Star Ocean: The Divine Force is a somewhat safe but very enjoyable action RPG that features a strong concept, exceptional movement, and varied but satisfying combat. It’s a bit odd to look at and can be a tad repetitive, but neither of those issues should give you too much pause, given the solid quality of the overall package.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force
Developer: tri-Ace and Square Enix
Price: $60
Platform: PS5 (reviewed), PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC
MonsterVine was provided with a PS5 code for review
My experience with Star Ocean is rather limited, so I didn’t know exactly what I’d be getting into when I started Star Ocean: The Divine Force. I’m quite happy with it, as it does plenty of things right and has some great ideas, even if there are some downsides here and there.
The first thing that truly grabbed me in The Divine Force was the movement. How fun it is to run around in a 40-hour game can make or break the experience, but this title nails it out of the park. Using your DUMA orb (which is essentially a little AI-powered ball), you can briefly shoot yourself in any direction, putting you into a speedy and very flexible glide. From there, you can float down slowly, allowing you to reach new areas or just zip around with little restriction. Crossing maps never felt too tedious thanks to DUMA, and I hope other more open-world JRPGs take note and include such high-flying movement options in the future.
The narrative is framed as a juxtaposition of medieval RPGs and sci-fi. It’s a very fun concept, as it’s as though a Star Trek character got stranded in Dragon Quest. The culture clash and ensuing camaraderie that grows as a result of these two different tones can be very pleasant, as you get to see two very different cultures come to understand and appreciate one another earnestly. Such a tiny thing creates an almost wholesome sense of levity as the different characters come together regardless of their differences.
I’m fond of the main party, especially, as they all serve their own roles (both in combat and in the narrative) without feeling too cliché. Raymond is a driven and confident leading man that strays away from many of the typical qualities of a JRPG protagonist in a rather refreshing way, which is important since you’re following him and Laeticia rather closely. Since you can pick who to play at the beginning, with the story presenting different angles depending on your choice, there’s even ample reason to play again if The Divine Force truly grabs you.
Combat is exceptionally intriguing, as it feels like a combination between Xenoblade and Kingdom Hearts. You’re using various attacks and combos in a seamless way that almost feels Kingdom Hearts-esque, beyond the AP bar that occasionally restricts your attacks if used too quickly in succession. Each character has their own fighting style and attacks, and you can freely switch between them, so it’s easy to keep yourself entertained throughout the game’s many battles.
“There are a few tracks that truly stood out, with the main boss battle theme, in particular, exuding an excitement that gets you totally ready to cleave up a menacing foe.“
You have to strategically use moves and start battles right if you want to consistently succeed and improve upon your characters, which lets you unlock new attacks, abilities, and stat boosts. You can even customize each playable party member’s precise combos and decide which attacks will come as a result of which button presses and inputs. There are lots of things to consider as you grow each character to your liking, which makes for a robust combat experience.
The Divine Force does get slightly repetitive, with a surprising amount of traveling back and forth between the same areas prior to unlocking fast travel. There’s neat character banter and some hidden items or treasures to hello liven things up, but the maps begin to feel quite empty – despite their expansive size. This is understandable, as a Star Ocean title just won’t have the budget of a Final Fantasy or other mainstream heavy hitters, but the emptiness is still off-putting.
There’s a weirdness to the visual style of The Divine Force. From the first trailer, I thought that it looks reminiscent of the stranger side of the Jim Henson style of puppets, like in The Dark Crystal. It can be a bit unsettling at times, but only with certain characters. Some may even be fond of the style for that same reason, as there’s nothing wrong with the visual quality or detail itself – it’s just the style that puts me off.
The voice acting and music in The Divine Force are of high quality, as I felt none of the major voices seemed out of place or poorly directed. There are a few tracks that truly stood out, with the main boss battle theme, in particular, exuding an excitement that gets you totally ready to cleave up a menacing foe.
The Final Word
Star Ocean: The Divine Force might not set the world on fire, but it’s well-made and thoroughly enjoyable. Everything from running around to fighting is a blast, and though it looks a bit odd and can feel a little repetitive at times, the unique premise, snazzy soundtrack, and voice acting make The Divine Force worth any JRPG fan’s time.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
