Star Ocean: The Second Story R – How To Recruit Ernest And Opera

Star Ocean: The Second Story R features a vast roster of characters to recruit and find. All the characters have advantages and abilities suited for all playstyles. While not all characters are integral to the story, their personal stories and development help make all versions of Star Ocean: The Second Story stand out as one of the most revered and beloved JRPGs.

There are missable characters that fans will want to recruit, like Opera and Ernest, who come as a pair. However, the couple can only be recruited if players haven’t already recruited Ashton. This guide will highlight the steps for recruiting Ernest and Opera in Star Ocean: The Second Story R.

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How To Recruit Opera In Star Ocean: The Second Story R

As mentioned, Opera is only available to the party if players don’t already have Ashton. As part of the main story in Star Ocean: The Second Story R, she becomes available after Claude fights Dias in the gladiatorial event called the Armory Contest in Lacuer City. However, the quest only becomes available if the party bumps into the three-eyed man – Ernest – in Krosse City during the party’s first visit.

Travel To Hilton

After the fight with Dias, the party must travel to the bar in Hilton. Inside the bar, Opera has defeated a man in a drinking game in exchange for information about an archeologist with three eyes. With the introduction over, the party must go to the next destination.

Visit The King In Krosse Castle

Claude remembers his brief encounter with the three-eyed man in Krosse City on his way to the castle. As a result, the next sub-quest event requires the party to speak to the king at Krosse City.

He informs Claude that in the days prior, he talked to Opera and Ernest and granted the party access to the Mountain Palace.

The Mountain Palace

The Mountain Palace is a dungeon with several dangerous monsters to fight. So, the party must be sufficiently leveled and strong enough to take them on.

Opera is found at the entrance, searching for Ernest. Players must select the dialogue choice “Sounds good to me” in a conversation with Opera.

How To Recruit Ernest In Star Ocean: The Second Story R

Even though Opera has joined the party, her quest to find Ernest continues. Though Opera is in the group, Ernest is still a missable character in Star Ocean: The Second Story R. So, Claude and co. must continue to search the Mountain Palace and find his laboratory.

Ernest’s Lab

Players can head to the western side of the Mountain Palace to find Ernest’s hidden laboratory. There’s a small boss fight around halfway.

Players can head to Claude’s location on the above map to find the lab and trigger another story event with Opera. Either loot the dungeon for treasure chests or use fast travel to leave for the next destination for Ernest’s quest.

The Sacred Forest

Now, the party must travel to the Sacred Forest in Arlia. When the party arrives in the Sacred Forest, they must travel east to find Opera’s crashed spaceship.

After the cutscene, Claude and his friends must continue with the main story until they speak to the King of Laucer, who instructs the party to search the Hoffman Ruins with Leon.

The Hoffman Ruins

After the party has completed the main story quest with Leon in the Hoffman Ruins, the group must return to the entrance where they’ll trigger their first meeting with Ernest. Unfortunately, Ernest is possessed by an evil ghost, and the party must fight and defeat it to free him.

After the fight, Ernest and Opera will be reunited. When the cutscene ends, Claude must ask, “Would you like to travel with us a while longer?” This will cause Ernest and Opera to officially join Claude and Rena, and the player will obtain a trophy for each character.