How to Recruit All Characters in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

Leave no stone unturned and no companion unrecruited. Here’s how to recruit Star Ocean Second Story R missable characters.

How to Recruit All Characters in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

You know you’re in a Star Ocean game when there are around a dozen colorful companions to recruit. And, while you’ll unlock most of them by just completing the campaign, there are a handful that you’ll need to jump through a few hoops to secure. Let’s dive right in.

How to Recruit Celine in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

The beautiful treasure hunter from Marze, Celine, is a companion you’ll encounter very early in the game. She’ll temporarily join you in Krosse Cave. And, after you leave Krosse Cave, Celine will offer to join you permanently.

How to Recruit Ashton in Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Missable)

It’s well worth noting that by choosing to recruit Ashton, you won’t be able to recruit Opera. And if you don’t have Opera, you won’t be able to recruit Ernest. Unfortunately, it’s one or the other.

If you choose to recruit Ashton, you’ll need to progress your story until you encounter rumors regarding dragons in the Salva Mines while in Harley.

Enter the mines and search out the dragons. Eventually, you’ll find Ashton fighting them. You’ll get an interesting interaction where your character distracts Ashton, leading to the dragons fusing into his back. After this, Ashton will blame you and demand you take responsibility.

Do so, and you’ll have this three-headed swordsman as a permanent companion.

How to Recruit Opera in Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Missable)

If you opt to recruit Opera, you won’t be able to recruit Ashton.

To encounter Opera, you’ll need to advance the story until you’ve completed the tournament in Lacuer. Then, go to Hilton and enter the bar. There, you’ll meet Opera. After you see her cutscene, go to Krosse Castle. Speak to the receptionist to get an audience with the king. Then, speak to the king.

This will grant you access to the Mountain Palace. Follow the quest markers inside the dungeon and you’ll encounter Opera again. She’ll offer to join your party, as she really needs help. Agree to have her join, then take her to the laboratory in the Mountain Palace to cement her place in the party.

How to Recruit Ernest in Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Missable)

You can’t recruit Ernest unless you recruited Opera.

You must finish Opera’s side quest to find Ernest. Refer to the section above to see how to recruit Opera.

Once you have Opera in your party and after you’ve found the laboratory in the Mountain Palace, travel to the Sacred Forest. You’ll find Opera’s crashed ship. Continue the story as normal until you reach the Hoffman Ruins.

Just by the entrance of the ruins, you’ll get a cut scene that introduces Ernest. This will only happen if you went to the Sacred Forest and found Opera’s ship. You’ll then be able to choose to have both join your party. They come as a set, so you must take both Opera and Ernest. Otherwise, they’ll both leave.

If you just want Opera, don’t go to the Sacred Forest. This will keep a slot open for later companions.

How to Recruit Precis in Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Missable)

By recruiting Precis, you’ll lock yourself out of getting Bowman.

Precis is an engineer that excels in close-range combat and synergizes well with Ashton. And to get her, you’ll need to go to Linga and complete a series of Private Actions involving Precis and her father. Once you complete them, Precis will offer to join you.

How to Recruit Welch in Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Missable)

To recruit Welch, you must have at least four people in your party and haven’t reached Bowman’s house.

If you’ve hit those requirements, to recruit Welch you’ll need to complete the tournament in Lacuer City. Enter PA mode and head towards the castle in Lacuer City. Welch will then fall on you and demand to be added to your team. She’ll be quite persistent. So, if you don’t want her, you’ll need to reject her several times.

How to Recruit Bowman in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

By recruiting Bowman, you’ll lock yourself out of getting Precis.

Bowman is a pharmacist in the town of Linga who specializes in close combat. To recruit Bowman, all you have to do is complete the story as normal and choose not to recruit Precis. He’ll offer to join automatically after you finish the segment where you acquire the herbs he requests and after you meet Keith.

How to Recruit Dias in Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Missable)

You can only recruit Dias if you choose Rena as your main character.

Advance the story as normal until you reach Lacuer Front Line. Head into the Lacuer Front Line base and go up the stairs to the second floor. Turn left and go down the corridor until you reach its end. Enter the very last room on the left. You’ll get a cutscene. After the event, leave the base and you’ll find Dias near the door looking out towards the waterfall.

Speak to him and ask him to fight with you to get him to join your party.  

How to Recruit Leon in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

You can only recruit Dias if you choose Claude as your main character.

Who doesn’t want a catboy in their party? Though his appeal is tempered by his personality. You’ll encounter Leon as you’re on your way to Hoffman Ruins. However, his presence is temporary.

To get Leon to join your party permanently, you’ll be given the chance to recruit him once you arrive on the continent of Ell during the main questline.  

How to Recruit Chisato in Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Missable)

Chisato is an easy to miss companion who happens to pack quite the punch. To get her, progress the story until you reach The Centropolis of Nede. Once you exit the city hall, turn left. You’ll encounter Chisato for the first time.

Go to the North City, which you’ll wind up going to as part of the main quest, anyway. Head to the item shop, where you’ll encounter Chisato again.

Continue the story until you reach the Cave of Crimson Crystals. Once you enter, go immediately right and follow the winding path. Take the short steps left at the end of the path, then follow it straight. You’ll get a time-limited event where you’ll see Chisato fall. She’ll also drop her ID. To recruit her, you must recover this ID. The ID is located where Chisato fell. To get to it, backtrack to where the steps you took are. But don’t go up them. Instead, head north and follow the trail straight until you reach the spot where Chisato was. Pick up the ID.

Complete the Cave of Crimson Crystals and return to the city hall of Centropolis. Go upstairs to the second floor. Head into the office section. Chisato works here, and you can return the ID to her. Once you give her the ID, you can recruit Chisato, so long as you don’t already have eight members in your party.  

How to Recruit Noel in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

Noel is a zoologist who’s there to ensure you have a full team. That is to say, he’ll join your party so long as you don’t have more than seven members in your team.

If you have seven or fewer members in your party, Noel will offer to join you after you complete the Cavern of Crimson Crystals.

All Missable Characters in Star Ocean: The Second Story R

In summary, here are all of the Star Ocean Second Story R missable characters you can find in the game.

• Ashton.
• Precis.
• Welch.
• Bowman.
• Opera.
• Ernest
• Chisato

We hope you enjoyed our guide on Star Ocean The Second Story R’s missable characters. Be sure to check out our other Star Ocean articles, such as our review on the game here.