We're sure a good number of RPG-lovers out there are lying in wait for Square Enix' upcoming PlayStation Portable remake, Star Ocean: First Departure. Well, we've got some eye candy in the form of screenshots for you.

Check them out after the jump!

The official website of Square Enix's Star Ocean: First Departure has been updated with two new races, a World Map Option in the New Elements section, and more explanation on the various skills in the System section.

While we couldn't make much of the Japanese descriptions, we believe that a lot of you are interested about this game nonetheless. Want to know more? Click on the "read more" link below for more details.

Around three weeks back, we announced that Square Enix will be releasing another limited edition PSP along with Star Ocean: First Departure. Dubbed as Star Ocean First Departure Eternal Edition, Square Enix's package deal will include the PSP-2000ZF special edition PSP and the Star Ocean remake.

Based on what we've seen so far, it appears the limited edition PSP-2000ZF model that's bundled with the game comes in a bluish silver tint, and also includes a metallic blue pouch with which to store it. What sets it apart, however, are the Star Ocean: First Departure motifs etched on both sides of the PSP's frame.

Square Enix's Star Ocean: First Departure, on the other hand, is one of two remakes of the original Star Ocean RPG series that are on the way. Yoshinori Yamagishi, producer of the series, had the entire engine of the original game overhauled and added new artwork, new playable characters, new (fully-voiced) dialogue, and new animated cutscenes.

If you've been keeping tabs on the whereabouts of Square Enix's remake of the well-loved Star Ocean series, you'll realize that aside from the pretty pictures we've revealed from the scans, there are still a lot of unexplained features that we can't make heads or tails of because of the Japanese text.

No worries, though. Thanks to some kind people at PSPHyper, we're now able to understand the first three pages of the scans taken from Famitsu for Star Ocean: First Departure for the PSP.

The first scan is pretty much self-explanatory. It's basically a splash page of the basics features that the new game will be sporting, as well as a brief history and background of the other games in the series.

Asides from the reworked and fully voiced cutscenes, one of the interesting new features is the addition of an enhanced Battle System first introduced in Star Ocean 2 (PSone). All the familiar Skills such as cooking and smithing will be there, so older players should still be able to appreciate all the best features from the original game. New players, on the other hand, can now experience this beautifully remade version of this classic RPG.

Finally, the last two pages take a look at the background of two of the female characters in Star Ocean: First Departure. For those of you who've played the original Star Ocean, you'll definitely get a kick at how Marvel Frozen and Perisie look with their new character art designs as well as fully voiced dialogue. At the bottom of their respective pages, you'll also see just some of their P.A. (Private Action) scenes.

As it is, Star Ocean: First Departure is already shaping up to become a great revival of this epic fantasy/sci-fi RPG series for Sony's PSP. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep everyone posted with more updates until the video game's official release this December 27.

 

For those of us eagerly anticipating the release of the Sony PlayStation Portable remake of the very first Star Ocean adventure, Square Enix's Star Ocean: First Departure, here's some scans from Famitsu that should tide us all over till the game's December 27 release (unfortunately, no word of a North America release yet).

Looking at the screens, things seem to be shaping up pretty well for Ratix and his motley crew of adventurers. The illustrations definitely has that crisp anime style going for it, and the gameplay looks to be a very heady mix of old school and next-gen graphics. Oh, and cute redhead foxgirls? Always relevant. Take note of this, future game developers.

Cute female characters with animal ears aside, the PlayStation Portable sure is enjoying some epic remake treatment this holiday season - here's hoping that more of the classics get the next-gen buffing. Enjoy the scans!

More scans after the jump!

Square Enix has just updated Star Ocean: First Departure's official website with screenshots, character updates, intro movies, and information on some in-game features. The title will be released in Japan on December 27. There is still no word, however, regarding an international launch.

Anyway, some of the character profiles revealed in this update include Eris and Joshua Jerand. The latter is not at all new to the Star Ocean franchise as he made his debut during the first and original title. He is some sort of a Red Mage that can cast both healing and destructive spells.

The World section focuses on The Feather Folk (Joshua's home) while the updates on the System and New Elements menus reveals the changes to the RPG component of this game. We are definitely keeping an eye on this game and we can't wait to hear an official Western release announcement.

If you want to know more about Star Ocean: First Departure, click on our Read link below. It should take you to the game's update website.

We just received news that Square Enix' upcoming Sony PlayStation Portable title, Star Ocean: First Departure, will be bundled with limited-edition PSP Slim & Lite units come its December 27, 2007 release. The classic remake coupled with the handheld will be available in Japan for 24,840 yen (US$ 210).

Those who'd rather just grab a copy of the game can get one for 5,040 yen (US$ 43). But then again, who could ever resist the goodies Squeenix dishes out? We are yet to see how the Slims will look like, but if they're at least near as good as Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII limited-edition PSP Slim, then supply probably won't last.

Can't wait for the holidays? It sure sounds difficult to survive the wait 'til Star Ocean: First Departure's December release, so let's try to ease the pain by ogling over these sweet screens courtesy of Dengeki.

  
  

  

If you've been keeping tabs on the new Star Ocean series Square Enix has planned for the PSP, then you'll be pleased to know that the once teaser site for Star Ocean: First Departure has a few new additions since it first went live last month.

In addition to the native Fellpool characters already in the character profiles section, the technological advanced humans, namely Ronixis J. Kenny and Iria Silvestoli, have finally joined the list. You might also be interested to know that they've expanded the World section, which details the different areas in the game, spanning from the Earth Federation to the planet of Roak. Of course, the entire site is in Japanese but you can easily navigate through the English titled menus easily enough.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the first Star Ocean story, it traces the story of Ratix and his friends from the planet Roak. When a strange disease infests their planet, a pair of humans from the Earth Federation (Ronixis and Iria) arrive and tells the native Fellpools that an alien civilization has plans for the underdeveloped race.

For such a good game, it's sad to see that this game never got the recognition it deserved when it first came out on the Super Famicom. Now that the remake is well on its way for the PSP, new gamers and old fans alike can experience where the well-loved RPG series all began. Hopefully, we'll be seeing updates for Star Ocean: Second Evolution soon as well.

You can check out the official site through the read link below.

Sony PlayStation Portable fans looking for more RPG bliss will be glad to know that an old favorite is coming back with a new look. Star Ocean: First Departure has recently been confirmed to be in development and we've got a new trailer to show. It's still in Japanese so not everyone may fully appreciate it, but we thought it would still be interesting so here goes:

This anime music video shows old characters coming back, which should make it appealing to series fans. While the enhancements haven't been too evident in the latest assets released in the Internet, we're told that new voice actors, pre-rendered backgrounds and improved anime cut scenes are all planned. Gameplay tweaks haven't been announced, but we're expecting a little whistle or two in the future.

If you're wondering whether Square Enix or Tri-Ace is handling the remake of this classic RPG, that still remains to be confirmed. All we can assure you is that Star Ocean: First Departure's coming to the Sony PSP and it should be good.

Fans of Square Enix's Star Ocean franchise will finally have a concrete release date to hold on to...in Japan, at least.

Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu reports that the Sony PSP's Star Ocean: First Departure - a refurbished version of the first Star Ocean game - will be released in Japan on December 27. And the best part? Like Crisis Core, Star Ocean: First Departure will have its own PSP bundle, which means yet another limited edition PSP to collect (alright!)

Star Ocean: First Departure is only one of the two remakes produced by Square Enix for the PSP. The other game is Star Ocean: Second Evolution, which picks up the events of the second Star Ocean game. Definitely a must-have for fans of classic Square Enix RPG titles. Do hang around with us as we gather even more updates!