How To Get All Characters in Star Ocean Second Story R

Whether you’re a new fan of Star Ocean The Second Story R or a seasoned veteran, one of the most exciting aspects of the series is the ability to mix and match your party. The characters you recruit into your party have a significant impact on your gameplay experience, and it’s impossible to get all of them in a single playthrough.

However, with careful planning, you can choose which characters to include in your party. By doing it right, you can even obtain all of the characters in just two playthroughs.

In this guide, we’ll take a look into each of the characters in Star Ocean: The Second Story R, discuss the best party compositions, and provide insights into each character’s strengths and weaknesses.

How To Get All Characters

Before we proceed, if you don’t plan on playing the game more than once, you may want to mix and match characters. However, there are exclusions based on who you pick for your party and which character you choose to start the game with.

Moreover, I will identify the best characters in my opinion and provide an overview of their strengths and weaknesses.

Also, in case you didn’t know, there’s a couple new secret characters that you can use as well. For that, you can check out this guide on All New Secret Characters Revealed in Star Ocean 2R.

Rena

First, let’s talk about Rena Lanford. She is one of the two required characters in the game and an inhabitant of the planet Expel in the Village of Arlia. Now, Rena is known for her mysterious healing power, making her the primary healer in the game.

While her offensive abilities may be lacking, she is an exceptionally well-written character who plays a significant role in the story. Whether you start with her or Claude, she will eventually become a part of your party.

Claude

Now, let’s discuss Claude C. Kenny, the other main protagonist and mandatory character. Moreover, Claude is the son of Ilia and Ronix/Ronnick, two main characters from the first game, Star Ocean: First Departure.

He’s a member of Earth’s Pangalactic Federation who finds himself transported to the underdeveloped planet of Expel, setting the story in motion.

Claude is one of the best characters in the game, with exceptional techniques, great stats, good range, and solid combat abilities. You cannot miss recruiting him.

Celine

Moving on to the first optional character, we have Celine Jules, a treasure hunter and one of the game’s few magic casters. Now, Celine temporarily joins your party early in the game, but you have the option to part ways with her after your initial mission.

If you decide to keep her, she can be a valuable addition to your party, especially as her magic abilities become more effective later in the game. You’ll meet Celine early in the game, and her relevance to the plot diminishes over time. However, there’s no harm in taking her along.

Ashton

Ashton Anchors is the next character, a swordsman who becomes possessed by a pair of dragons shortly after joining your party. He can be a bit challenging to use early in the game, but he evolves into one of the most competent fighters in the cast as the game progresses.

Be sure to check his talents when recruiting him, as they can significantly impact item creation. Ashton fights with a pair of short swords and is worth considering, but he does have certain drawbacks, such as struggling early in the game, as mentioned before.

Welch

Welch Vineyard, a recurring character in the series, is known for her association with item creation. In this game, she is a playable character who uses a handy stick to engage in combat.

While Welch doesn’t excel in any particular aspect, she’s a fun and quirky character to have in your party. Now, recruiting her is relatively straightforward; just visit a specific location during the main story, and she’ll fall into your lap, quite literally.

Precis

Another optional character is Precis Neumann, a hyperactive teenage inventor known for her quirky and eccentric personality. She joins your party as part of the main story after your encounter with the Tournament of Arms.

Precis is a physical fighter who wields a pair of robotic arms and is a formidable addition to your team. She can remain relevant for post-game content, and while her early relevance may decline, her fun character makes her a valuable addition.

Dias

Next, we have Dias Flac, the enigmatic and brooding swordsman who is required in every JRPG. Now, Dias is known for his somewhat gruff demeanor, but his combat abilities are outstanding. As a sword fighter like Claude, he is arguably one of the best physical fighters in the game.

Dias excels in various combat situations, and he comes equipped with some of his best techniques. To officially recruit him, visit the Lacour Frontlines during the main story, right after your visit to the Hoffman Ruins. It’s worth noting that you can only recruit Dias if you start the game with Rena.

Chisato

Now let’s talk about Chisato Madison, a determined and zealous reporter you’ll meet in the later part of the game. Moreover, Chisato is a physical fighter who uses a stun gun in battle. She has an excellent move set, and some of her moves are among the best in the entire game.

To recruit her, you’ll need to visit the Cave of the Red Crystal in the later stages of the game and follow a specific sequence of events. Although Chisato’s late recruitment is one aspect to consider when deciding to include her in your party.

Opera

Switching over to Claude’s playthrough, we’ll continue with Opera Vectra, an alien character who crash-landed on Expel in search of her boyfriend, Ernest. Moreover, Opera joins your party as part of the main story and is a physical fighter who uses a rifle.

She is one of the best characters in the game and offers excellent combat abilities. To recruit Opera, head to the tavern in the town of Hilton after the Tournament of Arms. She plays a crucial role in the early game and becomes essential for your party.

Bowman

Bowman Jeane is a pharmacist in the town of Linga, and you’ll briefly interact with him during the main story. Moreover, Bowman is a close-range pugilist, and while he may not stand out as the most exceptional character, he has some useful abilities.

You can recruit Bowman by producing an herb for him, which will initiate a request to join your party. If you choose to recruit him, it may exclude you from recruiting Precis.

Ernest

Ernest Raviede, an archaeologist and a clear reference to Indiana Jones, is another character in the game. Now, Ernest is a physical mid-range fighter who wields a whip. While he’s not the best character in the original games, he can still take on post-game content on higher difficulties.

To recruit Ernest, you need to fulfill certain conditions, including recruiting Opera and Ashton, and completing specific in-game events.

Leon

Leon D.S Gehste is the anime catboy of the game, known for his arrogant and brash personality. He’s a child prodigy who excels in magic. As one of the offensive magic casters, Leon is probably the best of the bunch.

Leon’s spells can hit multiple times and are no longer limited by combat freezing. Moreover, Leon is a valuable addition to your party, and to recruit him, you can find him during the main story after you arrive on the continent of Ell.

Noel

Finally, we have Noel Chandler, a character you’ll meet in the latter part of the game. Noel is a hybrid caster, proficient in both offensive and healing magic. However, he may not be the most effective character in either role, making him somewhat obsolete.

To recruit Noel, simply ensure you have space in your party, and play through the main story until you reach the end of the Red Cavern scenario, where he will ask to join.

That’s pretty much how you get all the characters in the game! In case you’re interested, might as well check out this guide on How To Unlock Bunny Mount | Bunny Call Super Specialty.

Now, as for the best party composition in Star Ocean: The Second Story R, it’s subjective and depends on your playstyle and preferences. Many players recommend a party of Claude, Rena, Dias, and Ashton as a balanced quartet.

However, you can mix-and-match characters based on your preferences and experiment with different combinations. Ultimately, the best party for you is the one that you find the most enjoyable and effective.

Some players even opt for unique party compositions, so feel free to explore different character combinations to suit your style.

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