Star Ocean 5 Confirmed Exclusively for PS3, PS4

Yes, it is happening.

Very recently, Famitsu has revealed to us a game rather unexpected: Star Ocean 5, which has actually been in development for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Currently, the project is only 30% complete, so a release date hasn't been solidified yet. Just like previous Star Ocean games, Star Ocean 5 will be developed by Tri-Ace and published by Square Enix.

The full title of the JRPG will be Star Ocean 5: Integrity and Faithlessness, and it's set on Feycreed, an uncivilized planet 6,000 light years away from Earth.

Honestly, the subtitle makes me think that the game has become a major soap opera, and I could be very well right.

Here are some of the details that have been uncovered:

Prologue, Courtesy of Kotaku:

"Do the depths of space forbid peace for mankind?

Centuries after leaving Earth, after a multitude of trials, with the creation and spread of 'Galactic Federation,' humanity was on the verge of unified order and peace.

But the embers of conflict have begun to burn again.

Over 6,000 light years from Earth, on the unsettled planet, 'Feycreed.'

Just as so any times before, the waves of history begin from a remote planet."

The game takes place between Star Ocean 2 and 3, in the year 537 S.D., when "Gravity Warp" was developed.

Characters

Fidel Camus - The swordfencing protagonist who protects his village. He inherited his skills from his father, who is Leslia Kingdom's greatest swordsman. Fedel carries a calm demeanor and cares genuinely for his comrades.

Miki Sorvesta - The heroine and childhood friend of Fedel. She loves him like an older brother, except that love obviously turns into a romantic affair sometime later in the game. She is a healer (would be very surprising if she wasn't one considering the Star Ocean pattern), who is recognized as "cute, lovely, and gluttonous."

Lilia - A girl who lost her memories and emotions.

Wait a minute... I'm sensing a pattern here...

Gameplay

The battles will be seamless - as in no transitional screen - and your combos and attack patterns will be dependent on the distance between the enemy and yourself.

Many events also directly proceed to battles. Players will also have the opportunity to switch between characters, and attack patterns and skills have been increased at a larger-scale. Skills also have different effects dependent on distance, but they can be integrated into the combos you pull off.

Also, there will be seamless events where enemies can attack you. Depending on whether you are able to defend yourself or not, the result will be of one of two or more outcomes.

Luckily, the developers seem to take a page from Star Ocean 3 rather than from the not-as-awesome Star Ocean 4. Quoting Producer Shuichi Kobayashi:

"[Having previously been in marketing] I decided to change positions and become a producer out of the belief that Star Ocean is worth staking my life and legacy on. For Star Ocean 5, I wanted the game to overtly take cues from Star Ocean 3 and draw its essence from that game."

Courtesy of Gematsu, here are some interview excerpts:

Subtitle Meaning

Lead Programmer Yoshiharu Gotanda:

"There are multiple meanings behind the subtitle for this game. It'll make sense by the end once you play the game, I think."

Battle System

Director Hiroshi Ogawa:

"Basic battles are the same as previous entries, where the player controlled character takes on the enemy in one-on-one battles. On the other hand, boss battles see the whole party squaring off against bosses, which lends those fights a different feel that players can enjoy."

In Regards to Star Ocean's Future

Producer Shuichi Kobayashi:

"I'd like to be able to keep putting these games out. By the end, when it's all finished, we hope we have a game that draws in series fans and new players alike."

This seems like SO:IF could be a breath of fresh air for the series, but at the same time, there appears to be too many similarties between the characters of the Star Ocean games. Hopefully, the characters will differentiate vastly in comparison to the previous games, but who knows?
I'm just glad they are taking Star Ocean 3 as inspiration. Star Ocean 4, in my opinion, lacked a lot of the heart 2 and 3 had. And we won't delve into the shallow plot transitions, North American voice acting, and disc changes on the Xbox 360 version.

(Source: Gematsu)