While paying homage to old-school RPGs like Chrono Trigger or Dragon Quest, Quebec studio Sabotage injects just enough modernity into its Sea of Stars to keep the experience relevant and entertaining in today’s video game landscape.
Although it is very classic and revolves around the eternal battle between good and evil, the story of Sea of Stars is so captivating that it captivates us and makes us want to see the outcome. Zale and Valère have been training at the Zenith Academy since childhood, learning both the arts of combat and magic and becoming Solstice warriors. After long years of preparation, the time has finally come for the two heroes to leave the safe island of Evermist where they grew up and face the newest army in the hopes of putting an end to the threat of the Fleshmancer. a villain who has been trying to destroy humanity for several centuries.
At the start of the game, Sea of Stars asks us to choose which of the two main characters will lead the group: Zale, a sword-wielding blade dancer whose magical powers belong to the family of Solen, the sun god, and Valère, a fellow Monk equipped with a staff who follows the path of Luana, the goddess of the moon. Since we can change the leader of the team at any time during the game and we control the two Solstice Warriors in the heat of battle (as well as the other heroes who join our current street gang), this decision has no major consequences and is primarily a matter of personal preference.
Picture from the game
Like the RPGs it pays homage to, combat in Sea of Stars takes place on a rotating basis. There is still a need for action in this strategic approach. In fact, by pressing the A button we can deliver a second strike at the exact moment our weapon hits the enemy. This tactic is even more fun when using Valère’s Moon Rank, as he moves faster and faster from one enemy to another as he deflects his weapon. If the same button is pressed at the right time, the damage taken from enemy hits is also reduced. Physical attacks recharge our mana points, which are used for magical spells. We also have access to combos, where the two heroes combine their strengths to deliver an even more powerful attack.
The skill tree when leveling up is simple, but you still choose to improve each character’s physical or magical defense, the amount of health or mana, and the damage dealt by each character’s magical or physical attacks. Even if you can equip various weapons and armor, you won’t collect much loot in the game. However, there are relics that you can activate or not that make the experience more accessible for those who have trouble with this level of difficulty. The Storytelling Amulet, for example, automatically heals health points after each battle. The Guardian Aura reduces damage taken by 38% and the Sequential Spark displays a star to indicate that we are repelling an enemy attack with perfect timing.
Picture from the game
Outside of combat, Sea of Stars allows us to control the passage of time and use sunlight to solve certain puzzles. A ring grants the power to blow out gusts of wind and move certain objects in the area. The grappling hook is used to reach otherwise inaccessible places. We harvest tons of ingredients (berries, tomatoes, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes, peppers, grains, etc.) that we can cook when we find a campfire. As the game progresses, new recipes gradually become available and we prepare meat or tomato sandwiches, herb fillets, fried mushrooms or berry jam that regenerate our life points or temporarily increase some of our statistics. There’s even a mini-game where you can fish in the various lakes you come across.
Presented in an isometric view above the action, Sea of Stars’ graphics take us back to the heyday of the 16-bit era, but with special attention to detail, a dynamic light and shadow system, and a particularly inspired artistic direction Never regret that the title does not offer such advanced 3D visualizations as modern productions. This retro aesthetic also adds significantly to the game’s charm. Tropical islands, ancient temples, snowy landscapes – the environments are very varied, as are the enemies we face. Also worth highlighting is the rich soundtrack with more than 200 pieces of music.
Sea of Stars isn’t just a love letter to old-school RPGs, as Quebec Studios Sabotage injects enough personality into the formula to provide a solid experience that even those who haven’t experienced the big one will appreciate Era of 16-bit RPGs.
8/10
Sea of stars
Developer and publisher: Sabotage Studio
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X (tested on Xbox Series X)
Game available in French (on-screen text only)