Sea of Stars joins PlayStation Plus lineup for August, demo available
Your August free games are here if you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber. PGA 2k23, Dreams from Little Big Planet’s developer Media Molecule, and Death’s Door are all in the lineup. The last is a smooth indie game and in it, you play a small crow, a reaper for a bureaucratic afterlife office who must collect souls. However, a special game slipped in quietly that has me super excited.
Nostalgia Unleashed: A Sea of Stars Beckons
I’m talking about Sea of Stars by Sabotage Studios. They also created “The Messenger,” a cheeky, meta twist on Ninja Gaiden. Sea of Stars, a prequel, takes inspiration from retro JRPG aesthetics. I’ve been following this game for a while. I already planned to shell out the cash outright, but it’s part of my PlayStation Plus subscription! Owners of PS Plus Extra or Premium can claim the game on August 29, 2023. If you’re unsure about it, don’t worry because a free demo is available for download on your console.
Diving into the Details: The Eclipse Awaits
Sea of Stars took five years to make and it screams passion even at a first glance. The title even seems suggests a playful nod to “Star Ocean,” wouldn’t you agree? The story itself revolves around Solstice Warriors Valere and Zale. They wield Eclipse Magic, which is the essentially the power of the sun and moon. This is apparently the only force that can fight and overcome “The Fleshmancer”. The turn-based combat allows control of six characters. It replaces grinding with a progression system tied to fight frequency. We’ve actually covered the game’s timed hits combat before, and it’s definitely worth a look.
The game, though added to PlayStation Plus, isn’t Sony-exclusive. It’s also launching on Steam for PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox for $34.99 USD. Regional pricing may vary and so will the price of a future physical release.
Pixelated Perfection: A Retro Retreat
If, like me, you miss early 2000s gaming, Sea of Stars will resonate hardcore. Its pixel art, turn-based gameplay, soundtrack, and even its concept art all stir nostalgia. The latter reminds me of a PS1 game’s manual, and has cemented my desire to grab that physical release I mentioned! If you’ve already had eyes on this game, let me know in the comments!
