We’ve gotten the first character details (via Hachima Kikou) for the previously confirmed Star Ocean 5: Integrity and Faithlessness characters Anne and Emerson, alongside details for the game’s “role” battle system.
The “role” battle system sets up various duties for each party character. It’s split into two categories: attack and defense, and it also features a unique boosting ability dubbed “factor.” While each character may have up to four roles, the AI-controlled actions of characters will change pending their assigned role.
The following factors can make up an attack role: attacker (puts a focus on the number of moves and being offensive in combat, plus an ATK+4 bonus); caster (puts a focus on the number of moves and with skill attacks, plus an INT+4 bonus); bazaar (makes you aggressively challenge enemies that attack you); and fighter (has no real focus on defense, mostly just attacks).
It’s worth mentioning there are roles that focus on attack, defense, recovery, support, as well as a special role that gives ability boosts. You’ll be able to level up your roles as you continue to use them, making factors more effective.
We’ve also gotten the first details for new characters Emerson and Anne.
Emerson (pictured above left, voice by Junichi Suwabe) has a threatening face, but he is up-front and quite the lover of both women and alcohol. He fires from a distance with his powerful bow gun when in battle.
Anne (pictured above right, voice by Ayumi Fujimura) is a cat lover, she travels with Emerson. Quite the opposite of Emerson, she is composed and highly intelligent. When fighting, she uses a varied melee style, and even taunts her enemies.
Finally, first-run copies of the game are confirmed to come with a download code for an in-game Valkyrie Profile background music (an actual track isn’t specified).
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is launching in Japan for both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 on February 25th, while the game is only coming to PlayStation 4 in both North America and Europe sometime later next year.
