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star_ocean_fanIt's the year 10 S.D. Humans are looking to space for a new home. Earth's environment has degraded badly enough where people can't live on the surface, and some have taken it upon themselves to enhance the D.N.A. of their children with that of an ancient alien race known as the Muah.
Enter the cast of Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope!
So what does this have to do with Symbological Genetics and Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. Plenty, I think. You see, the whole driving point behind the Last Hope is to save mankind from imminent destruction. Thus is the whole reason for the SRF's mission. No one on Earth has heard of Symbology or seen what it can do until the ships heading for Aeos, all but The Aquila, crash-land on the planet's surface. Of all the surviving crew of the initial impact, only Edge and Reimi are able to go and investigate The Eremia's site, especially after it's "disappeared" from their radars. They can see it, but no one's been in contact with the crew since the crashes. The two reach the site, only to find a survivor in dire physical condition and learn that he destroyed the ship. Upon his death, enter Faize Sheifa Beleth, an Eldarian who can cast Earth-based Symbols - and the first boss fight of the game ensues. Upon returning to the base, which has been constructed in just mere hours or day - depends on how a person wants to view the length of time taken to travel from The Calnus to The Eremia - more Eldarians are met, and Edge comments to Supreme Commander Gaghan that it was like magic, what Faize could do. Thus is how Symbology becomes known for the Star Ocean universe. While it has existed throughout the first three games and the side game, it's the prequel that gets everything going.
Out of all of the playable characters for the Last Hope, only three of them can't cast symbols - Reimi, Bacchus, and Meracle. They're magic point hogs, depending on their tactics set-up, due to their skill sets, but they're the only ones who don't learn Symbols for either healing, support, or offensive purposes. Everyone else, including the first human to ever be blessed with power of Symbology, Edge Maverick, knows a spell or two to get by in and out of battles.
As of right now, I don't know about characters like Ronyx J. Kenny, Claude C. Kenny, or Ilia Silvestri when it comes to whether or not they can cast symbols. If I had to guess, I'd say at least Claude has the ability to cast Symbols if only because that's just how Tri-Ace and Square Enix write the heroes for every game they release. As Ronyx isn't the main hero of the game (that goes to Roddick Farrence, descendant of Eleyna Farrence and Crowe F. Almedio, so it's very likely he can cast Symbols thanks to that), I won't say that he can cast symbols. I need a PSP to find out. :) This also holds true on whether or not Claude can cast - I need a PSP or a copy of the PS1 game to find out. Those who have played please free feel to let me know for sure.
The time span for these games is approximately 762 years, from the starting events of the Last Hope to beginning events of Till the End of Time. One would think that, from the moment Edge Maverick learns that first Symbol, Symbological Genetics would become a new scientific field. Perhaps it does. I learn about these things as I play the games themselves and read through the in-game dictionaries, which can be more informative than the game manuals and strategy guides. (And I don't trust the likes of the Star Ocean wiki or even Wikipedia since some of that can be based on a fan's interpretation of a character or events rather than the actual in-game dictionaries, manuals, and strategy guides. When it comes to character and event interpretation, I've dealt with one egotistical fan to know.) But I'm running on the guess Symbological Genetics doesn't take off as quickly as one might think. The fact that Robert and Ryoko Leingod become pioneers for this field, doing more in their lifetimes than in the last seven hundred years tells me a lot about this particular field.
Now maybe it's because Symbology was a very large grey area for many scientists over the next several centuries, and many debates ensued, not just on Earth but with the races met as space travel continued. I know and realize that there are significant theological, social, economical, and philosophical ramifications for a new field of science, not to mention the scientific aspects of it as well. Symbology could be seen as a "God-given" gift and something that should be accepted as such, not studied. There is at least one book written on Symbology, though, before the events of Till the End of Time, for it's in Robert Leingod's possession (one of his most prized and valuable possessions, no less, not counting his wife and son in this), and perhaps his inspiration for his research as well as a source. Still, it doesn't make sense for it to have taken 700+ years for it to become a field of study or to have the leading authorities on it the way that Robert and Ryoko have become. And, in the game, they're not only the leading authorities, but pioneers.
Of course, this is speculation. With the exception of the four games, the timeline is, in fact, quite wide open. Who knows what's really gone on in the "years" between events?
* * * *
ASK THE STAR OCEAN CHARACTER IS NOW TAKING QUESTIONS YET AGAIN! For next week's segment, we'll be speaking with Maria Traydor, leader of Quark and the Captain of The Diplo. All questions must be submitted no later than midnight Eastern Standard Time by Wednesday, April 4, 2012. Again, I am taking questions for Maria Traydor, leader of Quark and the Captain of The Diplo. Limit one question per person unless I indicate otherwise later on.
Thank you!
Friday: Character Study - Sophia Esteed/Ask the Star Ocean Character segment - Sophia Esteed.
Weekend: I'll have access to the computer, but we'll see what topics come up.
Enter the cast of Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope!
So what does this have to do with Symbological Genetics and Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. Plenty, I think. You see, the whole driving point behind the Last Hope is to save mankind from imminent destruction. Thus is the whole reason for the SRF's mission. No one on Earth has heard of Symbology or seen what it can do until the ships heading for Aeos, all but The Aquila, crash-land on the planet's surface. Of all the surviving crew of the initial impact, only Edge and Reimi are able to go and investigate The Eremia's site, especially after it's "disappeared" from their radars. They can see it, but no one's been in contact with the crew since the crashes. The two reach the site, only to find a survivor in dire physical condition and learn that he destroyed the ship. Upon his death, enter Faize Sheifa Beleth, an Eldarian who can cast Earth-based Symbols - and the first boss fight of the game ensues. Upon returning to the base, which has been constructed in just mere hours or day - depends on how a person wants to view the length of time taken to travel from The Calnus to The Eremia - more Eldarians are met, and Edge comments to Supreme Commander Gaghan that it was like magic, what Faize could do. Thus is how Symbology becomes known for the Star Ocean universe. While it has existed throughout the first three games and the side game, it's the prequel that gets everything going.
Out of all of the playable characters for the Last Hope, only three of them can't cast symbols - Reimi, Bacchus, and Meracle. They're magic point hogs, depending on their tactics set-up, due to their skill sets, but they're the only ones who don't learn Symbols for either healing, support, or offensive purposes. Everyone else, including the first human to ever be blessed with power of Symbology, Edge Maverick, knows a spell or two to get by in and out of battles.
As of right now, I don't know about characters like Ronyx J. Kenny, Claude C. Kenny, or Ilia Silvestri when it comes to whether or not they can cast symbols. If I had to guess, I'd say at least Claude has the ability to cast Symbols if only because that's just how Tri-Ace and Square Enix write the heroes for every game they release. As Ronyx isn't the main hero of the game (that goes to Roddick Farrence, descendant of Eleyna Farrence and Crowe F. Almedio, so it's very likely he can cast Symbols thanks to that), I won't say that he can cast symbols. I need a PSP to find out. :) This also holds true on whether or not Claude can cast - I need a PSP or a copy of the PS1 game to find out. Those who have played please free feel to let me know for sure.
The time span for these games is approximately 762 years, from the starting events of the Last Hope to beginning events of Till the End of Time. One would think that, from the moment Edge Maverick learns that first Symbol, Symbological Genetics would become a new scientific field. Perhaps it does. I learn about these things as I play the games themselves and read through the in-game dictionaries, which can be more informative than the game manuals and strategy guides. (And I don't trust the likes of the Star Ocean wiki or even Wikipedia since some of that can be based on a fan's interpretation of a character or events rather than the actual in-game dictionaries, manuals, and strategy guides. When it comes to character and event interpretation, I've dealt with one egotistical fan to know.) But I'm running on the guess Symbological Genetics doesn't take off as quickly as one might think. The fact that Robert and Ryoko Leingod become pioneers for this field, doing more in their lifetimes than in the last seven hundred years tells me a lot about this particular field.
Now maybe it's because Symbology was a very large grey area for many scientists over the next several centuries, and many debates ensued, not just on Earth but with the races met as space travel continued. I know and realize that there are significant theological, social, economical, and philosophical ramifications for a new field of science, not to mention the scientific aspects of it as well. Symbology could be seen as a "God-given" gift and something that should be accepted as such, not studied. There is at least one book written on Symbology, though, before the events of Till the End of Time, for it's in Robert Leingod's possession (one of his most prized and valuable possessions, no less, not counting his wife and son in this), and perhaps his inspiration for his research as well as a source. Still, it doesn't make sense for it to have taken 700+ years for it to become a field of study or to have the leading authorities on it the way that Robert and Ryoko have become. And, in the game, they're not only the leading authorities, but pioneers.
Of course, this is speculation. With the exception of the four games, the timeline is, in fact, quite wide open. Who knows what's really gone on in the "years" between events?
* * * *
ASK THE STAR OCEAN CHARACTER IS NOW TAKING QUESTIONS YET AGAIN! For next week's segment, we'll be speaking with Maria Traydor, leader of Quark and the Captain of The Diplo. All questions must be submitted no later than midnight Eastern Standard Time by Wednesday, April 4, 2012. Again, I am taking questions for Maria Traydor, leader of Quark and the Captain of The Diplo. Limit one question per person unless I indicate otherwise later on.
Thank you!
Friday: Character Study - Sophia Esteed/Ask the Star Ocean Character segment - Sophia Esteed.
Weekend: I'll have access to the computer, but we'll see what topics come up.
