Though its stable of video games truly dabbles in a bit of most every genre, there's no getting around the fact that, over the years, Square Enix has come to be known more for its role-playing games than anything else. And some of those franchises undoubtedly standout more than most: even a non-gamer will likely have heard of Final Fantasy at some point and the average gamer, even if they've never played it, will probably still recognize Dragon Quest, etc. Among those games with a loyal fan base that you may not have heard of regardless, the Star Ocean series has been entertaining sci-fi and fantasy fans for more than a decade now, from a same-titled Super Famicom game in 1996 (which was never released outside of Japan) to the Xbox 360-exclusive Star Ocean: The Last Hope, which Square Enix today announced has shipped to stores across North America. While sticking to many hallmarks of the Star Ocean series, such as real-time battles and item creation, The Last Hope also includes a number of new additions, like the ability to pilot your ship for the first time and a new evasion system. The Last Hope will also take advantage of this current generation of hardware, with cutscenes crafted by FF-vets Visual Works. For more information on Star Ocean: The Last Hope, be sure to check out the official press release below:

LOS ANGELES (February 24, 2009) — Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that STAR OCEAN®: THE LAST HOPE™ for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft has shipped to retailers in North America. The title is a prequel to the acclaimed futuristic space opera RPG series, STAR OCEAN, and is the franchise's first entry on Xbox 360.

Development studio tri-Ace Inc. delivers spectacular new visuals alongside exhilarating real-time battles with this highly anticipated prequel. STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE is the first installment in the series in which players will be able to control their own spaceship, moving from planet to planet as they explore the vastness of space. This unique RPG experience also allows players to seamlessly switch between characters in-game and engage in team-oriented combat as they advance through the captivating storyline.

Launching today in North America shortly after the game's release in Japan last week, Square Enix continues to deliver global simultaneous launches for its fans around the world.

STORY

The year is A.D. 2087. In the aftermath of World War III, Earth has been ravaged and the population decimated by a deteriorating environment. The countries that survived have joined together to form the Greater Unified Nations and turned their eyes skyward...to space.

Edge Maverick and his childhood friend Reimi Saionji are chosen as pioneer members of the Space Reconnaissance Force, which was created to seek out new worlds beyond the stars. Their ship, the Calnus, takes its place on the lunar launch pad along with four other starships of the first reconnaissance fleet. These ships – humanity's last hope – blast off one-by-one and sail into the awaiting wormhole that leads to the vast star ocean.

And so, Edge and his crew begin their voyage in search of a new haven for humanity...and a second chance.

FEATURES