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Phantasy Star Universe - Story driven single player and online! (Xbox 360, PS2, PC)


Romier S

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Phantasy Star Universe is being developed for both the Playstation 2 and Windows PC. Both versions are due in February of 2006. No word on an Xbox or Gamecube version unfortunately. :( For fans of Phantasy Star that could not find themselves interested in Phantasy Star Online, PSU looks like the answer to your woes!

 

The game returns to the series roots with an estimated 40 hour, story driven adventure. The game will follows a 17 year-old military cadet named Ethan Waber, a man that's determined to rescue his kidnapped sister from a mysterious life force known as THE SEED.

 

PSU will also support an online multiplayer mode that is akin to a full on MMORPG! Take a read:

 

In the online portion of the game, players will be able to create a completely separate character from scratch and choose their appearance from a healthy selection of unusual alien races. Hundreds of human-controlled characters will populate the screen at once, and three entirely different planets from the Grarl solar system can be explored. Additional features include 15 gigantic bosses, a massive overworld with more than 20 different dungeons, and a squad-based team-up option for users who don't want to go adventuring alone. There are even player-controlled vehicles that eliminate the need to travel by foot and a plan to include additional downloadable content for several years.

 

The full report can be read here .

 

Here are a few screenies to whet your appetites:

 

psu.jpg

psu2.jpg

psu3.jpg

psu4.jpg

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I'm pretty sure I read that this will stay a PS2 exclusive, unfortunately. Hopefully they'll include voice chat at least.

 

I hope this doesn't end up being like Norrath Return to Arms where we re playing it saying "This is so fun but the connection interface sucks> Damn, I wish this were on the Xbox."

 

It does look rather tasty, and with several years worth of content supposedly being planned, I'm down with it.

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I hope this doesn't end up being like Norrath Return to Arms where we re playing it saying "This is so fun but the connection interface sucks> Damn, I wish this were on the Xbox."

 

I'll be getting the PC version for that very reason. I hope Sega allows both PC and PS2 players to play together. That would be nice ala FFXI.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

Hank, you know I'm down for this version, being the PSO whore that I am... :D

 

Anyways, any of guys jumping on PSO Blue Burst now that the Beta is over? I am toying with the idea of jumping online but my current bad habit, FFXI, has a very strong grip on my free time.

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  • 2 months later...

A new interview with one of the main devs on the game. They cover the possibilities of an X360 release as well as how the games combat and lobby system works. Sound really, really damn good! Having a full offline game to play through and that allows us to return to the Phantasy Star universe is HUGE to me as well.

 

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/650/650101p1.html

 

IGN: How many people can exist in this world at the same time?

 

Miyoshi: Somewhere around 100.

 

 

IGN: And then you'll have separate servers, of course...

 

Miyoshi: There will actually likely be more than 100 because the city itself will be divided into divisions or sections -- you know, different floors.

 

 

IGN: Floors? So can you take an escalator or an elevator or something to go between these floors?

 

Miyoshi: There are both escalators and elevators.

 

 

IGN: Are the floors different servers and the escalators and elevators jump between them?

 

Miyoshi: The floors, escalators and elevators stay on the same server. There's another terminal that allows you to jump to a separate server.

 

Each floor has its own function. The first floor will have people hanging out, like a park area. The second floor is structured more like an airport, with transportation. Third floor will have shops. The fourth floor will be the guardian headquarters. Guardians, by the way, are the main group that your character joins.

 

IGN: Can you go into depth about the duel wielding system and the combat system in general?

 

Miyoshi: The biggest difference between PSO and PSU in combat style is the duel wielding system. You can now carry a gun in one hand and a sword in the other. This adds another layer to the strategy element. For PSO we used an Action Palette. In PSU, we have taken the Action Palette into each individual weapon so that each weapon has its own palette system through which you can improve the weapon as you play.

 

 

IGN: We assume combos feature heavily in the game...

 

Miyoshi: In PSO, you could have up to a three hit combo. In PSU, you can build your character to master up to six hits.

 

 

IGN: Can you use different weapons in mid combo?

 

Miyoshi: You can't change weapons during combos.

 

 

IGN: What's the deal with SUV weapons and Nanoblasts?

 

Miyoshi: I can't talk too much in detail about that at this point, but SUV weapons are a type of race that exists in the PSU world. Nanoblast is a part of the beast race, within the four races that exist in PSU. Nanoblast allows beasts to transform.

 

IGN: What kind of structure does the Offline mode have? Does it play out like a real RPG or is it mission based?

 

Miyoshi: The structure of the Offline mode is story based. We placed an emphasis on the story element of the Offline RPG. For a good RPG, story is an essential element. We basically went back to the roots of what makes a good RPG and wanted to create a solid, strong Offline RPG as a foundation and add the Online mode after that. To be honest, that was lacking in PSO. It had a great, fun multiplayer Online mode, but the story element was lacking for it to be considered a classic RPG.

 

 

IGN: Do you travel around from town to town and go through dungeons and what not, just like in the old Phantasy Star games?

 

Miyoshi: Not just towns, but the scale takes place in the universe, so you get to travel between planets -- it's really big.

 

 

IGN: And, of course, you've revealed that the planetary system is new.

 

Miyoshi: It's brand new, although we've taken the concept from the original Phantasy Star of having three planets. The idea of the number of planets came from the original Phantasy Star, although for PSU, we've also added Guardian's Colony, which is like a planet of its own. In reality, there are four worlds that you can travel to.

 

 

IGN: Does the Offline mode have a level-like structure? Can you go back to older dungeons once you've cleared them?

 

Miyoshi: The basic story mode doesn't have that kind of style, but we are making it so that the player has a lot of freedom without getting side tracked from the main story, as we really want the users to experience the story. We have yet to decide the details of the game modes yet, but it's not the case that you definitely won't be able to do that [replay older dungeons].

 

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  • 2 months later...

Some new screens for Phantasy Star Universe:

 

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Large montage screenshot here:

 

Phantasy Star Universe Montage

 

Also, here's two videos showing off the games new lobby, character creation, and online emotes. As well as the how battles will play out in both the online and offline game.

 

Battle Video

 

Network Video

 

Looks pretty damn spiffy! Could we see the return of story driven Phantasy Star here?

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  • 2 months later...

Jeux-France has some new screenshots of the games internet lobbies.

 

http://www.jeux-france.com/news14332_phantasy-star-universe-entre-amis.html

 

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God I want it. I wish it were seeing an Xbox release for the online portion as well as a PS2/PC release. Either way, I'll be picking up the PS2 version without a doubt.

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  • 2 months later...

HELL YES! :rock

 

http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2006/4/19-40

 

SEGA of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that Phantasy Star Universe will be available on the Xbox 360. Scheduled for release in Fall 2006, the highly-anticipated role playing game (RPG) will release on multiple platforms including the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and PC. Phantasy Star Universe offers two complete RPG experiences – a single-player action adventure spanning multiple planets, and a robust online multiplayer component that will support Xbox Live.

 

Since its humble beginnings in 1988, Phantasy Star has revolutionized the RPG genre by creating new standards through innovative gameplay and online capability. Phantasy Star Universe offers a compelling story, both offline and online, that rebuilds the foundation of role-playing games with stunning cut scenes, sharply drawn personalities, and a cohesive narrative. This game revitalizes the Phantasy Star brand heritage while staying true to its roots.

 

"The reinvigoration of this beloved franchise on the Xbox 360 signifies another step for SEGA towards next-gen leadership," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Entertainment Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "Phantasy Star has a rich history, and now with Phantasy Star Universe in support of the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, gamers can enjoy a fantasy role-playing experience of unprecedented depth both online with their friends, and offline in the robust single-player game."

 

Developed by SEGA Studios, Phantasy Star Universe offers long-time fans the single-player experience they have been clamoring for. The solo adventure features more than 40 hours of gameplay, an emotionally engaging story, stunning cut scenes, and a strong cast of characters with very distinctive personalities. The title's hero is Ethan Waber, a 17-year old cadet who begins his epic journey by first rescuing his sister at the GUARDIANS, a colony under siege by mysterious life forms known as THE SEED.

 

In Online Mode, players are given the opportunity to create their own characters from a range of races, as they explore all three planets in the Gurhal system. Fans can travel with their friends as a squad of six adventurers, enter urban sprawls teeming with hundreds of other players, and build their avatars into powerful warriors.

 

Features:

 

-Epic Story: Phantasy Star Universe offers a suspenseful single player adventure that fans have been clamoring for.

-Phantasy Star Brand Heritage: Since 1988, the franchise has evolved, and produced seven series to date – building itself as one of the most well established RPG franchises.

-Real-time battles where players choose their own strategies: Choose from over 200 weapon variations in over 20 weapon categories for melee, technique, or ranged-type combat. Players can also select numerous Photon Arts to defeat enemies.

-World Class Score: Soundtrack produced by premier orchestras and vocals from Poland, Hollywood, and New York.

Online Gameplay: Offering the Best of Both Worlds

-Multiplayer: Create a squad of up to six players to explore the universe and conquer quests.

-Endless gameplay: In addition to over 40 hours of offline gameplay, gamers can spend endless hours online customizing characters, searching for rare items, leveling up, and joining friends for exhilarating new quests.

-Variety in transportation: Player-controlled vehicles offer a new type of gameplay for the Phantasy Star franchise.

-Character Customization: Go beyond standard customization for your character with precise measurements, an endless color palette, and outlandish outfits.

-Massive enemies: Over 20 unique enemy species, totaling over 200 enemy variation

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