Sea of Stars leaves me from the Golden Chrono Trigger

Studio : Sabotage Studio Release : Q4 2022 Platforms : Nintendo Switch Genre : RPG

• A prequel of the slightly different kind
• A tribute to the Golden SNES era
• For whom is Sea of Stars?
• Stars trigger assessment

With Sea of Stars, the developers of Sabotage Studio have a surprising project in work. According to their indie success The Messenger (2018), which has set to 8-bit graphics and stuffing, gloomy Ninja action, a colorful, nearly fairytale (J) RPG waiting for us at the end of 2022 with Sea of Stars. Directly at first glance becomes clear: Here, the legendary Snes-Highlight Chrono Trigger stood godfather for the game concept.

A prequel of the slightly different kind

Although Art Design and Genre are completely different ways compared to The Messenger, Sea of Stars still plays in the same universe. More specifically, the world of Sea of Stars acts as a kind of prequel for the gloomy future, which is shown in The Messenger. Together with the two protagonists of the game, Valere and Zale, we explore an archipelago, which is still imminent the catastrophic tide and flooding.

Like the nicks of the two heroes (Sun Boy and Moon Girl) suggest, valere and Zale concepts like light and darkness, day and night as well as summer and winter - accordingly, the unequal pair is also equipped with special skills that both in the lap-based But also in the puzzles of numerous dungeons are used - among other things, the time of day in the game can be changed at any time.

And this feature also underlines the perhaps the biggest special feature of the game: Sea of Stars is incredibly pretty. The type design sets a very detailed pixel look with great sprites and combines it with dynamic lighting moods. This means that the gradual change of the daytime sets the light and the atmosphere of the world. Shadow will be stepless longer, the colors adapt to the light incident and the day / night change are wonderfully organic.

A tribute to the Golden SNES era

As far as the gameplay is concerned, Sea of Stars throws a nostalgic look into the past. In the dungeons, it is teeming with sliding and switch ruddles, the upper world we explore as a snuffy mini version of our hero * inside and behind every second corner hides a little secret. Although the combat system of Sea of Stars is round-based, but the opponents are already visible in the game world - random encounters are not available.

When a skirmish starts, no separate combat screen is called, but the fight takes place on the spot. This approach comes directly from Chrono Trigger and true fans of the SNES classic (like me) certainly good. Also that the party members skills (currently known three characters known, six should be able to combine) for combo attacks, obviously inspired by Chrono Trigger.

This declaration of love at Chrono Trigger - where also Super Mario RPG and Illusion of Gaia are named by the developers as a model - culminates in the participation of Yasunori Mitsuda. Mitsuda was responsible for the compositions of Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross and also controls music as a guest Composer.

For whom is Sea of Stars?

Sea of Stars is likely to be a feast for all who will succeed the charm of classic SNES-RPGs to this day. With a fresh and modern look, the developers of Sabotage Studio miss a proven gameplay in an appealing packaging. Everything that the classics made by once so special, seems to celebrate an appearance here - including the travel of the world map with its own ship.

The question remains but : How many own ideas is Sea of Stars? The use of dynamic lighting systems makes hope for creative puzzle deposits and who played The Messenger also knows that the developers do not back in front of large gameplay twists. But even a late Chrono trigger "clone" many players are likely to be happy.

Stars trigger assessment

Hannes Rossow @Trammhausaffekt

Even the very first trailer to Sea of Stars had moved me immediately in his spell. The kind of design and the pixel graphics are incredibly coherent and awaken the urge in me to dive deep into the game world. It is an advantage that I already know about what I'm going to get involved in Gameplay here - Chrono Trigger is one of my absolute favorite titles.

On some like round-based battles attack old bakes, in this case they help me to find peace and relaxation in Sea of Stars. The decelerated atmosphere lets me hope for cuddly evenings on the couch where Sea of Stars is running on my switch and I tried thought of the fishing mini game or look up with my party a tent camp - it could be a little time travel.

Can Sea of Stars trigger a similar nostalgia for classic RPGs?