Sea of Stars

A turn-based retro RPG about Solstice Warriors, with timing-based combat and a Chrono Trigger lineage.

Released PC PS5 Xbox Nintendo RPG Adventure

29 Aug 2023 · $34.99

About Sea of Stars

Promising the Sabotage touch in every system, Sea of Stars aims to modernize the classic RPG in terms of turn-based combat, storytelling, exploration and interactions with the environment, while still offering a hearty slice of nostalgia and good old, simple fun. Pressing the action button in sync with the animations increases damage output while reducing incoming damage. Along with timed hits, combat features multi-character combo attacks, boosting, and a strategic "locks" system offering options to play with different damage types in order to hinder enemies while they are channeling powerful attacks or spells, all in an immersive take on the genre; no random encounters, no transitions to separate battlefields, and no grinding. Swim, climb, vault, jump off or hoist up ledges as you traverse seamlessly through the world with a navigation system based on platformer expertise that breaks free from the classic bound-to-the-grid tileset movement. Our custom-made render pipeline allows the creation of a breathtaking world coming to life by pushing the limits of 2D pixel-art games. Dozens of original characters and story arcs will take you on a captivating journey. Sometimes epic, sometimes silly, and other times emotional, Sea of Stars does its RPG duty of exploring classic themes of adventure and friendship, while also being chock-full of the unexpected twists and events you’d expect from a Sabotage production.

• Timing-based turn-based combat
• Combo and ultimate attacks
• Hand-crafted pixel art
• Cooking and crafting systems
• Single-player story with DLC islands
• Steam Achievements
• Full controller support
• Steam Cloud
• Remote Play Together
• Family Sharing

Storyline

Valere and Zale are Solstice Warriors, individuals who have control over Eclipse Magic. Their power is the only magic able to harm the Dwellers, otherworldly monsters created by a god-like alchemist called the Fleshmancer. On their journey to defeat the last known Dweller, the Dweller of Woe, they are assisted by their childhood friend, a warrior-cook named Garl, and then an assassin named Seraï. The four track down and defeat the Dweller alongside the other Solstice Warriors—Erlina, Brugaves, and Headmaster Moraine—after which the former two betray the group and summon a cult serving the Fleshmancer. The acolytes use the monster's remains to revive the powerful Dweller of Strife. Determined to defeat the Dweller, the party travels to Mesa Island. They discover the home of an alchemist named Resh'an, who is later revealed to be the Fleshmancer's rival and former associate. Together, they created the elixir of life, which granted them immortality. Over time, the Fleshmancer became cynical and misanthropic, leading him to create the Dwellers to spread chaos. In response, Resh'an began training the first Solstice Warriors, sparking a conflict between the alchemists spanning countless parallel universes. The conflict continues in each universe until the Dwellers grow into apocalyptic beings called World Eaters, or the Solstice Warriors gain enough power to become guardian gods. Resh'an agrees to fight by their side, but warns that he cannot engage the Fleshmancer's creations directly, leaving Valere, Zale, Garl, and Seraï to confront the Dweller without him. On the verge of losing, Seraï attacks the Dweller with Resh'an's hourglass in desperation, and its power attracts the attention of the Fleshmancer. The alchemist dismisses the Dweller, acolytes, and Brugaves to his lair, appoints Erlina as his lieutenant, and mortally wounds Garl before leaving. Resh'an uses his power to temporarily extend Garl's lifespan, and the warrior-cook spends his remaining time helping the party secure passage through the Sea of Stars before dying. The party travels through the Sea of Stars to cross between worlds in pursuit of the Fleshmancer. They arrive at a technologically advanced…

Gameplay

Sea of Stars is a role-playing video game (RPG) set primarily on a set of islands in a fantasy world, in which the player-character and their allies navigate the terrain and fight off hostile creatures. The game world is divided between an overworld map, depicting the landscape from a scaled-down view, and navigable areas such as forests and towns that are depicted as more realistically-scaled. Both of these are presented in a fixed isometric view using two-dimensional pixel art, similar to Super Nintendo Entertainment System-era RPGs such as Chrono Trigger (1995). In the navigable areas, the player can converse with locals to procure items and services, solve puzzles and challenges, or encounter enemies. The player navigates the game world by controlling either Valere and Zale, the Solstice Warriors, which they select at the outset of the game. The other members of the active party, up to two characters, follow them. In co-op mode, each player controls one of the three characters. The characters can freely run, swim, and climb the terrain as if it were a fully three-dimensional world. Enemies, typically monsters, are located in specific locations throughout the game world, and will attack upon being approached, with battles taking place in fixed positions at those locations. Battles are turn-based, with no time limit on turns. On each of the player's turns, they can have one of the active party members take an action: attacking, using a unique ability, using an item, or using a special charged ability. Once a character has taken an action, they cannot take another one until all active party members have done so. Enemies have countdown timers for the number of player turns until they can take an action; multiple enemies can take an action on the same turn if their timers run out simultaneously. Characters also have mana points, which are used for their unique abilities; these abilities might damage enemies with elemental effects, heal characters, or revive unconscious characters. Often, enemies will charge up an attack for multiple rounds, which can be stopped or mitigated by attacking with the element types that break their "locks"; these lock types may be…