important things like customization and battle systems were apparently not mentioned, but there's plenty of time for that yet. For now, Star Ocean: The Last Hope is slated "for Xbox 360," but common sense tells us if a PlayStation 3 version is in the works (and funnily enough, this game looks just like the PS3's "Star Ocean IV"), it probably wouldn't be trumpeted at a Microsoft conference.

[Trailer via X3F]