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Phantasy Star Universe: New Game Addition
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MMORPG.com is pleased to announce that we have added another game to our list of MMORPG's - Phantasy Star Universe. Sega is finally taking the Phantasy Star franchise to the massive multiplayer level with this new title which will be availble on both PC systems and the Sony Playstation 2. A few screen shots are below:
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For more information about PSU, follow this link to our page for it.
- MMORPG.COM Staff -
The dead know only one thing: it is better to be alive.
Comments
Looks good.
But it still costs money I'm sure.. at least for the PC version it does.. not sure about any other versions, any clarifications?
EDIT: Ahahhahaha, anyone notice on their website it says E3: Best RPG on PS2, then on the side it says (IGN) Of course it looks the best.. they're commercialized and ign is a money-mongering society. Sonic Team (or is it sega?) has plenty of money to toss around for their 'awards' so it makes all the more sense. My thoughts of this game just dropped dramatically..
It also won "best multi-platform game" (g4tv/xplay) and was a runner up for "best rpg" (1up.com). And as i've said, i'm fairly sure these awards are for the offline mode.
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The pen is mightier than the sword, and authority is mightier than the pen, but the sword is mightier than authority.
If you can't beat 'em, hold 'em off 'till you come up with a better plan.
Well still, I'm just saying IGN really has no say. And with a gosu moneymaker buying their reviews, you can be sure there's money under the table. All I'm sayin'.. and I know they're different games.. I enjoyed the regular PS's.. but the game online was to scoff at. It was a diablo without.. the diablo essence.
As in there was just.. that special something missing.
Not to stick up for the competition or anything, but I once worked for IGN and I can assure you no one ever paid or offered to pay me anything for a good article, nor was I ever told by my bosses to write something nice.
Think what you want of IGN, but accusing them of flat out being paid is a bit much.
Dana Massey
Formerly of MMORPG.com
Currently Lead Designer for Bit Trap Studios
There are some misconceptions about this game.
First it's actually two types of games in one. The major focus is being put into a single player, offline RPG with a strong emphasis on story. However there is also going to be an online part, but I don't think it's going to be like your normal MMO. The game will be similar in setup to PSO.
I played it when I went to E3 this year and it felt exactly like PSO.
What's the combat like? FPS? Lock on target then Click-N-Wait? Turn based?
Like PSO
Action RPG type. In otherwords you use your controls to move a character around. You attack by hitting a button. If you see something you want to attack, you run up and attack it (providing you don't use a gun or other range weapon). If you have played Fable on the pc, something like that.
The camera is extremely wonky.. and there is no lock on, you have to 'hope' that it'll hit.
EDIT: Errr, I'm talking about PSO, not PSU..
I didn't see any camera problems. As far as I remember it was up and behind the characters head.
I agree the camera is hard to control, but once you get used to it and how it works, it's not bad. And for the locking on, you do kinda lock on, you just don't get run away or turn around and stay that way. Personally, i liked it, there was a tad bit more skill to playing PSO than other orpg/mmorpg/corpg games cause of it.
The camera had to be put behind the character by pressing/holding a button. And as far as i remember, it's always been a trigger button (L and R) on console versions. I never played the pc version, so i wouldn't know.
I would have loved to play it. But i can't help but think that when you were playing it, your thought of it being exactly like PSO is due to the fact that it looks like PSO, and not the way the game plays. I expect it to feel like PSO because it's a Phantasy Star game. I thought PSO was very well designed, and it looked good. I have no problems with it looking like PSO. But my question is, does it play differently? What i mean by that is, is it all instanced like PSO, do you go to a lobby when you log on. Or is it more like a proper mmorpg? when you log on, your in a city with npc's and the other players that are in the same spot, when you leave this city do you play with others that aren't in your team? If it's like the latter, then in no way is it PSO aside from looks. And i will be pleased and fairly satisfied with it. If it is indeed almost a copy of PSO, then i will still buy it and play. But most likely not online mode, just offline. But from what i've read, it doesn't play the way PSO does.
EDIT: Great, now you guys got me wanting to play PSO now!
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The pen is mightier than the sword, and authority is mightier than the pen, but the sword is mightier than authority.
If you can't beat 'em, hold 'em off 'till you come up with a better plan.
[quote]Originally posted by Koddo
I would have loved to play it. But i can't help but think that when you were playing it, your thought of it being exactly like PSO is due to the fact that it looks like PSO, and not the way the game plays. I expect it to feel like PSO because it's a Phantasy Star game. I thought PSO was very well designed, and it looked good. I have no problems with it looking like PSO. But my question is, does it play differently? What i mean by that is, is it all instanced like PSO, do you go to a lobby when you log on. Or is it more like a proper mmorpg? when you log on, your in a city with npc's and the other players that are in the same spot, when you leave this city do you play with others that aren't in your team? If it's like the latter, then in no way is it PSO aside from looks. And i will be pleased and fairly satisfied with it. If it is indeed almost a copy of PSO, then i will still buy it and play. But most likely not online mode, just offline. But from what i've read, it doesn't play the way PSO does.
[/b][/quote]
EDIT: Great, now you guys got me wanting to play PSO now!
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Well like I said there are really two parts to it. One is the offline quest, the other is the online part. What I played is probably the single player offline part. From what I have read it won't be a real MMO. In a real MMO you have 1000's or even 10's of thousands of people running around the same huge world. That is not the case with PSU. According to an interview on ign (link at the bottom of my post) the lobby idea of PSO is being replaced with a full city, but that will only handle about 100 players at a time. So it kind of sounds like the city is really just a huge lobby with more things going on. I also still get the impression that you will still meet up with 4 or 5 people and go off into a instanced area, just like PSO.
Here is the link to the interview:
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/650/650101p1.html
C.Permanand
The stage is the Graal Star System, consisting of three planets. Each planet has it's own culture, formed by it's different race.
The history of Graal Star System is filled with conflicts amongst the different races. However, after the Final Conflict 100 years ago, the union was formed amongst the three planets, which gave birth to the Allied Army and ultimately peace to the Graal Star System.
At this time, the 100 year anniversary of the Graal Star System Alliance is being celebrated. The main character Ethan, and his sister Rumia were both enjoying the ceremony, which showed off their space fleet - the pride of the Allied Army. However, one by one the fleet was destroyed by an incoming meteor shower, and even the lands were envelped in flames. It actually wasn't a meteor shower, but was a space lifeform that would later be called SEED, which tried to lead Graal to its destruction. From SEED which landed, invasions occured, and soon the lands were covered in darkness.
Even the Guardians Colony was suddenly attacked by the mysterious lifeform, and fell into a panic. In the midst of the confusion brought on by Gaurdians falling one by one, only Rumia remained in the rubble. To save his sister, Ethan would borrow the strength of the Guardians, and start his first which could mean life or death.
WORLD:
Organizations:
Gaurdians:
The organization the main charater, Ethan, is affiliated with...
The largest private bodygaurd corporation in the Graal Star System which was established under the principle of protecting it's clients on a personal level from dangerous biological beings, criminals, and other menaces.
A formal police force exists in the Graal Star System, but in actuality they lack the ability to cover all the planets efficiently. For this reason, the private bodygaurd companies are famous throughout the system.
While on official business, for example being hired by a citizen for protection, they are granted law enforcing authority.
AMF:
The Allied Forces which formed from the allied treaty. Abbreviated as AMF. Holds a commanding faction independent of each planet's government, and from any absolutely neutral stance aims to make military disturbances and even overwhelmingly oppress the system's land and space regions. Recieves military power and funds from each planet's local government, and all soldiers, except for a sepcific few, are made by Casts.
Endrum Collective:
A sepcial force within the AMF. All information other than the their objective of relic conservation and that their lead by Endrum Harness is kept secret. According to one theory, they've been around from 30 years ago, but they disappeared as an unofficial organization when the SEED attacked, so there is nobody that knows for sure.
Rogues:
Not being a name of any specific organzation or group, is simply a generic term for scoundrels and villains. With many areas of the Mortoob Satellite Belt being dangerous to navigate, there are many small satellites they make as bases to conduct illegal trade, casinos, and other pirate activities. Many powerful giants, called "Family", exist within the Rogues, and are already unfolding their battle for supremecy.
COG:
As the religious group of the Graal Star System, C.O.G. are in charge of the Graal religious missionary work and festivals, as well as governing Neudriz through the religious parliment. [*** this part]. Also in the Graal Religion, Photon's are called Star Spirits, which are worshipped each day, and thanked in ceremonies. Most followers are Numan's living on Neudriz, but there are human and beast followers throughout the system as well.
Races:
Human:
The most prosperous race in the system and the root over everything. Rich with all-purpose skills and overall balance, especially since they're not weak at any one thing and can handle any job. On the other hand, they don't exceed at any one thing. Mainly live on the planet Parum.
Even though Human's are the most prosperous race in the Graal system, that's not to say that their socials status is high. At the end of the end of the 500 year war, each planet had a race which won as that planet's ruling race, at which point humans simply coexisted with the other races. The other races didn't praise humans as being the original race, but rather only thought of them as the "general race with poor abilities".
Newman:
The product of Human's trying to create a super race from themselves. Being stronger with mental abilities, they have inferior physical strength, but are superior psychologically, so are skilled with techniques. As they are physically weak, they lack close-combat skills. Mainly live on the planet Neudriz.
Background: Newmans were born after Humans tried to make a super race based on themselves. As they succeeding in making their reaction time, thoughts, and memories superior, to keep a uniform balance, their strength is lower than the average human. Opression from humans has grown from the mental inferiority complex and physical superiority complex they hold against the newmans. They eventually made planet Newdiz a place for newmen to live, and both sides agreed to a nonagression treaty.
Newmen are characteristically good with other people, but on the other side they're said to to be a very exclusive race. As a result of their heightened psyche they are able to read people's feelings better than humans, and is said that they have a tendancy to avoid contact with strangers more than is necessary.
Beast:
A race with genes altered to adapt to the harsh environmental conditions in resource mining. Their excelling strength gives makes them great at close-combat, but lack the concentration required to properly use guns and techniques. Have a special ability called a "nanoblast" which allows them to tranform into a huge beast. Mainly live on the planet Mortoob.
Background: Originally made by humans to to mine natural resources which can only be found in harsh conditions. Beasts were treated as slaves by the humans for a long time, but were able to escape from the Governing Committee because of their physical strength. They then began to partake in resource trade and attained equality to other races.
Beasts are well-known for their warm affection, but on the other hand are rather moody. Because of this violent temperament, there are many of them who partake in illegal trade and pirate activities. Has a very high sense of connection to family and members of the same race, and there's a tendency for beasts to open up to each other. Conversely, as they've were descriminated against and placed at the bottom of the social ladder for so long, there are ill-feelings towards casts.
As their are many hot-blooded members of this race fights throughout the cities never cease. Therefore, there's a law which forbids any transformation within the city, which carries very strict punishment.
Cast:
A man-made race originally crafted to aid humans, but are currently controlled by the humans inhabiting Parum. Has lower psyche than other races so are poor with techniques, but as precise machines, have high accuracy, and are skilled with guns. Has the ability to transfer the gigatic "sub-weapon". Mainly live on the planet Parum.
Background: The cast were initially supposed to be used by humans but basic human rights issues arose when thought-possessing cast were created, and at the end of their battle for independence, an organization which controlled the cast race was established.
After the establishment of this group, soon came a generation more peaceful than the one in which the humans divided everything into several nations. But during the height of the battle, human statesment propogated in loud voices "the dangers of being controlled by machines", and ironically the complete opposite happened, and the Governing Committee was welcomed by the large majority of people who desired peace.
SEED:
A mysterious biological entity that suddently entered the Graal Solar System.
Spreeding it's roots around the area it landed in, sprouts flowers and spits out an encroaching pollen. It's also known that potential damage from SEED isn't only the harms it causes to the land it invades, but also the phenomenon of infesting protozoan life.
Locations
Guardians Colony:
A huge colony of which the guardians have attained full possession and governing rights.
It was initially purchased as a stronghold of The Guardians, but as they grew, it developed into a large-scale colony and currently houses over a million residents.
The guardians missions take them all over the Graal system. It travels along a ring called the Vector Track which can take it to any of the three planets in the system.
Parum:
Originally was a planet rich with nature, but due to the human's colonization, the cast becoming aware, and the 500 Year War, the lands have become horribly dilapidated. All that remains now are mainly man-made natural sites.
Tark City which was erected by the alliance of all three planets is a true metropolis, but the financial center would be Hall City, which holds the alliance's conference building. Many important establishments like the head offices of synthetic manufacturer GRM, the top producer of both Guardian and Alliance equipment as well as cast parts, and alliance headquarters are located here.
The cast ratio is 5% of the total population, but important government posts, administrative bodies, and management organizations are all run by casts.
Newdriz:
Of the three planet, boasts of having the most water and the most representitive of nature coexisting with man. Has many large areas of vegetation that have been untouched by man, and each area is spattered with islands. The most common resident is newman.
Newdriz is a religious state with the Religion of Graal being the official religion, and is governed by the C.O.G. Most people living on Newdriz are believers of this religion. There are many believers of this religion, the biggest in the system, on planets other than Newdriz as well.
The capital of Newdriz is Outok City, a city which holds the head sect of the Graal Religion. It's famous for housing establishments of the Youmei Corporation, which is famous for making superb weapons. The majority of residents of this city are Newman, with only 20% being from other races.
Mortoob:
Has the most harsh weather conditions of the three planets. The inhabitants have to fight against nature while living their lives. The oceans have dried up and the surface which has turned mostly into deserts is severe, but it is still rich in resources, so there's a continual supply of colonists with get rich quick scheme. The planet is mainly inhabited by beasts.
On the surface, there are only several spread out medium-sized cities, not one being a large-scale metropolis. There's a trade federation composed of representatives of each city, but their unity is loose to the point that it seems they're only making arrangements as merchants. Rather the Rougues are the ones governing the planet with the underground society
they built.
The population of the city Dagora City is made up primarily of beasts, but as it recieves many visitors, up to 30 or 40% are other races. However, many of those are scoundrels.
Other:
Relics:
A name given to ancient ruins of a civilization dating from 12,000 to a few thousand years ago, which are found on each planet of the Graal Solar System. Even though they're ruins, what remains are several tall structures, and it's been proven by recent research that those civilizations attained a super science several steps ahead of current technology.
Since the SEED invasion, it's been reported that many previously undiscovered relics have suddenly appeared on the surface. However, there are many aspects of relics that have yet to be solved, and their relation to the SEED is a complete mystery.
Technic:
A photon catalyst, something which systematizes the art of causing psychic energy to form into various supernatural phenomenon.
The effect of a photon acting as a catalyst to what were formerly called supernatural and spiritual powers, the occurence of which was scientifically explained. This phenomeon, when used by people, was called technic, and was later generalized.
C.Permanand