Star Ocean: Till the End of Time marks the third entry in the widely acclaimed Star Ocean series, with the second installment often hailed as one of the greatest RPGs for the PlayStation. As a first-time player of the series, I was enticed by its rarity in England and captivated by a magazine advertisement promising a Square Enix RPG with over 60 hours of gameplay. Eager for a new RPG experience, I acquired the game around Christmas, bundled with the Final Fantasy 12 demo disc.

Upon bringing the game home, I was surprised to find it spanned two discs, something I hadn't seen in an RPG since Final Fantasy 9. However, after finishing the game, I couldn't help but wish they had limited it to just one disc.

Star Ocean is a fantastic RPG that I would recommend to any fan of the genre. Nevertheless, the game's second half leaves much to be desired, feeling disjointed and chaotic in comparison to the first half's brilliant ideas and memorable moments. The primary reason for this decline in quality is a dramatic plot twist that upends nearly everything you've accomplished in the first 20 hours of gameplay. This sudden change renders your prior efforts futile and insignificant.

Although this plot twist may not ruin the experience for every player, many gamers will likely feel a sense of frustration and disappointment as a result. Despite its shortcomings in the latter half, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time remains a worthwhile RPG for fans seeking a lengthy and challenging adventure.