LogFAQs > #968981435

https://opencritic.com/game/13891/star-ocean-the-divine-force/reviews

Not much to go on only 5 reviews as of yet. Between Bayonetta 3 and reviewers already having their hands on the new God of War I bet there's very few people who will be taking the time to review this game at release.

NEVERTHELESS we got 5 reviews so far and a 71% average which is.....higher than I thought it would be? Honestly anything over at 7/10 for a Star Ocean game seems like a win to me. Only the original releases of SO2 and SO3 hit 80%. SO6 takes inspiration from SO2 with the dual protagonists with branching paths and has a revamped battle system, but suffers from the same issues SO5 did where it clearly didn't have enough time or budget in needed to make a proper AAA game. However if it's better than SO4 and SO5 that's already a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned.

Digitially Downloaded - 9/10
I dont want to take anything away from this game, though. I have enjoyed Star Ocean: The Divine Force more than any game in the series since the third one. The developers have calibrated just about everything about this game perfectly, from the classically entertaining JRPG plot and characters, to the incredible aesthetics and superb pacing. The Divine Force is by no means a short game, but it has a way of making the hours fly past so that it never feels like its dragging on your time. Yes, the combat is a little unrefined and too pacey for its own good, but its still very playable, and totally worth dealing with to enjoy the most exotic JRPG of 2022.

PSX Brasil - 8/10
Star Ocean: The Divine Force is both a love letter to what the series once was and a reflection on what its future might look with the power of current gen consoles. While the story and gameplay excite players and bring an unexpected depth, it falls short of its potential thanks to its technical limitations.

IGN - 7/10
The Divine Force isnt necessarily a standout in this long-running series, but it is a much more successful effort to bring Star Ocean into the modern age than its predecessor. The revamped battle mechanics do wonders for its previously limited combat system, offering more freedom and flexibility than ever before. The main cast of characters is also charming, even if the world they are exploring and the animations that accompany them are far less captivating. I wish its interface issues were less obnoxious, but even so, The Divine Force at least proves that Square Enixs sci-fi JRPG certainly deserved another shot.

Hardcore Gamer - 3/5
Star Ocean: The Divine Force feels drained of life. It has a strong, highly-customizable combat system along with a solid soundtrack, but theres not much praise to speak of outside of that. The two hero option is a fun gimmick we havent seen since The Second Story, only observing one perspective of the story at a time, but the problem is that there are so few compelling characters. The cast and story is one of The Divine Forces biggest downfalls, not to mention severely-fluctuating presentation values. Laeticia and Raymond are some of the stalest protagonists, lacking emotion and charm. There are also bizarre design choices that ruin the flow of progression, such as accessories being removed every time a party member is temporarily removed (which happens all the time) or not being able to interact with menus, maps or the world when theres the frequent unskippable fluff dialogue whilst traversing. Thats not mentioning the boring dungeon designs, although the traversal in the open areas itself is at least fast and enjoyable. I couldnt be more disappointed in how Star Ocean: The Divine Force turned out, to the point Id rather go back and replay tri-Aces Infinite Undiscovery. You can take solace that The Divine Force is at least better than Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness as there are moments of intrigue, but theyre overshadowed by how severely underwhelming the overall package ended up.

Worth Playing - 5.5/10
I wanted to like Star Ocean: The Divine Force a lot more than I did. It has a lot of interesting ideas and concepts, and I'm a prime target for Star Ocean 2 nostalgia bait. The game didn't have the time or budget to do what it wanted to do, and what we have is a half-baked title that does very little well. The story is dull, the combat is repetitive and poorly balanced, and the unique features fall by the wayside as the game progresses. There are glimmers that something great could have been created, but it isn't the game that we ended up with. It's difficult to recommend The Divine Force to even die-hard JRPG fans, since the game's few strengths are eclipsed by its many flaws. Wait for a sale if you're curious, but otherwise, there are plenty of other better JRPGs to play this year.