Released way back in 1998 for the PlayStation, Star Ocean: The Second Story marked the first time that the Star Ocean saga saw release on Western shores. Almost ten years later, Square Enix has graciously revamped the cult classic for the PSP, dubbing it Star Ocean: Second Evolution to coincide with last October's prequel, First Departure. With all new voice acting, updated graphics, and new cut scenes, does the remake warrant another purchase from longtime fans? A few hours with the game gave us an idea. In short, it’s looking great.

Even though both Star Ocean tales are being released months apart from one another, it’s easy to see that they were developed side-by-side. The menu system, skill set, and graphical presentation are nearly identical to Star Ocean: First Departure, with Star Ocean 2 adding a bit of extra character definition to make the sprites of Rena Lanford and Claude C. Kenny pop out against the tranquil landscapes.

While the lack of deviation isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s worth noting that both games look alarmingly similar before delving deep into their distinct storylines, unique settings, and surprisingly disparate musical scores.

With that said, Star Ocean: Second Evolution initially feels much different from its predecessor thanks to how story-driven the initial few hours are. Instead of starting out with a group of childhood friends who set off to find a petrifaction vaccine (a la First Departure), Second Evolution begins with Claude C. Kenny exploring a mysterious space crater with his father, Ronyx. As Claude examines a strange energy field located on the planet, he's suddenly whisked away to a foreign forest on a mysterious planet far, far away.

While trying to come to terms with his newfound surroundings, Claude notices a young woman (Rena Lanford) who is being trailed by an approaching monster looking to tear her limb from limb. After making short work of the monster with his pistol, Rena is overcome with joy at the prospects of her newfound foreign friend. Not just because he saved her life, but because he just may have the powers to save their entire world.