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The SNES-era JRPG that Super Nintendo never got, made by people who clearly grew up worshipping Chrono Trigger.
Sea of Stars by Sabotage Studio is a turn-based RPG that channels the golden age of 16-bit JRPGs with modern quality-of-life improvements. You play as two Solstice Warriors who can harness sun and moon magic to fight an alchemist creating monstrous creatures. The pixel art is outrageously beautiful, with dynamic lighting, detailed animations, and environments that make SNES classics look primitive by comparison. Combat uses timed hits (like Mario RPG), a lock-breaking system to interrupt enemy spells, and combo attacks that keep battles engaging throughout. The music by Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger's composer) ties the homage together perfectly.
Example
The first time you trigger a combo attack where both Solstice Warriors combine sun and moon magic into an eclipse move, complete with a gorgeous animation sequence that rivals anything from the 16-bit era it pays tribute to.
Why it matters
Sea of Stars proved that the classic JRPG format is not outdated; it was just waiting for a team that understood what made those games magical. Getting Yasunori Mitsuda to contribute to the soundtrack was a statement of intent that Sabotage delivered on completely.
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