Star Ocean: First Departure

About

Star Ocean: First Departure is a turn-based RPG that mixes spacefaring adventure with medieval fantasy. You play as Roddick, a defender on the rough planet Roak, who joins forces with two companions to track a strange illness turning people to stone. The game follows a classic hero’s journey as the group climbs a dangerous mountain and uncovers a larger conflict involving ancient ruins and alien tech. Combat uses a grid-based system where timing and position matter, with skills unlocking through a branching job tree that lets you mix martial arts, magic, and mecha piloting. The remake adds sharper visuals and refined mechanics to the 1996 original, though the core story remains faithful. Players praise its tight strategy loops and the way it weaves sci-fi elements like teleportation and alien biology into a swords-and-sorcery setting. With a 8.2/10 average on Metacritic, it’s a mid-2000s PSP title that still holds up for fans of tactical RPGs with a retro charm. The job system alone offers enough depth to keep builds feeling fresh across multiple playthroughs.

Storyline

Space Date: 346. From a power yet undiscovered, a new generation will be born. Our tale begins on the primitive planet of Roak where Roddick lives in the peaceful and uneventful town of Kratus. As a member of the village’s local “Defence Force” tasked with the protection of Kratus, Roddick learns of a mysterious disease that has broken out in the neighboring town. Those infected turn to stone, but continue to live on in a petrified state. Roddick, along with his two friends Millie and Dorne, make their way to the neighboring town. Informed of a cure for the sickness, they head to Mt. Metorx where a healing herb is rumored to grow. When they reach the summit, the party encounter Ronyx and Ilia, who appear before them in a pillar of light.