Phantasy Star Universe (PlayStation 2)

Pre-E3 2006: Phantasy Star Universe

We get another look at SEGA's upcoming single player and online RPG.
May 4th, 2006 - Phantasy Star is an interesting universe and one of the only online RPGs to incorporate a heavy action element. Sure, there's games like PlanetSide and Neocron for the PC, but swords and sorcery usually don't get the hack and slash treatment when entering the online space. While the action isn't exactly God of War, it's definitely more personally involving than anything like EverQuest where hitting the A button and sitting back to watch the action isn't unheard of. We had the chance to get a look at some of the action at SEGA's pre-E3 event and learned that Phantasy Star fans should instantly recognize this newest addition to the franchise.

As with Phantasy Star Online, PSU will ship with both single and online multiplayer. Unlike PSO, this newest game will put a lot more focus on creating a fulfilling single player game for those that don't need or necessarily want to get online with the game. The development team has decided to emphasize the single player story this time around with a large cast of characters that actually develop enough that players can really care about them.

From what we saw in the presentation at SEGA's pre-E3 event, a lot of effort is going into creating some cinematic cutscenes to build on these character interactions. SEGA is adding even more by including voice acting for the first time in any Phantasy Star game. Personality breeds attachment. Hopefully fans will find the additions fun and worth the developers' time.

The story quests of the single player game will bring players to several different planets occupied by the different races of humans like the CAST, the Newmans, and the Beasts. Each of the planets is settled by one particular type of person as their planets are suited to their personalities and physiology.

Along with the different races, each planet will contain new challenges and very different monsters. These include some rather large boss creatures for players to stand toe to toe with in some epic battles.

The single player game will last for around 35-40 hours and have a self-contained story. When players decide to enter the multiplayer arena, they'll find the story from the single player game continuing on a bit even though players will have to choose new characters to build up as their own in the online space.

As fans will remember fondly and perspective fans will want to know, Phantasy Star Universe is an action oriented RPG. The combat is all in real-time and challenges players to fight with a bunch of different weapons, skills, and magic all of which can be changed around on the fly. The same fast-paced combat is back but has been improved as well for more moves and even will allow players to dual-wield weapons. It's also possible to switch into first-person mode when fighting with a ranged weapon that requires a bit more aiming. It's especially useful when fighting enemies with flight.

When heading off into the instanced zones to fight, players can take up to five of their friends with them to battle it out with the planet's monster population and complete quests. That's two more players than were allowed to travel together in PSO so fans should be happy about that as well.

Like most online games nowadays, Phantasy Star Universe will strive to allow players a level of customization that provides enough selection to feel unique in a crowded game space. While there are undoubtedly going to be some clones walking around, SEGA is hoping that it's a much smaller number than in the past.

There's still a bit of work to be done here. The art selection is definitely colorful and some of the effects are well done but the animation and lip-synching definitely needs to be tightened up a bit. Thankfully there's plenty of time to make necessary adjustments. Phantasy Star Universe is due out in October on PC and PS2 and will follow shortly thereafter on the Xbox 360.

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