Matthew

Lore & Background

In the sprawling, technologically layered world of Noh-Hen, Matthew stands apart from the older, battle-hardened members of the party. He is a child caught up in an adventure far beyond his years, joining the group during their early travels across the planet's varied biomes. His inclusion in the party is not merely a gameplay choice but a narrative one: he represents the civilian, the innocent, the one for whom the stakes of the conflict are most personal and most terrifying.

Throughout the story, Matthew's interactions with the other characters—whether sharing a campfire meal, asking questions no one else thinks to ask, or reacting with genuine fear to the dangers they face—serve as emotional anchors. In a game that deals with themes of war, political intrigue, and existential threat, his youth is a constant reminder of what is at risk. He does not carry the weight of leadership or the burden of a dark past; he simply wants to understand the world and stay safe, and that simplicity cuts through the complexity of the plot.

As a playable character, Matthew offers a distinct combat identity within the party's roster, giving players a different tactical option while keeping the narrative focus on the group's collective journey. His story arc, woven into the broader plot of Star Ocean: The Second Story, reinforces the game's central theme: that protecting the future means protecting the young.

In Their Own Story

The campfire crackled and spat orange sparks into the violet dusk. Matthew sat cross-legged on a flat stone, his knees pulled up, watching the twin moons of Noh-Hen creep above the ridge. The others were already dozing—Milla's breathing slow and steady, Mark's hand resting on his blade out of habit. Matthew wasn't sleepy. He was counting the stars, or trying to. Every time he reached forty, a shooting star or a drifting spore-light would split his count and he'd start over, grinning at the small failure.

"You're not tired?" someone mumbled, half-asleep.

"Yeah," Matthew said, and then, quieter, to no one in particular: "I just want to see the whole sky before we leave."

No one answered. The fire popped. The moons kept climbing. And Matthew, for one more night, was just a kid watching the world turn, safe in the circle of people who had chosen to walk beside him.

Reader's Guide

Matthew debuts in Star Ocean: The Second Story (1998, Sega Saturn) as a young boy who joins the main party during their early travels across the planet Noh-Hen. Within the group he fills the role of the youngest member, a civilian drawn into a conflict larger than himself. His presence balances the more seasoned, battle-worn companions and gives the party a lighter, more curious emotional register.

Personality-wise, Matthew reads as earnest, curious, and a little wide-eyed. He asks the questions the older party members stop asking, reacts with genuine surprise to the wonders and terrors of Noh-Hen, and carries a child's directness that can disarm even the most hardened characters around him. He is not defined by trauma or a hidden mission; his motivation is simply to understand, to belong, and to keep the people he cares about safe.

In combat, Matthew provides a distinct tactical option within the party's roster. As a younger, smaller fighter, his kit leans toward agility and a different weapon class than the heavier-hitting members, letting players mix up their approach in the game's turn-based and real-time combat systems. He is not the party's primary damage dealer, but his utility and the way his abilities slot into the group's rotation make him a viable and fun choice for players who enjoy a lighter, quicker playstyle.

For players building a party, Matthew is a good pick if you want variety in weapon types and a character whose story interactions add warmth to the game's more serious plot threads. He rewards players who enjoy the narrative as much as the mechanics.

Did You Know?

• Matthew is one of the youngest playable characters in the Star Ocean: The Second Story party, standing out in a group of otherwise older, battle-experienced adventurers.
• The game's setting, the planet Noh-Hen, features a blend of alien natural landscapes and advanced technology, and Matthew's story takes place across this diverse world.
• Star Ocean: The Second Story (1998) was developed by Tri-Ace and published by Enix for the Sega Saturn, and Matthew is part of its ensemble-cast party system where players can swap members in and out.
• The game's party system allows up to three active members at a time, meaning Matthew's inclusion in your active trio changes the tactical and narrative dynamics of each encounter.