How to recruit every character in Star Ocean The Second Story R (SO2)

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Star Ocean: The Second Story R remains faithful to the original, with its cast of additional characters like Celine, Ashton, Opera, and others to recruit alonꦛg the way. Some of those party members are missable, so study up if you’ve got your heart set on someone.

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Thankfully, quality-of-life features make the RPG’s new version a less frustrating ordeal in 2023. In our Second Story R character guide, I’ll break down who you can miss and what you’ll need to do to gain their favor.

Party members available to Claude and Rena

You’ve got eight slots to fill in your Star Ocean 2 roster, but there are 13 characters. With Claude and Rena situated as party staples, you’re limited to six slots to fill along the way. Some characters, like Ashton and Opera, won’t join you if you’ve already invited someone else. Other party members, like Ernest, come as a pair, while Leon and Dias remain locked to specific story routes.

Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Celine
    • Agree to travel with her to Krosse Cave
    • Joins if you agree in Krosse Cave
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Ashton
    • Cannot be recruited with Opera
    • In Harley, speak to the Traveler at the entrance to learn about the twin-headed dragon
    • Return to the Salva Mines
    • Take the once unavailable left path into the Deep Lair until reaching Ashton
    • Agree to help him with his curse
Opera, as she appears in Star Ocean Second Story R. This is when you first meet her in the bar
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Opera
    • Cannot be recruited with Ashton
    • See the Three Eyed Man cutscene upon reaching Krosse
      • Triggers as Sub Event now, no longer missable Private Action
    • Complete the Armory Contest in Lacuer
    • Return to Hilton and enter the bar to meet Opera
    • Back at Krosse Castle, speak to the King about the Mountain Palace
    • Travel to the Mountain Palace south of Kurik
    • Along the right-most branching path, you’ll meet Opera
    • Agree to let her tag along after reaching the Strange Laboratory
    • Ask her to join a final time after completing the Hoffman Ruins
Star Ocean: The Second Story R's Ernest scene in Krosse City. He is the three-eyed man you bump into.
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Ernest
    • You cannot reject Ernest and keep Opera
    • See the Three Eyed Man cutscene upon reaching Krosse City
    • Recruit Opera in the Mountain Palace
    • Locate the ship in the Sacred Forest
    • After completing the Hoffman Ruins, Ernest meets the party
    • He automatically joins with Opera
Welch, shortly after you meet her in the city. This Private Action shows her yelling at vendors, leaving Claude to intervene
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Welch
    • Complete the Armory Contest and recruit four party members
    • Return to Lacuer and trigger the Private Action on the castle bridge
    • Select the first or second option when prompted
    • Head to the city entrance, trigger the Private Action, and Welch joins you
Bowman in Star Ocean 2, here he's trying to find herbs for a sick girl back in Harley
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Bowman
    • Cannot be recruited with Precis
    • Upon entering Linga, meet Precis and head to the Linguist’s house
    • Visit the Pharmacy to progress the story; do not view Precis’ Private Action
    • Unlock the Sacred Grounds of Linga
    • Return to Linga after locating the rare herbs
    • Ask him to join after he brings the party to Keith’s house
Precis in her Private Action, she explains her dad's interactions after meeting her in Star Ocean Second Story R
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Precis
    • Cannot be recruited with Bowman
    • Upon entering Linga, watch the cutscene with Precis
    • Trigger her limited Private Action by taking the first right in Linga
    • Agree to let her tag along with the party
    • Precis joins as you leave Linga
Noel's last scene in Cave of Crimson Crystals
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Noel
    • Cannot be recruited with Chisato if you’ve reached eight party members
    • Proceed to Noel’s home through the main story
    • Head to the Cave of Crimson Crystals
    • Noel asks to join after the last battle in the cave dungeon
      • Do not accept if you have seven characters and want to recruit Chisato
Chisato in Star Ocean 2 The Second Story R
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Chisato
    • Cannot be recruited with Noel if you’ve reached eight party members
    • Upon reaching Centropolis of Nede, view Chisato’s Sub Event
    • Meet with her again in North City
    • Head to the Cave of Crimson Crystals
    • Pick up her business card after seeing her trip
    • Complete the dungeon, return to Nede
    • Trigger Chisato’s Sub Event on the third floor
    • Accept her offer to join

Claude and Rena exclusive party members

Dias, who can only be recruited here in the Laceur Front Lines while playing as Rena
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Dias
    • Only available by picking Rena
    • Automatically offers to join after The Laceur Front Lines
After the Hoffman Ruins, Leon joins for a bit. However, you have to pick if he stays later on
Screenshot by Destructoid
  • Leon
  • Only available by picking Claude
    • Automatically offers to join after Linga story quest, before Hoffman Ruins
    • Ask him to stay when you arrive at the Elluria Settlement

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Andrea Shearon
Associate Editor - Andrea is Destructoid's own little FFXIV encyclopedia with her hands in a bit of everything. She's been in the games industry for almost seven years, and has a fondness for RPGs, MMOs, farming sims, survival games, and the occasional horror adventure.