New Real-Time Screenshot of Star Ocean 4

Two new screenshots of Star Ocean: The Last Hope have proven to be real-time, and they are both very impressive. One of the screenshots is new and shows how exploration looks like in the game. In addition to the screenshots new art has been released by Square Enix.

[predator]

looking awesome

[PS360PCROCKS]

I hate JRPG's but this looks impressive indeed, really colorful.

[green]

JRPG version of Mass Effect.

[DarthTigra]

awesome is a understatment,this is my most anticapated rpgthat is untill they announce kotor 3:)

[meepmoopmeep]

care to explain why it's the JRPG version of Mass Effect?

[INehalemEXI]

Star Ocean has been around alot longer then Mass Effect and the story line in SO3 puts ME story line to shame IMO.

[CaptainHowdy]

if that's in-game....that's CRAZY!!!

[gaffyh]

Yeah looks good, kinda like Infinite Undiscovery/White Knight Story kinda graphics.

I don't expect this to sell too well on the 360, the 360 audience (for the most part) is people who only like FPS/Shooters, not your standard JRPG. I'll still get this for 360, but the only reason is because it is coming out earlier than the PS3 version (and I expect other dual/triple console owners will do the same if they want this game).

[LaChance]

But...but...isnt the 360 maxed out already ?

To all the fake analysts on N4G :

Look at those IN GAME screen shots and NEVER come back here again.

Since when is a console maxed out 1 year after coming out ?

Looking better than I would ever have expected.

[CaptainHowdy]

lachance what are you talking about? Halo came out in 07! Tee-Hee

[games4fun]

did you actually go to the website and look at the pics or did you think the pic they used at the top is actually in-game? that pic is obviously a cut scene(not because of how it looks but the camera angle its using is obviously a cut-scene) so that's out, next there are 3 pics left. The pic on the left is concept and even has a completely white background, again not in-game. The pic on the right is underwhelming and looks like a UT map design with a little more color not that impressive either. And finally the middle pic, it does look good and it is impressive the only problem i have with it is the game will look 15%-30% worse, because the middle picture is obviously touched up. If i'm wrong i'll say so, in fact i was wrong one other time on this site and i posted my apology then too. Also where is the selection menu? Dont act like SO doesnt have one i actually played star ocean before.

I also find it funny that staroceanthelasthope.com is saying in-game with no proof and the developers havent officially said anything i think its viral marketing to be honest.

[360 man]

wow xbox 360, talk about technical power house

well at least now sony fanboys can stop throwing final fantasy 13 in our faces.

this will be better

[u got owned]

I dont think it will be better, but pretty close to been better.

game on!!!

[INehalemEXI]

SO4 Looks good yet not near as good as FF13 or Versus. Texture comparison of this new shots vs old FF13 shots show the older FF13 shots wins easily. FF13 is one of those games that will set a new benchmark. SO games while good as well have not really ever been that game that pushes limits.

Anythings possible yet I see no shots on par with FF13 yet.

[CaptainHowdy]

that's some logic...with FF's pedigree u wanna make a bold statement like that. Even that 1 minute of footage of FF13 and FF13vs. trumps this. Dont get me wrong, Star Ocean is a good series, but never over Final Fantasy.

[kazuma]

i just wanna say, AWESOME comparison since we have no concrete evidence so far of what's in-game and what's not in final fantasy 13..........

[NO_PUDding]

Isn't this still shaky in terms of exclusivity?

Even if it wasn't, it clearly is enough, to not warrant sayign the 360 is a powerhosue over the PS3.

All of the true stunners have been on the PS3. Uncharted, MGS4, Rachet and CLank..... 360 only has GeoW, and that is just Unreal Engine.

[DethWish]

Stupid people.. FF have never been about graphics.. FFVII is still the best game made, I wonder why??

[CrazzyMan]

FFXIII FTW!

But SO4 looks great, first nextgen JRPG on x360 coming in 2009, not bad, after 4 years.. =))

[mirroredderorrim]

This will be better than Final Fantasy XIII? Dead relatives are laughing at you. And.. after a few moments I will be as well.

Final Fantasy is their flagship series as well as Dragonquest (don't ask me why it appeared on DS).
I expect Final Fantasy XIII to look better than all of their games, until after completion. That includes Star Ocean IV. I like Star Ocean but not as much as DQ and FF or SO1 for SFC. You have probably seen more of Star Ocean IV than Final Fantasy XIII, myself included.

They have shown very little of Final Fantasy XIII, within the last 1 and a half to two years, they have shown us next to nothing. That alone is why I am betting this game is going to have more detail than most games out. Square has always been about detail in their games, subtleties if you will, that can leave a game looking a bit more refined and polished.

@People shooting their mouths off about hating JRPGS, don't click links to articles about them.
It's that simple. Pretend you're blind when you see an article or add about a JRPG.

Edit#2: I went offtopic... This game looks very impressive. I'd go as far as calling it the first true next gen rpg, but it won't be the best or the last. ;-)

[Silver360]

FFXIII will look good, but it is all about story and game play. FF has bored the crap out of me since 7. FF6 was the best not 7 and after 7 it has been all down hill. I really hope Sqaure/enix bring their A game with FFXIII. Just tired of long ho hum story with characters no one cares about.With Star Ocean at least you know they are going to everything but the kitchen sink in it to make it a fun game. And to be honest best RPG ever was Chronotrigger!

[power of Green]

Based on these pics there is no reason to think this gas station screenshot isn't exploration too(the tree would be much better looking if the devs were to go through the trouble to make CGI like this and get lazy on a tree ;)
http://www.1up.com/do/slide...

This game is visually impressive read both pages.
http://previews.teamxbox.co...

With the E3 I think MSFT is going to have I'm surprized they are able *for the most part* keep us all in the dark.

[Dark_Vendetta]

why do they show us so small pictures? I think it would look far more impressive without this sh*t compression. Still looking really good

[Skerj]

That's freaking gorgeous, I hope they get a better story for this one. The last 3 were awesome for gameplay, storywise. ..not so much. Also I hope crafting, cooking, inventing, and the other mini systems return. Oh and pickpocketing from SO2.

[juuken]

Impressive so far.

[360 man]

it really is juuken in it

[juuken]

I said the game is impressive. I don't necessarily hate the 360. I just bash it because it ought to be more reliable and Live should be free. But it does have some good games. Even a gamer couldn't deny that.
And for the record, I'm getting a 360 so I'll enjoy this game and FFXIII. I just tend to be more of a Sony/Nintendo supporter.

[360 man]

totally understandable

[Booourns]

Loved the Star Ocean games, would have to try this when the misses picks up a copy for herself.

Hmmm a random disagree eh?

Unfortunate too because I do have a 360, well it belongs to the g/f because she uses it primarly

[u got owned]

One word;

- Gorgeous!!!

This game is looking impressive.

[Le-mo]

I call bullshots. The finish game will not look as good as the screenshots.

Edit: The article stated the screenshots have been proven to be real time, but I see no prove.

[u got owned]

Why is it that someone always has to hate? Can we just all get alone?

[360 man]

the game looks to good and its running all on xbox 360 so it cant be true

to be honest its probably using square enix's white engine (crystal tools)

[eagle21]

The screens look awesome. :)

[LaChance]

for the first time ever i agree with you.
Those screens are AWESOME, INCREDIBLE.Geez , never would have imagined a year ago that we would get Star Ocean 4 on the 360.

Best surprise of the year for me as a 360 gamer this year.

[eagle21]

Anyway, this is all speculation until we see a true gameplay trailer. Someone in the open zone has a "supposed" in game screen and it doesn't look anything like these.

But no one can deny that the art style is looking awesome and even if the screens are "doctored", that shouldn't be the focus right now for a 2009 release. But don't jinx the game with all this off topic stuff about platforms.

People should agree that everything so far has an awesome presentation and Square seems to be working their magic. The rest of the comments are to be "proved" at E3 or in 2009.

SO is very different from FF in gameplay..... They are not substitutes. FFXIII is the big mama for Square.

[power of Green]

That kid showing those links in the gamerzone is out of his mind I have never seen such pathetic desperation from any Sony fan.

The pic in the top link *saysyou* posted seems to be from a game on a entirely different engine.

You really believe this kid got some new unseen shots of this title when the media hunts/digs for any smidge of info on this tilte due to its controversial and appealing nature lol.

I wonder if they time travel because they must have traveled back 6 to 7 hundred years having to fit in wearing the cloths of the time period when looking at that fanboy BULLSHIT *says you* posted.

Man you were doing great why did you have to come back showing your true colors?.

[Lucreto]

Looks good but I won't get it well not on this console anyway. I will wait and see what happens.

[power of Green]

What makes you think it will be the same game after the wait? lol. I can show you FF13 pics and tell you you'll be waiting for nothing.

Say *Purty* then move on lol.

[Lucreto]

I will wait for confirmation that it is not coming to the PS3 at the moment they are considering it.

FF is better than Star Ocean. I played Star Ocean 3 and enjoyed it buy won't play it again but FF I have played all of them at least 3 times.

[meepmoopmeep]

gorgeous. Square have always been good on the graphical front. it's no surprise. i can't wait to see what Crystal Tools will do for them in the future.

[Le-mo]

I agree that the screenshots are gorgeous, but the finish product won't look as good as the screens.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Yes, I think the same thing everytime I see an FFXIII screenshot or trailer.

[eagle21]

There have been screenshots from FFXIII that look in game and very impressive.

Don't jinx both games with your comments please. The big MAMA is FFXIII so keep a level head...lol

Just sit back and wait till 2009 to see both for yourself. I am glad you actually look at FFXIII screenshots. That game is totally looking awesome.

Don't come with you grrrr comments either. I have been saving some special tricks for you.... :)

[Imalwaysright]

Looks awesome. Finally a game on the 360 that doesnt use the unreal engine and shows that the 360 is just as powerful as the PS3.

[DJ]

Right?

*Edit: I've seen the screenshots from Star Ocean 4's gameplay. Not all that great. But screenshots are inherently deceptive. I prefer to judge titles by seeing them in motion.

As for PS3's power advantage, that's a very detailed subject to get involved with. On paper, it's 2:1. If you understand SIMD and inter-core communication though, you'll see that the gap is actually much bigger. But again, that's just a tech thing. Star Ocean 2 and 3 rocked though, so I'm definitely interested in trying part 4 out.

Some people are just too sensitive for their own good though. PS3 is more powerful than 360 is more powerful than Wii is more powerful than etc, etc. It's just reality. Stop getting butt-hurt over tech specs.

[tatotiburon]

oh DJ and why is he jocking??, do you think that you PS3 is so powerfull and it only can have games with outstanding graphics like Star Ocean??, well this article is kind a let down for you, isn't it??

[Imalwaysright]

No im not joking the reason why Ps3 exclusives tend to look better than 360 exclusives is because 90% of 360 exclusives are made with the outdated unreal engine but ill let these screenshots do the talking because imo they look as good as the FFXIII screens ive seen so far.

[GMR_PR]

Oh! DJ said something negative about the xbox 360. What else is new?

[lokin]

bro.... ""it's 2:1. If you understand SIMD and inter-core communication though, you'll see that the gap is actually much bigger"". One question.... Do you understand SIMD and inter-core communication? Highly doubtful bro! Propaganda in overdrive. Both machine are impressive and both have their good and crappy point BUT more that 2x the power is stretching the truth 2x. Both systems are olmost equal... the only big diff is Blue Ray

[vloeistof]

looks good :D

[OutLaw]

Because I love JRPG games and this one is a must buy for my 360.

[meepmoopmeep]

keep it well ventilated and don't play for too long periods of time, you should be fine then.

[OutLaw]

I did do that and it still RROD.

What's up with the disagrees? Is it about my system RRODing or is it about my opinion about the game.

[Le-mo]

You're wrong, Star Ocean: The Last Hope uses the latest Unreal Engine.

Edit: The only screenshots we've seen of Final Fantasy XIII was from a year ago which isn't a fair comparison if you ask me. Also, I wouldn't compare a game that uses the Unreal Engine to a game that uses the Crystal Tool engine.

[insane_cobra]

It doesn't, that's The Last Remnant. SO4 uses tri-Ace's proprietary engine, probably the same one used in Infinite Undiscovery.

[Xi]

you're the one who's wrong. It uses an inhouse engine developed by tri-ace and is actually the same engine they're using for infinite undiscovery.

Last remenant uses the unreal engine.

also, there have been none ingame screenshots of ff13 released as of yet, the only screenshot of any game running off of the crystal tools is for rapture.
http://upload.wikimedia.org...

[xtreampro]

the 360 is crap, and these screens look crap aswell, its ok here and there, but overall its CRAP!, FF13 looks way better then this because its using 50GB BD (i hope it is) and is powered by the CELL

[360 man]

what a fan boi

[juuken]

FFXIII is gonna kick loads of ass though. I agree with that.
Wow, and disagrees because I said that? Well...okay then, which would you prefer-FFXIII is a piece of crap or FFXIII will be a piece of crap? I see nothing wrong with saying FFXIII will be a kick ass game. I love the FF series and I wished I had played all of the games. Star Ocean might be good as well.

Crazy xbox fanatics.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

go cry somewhere else...

[juuken]

Crab...the only one crying is you. I said the game looked impressive but that doesn't mean that FFXIII won't be the biggest rpg in 2008/2009.

[LuHawk]

This article is about Star Ocean 4 Not FFXIII dumb ass

[juuken]

No sh*t Sherlock! I was just backing up xteampro!
Don't get your freakin' panties in a bunch!

[Le-mo]

All three games you've mentioned uses the Unreal Engine. Star Ocean: The Last Hope just uses the latest version of the Unreal Engine.

[insane_cobra]

Nope, you are completely wrong on that one. Here's a snippet on Infinite Undiscovery from GameSpot:

"The genre is of an action RPG, and they've brought up the action even more than the RPGs that tri-Ace has produced on the PS2 and other systems to date.

They built a new engine from the ground up which will enable them to express things that they've never been able to before."

Neither IU nor SO4 use UE3 technology, as you can see from this official announcement (check the copyright information for each game):

http://news.teamxbox.com/xb...

[kewlkat007]

so many good games...I'm new to this series by the way.

Yeah Dj I'm hearing good things. Last Remenant, Fall Out 3, Infinite Undiscovery, will keep me busy plus other pick -up games. (fighters/Shooters)

[DJ]

You are gonna LOVE it. I still prefer the battle system of the Star Ocean series over any Final Fantasy title (except for 7 and 12). It's just so much more involving/exciting.

[Kain81]

Wait for Gameplay.
IU looks too slow in my opinion.
and they use this engine for SO4.

[vassorado]

with star ocean 4 going to 360 and the info that eternal sonata on the ps3 is going to be japanese only i make my choice: im getting one 360.

Have you think about rpg games this way?

Point: Looks like most 360 players need games on english (don't know japanese), so make sense that all (or almost all) rpgs 360 will get an english translation.

360 gammers don't have to agonize thinking "hope this came in english too".

by the time ps3 have as many rpgs (in english) we will have money to buy one (if we fell like - off course)

this is very personal (you may fell different about it) : i didn't enjoyed FFXII that much, i had much more fun with both tales game on ps2 (and golden sun on the gba). I'm expecting FFXIII (may be wrong here) with a gameplay similar to FFXII - so i'm not looking with that good eyes for it yet.

I'm still waiting to buy my "next-gen" console: at least now i know the one i will get.

[OutLaw]

You can't go wrong either way. But if you do choose to get a 360 try to get it after August because of the Jasper 360 motherboard. So that way you shouldn't have to worry about your system RRODing.

[vassorado]

I had almost forgot: the one with 65nm gpu.

thank you for the reminder: i can wait a few more months (and so oblivion) :)

[titntin]

I loved all the previous shots I've seen of this game and the first shot here!

But that 'exploration shot' looks well rough! Sorry, but I gotta call it as I see it.
We're not talking about art style here, which is excellent, but the environment is dead - almost nothing in it. There appears to a problem with the texture 'mip mapping' leading to that pixel jumble that the texture disintergrates into as it goes into the distance (look at the road texture as it goes into the distance). Theres also very little antialiasing, and if you were to see a screen of this quality in motion, you'd see terrible pixel crawl.

But theres ages to go in development and they will certainly impliment such features and come up with a great lookign game I'm sure.
Given the excellent art style and the quality of the other shots we've seen, I'm sure this will turn out to be a classic looking game.

But look again at that shot without blinkers - its not too hot guys...

Edit

lol at the expected disagrees, but seriously look at this section

http://i26.tinypic.com/mc6k...

I create game art for a living and if I dlivered something that looked like that close up, as a finished product, I'd be out of work!

[Xi]

I think it's just a poor quality screenshot, or whoever is hosting the image has played with the resolution.

[power of Green]

This guy has a clear prefference for the PS3 and the 360 is just an after thought to him (he probably uses/plays/owns? the 360 so he has the right to bash it.J/K)

LOL at the god dam *essay* based from PS3 fanboyism.

This is what PS3 fanboys do when they are upset about something(find ways to tear something down and try to justify it with BS rants and tech nonsense no cares about assuming they know what they're talking about hoping folks are too ingorant to understand.

LOL at all the crazy talk based from a colorful pic that is kind of fuzzy with crazy lighting, that is all I see.

[titntin]

OH POG you really are the most pathetic nerd on here - really!

I've said quite clearly how much I like all the screenshots I've seen of this game. When the very first screen shots were shown and people were saying they were CG, I posted a thorough post showing clearly that they were in-game, and defending this title and the screen shots.

Now there is one dodgy screenshot and I point it out, I'm obviously some kind of fan boy? GROW UP!!!
The fact I don't prostrate myself in front of anything 360 related is not proof of anything. I make games for a living and the last 2 have been 360 titles. I have worked for Microsoft game studios and found it a very pleasant experience - and I spent all afternoon playing lost Odyssey despite the fact I have firmware 2.4 on the PS3 to play with!

The fact is POG, I'm objective, and someone who doesn't play your corporation worship games with all the little boy trolls on here, doesn't fit in with you, does it?

I have an honestly expressed opinion on a single dodgy screenshot, whilst praising the game in its likely delivered form. If, in your tiny head, that somehow makes me the enemy, then so be it. Its only those of tiny intellect who have to classify anyone in 'one camp or the other'. I'm a gamer, and more over, a game developer who's dedicated his entire adult life to the pursuit of gaming fun and the business of making games. Any objective observer will plainly see who's unbalanced and not objective.....

In the meantime, those of us who actually play games, will wait for this title with expectation, safe in the knowledge that one dodgy screenshot is not indicitive of the delivered game.

[360 man]

yh i used to be a nintendo guy but nntendo have lost me with the wii like im sure they have alot of people

[u got owned]

They lost me for sure and i was a huge Nintendo fan.I don't even own the Wii.

[mintaro]

Wow, this looks out-right gorgeous

[kingme71]

This is an interesting tidbit.

If you look on the page I linked, they talk about Last Hope affiliates down in the bottom. One of the companies affiliated with it is Insomniac. Wouldn't that make sense that Insomniac is helping with a PS3 version? Why else would Last Hope have an association with Insomniac?

http://www.staroceanthelast...

[meepmoopmeep]

interesting point, but this site isn't any SE official site. if it was listed on anything officially SE then it would mean something.

[Rick Astley]

Um change the story picture that screen shot is ARTWORK and the "real-time" screen shot there is very old.

THIS = CGI http://media.teamxbox.com/g...

[Salvadore]

Looks awesome.

[Mr Fancy Pants]

StarOcean 1 from Snes was awesome, StarOcean 2 from ps1 was awesome, StarOcean 3 from ps2 was crap and StarOcean 4 looks...

[centrum2k]

cant wait to see so4 gameplay videos. hope they'll do better jobs on the battle system and control. i prefer so2 battle system/control over so3. i hated the press and hold to active special moves in so3. like press circle and hold, release circle and press triangle and hold... and repeat again.

[Spike47]

till Star Ocean is released so that once again all you ignorant fanboys are proven wrong yet again with average reviews.

The game looks beutiful indeed, but it doesn't come close to the quality of FF13.

This is the best a jrpg can look on the xbox360 while the PS3 has the potential to have games that look better than Star Ocean.

[Covenant]

Color me impressed.

[mirroredderorrim]

Yo, Power of Green. To give you a wind of thought: They have all but ingrained the exclusivity that is FFXIII into the PS3. It seems the same way for SO4, but wait a minute? Didn't the producer of SO4 say that the reason they brought it to Xbox 360 was because they are trying to get the favor of American gamers? (not in those exact words)

I say once the installbase for PS3 in the U.S matches or exceeds the 360, developers will take notice.
They are still a little scared of traversing through the waters or uncertainty, that much I an understand.
I see it this way... if the Xbox sales of SO4 don't do well, expect a PS3 version, unless Microsoft has dropped the atomic cash bomb on them too..

Edit: JRPGs already have American gamers attention, but maybe they are using the 360's advertising power to spread the word better about their games. Business as usual.

[Says you]

It even looks like one and Xi Star Ocean 4 doesn't look like this!

http://upload.wikimedia.org...

compared to this!

http://www.staroceanthelast...

[power of Green]

You fucin idiot lol, I do not call people this often but dam that was a fucin sad/pathetic PS3 fanboy move.

There is no word to describe your behavior desperate is to modane.

I don't get it are you suppose to be showing us the pic in the top link is SO4?.

Doesn't even look like the same engine

What happens in SO4? do they time travel, did they travel 6 to 7 hundred years in the past having to wear cloths from that time period?.

SO4
http://screenshots.teamxbox...

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

owned and caught, nice job POG.

[power of Green]

STFU fool I can't even make heads or tails of your point. I'm not the only one that couldn't figure out what the fuc you were talking about. Fine they look the same and are both using the same engine. lol

You are confusing very detailed and sharp graphics made possible by the 360's superior hardware with the end results ending at the same point(maybe a stretch SO4 is leaps ahead)of purty-ness making think they are the same engine atleast prove it wth a link lol.

Your point is not clear and does not make sense from what I can make XI and Cobra agree The unreal engine is not used.

[Jandre02]

With White Knight, Star Ocean, and Final Fantasy all within one year of each other the PS3 seems it will final get the RPG's its been waiting for.

[LaChance]

to Tri-Ace and Square Enix its probably never coming to PS3.

Wait a sec , wheres Eternal Sonata...

Geez , couldnt you just comment on the screenshots and switch off the fanboy in you for 5 minutes ?

[Charlie2688]

Hopefully SO4 will be good since I enjoyed SO3 :)

[Elginer]

awesome, and I'm sure the trailer that's at E3 or TGS will blow people away. It's nice to see someone actually using the 360 and not using the Unreal engine.

[NinjaRyu]

I so happy I get to play this RPG on the 360 next year!

[specialguest]

Star Ocean 4 looks beautiful. Being an RPG fan and the inevitable price cut of the 360, I really need to get a 360.

[power of Green]

Proving XI's and cobra's points.

IU
http://www.rpgamer.com/game...
"For the game's graphics, it will be done using an entirely new game engine developed in-house. This engine is being used largely to take advantage of the new capabilities of the 360 over consoles from previous generations. While the reasons for choosing the 360 over other consoles were deliberately kept secret due to business considerations, it was easy to generate a realistic atmosphere and depth perception for the game, among other things."

I don't even know what game you are showing besides SO4 is that last remnant ?.