"Star Ocean EX" is a twenty-six episode that aired around 2001 and is adapted from the manga "Star Ocean: The Second Story" which was authored by Mayumi Azuma and published by the videogame company called "Enix" before it merged with "Squaresoft" to become "Square-Enix." This is also adapted from the popular role-playing game by Enix for the Sony Playstation that is also called Star Ocean: The Second Story. It’s a mere adaptation of the game so things that happen in the game probably won’t take place in the series. For anybody that has played Star Ocean: The Second Story should know that there are eighty endings to be unlocked which provides a good deal of replay value. The setting definitely has the feel of action, adventure, fantasy, science fiction, and the supernatural.
The anime itself is directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and produced by "Studio Deen." It aired on the Japanese TV network "TV Tokyo." Star Ocean EX has aired on a few network channels across Malaysia. Anybody who has played Star Ocean: The Second Story in the past may be able to follow the story behind the Star Ocean EX series. Still, it’s an interesting adaptation of a popular role-playing game. However, it’s more based on the actual manga instead of the game. Fans who have been keeping track of the manga may understand the series more than the people whom have played the game.
The story behind the Star Ocean EX series revolves around second lieutenant Claude C. Kenni, a young boy who winds up on a planet along with other officers. They investigate something that looks like a damaged structure or crashed vessel. He investigates a large artifact that looks to be broken or damaged. But it isn’t the case as Claude accidentally activates and hurls him all the way to a planet called Expel. He doesn’t know what had gone on in the beginning as his communicator doesn’t work.
From there, he rescues a girl named Rena Lanford from a large gorilla like monster. Since Claude came mysteriously, he is thought to be the "Legendary Warrior of Light" as foretold by the prophecy of the village. The reason being is because Claude used a gun his father gave him to vaporize the monster. The gun blast itself gave off a very bright light. From then, the two of them embark on a quest to find something called the "sorcery sphere" which is the driving force behind the story of Star Ocean EX. At the same time, his father who is a major character in the first Star Ocean is busy searching with the starship Calnus.
The series of Star Ocean EX is very much different inthe game in terms of character recruitment. Noel and Chisato whom could be recruited in the game aren’t present in the anime. It also revolves around both Claude and Rena working together. In the game itself, the story splits into two different paths: that of Rena and that of Claude’s. The other characters are present together in the game. In the game, not all the characters can be together.
However, it is very interesting as in the beginning it’s all science-fiction. From there, it’s purely fantasy as Claude is sent out towards Expel. From Expel, it looks to be purely fantasy save for Claude’s light phase gun that is powered up by light. From his father’s side, it’s science-fiction. Star Ocean EX had put forth an interesting mix of both science-fiction and fantasy.
Those are the differences between the game and the anime. Star Ocean EX is still a good series to watch provided that you watch as that, a series. It could be watched as a supplement to the game and the manga. The series is dubbed in English but it hasn’t been aired on TV networks across North America. However, it is unknown if or when it will be the case.