Star Ocean: The Second Story R

Play it on: PS5, PS4, Switch, Windows (Steam Deck OK)
Current goal: Reach Eluria Tower
Buy it from: Amazon | Best Buy | GameStop

Star Ocean: The Second Story R came out November 2 and it’s everything I wanted and more. The remake of Tri-Ace’s original PlayStation sci-fi fantasy RPG is a perfect dose of late-’90s nostalgia and modern gaming comforts. I’m playing on Switch OLED where the 2.5HD art looks incredible and the timeless soundtrack has been lulling me to sleep each night. Star Ocean has always been in the shadow of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Shin Megami Tensei/Persona, but Second Story, for all its faults (of which there are plenty) hangs with the best of them. Hopefully the remake will help more fans realize that.

And despite having beaten the game multiple times in the past, there’s still plenty I haven’t done. I’ve never, for example, recruited the magic-assault-rifle-toting Opera and her archaeologist boyfriend Ernest before. I always opted for Ashton, the sellsword haunted by twin serpents. He looks really cool and has tons of awesome ninja attacks, but he shatters like a glass cannon in boss battles. I’m pretty sure 90 percent of my time playing Second Story in the past was just spent trying to keep him from dying. Not this time. Next stop, Energy Nede. Then onto the Cave of Trials. — Ethan Gach

And those are our picks for this weekend. What games are you looking forward to playing?