As you'd expect, Star Ocean 3 looks pretty sharp. While I didn't personally take to the character design too much, the environments are something else entirely. Clean, crisp, and detailed with beautifully scripted camera views, it makes walking through them quite pleasant. And, since you can see enemies on the field, all the more so; you can enjoy their aesthetic beauty without the nagging dread of an imminent random encounter. The real-time cinematics are on par with what you'd expect from a console RPG -- they're decently directed, for the most part, but they seem a bit out of pace with the English voice track. If the game is released as-is, expect a lot of unwarranted meaningful pauses and stares. But hopefully it won't. The voice acting, finally, makes me want to take my ears to a pawn shop, but that's just me. Luckily, there's an option to play through the game with subtitles instead. If you're anything like me, you're encouraged to use it.
So yes, Star Ocean 3 seems like it will be quite fun to play, when you're actually fighting and exploring. We only got a glimpse at the story, but it seems like standard console-RPG fare. If you're into that sort of thing, you'll likely take to it. Also, at the risk of spoiling things, the story apparently takes you back to outer space, after a certain point, so if that means anything to you, then there you have it. The game is set for release next month, so, uh, dust off that tunic, and polish them space boots.
