Star Ocean - First Departure Difficulties PSP

Star Ocean: First Departure Difficulties
Star Ocean: First Departure Difficulties
General
Author	Tzepish (Blaine Higdon)
Type	Game Hacks
Version	1.05
License	Mixed
Last Updated	2009/03/29
Links
	Download
	Website

This hack enables the Galaxy and Universe difficulty modes in Star Ocean: First Departure. Those difficulty modes were dummied out of the game, but still existed in the game’s code. Load from one of the save files included in this hack to start a new game on one of the higher difficulty settings.

Unlike most PSP hacks, this one is playable even on an unmodified PSP. This is because the hack lives in a save file, not in a patch,

Installation

Game information
Title	Star Ocean: First Departure
Region	USA

ROM information
ROM format	UMD, ISO
Serial	ULUS-10374

Patch files:

ULUS10374SO10027 - 1st save folder (Difficulty = Earth/Normal).
ULUS10374SO10028 - 2nd save folder (Difficulty = Galaxy/Hard).
ULUS10374SO10029 - 3rd save folder (Difficulty = Universe/Very Hard).

Copy these folders to your /PSP/SAVEDATA/ directory on your Memory Stick.

User guide

These save files allow you to access the Galaxy and Universe difficulty modes.

The higher difficulties were dummied out of the game, and there's no normal way to select them without using custom PSP firmware and cheat programs. To address this limitation, these files enable starting a new game on a higher difficulty without cheats or Custom Firmware.

Instead of starting a New Game, simply load from the file that corresponds to the difficulty you wish to play:

Slot 28 - Earth mode (Difficulty = Normal = Default).
Slot 29 - Galaxy mode (Difficulty = Hard = 150% Enemy Stats).
Slot 30 - Universe mode (Difficulty = Very Hard = 200% Enemy Stats).

Since Roddick's starting Talents are normally determined randomly, they have been blanked in these saves (he has no Talents). The Earth mode save exists just in case you want to start an Earth mode game with zero Talents on Roddick.

Also, you start the game with the Ocarina. This item does nothing, except you need it to recruit Pericci and it's missable. To eliminate the need of unnecessarily missable items, it has been included in the starting inventory.

It is recommended keeping these three saves in the bottom slots (in case you want to start new games from them in the future), and saving the games that you start from them in different slots.

FAQ

Q. Why are these files made?

I'm on a constant quest to make the games I love more fun and convenient to play, as well as extending their lifespans. I wanted more people to have access to the higher difficulties than just the people with custom firmware that know how to use CWCheat. It's hard for me to imagine why the developers thought removing Galaxy and Universe mode was a good idea - I wanted to undo their mistake. So here you go: with these saves, you may now play through this game on higher difficulties, just like Star Oceans 2 and 3.

Q. How are theses files made?

Started a New Game.
Activated the CWCheat code that blanks Roddick's Talents.
Activated the Debug Menu code and added the Ocarina to the inventory.
Activated the Save Anywhere code to save the game to slot 28.
Activated the Galaxy difficulty code and saved to slot 29.
Activated the Universe difficulty code and saved to slot 30.
Used MS Paint to modify the save icons.

Q. Is using these files considered "cheating"?

Arguably, starting with the blank Talents is something that was possible anyway - using these files simply saves you the time of constantly rerolling them. If you want, though, you could waste Skill Points by using them on skills before training the Determination skill.

Starting with the Ocarina does nothing to make the game easier - it's simply a safety in case you forget to grab the Ocarina in Portmith after you rescue Pericci.

I would say that you shouldn't be considered a cheater if you use my saves. Just play the game!