Re: Phantasy Star Universe

[Seth Jedan 0]

I'm excited about this game and was wondering if anyone else besides Kaizer is.

[Kaizer 0]

Well, I'm a little less excited now that I know there are going to be online fees for the english servers, but I knew it was a lost cause to hope otherwise  .  As it is now, You gotta wait for the game to come out then sign up at playsega so you can buy a 'Guardian's liscense'.  The fees have been set at $9.99 a month US, and are billed directly to your credit cards.  On the upside, there are little restrictions when it comes to moving around in the servers, and people can even have the same name if they want to (no more Cloud77834503 or Inuyasha893049805  )

 

I'm just happy to be able to get a Phantasy Star game that I can actually take online.  I've got PSO for the PC, but could never get to go online with it.  I can't wait to play online, I'll have to scrounge up members from this site to use in my scurvy pirate crew; it'll be fun, lets all go pillage and plunder from the unsuspecting cyber-masses 

[Roromi 435]

I'm very excited about the game although I'm currently saving my money to get the Wii and twilight princess. I within the year I'll at least try out the game for sure. Seeing as how I'm also waiting for leopard to come out so i can run boot camp to run Windows to run some computer games i.e. phantasy star.

 

But once the dust settles i hope its great lol. I'm also glad they have like 40 hours offline gameplay too or something like that. The only thing i'd love to hear for sure is wether or not you'd be able to play for free with friends in like a local area network or if you have to pay >_> either way as long as its close enough to PSO it should be better than WOW and I'd gladly pay for that

[Kaizer 0]

I don't know what their policy is for LANs, as I think most of the character data and stuff is stored online, so it might be hard to manage over Local Networks.  If anyone knows for sure what their policy is for LANs, then be sure to post and clear up this confusion.

 

Yes, 40+ hours of single player gameplay for the story mode, and an unlockable "extra mode" which allows you to pretty much play the online mode by yourself, taking away another good chunk of your life  .  While we're speaking, what kind of class/race combos do you wanna try out first?  I'm gonna make a RaCast, the Ranger Caster, cause the new SUV weapons look like they'd be fun to use.  Also, I gotta try and remake my old PSO character, the Hunewearl, or Hunter Newman, as she did kick some serious butt when I gave her a partisan to use.

[XxBRICKSTERxX 0]

Never heard of the game?

[Seth Jedan 0]

Great game. I will be useing a RaCast.

[Roromi 435]

I liked playing as a hucast? you know the android people... its been awhile... I loved their traps

[Kaizer 0]

Be prepared for a rant as I reply to Brickster's comment.

 

 

 

Phantasy Star Universe is the latest iteration (curse numerical computing class for messing with my vocabulary  ) of Sega's longest running RPG series.  Phantasy Star has almost always been a mixture between science fiction and fantasy, making use of magic and exotic beings, but explaining them through scientific means and using a futuristic setting.  Ever since Phantasy Star Online was released for the Sega Dreamcast, it has been an addictive offline RPG, but has thrived as an exciting MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), being one of the first well known MMORPGs in existence, as well as one of the first console games to ever feature online play.

 

Phantasy Star Online was remade for the Gamecube and Xbox, along with an updated PC version called Phantasy Star Online, Blue Burst.  There was also a Pseudo-card game version of it called Phantasy Star, C.A.R.D. Revolution (think something like an online version of Kingdom Hearts, Chain of Memories.  At least, thats what I've always thought; I've never played it).  And Phantasy Star Universe follows in the path of PSO and PSO Blue Burst, making it a 3rd person hack and slash RPG.  This meant that you had to actively engage in your battles in comparison to other RPGs, and strategy, character placement, and reflexes took an active role in your success or failure.

 

Phantasy Star Universe is comprised of a 40+ hour single player game, where you take control of a character named Ethan Weber, an unlockable 'extra mode' that lets you play through an open ended single player game with a custom made character (similar to the offline modes of PSO), and the online multiplayer mode.  When Online, you will be able to make a custom character that is all your own, form parties with up to 5 other people, and complete quests as you unlock new lands to explore, search for rare items, and strive to become the strongest player around while learning more and more about the history and storyline of PSU.  Online mode will cost around $9.99 US per month, and PS2 and PC users will pay for it via a billing system set up by Sega, while Xbox360 owners will pay for it through their Xbox live accounts somehow (not being an Xbox 360 owner, I didn't bother to look into it).

 

To me, the beauty of PSO and PSU has always been in the level of customization you have with your characters.  There are a myriad of different weapons, armors and items to find, along with many unique 'rare items', which have abilities far beyond their standard counterparts.  You can also give your character's unique faces, clothing, colorings and proportions, making it nigh on impossible to make an exact copy of another character (unless they tell you their exact proportions and color schemes).  As for character classes, they are somewhat limited, but are still open to a great deal of customisation when you take into account how each race works along with these classes.  Note that unlike in PSO, you will be able to switch classes at any time in the game, similar as to how you could switch classes in Final Fantasy 11.

 

Races:

 

Human: 100% bonafide human, no artificial preservatives added.  Average in all aspects, allowing them to succeed at anything they want, but never excel at any one skill in comparison to the other races.

 

Newman: Genetically modified humans, designed to bring out the full potential of the human mind.  These beings excel in the use of 'Magic', but the genetic modification process has left them weakened physically; as well as generally being shorter and more 'elf-like' in appearance when compared to humans.

 

Cast: Androids, mechanical constructs, robots.  Casts are machinery that have been given an unprecedented level of artificial intellegence, making them as close to human as you can get without actually being one.  Androids are anylitical and precise, allowing them to excel at data processing and anything that recquires concentration, such as ranged combat.  They are also fairly strong and durable, as they are made of stronger parts then the human body is, but their talents in the field of 'magic' is limited.  They are also able to interface with many machines, allowing them to use large scale weaponry for limited periods of time, known as SUV weapons.

 

Beast: A seperate branch of genetically modified humans, Beasts are the polar opposites of Newmans; designed to survive harsh conditions that would be difficult for even specially designed Casts and to survive.  Physical Strength and endurance are their forte, but they lack the same speed and wit of their human counterparts.  They often have animalistic traits, but are still more human than animal in appearance; though it is said that they can transform into a bestial state in times of need.

 

Classes:

 

Hunter: Melee fighter specialists, they are proficient in the use of all close combat weapons large and small, and their strength and endurance reflect that.  They can also act as ranged fighters to a limited extent, but not at the same level as other classes.

 

Ranger: Ranged combat specialists, they could name all 386 seperate parts of a plasma rifle while picking off enemies from a mile away.  rifles, bows, hand guns, if it can shoot things, they can use it.  They can use some melee weapons, though not as well as Hunters.

 

Force:  'Magic' specialists, able to conjur and control the hidden powers of the mind and universe, they are unpredictable and varied in their abilities.  Being able to heal, harm, strengthen allies and weaken enemies, Force users are only limited by their level of knowledge and affinity to their special powers.  They are not as proficient in melee or ranged combat as the other classes are, as they have spent a great deal of time learning how to control their 'force' abilities.

 

That about does it for an explanation, sorry if I went off on a bit of a rant, but hey, I did warn you that I would 

[Seth Jedan 0]

You forgot about advanced classes

 

Figunner (fighter + gunner)| Hunter + Ranger| Able to use both melee weapons and ranged weapons.

Guntechter (gunner + tech-caster)| Ranger + Force| Able use ranged weapons as well as cast techniques.

Wartechter (warrior + tech-caster)| Force + Hunter| Able to cast techniques as well as use melee weapons.

Fortefighter (pure hunter)| -- | A pure fighter. Has excellent ATP and DFP, but lack in the number of weapons they can use.

Fortegunner (pure ranger)| -- | A pure gunner. Has excellent ATP and ATA, but lack in the number of weapons they can use.

Fortetechser (pure force) | -- | A pure technique-caster. Can use all techniques and is well-versed in the use of all tech-casting weapons. Has low DFP, however.

Protranser| --| An expert trap-setter. Able to use all traps including those of much greater power than normal.

 

(note this is from PSO-world)

[Kaizer 0]

Well, I found that information on the advanced classes are a little shadier than the info on the base classes, so I didn't bother mentioning them (that and I didn't know that some of them existed, like the Protranser).  Definitely going to need to get the wartechter class for when I try and remake my old PSO Hunewearle (old style hunter newman), and then either Figunner or Fortegunner for my Cast.

 

I've really got to check PSO world more often, oh well, too much work and too much anticipation for this game, its making me go crazy..... well, crazier, as I'm pretty sure I'm already clinically insane 

[Seth Jedan 0]

I'll be making mine in to a Figunner.

[Kaizer 0]

I think the FiGunner will make a nice class if I want to make a berserker Cast character.  I've heard that your PP (special technique points, MP, whatever you wanna call it) will decrease as you fire ranged weapons, so I figure I'd use an alternating weapon type strategy like I used to on PSO.

 

Start off with a blitzkrieg attack with a pair of ranged weapons (double pistols or dual machine guns) to wittle away at my opponents health and induce status effects.  Once my PP gets too low, or the enemy gets too close, I'll switch to my melee weapon (preferably a partisan) and fight them at close range until they die or I fill up my PP to repeat the process.  Since Casts have naturally amazing accuracy, they would do well with a multi-hitting weapon, and using a mid-range melee weapon like a partisan gives me that extra bit of comfort space (as Casts suck at healing, due to their general lack of force abilities).

 

Anyone else have strategies that they like to use?

[Seth Jedan 0]

Well from what i have played (hacked JP ver ) PP hasn't been a problem. However i haven't used any heavy duty weapons yet. Personally i think that forteGunners will be more useful but i just want to copy my old RAcast that was more powerful in melee then a HUcaseal.

[Talas Elco 0]

I'm on the beta version, its so bad its not even funny, seriously disappointed though

[Seth Jedan 0]

360 then?

[Kaizer 0]

Its the only platform that I heard had a beta release so far, at least in recent days that is, so I'm guessing Talas is a 360 user.  I'm sure there are still plenty of glitches with the PSU battle system (I never did like how slow you could move during combat, and the camera wasn't always the most friendly), but regardless, Phantasy Star is a huge game with plenty to do, and online gaming can be fun when you can make a party.  Of course, online gaming is costly, so don't go out and buy the game simply due to mine and Seth's one sided rants; play a few games like it if you can, or even better, try and find someone with PSO or Blue Burst and play those ones.  Maple Story and Runescape are great choices to find a free online community, but neither game has been able to hold my attention for more than a few months.

[Talas Elco 0]

i Play Final Fantasy 11 and i swear it is impossible to do anything in Phantasy star, the lag is horrible and the only way to coommunicate is through speech bubbles, and the combat system is horrible, not worth the monthly fees by a long way

[Roromi 435]

i would argue that no MMO is worth the monthly fees :p I thought the combat system was more or less the same as the PSO though???

[Kaizer 0]

The lag you're experiencing Talas might be from the fact that this is a beta server that you are using, and it will take time to get the US/Can/Eur servers linked with the Jap servers for 360 users.  PC and PS2 users hopefully won't experience too much lag, as our servers aren't connected to the japanese servers (which nearly died on their first day because of all the people that went online  ).  And yes, I agree with Roromi that no MMO should make you have to pay monthly fees, but there's little option to the otherwise when you have to keep the servers running; you should be able to just pay for the game, and then do stuff like Gaia Online does where they can give out donation items to people if they make a donation to keep the server alive.

 

If you are used to games like FF11, then PSU will be a new experience to say the least, as Roromi said, it will be largely based on the PSO style of gameplay, which means real time action, not pseudo-real time like in FF11; so you have to take an active role in evading enemy attacks and studying their behaviors and weaknesses.  A few nice additions to the system will be the ability to mix and match certain weapons, and dual wield others; for example, using a hand gun and a saber, or two sabers at once, as well as a first-person mode for shooter fans (rangers will become gods with their 1337 sniping skills). 

[Seth Jedan 0]

errr maybe there is something wrong with your 360 because only these glitches were reported were Connection Problems, The tutorial freezing at random spots, Bosses not loading and Remodeling tickets corrupting the graphics in Player Rooms. Those are just because it is a beta for 360 still. Also, on 360 you know you can use your headset to chat.

[Kaizer 0]

WOOT WOOT WOOT!!!!  Its here, its finally here, I'm holding it in my hands!  Ahhh PSU, c'est l'amour a premiere vue.

 

My initial impressions of the game so far are limited to the offline mode, as I won't be getting online till my birthday, but I have to say that I'm impressed.  Here's what I've seen so far:

 

1) more manageable camera angles

 

2) lock on function and strafing make combat more realistic

 

3) FPS mode helps take out those nasty flying guys

 

4) can learn and level up various skills, but only have on skill per weapon in use at a time, so you can't have eleventy-five spells at once with your force character (tones down their nuking ability)

 

5) grinding does more than before, but is riskier, but grinders are easier to buy as well

 

6) can decorate your room like in FF11

 

7) can synthesize items later on in the game

 

will be able to buy flashy clothes and dress up your characters

 

9) very little slowdown in the gameplay, unless there are 20+ guys on screen

 

10) when faced with the above situation, its time to draw your giant sword

[Seth Jedan 0]

I almost got it to but my friends convinced me to get Guild wars instead so i won't be getting it till Christmas. You have the PS2 version right, Kaizer?

[Fuku with Nodachi 0]

Ooh, very very interesting. Thanks for the report! =O

[Kaizer 0]

PS2 version for me, yessiree  , and apox on your friends, for PSU surpasses all other games in terms of its sheer addictiveness, especially when you get online or get the extra mode. 

 

Chatting is going to be a bit of a problem with a controller, but I figure I can always buy one of the keyboard extensions 

[Fuku with Nodachi 0]

A PS2 compatible keyboard isn't that expensive nowadays, compared to before. I remember checking Bestbuy every now and then for it.