Star Ocean 5 details and screenshots: prologue, characters, and battle system
Change the fate of the stars.
Square Enix has released a new set of details and screenshots for Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, providing an updated prologue, character profiles, and information on the game’s battle system.
Get the details below.
■ Prologue
Do the depths of space forbid peace for mankind—
Centuries after leaving Earth, after a multitude of trials, with the creation and spread of the ‘Galactic Federation,’ humanity was on the verge of unified order and peace.
But the embers of conflict have begun to burn again.
Over 6,000 light years from Earth, on the unsettled planet, ‘Faykreed.’
Just as so many times before, the waves of history begin from a remote planet.
The Kingdom of Resulia. A continent representative of a major power, it is surrounded on three sides, has a warm climate, and is blessed with natural beauty and rich soil.
But despite the fact that this country should have been more powerful than its neighbors, its people’s peace was always being disturbed. Between a signeturgy that caused animals to turn ferocious and a band of thieves called Eitron wreaking havoc in the frontier regions, Resulia was plunged into an unstable period known as “The Dark 7 Years.” Sthal, a village located on the southern edge of the kingdom, was brought to verge of collapse.
One young man stood up to face this crisis…
Fidel Camuze…
His father was a royal fencing instructor, and he himself is a swordsman who teaches. He leaves on a journey accompanied by his old friend who was raised as his sibling, Miki.
This voyage would take them into battle and change the fate of the stars.
■ Locations
The Planet “Faykreed”
A planet 6,000 light years from Earth and not yet explored by the Pangalactic Federation. Its biggest continent is Vestiel, where half of the planet’s population resides. Its culture and technology are equivalent to 15th to 16th era Earth, but with signeturges able to wield magic, it has achieved its own unique advancements.
Kingdom of Resulia
A blessed kingdom covered in fertile land and located in Vestiel. It is surrounded by a large mountain range, which makes it a natural fortress. For more than 300 years the royal Bariff family has ruled the kingdom, which has grown to become the continent’s most powerful country.
However, after falling into a period known as “The Dark 7 Years,” the remnants of what are said to be its symbols of peace and fortune are gradually fading. The kingdom has a friendly relationship with the neighboring Kingdom of Langdauq, which provides resources necessary for signeturgy, military alliances, and such.
Outskirts of the Kingdom of Resulia
Fidel and Miki live in Sthal Village, which is located in the southern edge of the Kingdom of Resulia. Because it’s facing the coast, fishing makes up its villagers’ main labor. The outskirts of the Kingdom of Resulia are mainly covered in harmonious land, but after “The Dark 7 Years,” violent monsters and creatures that use signeturgy have begun to threaten the people.
Unknown World • Technology
A separate dimension space, and advanced science and technology. The heroes’ adventure won’t just take place on Faykreed—they’ll also visit unknown worlds like this one. Across these worlds, a unique Star Ocean series story will unfold combining both fantasy and science-fiction.
■ Characters
Fidel Camuze
CV: Kaito Ishikawa
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Weapon: One-Handed Sword
Origin: Sthal Village, Kingdom of Resulia, Planet Faykreed
Fidel’s father is the founder of the Kingdom of Resulia’s most prominent fencing school, where the Camuze style of swordsmanship is taught. Fidel also inherited his father’s talent. During the period known as “The Dark 7 Years,” he plays an important role in protecting the public order of Sthal.
Battle Specialization: Fidel demonstrates his true value in one-versus-one bouts where he can connect combo after combo.
Battle Skill: As people without the ability to use signeturgy, Fidel and Victor can use special moves by consuming MP. Fidel specializes in Camuze-style swords-based moves. Victor uses the Camuze style, as well, but also uses another school’s style. A large number of special moves from previous Star Ocean games will appear in this game.
Miki Sauvester
CV: Nao Toyama
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Weapon: Staff
Origin: Sthal Village, Kingdom of Resulia, Planet Faykreed
A girl who grew up with Fidel as his childhood friend in Sthal. Because of the difference in their ages, and the fact that they were brought up as siblings, Miki loves Fidel like an older brother. She behaves like a child with Fidel and is not very strong-willed, but on the other hand has a strong sense of responsibility and a warm heart. She is a signeturge and one of the few in Sthal with healing abilities.
Recovery Use: Miki specializes in healing-based signeturgy, but also uses fire, earth, and light attacks. She’s the party’s precious healer.
Signeturgy: Miki and Fiore can use signeturgy by consuming MP. A special kind of magic on Faykreed, only people with a “signeturge” engraved on their bodies can use this black magic. The more complex the signeturge, the more mental strength is required to control it.
Victor Oakville
CV: Yuichi Nakamura
Gender: Male
Age: 32
Weapon: One-Handed Sword (dual wields both the sword and scabbard)
Origin: Northern Territory of Sohma, Kingdom of Resulia, Planet Faykreed
A soldier who belongs to the Kingdom of Resulia Special Forces. He is faithful to his duties and has earned the devoted trust of his subordinates. He has a serious personality, but even when it comes to war, his conflicted about the killing of others. As someone who studied the Camuze style of swordsmanship, he has great respect for Fidel’s father.
Group Battle Specialization: Victor specializes in ranged and wipeout-style attacks, so he triumphs in battle against groups.
Battle Skill: Victor not only dual wields a sword and scabbard, but can link attacks, as well.
Fiore Brunelli
CV: Aya Endo
Gender: Female
Age: 25
Weapon: Signeturge Jewel
Origin: Santeroule, Kingdom of Langdauq, Planet Faykreed
One of the world’s leading signeturges who belongs to the superior-in-magic Kingdom of Langdauq’s Signeturge Research Institute. She wears a revealing outfit, but it’s probably because she wants to show off the advanced magic symbol carved into her leg.
Magic Attacks: Fiore uses water, wind, and dark signeturgy attacks. She also provides support to the party with assist-style signeturgy.
Signeturgy: See Miki’s “Signeturgy” entry.
■ Battle System
Once you’re noticed by a monster on the field, you’ll enter battle seamlessly without transitioning to a separate arena (battles are on the field). Based on your distance from the enemy, you’ll automatically switch between short-range and long-range attacks. The battle system adopts three basic options: light attacks, heavy attacks, and guards (and by extension, guard counters). Players will also be able to freely switch between characters with the press of a button.
Light Attacks – Fast and easy to use, but not very powerful. Enemy guards further reduce its effects. Light attacks also act as the starting point for combos and special move cancellations.
Heavy Attacks – A more powerful attack, but one that can be prevented by light attacks because its first strike is slow. Heavy attacks are useful for breaking guards, and launching, downing, and blowing away enemies. Since characters that use these attacks are wrapped in a blue aura, players can see when they’re using these types of attacks.
Guards – Useful for reducing the effects of light attacks, but breaks for heavy attacks. Players can move while guarding.
Guard Counters – If you press the guard button at the right time when guarding against a light attack, you can perform a counter attack. Each character has their own skills and effects that occur during guard counters, and their effective use can turn the battle in your favor.
■ Reserve Gauge
On the right-hand side of the battle screen is the “Reserve Gauge,” which fills up as you unleash light attacks, heavy attacks, and guards. As it increases (to a max of MAX5), it will offer bonuses to the experience points you acquire, your skill points, and Fol (money) earned.
Light damage, guards and such will increase the Reserve Gauge in small increments, while combo attacks, guard counters and such will increase it in large increments.
When the gauge accumulates to a certain amount, you can activate it and activate each character’s “Reserve Rush” (a super special attack).
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 in Japan on February 25, and for PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in 2016. In Japan, the game will also be available in an “Ultimate Box” edition.
