Star Ocean: Till the End of Time Review

The verdict

Star Ocean: Till the End of Time is not the easiest game in the series to recommend, but it may be one of the most fascinating. It pursues huge dungeons, technical real-time combat, involved invention systems and a story willing to take a startling risk with the identity of the Star Ocean universe. Some of those ambitions become awkward in practice.

Its Fury mechanic and substantial postgame are especially appealing to players who like mastering systems. The main reservations are uneven pacing, excessively long areas and Item Creation that asks for more explanation than the game gives.

Fantasy and science fiction collide

As in other Star Ocean games, futuristic technology and a more traditional adventure setting exist side by side. The story takes familiar series ideas into increasingly strange territory, eventually delivering a reveal that can fundamentally alter how a player interprets the franchise. I would not spoil it here because grappling with the premise is a large part of the experience.

That twist has always divided players. I appreciate the ambition even where the surrounding plot takes a circuitous route to reach it. Not every long dungeon or dramatic detour earns its length, and a tighter campaign might have strengthened the emotional through-line.

Combat that rewards discipline

Real-time battles use Fury to discourage simply pressing attacks without thought. Powerful actions, anti-attack effects and positioning create a distinct rhythm from the relatively straightforward early Star Ocean style. There is satisfaction in learning which character setups and attack sequences can overcome a dangerous enemy rather than relying on level alone.

The game can initially feel less responsive than modern action RPGs, particularly while learning its unusual resource rules. Once the tools open up, difficult fights become enjoyable tests of timing and system understanding. The major postgame challenges push that depth even further.

Invention and an enormous endgame

Item Creation can produce dramatic jumps in power, but its inventors, workshops and processes require planning and often outside experimentation. It is delightfully capable of unbalancing the adventure, as good Star Ocean crafting should be, yet the lack of clear guidance makes it easy to ignore until progression becomes uncomfortable.

Optional areas, long dungeons and superbosses provide a tremendous amount for those who enjoy maximising builds. Players who prefer consistently brisk traversal and transparent systems may find the same material exhausting. Motoi Sakuraba's energetic score helps give the extended journey momentum.

Final thoughts

Till the End of Time is an enormous, sometimes unwieldy adventure that I admire for its ambition. Its Fury-based combat and invention systems reward commitment, while the story dares to challenge the series' familiar assumptions. Long dungeons and opaque progression keep it from being universally welcoming, but for system-minded RPG fans it remains distinctive.