Sea of Stars Local Co-op – A Great Turn-Based RPG
I was a little skeptical when I first heard about Sabotage Studio’s local co-op mode. Sea of Stars. The turn-based game can feel a little slow when played alone, so I couldn’t imagine how it would work with another person sitting next to me at all times. However I played Sea of Stars with my little brother on vacation, and as it turns out, this co-op mode was exactly what I needed to reignite my interest in turn-based RPGs.
Sea of Stars‘ The secret weapon is the way it mixes real-time elements with standard turn-based mechanics. Combat plays out character by character, just like a regular turn-based game, but the player can increase each character’s damage output and defensive capabilities by timing their button presses correctly. Therefore, if you press the A button just before an enemy attacks, the damage dealt will be reduced. Likewise, if you press the right button just before the attack animation hits an enemy, you can increase the attack’s power.
As it turns out, this system works very well when used together. When you fight alongside another player in co-op, the game takes into account the button press timing of both you and your teammate. So if either of you time the attack correctly, you’ll get a bonus. Having another person is a godsend in the game because some attacks are difficult to time, such as in small timed mini-games where you have to land multiple attacks in a row. If there is another person nearby who can get the timing right, it means you can cover for your friend, and vice versa.
Apart from the combat, the developers have included many special details in the game that make the game enjoyable to share. Sea of Stars uses a top-down camera that’s greatly zoomed out so multiple players have plenty of room to run around, explore, and collect items in the environment. We could even boost each other’s speed in the overworld by having our characters run up to each other and high-five. Some simple tasks, such as pressing A to continue dialogue, are common as the game will switch who controls the text fields from time to time.
Local multiplayer in Sea of Stars allowed us to find a rhythm in the game without giving up the collaborative elements. My brother and I discussed battle strategies while playing, and it made difficult bosses seem less intimidating. When I wanted to make a large purchase, such as a new item, I was helped by another person who intuitively checked how best to spend resources. A lot of times I could have just gone to check the tutorial online or given up if I was playing alone, but instead we stopped and asked each other questions like, “Well, what do we think we should do?”
Turn-based RPGs have long been a common experience for me. With games like Pokemon Silver or Pokemon SapphireMy brother and I would lean over the tiny screen and pass the laptop back and forth. When we eventually got our own consoles, we could battle each other in Pokemon games, but it was competitive and short-lived. Sea of Stars took me back to those old days, but this time we finally had to fight side by side instead of fighting over who would hold the Game Boy next.