video game review

‘Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness’

Grade: 1 and a half stars (out of 4)

Details: Square Enix, for the PlayStation 4; $59.99

What would you expect from a role-playing game called “Star Ocean”? Interstellar exploration? Thrilling outer space combat? Encounters with weird aliens from across the universe?

“Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness” has none of that. Instead, it delivers a disappointingly planet-bound experience that never quite lifts off.

The planet in this case is a little rock called Faykreed, whose three nations are locked in war. The protagonist, Fidel, is a young swordsman dedicated to protecting his hometown with the help of a childhood pal, the magic-wielding Miki. After a strange girl named Relia lands in their country, Fidel and Miki soon realize the conflict extends far beyond their little backwater.

One faction chasing Relia is the Pangalactic Federation, and if that reminds you of “Star Trek,” you get the idea. “Integrity and Faithlessness” is like a “Star Trek” episode in reverse: Instead of watching Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, you’re the clueless local who gets to hear their debates about whether to violate the Prime Directive.

That’s not a bad idea, but Faykreed is such a drab little dump that it’s dispiriting to realize you’ll barely get a chance to escape. Instead, you’ll find yourself dragging Fidel and Miki across the same locations over and over, killing mostly hapless monsters via an awkward battle system.

“Integrity and Faithlessness” is short for an RPG – about 20 hours – but it still seems padded. And in its refusal to adopt the genre’s modern trappings, like the ability to save anywhere or teleport between locations, it’s hopelessly stodgy.

—Lou Kesten, Associated Press