From its dynamic lighting to the wind dancing through the grass and the water rippling along with the tide, Sea of Stars is sure to captivate all who play this emerging gem of a game. Set to be released on August 29, 2023, Sea of Stars is an upcoming role-playing video game (RPG) released by the game studio Sabotage, creators of The Messenger.

Sea of Stars is the prequel to (and set in the same universe as) The Messenger. Sea of Stars will expand on the backstory of the events in The Messenger and fill in parts of the plot that had not been previously explained. However, the Sea of Stars kickstarter page reassures newcomers that it is not necessary to have played The Messenger before this game, since the game’s storyline is not affected!

Developers made sure to keep the plot behind thick curtains, redacting most information. So far, only a Nintendo Switch-exclusive demo has been released to tease Sea of Stars’ growing fanbase. Even in the demo version, it’s beautiful, with appealing characters and graphics–though not much of the storyline has been leaked. The basic plot of the game is about two Children of the Solstice, Valere and Zale. On their perilous journey to defeat a malicious alchemist, The Fleshmancer, they encounter various monsters. Valere and Zale’s power combined produces Eclipse magic, the only force that is able to vanquish The Fleshmancer and his grotesque creations.

As an RPG lover, I believe Sea of Stars will definitely be worth playing on release. Although the storyline is definitely lacking during the short demo, it wasn’t the focus, and I’ll be thrilled to see the story unveiled. Not only that, but the game is jam- packed with things to see and do, making it an ideal game for taking it slow and enjoying the scenery.

If you’re into older RPGs, this game is practically made for you. There are many aspects of the game that can be linked back to Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG, especially in the combat system. However, it requires decent timing and patience, which definitely isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Naturally, if you enjoyed The Messenger, it’s worth checking out Sea of Stars to douse out any burning questions that went unanswered, or see what the island had been like before being completely flooded and submerged. 

This upcoming game is going to be the RPG that includes all the strong points that beloved older RPGs have, minus the little issues that need tweaking. For instance, many RPGs require countless hours of playing in order to gain higher levels and advance within the game’s plot – a hassle for most players. Sabotage Studio kept this in mind and made combat dependent on strategy rather than grinding. Personally, that sounds like a good deal to me.

Sea of Stars is not your typical 2-dimensional platformer. You can walk, run, swim, and climb anywhere your heart desires. None of the pesky barriers in every nook and cranny that plague so many games lie. Neither is there a clearly beaten out path for the player to follow, but rather a very loose path. While exploring, you can go from a fluorescent conch shell village set in a half-submerged swampland to a terraneous landscape crawling with uncanny monsters ready to spring at you.

With its release on the horizon and a snippet of the gameplay already released to the public, many Twitter users are buzzing with excitement. Sea of Stars has made it into the lists of numerous peoples’ most anticipated games coming in 2023. Whether you’ve played The Messenger or not, Sea of Stars offers a fun and fresh adventure for you to immerse yourself in.