Phantasy Star Fan Blog

IGN posted the first Phantasy Star Portable review outside of Japan, and gave it a score of 7.0. Comparing this score to Phantasy Star Universe, it is slightly higher from 6.6 for PS2 and 5.5 for PC. IGN reviewer Ryan Clements summed up his review as:

 

Despite its problems, including a terribly lackluster story.
poor AI and imperfect lock-ons, Phantasy Star Portable
is really satisfying, especially if you enjoy collecting loot and
seeing your deliciously fashionable robo-wizard level up.

He pointed out that “the game’s entire presentation feels extremely cheap” noting shops and cities have been reduced to a 2D representation of themselves. He also felt the AI was atrocious, stating,  “Never have I seen such incompetent, incapable party members like the AI-controlled riffraff of Phantasy Star Portable.“

We can assume the AI for Phantasy Star Portable acts the same as it does in Phantasy Star Universe. Most players use them for meat shields and healing support, they don’t tend to be useful in any other fashion.

He did point out excellent parts of the game, praising the wide assortment of cool looking weapons and the game’s multi player modes. He seemed to like the action pallete system describing it as, “…extremely handy, as attempting to navigate the game’s full set of menus with monsters leaping all over you is excruciatingly difficult (as it should be).” 

So in all, this is a very surprising review score coming from IGN after the horrendous scores of Sonic and the Black Knight and Sonic Unleashed. Maybe IGN isn’t so IGNorant after all?

 

[via IGN]

GMs Edward and Ruby posted details about a Title update scheduled for Jan 20th, 2009. This update will fix several bugs in the game and make slight changes in game mechanics. Hopefully these changes will make the game a more enjoyable experience to everyone. Here’s a rundown on the most important issues.

• Graphical Technic Nerf
  • Technics will now display as high as Level 21-30 to prevent slowdown. Though they did not specifically mention this, in the Japanese version the caster will still see level 31+ technics. We’re assuming this still stands.
• Machine Gun Glitch
  • The Machine Gun Glitch will finally be fixed, great news for Xbox360 players.
• Rare missions
  • A message will appear on the screen notifying the party that a rare mission has been received.
  • The calculation of rare missions has been changed so that solo players can now receive them.
• Photon Charges
  • Photon charges will now fully charge  a weapon in each hand instead of 50%. In other words, a photon charge will now work the same way as they do with 2 handed weapons. 
• Kicking Party Members
  • It will now be impossible to kick party members between “Trial End” and “Mission End”. This means you may no longer boot players when the boss or clear boxes appear. 
• Party List
  • When you select to join a party on the  mission screen. The party list will now display open parties at the top of the list.

[via psu_board]

During Sega’s Christmas party commemorating Phantasy Star Zero’s release, Sega announced the original soundtrack which will be released on January 28th, 2009. The cover is described to pay homage to Phantasy Star Online.

A question was raised if Phantasy Star Zero had any relation between the past Phantasy Star games.  Producer Sakai revealed that if you play quests after the completion of the main game and read the text thoroughly, you might see some relevance between past games.

In the first stage of development,
Phantasy Star Online was recreated on the DS.

 

Special Guest Kazuhiro Ozawa (left) from Comedy Duo Speed Wagon
and Idol Sayuki Matsumoto (right) both holding the Ps0 box.

 

Director Kawabata commented on how there weren’t any snowy areas in the previous phantasy star online games. He said he was determined to insert such a field this time!

 

PS0 Capsule figures on sale after February 2009.
You can get your hands on Sarisa, you perv!

[via gamewatchimpress and gamespot jp]

Read on for more Phantasy Star Zero News
The Story – The Weapons – The Classes

Theme Song

Sega released the theme song for Phantasy Star Zero, and gave a more indepth glimpse at the animated sequences. These anime scenes were developed by GONZO. They also displayed a few of the characters today including our first antagonist Reve.

The Video

Read on for more Phantasy Star Zero News

As new Magazine scans pour in, we get a glimpse of some of the old and new weapons that will be featured in Phantasy Star Zero. Taking a nod in the direction of Phantasy Star Universe, weapons will have their own unique attacks called Photon Arts.

Types of Weapons in Phantasy Star Zero

Phantasy Star Zero features an assortment of weapons lifted from Phantasy Star Online. Below is a list of available types of weapons in the game. There will be a total of 17 types of weapons.

Striking	Ranged	Force
Sword Spear Saber Double Saber Claw Dagger	Handgun Machine Gun Laser Rifle Cannon	Wand Rod Slicer

 

Sept 19, 2009 Corrections Update:

• The weapon category “Launcher” was changed once the game was released in Japan.
• Launcher is now called Laser
• The weapon category “Bazooka” was changed once the game was released in Japan
• Bazooka is now called Cannon.

For more information, refer to this post. Sorry for the confusion but this was beyond my control at the time.

 

The Unveiling of 3 new Weapon Types

Introducing the GunSlash!  This weapon is a gun and a sword combined. Sounds quite similar to a weapon featured in another “Fantasy” game. Typically the Gunslash will attack with the sword. If you press the L trigger, the weapon will attack with the gun.

Brand new to the Phantasy Star series, the Shield can also be used in battle. By pressing the L trigger, you’ll be able to guard against attacks. You can thrust yourself into the enemy and use it as an attack.

You can now fight with your bare arms. Something similar to Phantasy Star Online, but much more powerful.

The Guest Weapons of Phantasy Star Zero

For everyone who reserves the game they will have the privilege to get one of four trading cards with a special guest item loaded into their game. If you collect these 4 cards and place them together, they create a larger illustration. You can pick up your card at any of the game stores that sell this game if you have it reserved. On the back of each card, there will be a password that you can type in at a special website located within the official Japanese Phantasy Star Zero site. This will allow you to obtain some “original digital content.”

Selvaria Spear from Valkyria Chronicles for PS3

 

Valiant from Blazer Drive, a manga series.

 

Blade Canon of Seena Kanon from Shining Wind for PS2

 

Hatsune Miku’s Leek from Hatsune Miku -Project Diva- for PSP

Techniques

Techniques are seperated into two, normal and charged. For example a normal technique Zonde, will shock one enemy in range. If a player charges Zonde, it will become Razonde, and will shock all enemies in range. As in previous games, you can learn a technique by obtaining it’s disc. The list of  techniques in the game include:

• Attack Techniques
  • Foie, Rafoie, Zonde, Razonde, Barta, Rabarta, Grants, Gigrants, Megid, Gimegid. 
• Recovery Techniques
  • Resta, Alresta, Anti, Alanti.
• Buff Techniques
  • Shifta, Alshifta, Deband, Aldeband, Jellen, Aljellen, Zalure, Alzalure.

Elements

Special items called grinders can increase the strength of the weapon. According to Shougai-PSO, grinders may be able to enhance other properties of the weapon like attribute value and force power. Elementals can be applied to weapons. For example the “Heat” element can be applied to a Saber, thus the saber will become a “Heat Saber” with the power of “combustion” granted to that weapon. There will be different type of attributes set to enemies. So far, Native, Beast, Altered Beast, and Dark were given.

Mags return in Phantasy Star Zero

Mags will return in Phantasy Star Zero. At character creation screen you will be able to change the color of your Mag.  You’ll still be able to feed your Mag and increase it’s Power, Guard, Hit, and Mind. Based on your character, be sure to power up a particular level that will be of great use to you. Mags will retain the use of Photon Blast, powerful attack/support that can be used in battle. Photon blasts are only usable once a Mag reaches its second stage evolution after Level 10.

[via gamekyo and famitsu]

More Phantasy Star Zero News
The Mini Guide – The Story
The Weapons – The Classes