As a longtime fan of Square Enix games, having grown up with titles like Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy 6, and Chrono Trigger, some days it can be challenging to understand why Square Enix makes so many boneheaded decisions. From Final Fantasy games that no longer feel or play like Final Fantasy, to idiotically chasing trends like supporting NFTs, to the company’s over-reliance on remakes and remasters. Being a Square fan is often demoralizing.
Why are we getting a physical release before a PC port?
Case in point, we’ve just learned that Square Enix and Limited Run Games have teamed up for the first time (via Limited Run Games), with a planned physical release for Star Ocean: First Departure R.
While I have my criticisms of LRG and its lackluster quality for what are typically overpriced products, I can concede that a physical release for Star Ocean: First Departure R is welcome, seeing the remaster (of the PSP version, which was itself a remake of the original SNES title from 1996) is already six years old and would have never seen an official physical release any other way.
Source: PlayStation
While that’s all well and good, what I can’t help but notice is that Star Ocean: First Departure R still has not been released on PC. Even crazier, the remastered sequel, Star Ocean: The Second Story R, is available on PC, released in 2023. And let me tell you, there is nothing that perturbs me more than an incomplete series on my preferred platform. Meanwhile, Switch and PS4 are getting a limited physical release of a game I still can’t play on PC after six years. Somebody please make this make sense.
Star Ocean: First Departure R will see three physical editions for Switch and PS4
Pre-orders for Limited Run’s physical version of Star Ocean: First Departure R open on September 12th at 10 AM EDT. Like all Limited Run pre-orders, there is no provided delivery date (nothing says “trust me, bro” like no launch date), but we do know the company will stop taking orders on October 26, giving everyone a little over a month to place their pre-orders.
Source: Square Enix
There are three versions to choose from for both PS4 and Switch. The Standard Edition offers the physical game and box for $40. Then there is the SteelBook Bundle Edition that retails for $80 and, of course, comes with everything in the Standard Edition, plus a SteelBook and 2-sided poster. Lastly, there is the Ultimate Edition priced at a whopping $200, which includes everything from the previous two editions, plus a soundtrack CD, a light and sound 3D display cube, standees, an enamel pin, a Keychain, and a certificate of authenticity (images above).
We may see more Limited Run physical releases for Square Enix titles
The head of Limited Run Games, Josh Fairhurst, has confirmed in a tweet that Square Enix has indeed partnered with the company to create a physical release for Star Ocean: First Departure R. Apparently, he has been in talks with Square for the last five years, and we’re finally seeing the fruit of that labor. This could also mean that more physical releases for Square titles could be on the way, which is good news for fans.
Still, even though it’s nice to see Square actually catering to its audience with a limited collectible physical release for a beloved JRPG, I see no reason to splash out on collectibles for aging platforms I no longer game on. So, for me, this release is six years too late. I would have much preferred to see a PC version announced so that I could finally enjoy the game alongside my PC copy of Star Ocean: The Second Story R. Lesson learned, I’ll wait until a whole series is available on PC before I buy another remastered Square game.
Star Ocean: First Departure R
