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Phantasy Star Universe: Launch Day Preview

Phantasy Star Universe launches today and MMORPG.com's Garrett Fuller gives you his impressions from the game's PC beta test. PSU will also be available for the PS2 and XBOX360.

image Phantasy Star Universe launches for PC today. The beta has come to a close and I was lucky enough to get a good look at the game before launch. Phantasy Star was a popular game that continues its evolution through different game systems and generations. This Phantasy Star has a lot to offer players who love the story and setting. However, from an MMO stand point, much of the game is instanced and built around a small group dynamic. There is very little open world to explore other than the major cities on different planets. The rest of the game takes you through various missions with your party to explore and fight it out with alien monsters.

There are two modes of play. The Story Mode and the Network Mode, obviously the Network mode allows you to link up with other players. Given this website's focus I did not go through the story mode. I jumped right into the network and started a character online. The beginning tutorial is very helpful in getting you started and showing you where everything is. Also, the NPC who helps you out in the beginning comes along on your early missions to give you a hand.

The whole article is here.

Dana Massey
Formerly of MMORPG.com
Currently Lead Designer for Bit Trap Studios

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Comments

  • ShadrakShadrak Member Posts: 375
    I Loved the old Phantasy Star game son the Genesis and Ive been waiting for years for a new Phanatasy Star game for  one of the current consoles. The offline and online game being together is great! Is there a fee for playing the online version? Are the servers localized or is everyone bunched together.
  • ShinuzShinuz Member Posts: 37
    So basicly the network mode is the same as Phantasy Star Online but with better graphics and a few more options.


    image

  • JTJT Member Posts: 401

    So basically, this is another Guild Wars.. in others words it's not really a mmorpg.  It definately looks good and could be fun for the kids that already play Guild Wars.

  • wyzwunwyzwun Member Posts: 328



    Originally posted by JT

    So basically, this is another Guild Wars.. in others words it's not really a mmorpg.  It definately looks good and could be fun for the kids that already play Guild Wars.



     Y o u  F a i l  X 2

    Rites of the Four Horsemen
    http://www.rotfh.com

  • wyzwunwyzwun Member Posts: 328



    Originally posted by JT

    So basically, this is another Guild Wars.. in others words it's not really a mmorpg.  It definately looks good and could be fun for the kids that already play Guild Wars.



     Y o u  F a i l 

    Rites of the Four Horsemen
    http://www.rotfh.com

  • ShadrakShadrak Member Posts: 375



    Originally posted by Shadrak
    I Loved the old Phantasy Star game son the Genesis and Ive been waiting for years for a new Phanatasy Star game for  one of the current consoles. The offline and online game being together is great! Is there a fee for playing the online version? Are the servers localized or is everyone bunched together.



    found my own answer.

    A GUARDIANS License is a monthly subscription service that allows you to go online to play Phantasy Star Universe. It costs $9.99/month (in US Dollars). Your credit card will be billed automatically every month on the same day as when you registered.

    LINK

  • wyzwunwyzwun Member Posts: 328
    on a more serious note, lol I fail (you know, how you guys fail to understand why GW != to PSU) to understand why this game is not listed in the released games section. I mean, you preview it... for what? why even speak about it if you wont even list it... not that it even means anything, why come here for psu info when you can go to a real community site like psow w/e

    Rites of the Four Horsemen
    http://www.rotfh.com

  • wyzwunwyzwun Member Posts: 328
    Also i wish mmorpg.com would not review this game, sorry but you guys have no clue. Anyone who is head over heels for a game like EvE simply will not enjoy a game like this... simply put, the game is better off w/o this site... just stick to vanguard/eq/eve.

    Rites of the Four Horsemen
    http://www.rotfh.com

  • VerisMitsuVerisMitsu Member Posts: 3
    I've been playing Eve for about a year now, and I'm very tempted by this game.  I love the Phantasy Star games :P



    Even if it's completely different, that doesnt mean I won't have
    fun.  Nobody enjoys only 'one' time of game, same for mmorpgs,
    there's no "only this type!" for me anyway!



    Looking forward to the review!




    ~Veris Mitsu

  • JTJT Member Posts: 401



    Originally posted by wyzwun
    Also i wish mmorpg.com would not review this game, sorry but you guys have no clue. Anyone who is head over heels for a game like EvE simply will not enjoy a game like this... simply put, the game is better off w/o this site... just stick to vanguard/eq/eve.


    Your right, it should not be reviewed here.. it is not a mmorpg.  As for head over heels for EvE.  I prefer PvP over anything.  I never said the game wouldn't be any good, just that it shouldn't be listed as a mmorpg as GW shouldn't be either.  The only good PvP system in a mmorpg at this time is the system DAoC has.  Actually I should say those games are not MMOG... Planetside is a MMOG, but it has no RPG to it.  Great PvP tho.  There are some good PvP games out there that don't even require a monthly and likewise they are not listed here ie...BF series, America's Army to name a couple.
  • xIMPxxIMPx Member Posts: 191
    I don't know, I think mmorpgs are dead!  Long live online rpgs!!!  This game ownz!


  • bouncingsoulbouncingsoul Member Posts: 211

    Originally posted by wyzwun
    Also i wish mmorpg.com would not review this game, sorry but you guys have no clue. Anyone who is head over heels for a game like EvE simply will not enjoy a game like this... simply put, the game is better off w/o this site... just stick to vanguard/eq/eve.
      I couldn't agree more. In fact I don't care or plan to read the forums here for the game ever again. This site is FULL of jaded, bored min/maxing gamers who simply need to take a break from Online RPGs lol.


  • kevinsalkevinsal Member Posts: 27

    PSU cannot be further away from Guild Wars, you are not smart and failed x3

    anyone get to try to game yet?  I loved PSO:BB, waiting to here from the fanboys


  • bakakakabakakaka Member Posts: 12
    I think you are to young to even know what phantasystar is but its okay you was not here in the early 80's image

    Originally posted by JT
    So basically, this is another Guild Wars.. in others words it's not really a mmorpg.  It definately looks good and could be fun for the kids that already play Guild Wars.

  • ArchaegeoArchaegeo Member UncommonPosts: 233

    The point is this is another game that follows the trend of small group instancing.

     

    Thats not MMORPG.  A lobby doesnt qualify for MMORPG, if that was the case then Diablo was a MMORPG.  DnD did it, GW did it, now this.  And to some extent even the larger games do it.  I understand instancing is easier on the system, but thats not what playing a MMORPG is susposed to be.

    EQ and UO started it right by the fact everyone in the world was in the same world, and if you went somewhere, others might be there, and it might lead to conflict or to cooperation.  Interaction.

    Explorer 73% Achiever 53% Socializer 53% Killer 20%

  • PentyPenty Member Posts: 11
    If you are going to say negitive things about a game, get it right. It's more accurate to say GW and DnD followed the lead of Phanasty Star. Remember this franchise has been around for awhile and this is only the latest version of it.
  • GameloadingGameloading Member UncommonPosts: 14,182
    Its no surprise that you couldn't find a lot of people to group with. 24th is the shipdate, so 80% of the stores don't even have the game yet.


  • wyzwunwyzwun Member Posts: 328



    Originally posted by Archaegeo

    The point is this is another game that follows the trend of small group instancing.
     
    Thats not MMORPG.  A lobby doesnt qualify for MMORPG, if that was the case then Diablo was a MMORPG.  DnD did it, GW did it, now this.  And to some extent even the larger games do it.  I understand instancing is easier on the system, but thats not what playing a MMORPG is susposed to be.
    EQ and UO started it right by the fact everyone in the world was in the same world, and if you went somewhere, others might be there, and it might lead to conflict or to cooperation.  Interaction.



    Phantasy Star never followed, Phantasy Star has always been the leader. If there was no Pstar the rpg genre as we know would not exist.

     

    Your lack of knowledge shows your age… (WoW… just stay there)

     

    EQ and UO were technical achievements. But its time for a change. Its time to focus on quality and not quantity. Its about building a GASP FUN game.  Its about gamers PLAYING a game and not an interface. To be honest, the people on these forums make me rather sick. They just want the same old trash, they just want to sit there like a drone and click hot keys and watch cool downs all day.

     

    The mods on this forum are not equipped to review this game and they should not. They will simply blow through content with there 6 man statics and complain about petty BS.

     

    This game is totally different from GW. The reason why PSU is a pay to play is because building a PVE game takes time and time costs money. PSU has enough content to more then last them into there first expansion but it’s the glut gamers that play 24/7 that are going to bitch about content, you know the NQ gamers.

    Rites of the Four Horsemen
    http://www.rotfh.com

  • DarkjinxterDarkjinxter Member Posts: 174

    Crafting is easy.

    Give the plan for the item (the board) to your MAG*.
    Put the items in your MAG's store.
    Ask the MAG to create the item.
    Take the item and use it or sell it.


    *Old PSO term for the wee robot which resides in your apartment cant remember its PSU name.
    BTW the MAG will come with when it reaches a certain level, fighting with you and upping your stats in the process.


  • grimbojgrimboj Member Posts: 2,102

    Can people stop using Eve as the bar for mmorpgs, As far as Im concerned any program that forces you to wait real-time for content is not a game, its a money sink. Its a pitty too as the graphics are amazing and I miss them but the movement system, obscene over zoning to avoid instancing and levelling system really ruin the game. Im not the hugest fan of WoW & EQ2 but they are the best examples of typical mmos - 100,000s of players in a huge environment.

    If instancing is keeping the game off this site then you might want to remove EQ2, City of Heroes & Villains, Guild Wars and Matrix Online - as they all use instancing. To be frank, that leaves Wow a few asian grindfests and the niche games so think twice before riding the anti instancing train.


    --
    Note: PlayNC will refuse to allow you access to your account if you forget your password and can't provide a scanned image of the product key for the first product you purchased..... LOL

  • LighttipLighttip Member UncommonPosts: 24




    Phantasy Star never followed, Phantasy Star has always been the leader. If there was no Pstar the rpg genre as we know would not exist.
     
    Your lack of knowledge shows your age… (WoW… just stay there)
     
    EQ and UO were technical achievements. But its time for a change. Its time to focus on quality and not quantity. Its about building a GASP FUN game.  Its about gamers PLAYING a game and not an interface. To be honest, the people on these forums make me rather sick. They just want the same old trash, they just want to sit there like a drone and click hot keys and watch cool downs all day.



    Uhm....GEM was first, Pstar next.  Though...GEM was more of an MMORPG then Pstar.  But I never put Pstar in MMORPG category.  I try to forget GEM.  I had more fun with free MUDs then with GEM.  Ah...good ole college days. 
  • LighttipLighttip Member UncommonPosts: 24



    Originally posted by grimboj
    Can people stop using Eve as the bar for mmorpgs, As far as Im concerned any program that forces you to wait real-time for content is not a game, its a money sink. Its a pitty too as the graphics are amazing and I miss them but the movement system, obscene over zoning to avoid instancing and levelling system really ruin the game. Im not the hugest fan of WoW & EQ2 but they are the best examples of typical mmos - 100,000s of players in a huge environment.

    If instancing is keeping the game off this site then you might want to remove EQ2, City of Heroes & Villains, Guild Wars and Matrix Online - as they all use instancing. To be frank, that leaves Wow a few asian grindfests and the niche games so think twice before riding the anti instancing train.



    WOW has instancing.
  • JTJT Member Posts: 401

    Funny to hear someone call me young.  I graduated from high school in the early 80's.  The first computer I ever used was a TRS80 that our school had locked up in a closet because noone knew how to use it.  I started playing games on a C64.

    The point I have been trying to make is that it doesn't belong here on a mmorpg website.  I bet the game is a lot of fun to play.  Heck I've even considered buying it myself.  I wanted to try PSO, but didn't want to dish out the money for something I might not like and the fact that I'm not a console fan.  Now that it's out on the PC I may seriously consider it.

     




    Originally posted by bakakaka
    I think you are to young to even know what phantasystar is but its okay you was not here in the early 80's image





    Originally posted by JT

    So basically, this is another Guild Wars.. in others words it's not really a mmorpg.  It definately looks good and could be fun for the kids that already play Guild Wars.





  • LighttipLighttip Member UncommonPosts: 24



    Originally posted by JT


    Funny to hear a little kid call me young.  I graduated from high school in the early 80's.  The first computer I ever used was a TRS80 that our school had locked up in a closet because noone knew how to use it.  I started playing games on a C64.
     


    Originally posted by bakakaka
    I think you are to young to even know what phantasystar is but its okay you was not here in the early 80's image





    Originally posted by JT

    So basically, this is another Guild Wars.. in others words it's not really a mmorpg.  It definately looks good and could be fun for the kids that already play Guild Wars.








    AH!  Fellow Trash80 worker.  I wrote Defender(old coin-op) on the Trash80.  Damn...I'm old.
  • y2skyy2sky Member Posts: 34

    Originally posted by Lighttip


    AH!  Fellow Trash80 worker.  I wrote Defender(old coin-op) on the Trash80.  Damn...I'm old.


    I'm not far behind ya.  I wrote Missile Command for QBasic image

    On topic:  I'm waiting for this game for XBox360.  Just in time too, I'm almost done with all the Oblivion content.  Now if Bethesda would release the X360 expansion on freakin' CD image
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