Did you hear about Phantasy Star Zero for Nintendo DS?

Phantasy Star Portable is expected to release in Japan on July 31, 2008. Phantasy Star Portable is set between Episode 1 and Episode 2, filling in the gaps of what was left off. Phantasy Star Portable adds two new characters into the story, Vivienne and Helga Neumann. Lets now take a look at new information that has been posted on the japanese site.

Story Mode & Multi Mode

Phantasy Star Portable

Phantasy Star Portable comes in two modes: Story Mode & Multi Mode. In Story Mode you will play an original storyline alongside Vivienne. Whichever actions you take throughout the story will result in different endings. Story Mode will also include famous voice actors for each character and beautiful dramatic movie scenes.

In Multi Mode, you can have up to 4 people in a party. Unfortunately, Phantasy Star Portable will only allow ad-hoc mode, which currently isn’t a very effective choice here in the U.S. However, if you do plan to import this game, please check out X-Link for PSP.

Types

AcroMaster

Phantasy Star Portable starts you off with 3 basic “types” or otherwise known as classes. You will be able to choose your type at the character creation screen. The first 3 types are Hunter, Ranger, and Force. After some playthrough, you can then achieve advanced types which are:

  • FighMaster: Specializes in Meelee
  • GunMaster: Specializes in Guns
  • MasterForce: Specializes in Technics
  • AcroMaster: Specializes in Speed and One Handed Weapons
  • Protranser: Specializes in Traps?

Certain weapons will tend to drop more based on what the leader’s type is.

Missions & Lobbies

Phantasy Star Portable Map

The biggest difference compared to the console version is the lobbies. In Phantasy Star Portable, lobbies are now on a map screen. You can just select where to shop and quickly start missions faster than ever before.

Phantasy Star Portable will also provide a special website to download missions. These missions will appear on the mission select screen.

My Room

My Room will not be customizable as it was on the console version. Instead, it will feature a logbook of monsters and items you have collected. It will also include a dictionary and mission history screen.

The dictionary will explain a a brief synopsis of the characters, items, and storylines that exist within the Phantasy Star Universe Saga.

While playing through the game, a “title” can be obtained by acquiring certain conditions. Having a “title” can help boost experience points, rare drop rates, money, and even boost photon art leveling. At the bottom right corner of the screenshot, you will see the percentages of what has been boosted.

Phantasy Star Portable: Helga Neumann

Each monster you fight gets added to the monster logbook. It will display how many monsters of each type that you have killed. My Room also includes a weapon logbook of each weapon you have acquired with a picture and description of it.

Phantasy Star Portable Partner Machinery

You can purchase a certain item that will evolve your partner machinery into a different model including this model already featured in Ambition of Illuminus.

New Bosses

Bil Degoras

Bil Degolas

Phantasy Star Portable introduces the new Boss named “Bil Degoras”. This horned beast is found somewhere in the caves of Moatoob. When it strikes the ground, small creatures will arise from the earth to attack!

Helga

Helga Neumann

You will fight Helga in her SEED form. But what is her special relationship with the SEED?

Vivienne!?

A shocking twist! Vivienne can also be a boss depending on your actions in story mode. Watch out for her SUV attack!

Weapon System

PSUPedia has compiled a list of new weapons that will appear in the game. These weapons are currently exclusive to the portable version. With all the weapons and items included from both Phantasy Star Universe and its expansion pack, this game will have the most items available.

Rare Drops

Rare items now drop to all players in Multi-Mode. If you are hunting for a certain rare weapon, you will not need to worry if someone else gets your item. All party members will get the same item! Also enemies and boxes will only drop weapons and shields, including photon art disks. To make things even easier, you will no longer need to find materials to synthesize weapons.

Weapon Grinding

The grind system allows you to upgrade the strength of a weapon that you have. In portable, you will no longer ever fail a weapon. Instead, the strength and PP that is added to a weapon is now randomized.

[via JP Phantasy Star Portable Site Translation w/banken & Espio Kaos Translations of Shougai PSO]