Unveiling the Enchanting World of Sea of Stars: Meet the Characters, Dive into the Lore, and Uncover the Art of Sewing

August has been a fantastic month for fans of roleplaying games, with the highly successful releases of Baldur's Gate 3 and the highly anticipated upcoming game Starfield. However, nestled between these massive launches is Sea of Stars, the second project from indie developer Sabotage Studio, which has captured the attention of RPG enthusiasts. Sea of Stars has received outstanding reviews, making it a must-try experience for any RPG lover.

In many roleplaying games, players often assume the role of a courageous hero who embarks on a journey to battle the great evil threatening the world. In the retro-inspired Sea of Stars, the story unfolds after that great evil has already been vanquished, several generations ago. Instead, the game focuses on the adventures of Solstice Warriors Valere and Zale, who are tasked with eliminating the remaining forces of the evil Fleshmancer. Interestingly, this daunting task is almost completed before the game even begins. In fact, players are initially engaged in rather mundane activities, such as sewing, which is quite unexpected for supposed heroes.

Creative director Thierry Boulanger introduced the premise of Sea of Stars in an interview with Game Rant. In this fantastical world, two immortal alchemists engaged in an epic battle that spanned countless years, leaving their marks on the realm. The malevolent alchemist, known as the Fleshmancer, left behind his deranged creations. Remarkably, when children are born on the solstice, they inherit extraordinary powers - those born during the Winter Solstice gain the power of the moon, while those born on the Summer Solstice possess the power of the sun. These remarkable individuals are entrusted to a secluded village by a majestic, magical eagle, where they undergo intensive training to become formidable Solstice Warriors.

Aspiring heroes in Sea of Stars are required to master the use of needle and thread, which doesn't sit well with Valere and Zale. The primacy given to cloth in the game's prologue serves a specific purpose, according to Boulanger: enduring a less enjoyable schooling experience.

If you attend a school where you learn to shoot moonbeams and wield swords, it may seem like a lot of fun. However, I still wanted to capture the essence of "school sucks." When you're a child, you eagerly anticipate finishing school, whereas it might otherwise sound like an enjoyable place to be. So, from a storytelling perspective, I believe it effectively captures the challenging aspect of homework.

In addition, sewing serves as a powerful reminder to meditate and reflect, something Sea of Stars encourages its characters to do regularly. It also symbolizes the act of bringing together individual skills and team members to form a united front, which plays a significant role in the game's battle design. Furthermore, in the context of the narrative, the cloth created by Valere and Zale acts as a protective layer as they embark on their quest to eradicate the lingering effects of the Fleshmancer's legacy by stopping the final Seed of Evil during the eclipse.

However, as a precursor to the post-apocalyptic game, The Messenger, there is something looming on the horizon.

The Solstice Warriors will be accompanied by four additional characters as they face whatever challenges come after the eclipse. Two of these characters were not disclosed prior to the game's release, as the developers intended for players to uncover these allies on their own. The remaining two characters act as opposites, serving to maintain a balance within the party's overall attitude. Garl, a chef and the heroes' childhood friend, enthusiastically joins them on their journey across the archipelago, encouraging players to stop and appreciate the small joys in life. In contrast, Seraï, a portal assassin, is a strong and focused ninja determined to complete the mission.

While six characters make up the playable roster, additional characters in a supportive role join the Solstice Warriors journey. Characters such as Teaks the historian and a group of eccentric pirates can be found at the player's campsite, providing insight into the world and tasks at hand. Boulanger explained that the campsite, and later a player's personal ship inspired by Mass Effect's Normandy, serve as a reminder of the player's progress whenever they take a break from the game.

Once acquired, this ship greatly expands the game both in terms of narrative and gameplay, according to Boulanger. It allows players to revisit previous locations using new traversal tools, pursue legends of the archipelago such as the castle of the enigmatic Watchmaker, and serves as a personal sanctuary where players can relax with music discovered throughout the world.

Where the Solstice Warriors will explore, at that point, is entirely in the hands of the player.

Sea of Stars is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.