A magical adventure full of heart and soul-stice.
From the outside it seems easier for a game studio to create something inspired by other games in a specific genre or from an older generation of hardware but the truly phenomenal teams are the ones that build upon and create something all their own. For me, Yacht Club Games is one of the few developers with a track record of being able to see the references to other games or series while possessing their own core DNA. But with Sabotage Studios’ latest, it’s clear they are able to conjure the same magic YCG is capable of while also showing that going back-to-back on crafting stellar titles is a goalpost they could set and clear with their follow-up to the critically acclaimed The Messenger from 2018– Sea of Stars.
Sea of Stars begins within a story already in motion as you choose between two Children of the Solstice– the Lunar Monk Valere or the Solar Bladedancer Zale. Thankfully, this decision is based solely on preference as it will not alter the story and both will be party members as you venture out into the world from your hometown of Mooncradle. But before you can embark on your quest to become Solstice Warriors and fight back against the evils plaguing your world, the story rewinds ever so slightly to introduce your best pal in town the Warrior Cook Garl, your mentors Erlina and Brugaves, and Headmaster Moraine. All of which will play varying roles of significance as you continue your training and venture forth to vanquish the foes threatening the world’s peace.
Before we get too far into the weeds it’s worth noting how well paced the introduction of Sea of Stars is. Overall, I think one of the greatest strengths of this turn-based RPG is the pacing, but specifically here with how the game starts just a smidge ahead and then takes a step back to provide more context allowing the following exposition to breathe while giving me a quick whiff of the main characters and the combat. Weaving the introduction to game mechanics and combat throughout while steadily plunking along and opening up, there’s genuine connection forged between the starting party members and characters’ motivations to the world that resonated outside of the screen and with me as well. All of the future main characters and party members offer engaging and heartfelt storylines, Seraï the assassin and Teaks the traveling historian being some of my favorites of the bunch, but the bond shared between Valere, Zale, and Garl is one the cosmos themselves couldn’t pen and one that will shine within me for some time to come.
Garl embodies the hope and determination we all have or wish we did. His positive outlook and at times headstrong willingness to try even while knowing his own place and value is sometimes limited in comparison to the solar and lunar magic wielding protagonists is earnest and contagious. His acceptance of his own skills and usefulness allows not only everyone who meets him on this journey to be magnetized to his personality but allows him to grow and become strong beyond the bounds of typical strength. Food is love and strong friendships can navigate the choppiest of waves, and Garl seems to always have a spoonful ready for the bellies around him and a smile on deck for the toughest storms.
The story that sails through your time with Sea of Stars is worthy of being regaled about around a campfire or propped up in the pantheon of RPG legends, with heartfelt relationships, unexpected surprises, and winks and nods to both the shared universe of The Messenger and the retro games that helped inspire this modern classic. There’s a wealth of storytelling nestled along the shores of this world that are better worth experiencing firsthand without my retelling. (A deep dive spoilercast episode as well as a spoiler-free episode of the Pass The Controller Podcast are both available now).
The characters and story aren’t the only way in which Sea of Stars shimmers, the combat is an amalgamation of old and new with a modern focus on balance and flow. Combat scenarios are not random encounters but rather initiated by what has been slowly becoming more common in turn-based RPGs, visible enemies in the world. There are some exceptions with surprise encounters or certain story-related sequences but a majority of the time the encounters are intentional and it’s a flow that matches the pace. The velocity of fights weaved throughout platforming and adventuring always felt like the scales were evenly matched and this approach to designing combat sort of removes the need to grind in any way which can often be a deterrent for players in any RPG. While of course there are optional quests that could lead to stronger gear or additional experience gained, Sea of Stars always felt like it remained a balanced experience as long as you took advantage of maximizing the use of the systems layered upon the combat. Although, there is also a relic system that you can unlock that will give you the ability to alter certain aspects of the game to fit your preferred playstyle by making things easier or more difficult.
The two big combat mechanics that are worth noting are the timed hits and blocks and the “locks” system. Properly executing a timed attack or block and utilizing the strategy behind the “locks” system is what elevates the battlefield. The “locks” system lists a string of elemental and/or weapon type damage above an enemy that depending on how many of them you can break before an enemy’s turn counter reaches zero can either impact how much damage they are able to output or negate their attack entirely. Mastering your ability to break the locks and strategizing your approach in battle can quickly help turn the tides while floundering in certain scenarios can result in dire consequences. This approach to combat helped Sea of Stars not only remain engaging throughout the entirety of the adventure but made each rotation of turns feel like little battle puzzle blocks that were satisfying to solve and bursting with elation, especially in boss fights and later game scenarios.
I think one of my only issues with Sea of Stars in my almost fifty hours logged is that the fishing mini-game feels almost like nothing more than a checklist task of catching all of the fish. I rarely felt the need to return to a body of water after I had already caught the fish located there, which was a shame because the fishing mechanics were easy to understand and it was fun to break off for a few moments to reel in some new creatures. Although only a minor gripe in the grandeur of Sea of Stars. However, the other minigame “Wheels” was always worth going for a spin or a two when a new challenger was found. When you discover your first Wheels table, someone in the tavern will quickly mention it but the game doesn’t force you to play which I appreciated. I think giving players the option of not engaging is worth celebrating since some players will likely not want to play the side game and want to continue with their RPG adventure. All that to say you should absolutely give Wheels a chance. Once you understand the mechanics of how the game works and start finding new tables across your journey and unlocking new figurines, you’ll likely be hunting down Wheels champions every chance you get as did I. It was just another little background motivator pushing me along to progress the game so I could find the next opponent and unlock more figures for my arsenal.
The look, sound, and vibe of Sea of Stars are in a class all their own. Pixel perfect animations intensified by the dynamic lighting show just how talented the artists designing the characters, vistas, and special attacks in combat are at their craft. I’ll never forget the first time I was in a higher portion of land in Mooncradle and in the distance below I could see the village beneath me and the flicker of light from a lantern beside me as I stood still in awe at the moving art that was before me. All of this while existing in a world where the soundtrack is bursting with attitude and emotion masterfully engineered by Eric W. Brown (Rainbowdragoneyes) and guest composer Yasunori Mitsuda. The catchy battle themes, the lively town anthems, and so many head nodding moments that have left me yearning for the soundtrack to be made available somewhere I can stream into my car or office headphones.
Ever since the first time I got to explore the world of The Messenger back at PAX East 2018 and later getting to review that game upon release, I always wondered where the studio would go from there. The attention to detail and respect for the inspirations are seemingly at the core of what Sabotage Studio does so well and those same remarks remain true with Sea of Stars. A wondrous journey that nibbles ever so often at your nostalgia but even if you lack the experience playing certain series or games from an older era– or The Messenger– Sea of Stars never feels reliant on having that foundation of the past leaving a bountiful feast worthy of any interested player’s hunger pangs. It’s balanced and intriguing, it’s heavy while carrying levity in the same breath, it’s easily one of my favorite games of 2023, a masterpiece in its own regard while also a welcome entry in the universe of The Messenger. Sea of Stars is a triumphant turn-based RPG rooted in history, fueled by friendship, and consistently dazzles with writing and gameplay that create something magical with no mana necessary.
We reviewed Sea of Stars on Xbox Series X with a code provided by the developer. Full disclosure, I also backed Sea of Stars on Kickstarter.
Sea of Stars releases August 29th, 2023 on Xbox Series X | S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 & 5, and Steam.
For all things Sea of Stars and indie game related, be sure to keep it locked to Pass The Controller. For more Sea of Stars content check out the inspired cocktail Cosmic Ocean, our spoiler-free review on episode 383 of the Pass The Controller Podcast and our Spoilercast to drop in the coming week. For a deeper dive on all things gaming and nerd culture, listen to the Pass The Controller Podcast with new episodes weekly on your favorite podcast platform. Want to continue the conversation with us and our community? Join our official Discord server.
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