The following is a guide for new players in the year 2019 interested in speedrunning Star Ocean: The Second Story. The game is rich in content and fertile ground for theory crafting.

The current world record is held by mochigome2525 (hereinafter “mochigome” or “mg”), and DriftingSkies (“DS”) and GearlessRobot (“GR”) hold second and third places respectively. The time gap between mg and the others is formidable, by both official and true measure roughly six minutes (differences between official and actual playtime are discussed at the end of this guide). The gap between mg and all other speedrunners is attributable to extremely fast deployment each time of the no-encounter glitch, the possible use of a turbo-fire controller, somewhat more optimized use of the no-encounter glitch, and the use of an arguably more efficient party.

The last reason should raise eyebrows. In fact, considering that he or she uses a final party of Claude, Rena, Leon, and Noel (!), mg’s playstyle is so divergent from accepted optimal strategy that I cannot address the run in sufficient detail here. Examination of the run will be introduced in later updates to this document.

===== ===== ===== How this guide is organized

This guide runs through the current speedrun strategy using GR and DS as major references, and mg as a minor reference.

I have adopted the time splits of GR for this guide, which I found most efficient to work with. That being said, his splits are not mirrored exactly by DS and mg, so their times are not always listed.

===== ===== ===== Future exploration

I earlier wrote that Star Ocean: The Second Story is ripe for study. As far as I can tell, there are several starting points for players interested in optimizing this run:

1. More efficient use of item and skill shopping to avoid redundant visits.
2. Review of the game’s number generation. We know that the game uses the subtractive method to generate “random” numbers, not the more popular linear congruential method. While players can discover their numerical position through abusing the Talent Oracle, it is a highly inefficient technique. Several questions here may be posed. Is there a better method than Oracle to find one’s number? What things do and do not change one’s RNG? If we can learn to efficiently manipulate RNG, we open up a new avenue in speedrunning this game such as immediate item customization, certain pickpocketing, and perhaps location warping.
3. Whether we can glitch through the energy field surrounding Energy Nede and blocking the player from Fienal. GR said he did once but froze, and he wants to keep looking into it.

===== ===== ===== Preliminary notes

1. Rainbow Diamond raises Specialty level by 1 up to (but not beyond) 10. They stack.
2. Once Rena learns Growth, switch Might Chain to Meteor Ring
3. GearlessRobot starts his timer upon hitting ‘New Game’ while other speedrunners start upon concluding the initial settings. 4. This means that GR’s true time is about 2 seconds faster than indicated.
4. This guide does not attempt to list every point you should use the no-encounter glitch.

===== ===== ===== * * * ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== ==== GUIDE === ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== * * * ===== ===== =====

Game start GR0:00 / DS0:00 / mg0:00

Upon gaining control of Claude:

1. Check Talents. mochigome got Originality, Dexterity, Sense of Design, and Writing Ability, which DS later said was best or second best roll. You have to learn Pitch, Rhythm and Love of Animals. In his best run, DS got Originality, Sense of Design, and Love of Animals. Not knowing Originality or Writing Ability might make the roll slightly better for the 100SP bonus. If you know more than 5 Talents, you should restart because you won’t get enough SP in bonuses later.
2. Set Formation to Free-For-All.
3. (Optional) Set Target to Auto and movement to D-Pad. This is done by GR but not DS or mg.
4. Set Text to 1.

Gark GR5:41 / DS5:34 / mg5:37

After extensive playtesting of this segment, the twenty second difference in time can be traced to two primary causes: first, mochigome does not use the no-encounter glitch running between Arlia and Salva, which is unnecessary as the chance of a battle when run along an ideal pathway between those villages is vanishingly small; second, mochigome’s inputs in dialogue are simply faster. To the second point, most players believe mochigome used a turbo-controller to rapidly proceed through dialogue.

Arlia

1. Go directly to Rena’s house.
2. Enter the church.
3. Return to Rena’s house.
4. After Dinner 4a. Enter Rena’s room, return to bedroom, then exit. 4b. Don’t open chests.

Salva

1. Talk to the butler at stairs and leave
2. (Optional) DS collects Portrait B from the chest upstairs.
3. Leave for Arlia then return to Allen’s house

Allen’s dungeon

1. Take the top left turn. Do no encounter glitch. Seems fastest.
2. Switch to Arlia to hit Allen-Tax faster. Sandwich him.

Alen-Tax GR22:19 / DS 22:04 / mg21:58

1. When Claude hears noise in Regis’s house: Go downstairs, outside, to the bridge. Not balcony.
2. Put R1 Killer Move as Air Slash. This can be done at any time before the Heraldry Forest.

Cross castle

1. To audience [You need to talk to two people for trigger:] 1a. Talk to tax receptionist 1b. Talk to man in green hair top right
2. Exit to Celine
3. Buy skill Knowledge 1, Sensibility 1 at the Cross Skill Guild. DS also buys Technique 1. In his speedrunning notes, GR also states buying Technique 1 but this is not followed by him in his PB run.

To Cross Cave there are 2 no-encounter glitches needed

Cross cave

North, North, North Northeast, West, North Northeast Ancient Writings are in upper left; grab nothing else Ancient Writings GR47:03 / DS 46:28 South, Southeast (Optional:) East to grab Triball top chest. Note however that Triball is skipped by mg and DS but taken by GR, yet GR did not use the item in his run. South to exit Accept or reject Celine Accepted by GR and mg but rejected by DS. Clik Proceed to Captain Ketil Make sure you just talk to the girl by the dock to trigger Ketil by warehouse Talk to Captain, exit north for earthquake Hilltop Go up stairs, cutscene, upstairs to Ketil Downstairs to Captain, Exit Mars (If you accepted Celine:) De-equip Celine’s accessories Sell Celine’s accessories; (if you took Portrait B from Salva) sell Portrait B Old Lady Vendor: Buy 6 Flare Bombs (mg bought 8) Elder’s house Go back into Elder’s house and rest Heraldry Forest Mud Boots on Celine’s boots Remove Celine from party Three teams of bandits Get them near you then Flare Bomb them 2x. After extensive playtesting, the most effective and fastest way to lure all three is to head straight into the bottom-most bandit then run straight up until the top-most bandit pursues you, which will drag the bottom and mid bandits with you. You want at least as many Orichalcum as possible from the thieves for Fol later In this segment, mg surprisingly was hit several times by the bandits and had to use 3 Flare Bombs in his third fight. After mud pit go West, West then North East for a fight Before save point go south for Flame Blade chest Flame Blade’s fire-element will double damage to Varmillion who is weak to fire. Equip Flame Blade, bring in Celine, change her strat to Throw Body into Attack so her suicide will anger Claude. Mg does not add Celine. GR believes the small chance for Celine’s death to enrage Claude and thus double his ATK is too valuable to miss. On the other hand, Celine running to Varmillion will make him difficult to hit with Air Slash. Varmillion Air Slash repeatedly (If Celine is in fight:) Run straight up until parallel with Celine and Varmillion so that your Air Slashes are sure to strike Varmillion. For your study, consult DS’s run, who ran a shockingly good fight. Varmillion GR1:11:04 / DS 1:09:15 / mg1:09:35 Mars Upon gaining control of Claude, try to exit. Spend the night and then exit. Go to Herlie, leave by ship. Hilton buy Sensibility 2, Technique 2 Lacour Register, top receptionist Register with Furlong, second shop from left. He has best weapon, and armor is useless cause you’ll still get one-shot Shop: Buy 10 Mandrake, 15 Attack Vial, 5 Cure Paralysis Mg buys 5 Cure Stone and 20 Pet Food as well and uses Familiar (Perseverance 10, Whistling 1, Familiar 1) until he learns Love of Animals. Sell all Talisman, Orichalcum, Pin Heels, Sapphire Skill buy Sensibility 3, Combat 1, Combat 2 Gearless was only able to buy Sens3, Com1, and said he’d buy Combat 2 later cause he couldn’t afford it. (DS:) Claude Perseverance 10, Kitchen Knife 4, Scientific Ability leftover skill points. This gives you about a 100 boost to ATK. Stay at hotel Tournament Pick up weapon Training room, talk to 4 people Fight 1, normal hits Run to the back center for Celine or lookalike Fight 2, Air Slash - should be at about 40-50 MP after - MG uses double hit attack with x Fight 3, Air Slash - may have to use Blackberries Run to the back center for Rena Dias fight - run up and die Post-tournament Leave - Collect winnings from Furlong, collect Sharp Edge from Gamgee Sharp Edge GR1:42:20 / DS 1:38:52 Leave Lacour Linga After Precis cutscene, enter Keith’s house Enter Bowman’s pharmacy Linga Sanctuary Go north, path 3 (2nd from eastmost) to chest below for Might Chain Take bridge west to screen, head North Take stairs down and pass herb. South to next herb, Clarisage. Clarisage GR1:49:03 / DS1:45:39 Open chest for Rainbow Diamond Return North and up stairs, then South and back across bridge and South to exit Linga Skill Shop, buy Technique 3 & Knowledge 3 Talk to Bowman, go to Keith When you gain control of Claude, go upstairs and talk to Bowman, add him. Go to Co-op Bowman, Perseverance to 10, Whistling to 1, Animal Training to 1 Buy Reference Book, Pet Food 20x Bowman use Familiar (Under Specialty) to Call Bird until he learns Love of Animals Bowman, Playfulness to 10, Kitchen Knife 4, Scientific Ability 4, Functionality 4, Feint 3 Buy Bandit’s Glove Lacour Enter castle, talk to Gamgee for Plate Mail, go to research lab Hilton Buy Combat 2 if you didn’t already You have to things you need to do, first get 200 SP learned from Talents and to craft a Berserk Ring from Metalwork. Buy 20 Ruby Dexterity Buy 20 Iron Claude Metalwork lvl 5: Perseverance to 10, Craft to 7, Esthetic Sense to 2, Mineraology to 8. Claude Metalwork Iron.

Music Instrument to 4, Musical Notation to 4, Courage 5, Poker Face to 5, Kitchen Knife 4, Scientific Ability 5, Functionality 3, Mental Training 5, Feint 2 Pitch Buy 1 Harmonica, 20 Feather Pens, 20 Conductor Baton’s Equip Rainbow Diamond Compose with Harmonica until Strains of Loneliness is composed Play Strains of Loneliness until he learns

Poker Face 7, Courage 9 Metalwork Ruby for Berserk Ring Claude equip Berserk Ring and Might Chain Buy max Blackberry, Blueberry, about 6 Cure Paralysis and 7 or so Resurrection Bottles Alphabetize items for faster finding Equip Leon Reference Book No need to no encounter glitch on way to Hoffman Ruins Hoffman Ruins From ruins elevator, head South South center, South around boxes, Southwest exit South center, South west, Up and center to save point Save, trade Celine for Leon, change Leon to Throw Body Into Attack Harfainxes Each Harfainx needs about 10 hits from Claude Claude Attack Vial Bowman on one, Claude and Leon sandwich Resurrect dead except Leon, use Blueberries for faster healing Harfainx GR2:13:34 / DS2:08:29 / mg2:09:03 No need to no encounter glitch when leaving the Harfainx room, go South west Rena turn off Cure All Go back the way you came Return to ship Lacour Throne Room Front Lines. Store buy 3 Green Beryl, helps you survive Shin’s Foehn Claude Might Chain → Green Beryl; turn off Equipment Wizard Bowman, Rena Green Beryl Equip Captain’s room Find Dias in front of waterfall Rena at the front lines Talk to left guard at waterfall, two guards at store, ascend stairs Shin - survive 1 min., if you can get him to block your attack Foehn will be interrupted. QUESTION: CAN YOU OPEN THE MENU ON SHIN AND THE TIMER STILL RUNS? The timer runs when hourglass enemies cast Dream Peace Shin 1 GR2:28:36 / DS2:23:45 / mg2:23:43 When gain control of Claude, equip Green Beryl → Might Chain , then South Shin 2 GR2:37:03 / DS2:31:45 / mg2:31:54 Eluria village - no encounter glitch not needed Add Leon - careful because the default is to reject him Enter armory then try to exit for ID Card, buy about 4 Resurrection Bottles or so Eluria Tower Up to chests: center front Meteor Ring, Far back right Stone Check, up left stairs Left room for Crestier Guard, Musical Software North then elevator GR - Right path going east north to elevator, left to elevator to the priest. DS takes the left path to the priest - which is faster? Priest: APOCA Left elevator down Far left to elevator up, bottom left red guard spokes Calnus Functionality 5, Metal Casting 5, Poker Face 8, Courage 10 (Playfulness 10 if you have money problems) Equip Bandits Glove, Rainbow Diamond Steal Battle Suit from guard on right door - Shin cannot kill Claude now and Cure Paralysis will fix that problem DS did not successfully steal the item; GR did. Re-equip Berserk Ring and Might Chain Eluria Tower Up elevator Change order to Leon, Claude, Rena, Bowman; designate Claude battle leader under Formation Shin - Bowman’s firebird attack knocks Shin to the ground, so good Claude Attack Vial Sandwich with Claude behind Shin 3 GR2:57:26 / DS2:52:43 / mg2:52:11 Berle - Same timer menu question as Shin; can you make and use an instant death item on Berle in a way that is time-valuable? Disc 1 GR3:02:29 / DS 2:58:01 / mg2:57:14 Exit to North City North City Up first store to shop, buy Lezard Flask, max Iron, max Attack Vials, Violin, max Feather Pen, max Conductor’s Baton, max Spectacles (in case you need to identify) Claude Killer Move Head Splitter Claude Might Chain → Rainbow Diamond Resurrect dead, heal with Blueberries/Blackberries Rena max Perseverance, Mineralogy 9, Scientific Ability 7, Fairyology 5 (Optional) Claude can raise Music Instrument and Musical Notation up a level Claude compose Violin for Hail the Goddess Claude Perform Hail the Goddess Claude de-equip Rainbow Diamond, Rena equip Rainbow Diamond Rena alchemy 2 Mithril, 1 Rainbow Diamond. Continue to play Hail the Goddess (Optional) If Identify: Bowman Esthetic Sense 3, Tool Knowledge 7, Mineralogy 8 Bowman Identify item (Optional) If Identify not needed: Bowman Functionality 7 Claude equip 2 Rainbow Diamond Claude Hail to the Goddess Claude Customize Mithril + Sharp Edge → Minus Sword; Minus Sword + Mithril → Eternal Sphere Claude equip Eternal Sphere Claude equip Berserk Ring, Might Chain Enter Synard Research Lab Talk to receptionist, enter office Synard, run behind then Head Splitter Synard GR3:18:37 / DS3:17:03 / mg3:14:03 Cave of the Red Crystal Replacement: Battle order Claude Bowman Leon Rena ; Formation: make Claude battle leader North on left side, South on east side Arcmene Claude Attack Vial, mash X Arcmene GR3:25:29 / DS3:23:16 / mg3:20:48 Reject Noel Fun City Claude equip Bandit’s Glove and Rainbow Diamond Save Steal Bunny Shoes from Bunny Claude equip Bunny Shoes Central City Shop top left of screen buy max Resurrection Bottles Talk to Narl Field of Power - GR says cause it’s closest but it’s not that important between this and Courage Path second from right going up Cave right Gorilla fight - Claude Attack Vial Path that wraps around and up to the cave entrance directly above you Cave do an upside down U to the right Go up, cross bridge left, up ladders (first ladder on left) Guardian of Power (Optional) Claude Attack Vial Run Claude behind Guardian and mash X Guardian of Power GR3:35:05 / DS3:35:08 Field of Power - it’s faster to no encounter glitch and exit than avalanche Down ladders, back through U cave, across cave, exit Field of Intelligence Left mirror Yellow pad, switch → yellow pad → left top yellow pad, switch → center mirror → Right mirror Left yellow pad, switch → yellow pad → right yellow pad, switch Center mirror → left mirror Right yellow pad, switch → lower right pad, switch → Treasure chest: Fairy Glass Mirror → Center mirror Claude equip Ripper Blast Killer Move L1, Head Splitter R1 Magic Hand Fairy Glass Claude Attack Vial Run Claude behind the Hand, Claude Ripper Blast behind Hand Magic Hand GR3:45:28 / DS3:44:19 Field of Love - skip chests Hit switch then north to switch Back down and around and up Lover Claude Attack Vial, mash X Lover GR3:50:42 / DS3:49:57 Field of Courage Left side north, left, north, left, grab the statue Right then back immediately to send you back to the beginning Right, Right, Down elevator Guardian of Courage Claude Attack Vial, run behind mash X Guardian of Courage GR3:56:36 / DS3:55:07 / mg3:48:46 Central City Talk to Narl Port to Fienal Tower - no-encounter glitch not necessary Fienal Fight 1 & 2 Mash X Marsilio Switch to Rena and run in to die Marsilio 1 GR4:09:32 / DS4:06:35 / mg4:04:29 Armlock Shop at bottom left Buy Rune Full Moon Skill Shop Buy Combat 3 Claude Functionality 10, Feint 8 , Kitchen Knife 8, Scientific Ability 8, Metal Casting 6 Bowman Kitchen Knife 8, Scientific Ability 5, Functionality 8, Feint 7, Scientific Ability 8 Leon Perseverance 10, Motormouth 7 Rena Motormouth 10, Feint 4, Metal Casting 6, Functionality 5, Kitchen Knife 7 (Why did GR level up Kitchen Knife???) Equip Bowman Rune Full Moon All characters Equipment Wizard on Talk to Narl Nede Weapons Lab Left and up to Narl, Exit to tree Armlock Talk to the weaponsmith Mirage Mihne Cave Keep going up and along the left side Save Bark Claude Attack Vial, Mash X Bark GR4:29:12 / DS4:25:36 / mg4:22:44 You can just glitchless exit Mihne, no enemies Armlock to Mirage Fun City Marsilio Claude Attack Vial, run behind mash X Resurrect as necessary Marsilio 2 GR4:34:26 / DS4:30:17 / mg4:27:39 Once Rena learns Growth, switch Might Chain to Meteor Ring Shigeo Claude Mash X Shigeo GR4:36:25 / DS4:32 / mg4:29:29 Armlock Berle He leads with Meta-Guard so be slow to charge in or be super fast to hit before Claude Attack Vial Rena Growth on Claude Berle GR4:38:34 / DS4:34:06 L’Aqua Commander's room on right Replacement Claude Bowman Leon Rena Formation Tri-Shift 2 Fienal Claude Headsplitter to first guy, Mash X 3 Wise Men GR4:44:50 / DS4:40:29 / mg4:38:09 Into tower, elevator to Floor 2 Floor 2 Right, Up, elevator Floor 3 Up, elevator Floor 4 Up, elevator Floor 5 Up and around Save Formation Free for All Bowman Stone Check, Reverse Doll Leon Reverse Doll Rena Reverse Doll, Protection Ring Vesper Decus Claude Attack Vial mash X Keep fatty sandwiched between you and Leon, resurrect Leon Vesper and Decus GR4:49:35 / DS4:45:36 / mg4:42:38 Floor 6 Right to switch Left, Up, iddle switch, left, left switch back to right, right, left switch, up and right to right switch, left over to switch, back Center switch, follow to door, then right switch and follow rooms Elevator Floor 7 Right and up, up Save and left, left and up Cyril Claude Attack Vial run behind and mash X Cyril GR4:54:16 / DS4:51:51 / mg4:46:37 Right and rup, elevator Floor 8 Up and elevator Floor 9 Over and elevator Floor 8 Down and left, left Save Resurrect Leon disable all spells through to Delay except wounds Rena disable Fairy Heal Leon attack with all MP, Rena Put Self Into Attack Indalecio Claude Headsplitter Rena Attack Vial on Claude Rena Growth on Claude Claude mash X Indalecio GR4:59:42.72 / DS4:57:48.7 / 4:50:52 In reality, GR’s true time was closer to 4:59:40.23, DS’s true time was 4:57:47.6, and mg’s true time was 4:50:51.6.

Here is why: GR starts time when he presses New Game, which means his overall run time here was 2.19 seconds faster than indicated. Additionally, players are also slow to stop time. According to the community-accepted rules for this game, time stops when Indalecio begins exploding. Upon review, I found that DS was slow to stop time and his run was 4:57:47.6; GR’s time was about 4:59:42.42; and mg’s was about 4:50:51.6.