Phantasy Star Universe On Demand; PSPo2 Challenge 2 Stage 4 and ESRB

Today's major announcement; Phantasy Star Universe for Xbox 360 will be available for Games on Demand. Though the current price isn't mentioned, it will finally put an end to those who can no longer find the game in retail stores. Though this problem never existed for the PC version, (Thanks to the internet…), but still, it's nice to know that newcomers have a chance to actually play the game. Ambition of Illuminus remains free and must be downloaded in order to play the game online.

[via segaforums]

Challenge 2-4

On July 28th, 2010 a new challenge mission will be released. Known as チャレンジⅡ ステージ4・金轟 Challenge Season II Stage 4: Gold Roar. This mission features the boss Duga Dunga, as well as several gimmicks you have to overcome. In order to play this mission you must pass the previous 3 challenge missions in Season 2. This mission is available for the Japanese Phantasy Star Portable 2.

 

Phantasy Star Portable 2 Rated T for Teen

The ESRB has rated Phantasy Star Portable 2 T for Teen. Just for fun, we'll take a look at their description of the game:

This is a role-playing game in which players engage in combat and complete quests to advance a storyline about a planet attempting space travel and domination. Players roam through new territories and battle dragons, demons, and other creatures. Players can slash at enemies with swords and shoot at them with futuristic guns. Damage is usually indicated by a blinking effect, puffs/sparks, and brief cries of pain.

Some female characters wear revealing outfits, or their breasts jiggle when they move. During the course of the game, characters engage in dialogue that is occasionally suggestive (e.g., "Perhaps you can get it up, too" and "I always liked having you on top"). The storyline includes a long discussion about a man's bar tab and a couple of scenes involving a champagne-bottle weapon. [ESRB]

Some females wear revealing outfits? Oh ya? Wait till they see… I do like suggestive lines and all which I can assume the examples above may be between between Crouch and Ursula.  Then of course the champagne bottle weapon is one of Chelsea's SUV Weapons which she only uses during one awesome cutscene.

 

Phantasy Star Universe Cosplay

With Comic Con going on, I was wondering if anyone dressed up as Phantasy Star characters, please send them in if you do. On a random search through the depths of the Internet I found some pretty accurate designs of outfits from PSU+AOTI characters. They even made sure to get Maya's "proportions" correct… Can you spot Lil' Hyuga?

[via gensoumelody]

Festival and Summer

Sakai gives us some close up shots of the new items and weapons released last week. Interestingly enough the male character makes sure to never "moon" the camera.

Male wearing the Light Festival Loincloth with a Lantern TCSM

 

Female wearing her School Bathing Suit while carrying a Watergun

[via pspo2blog]

  • Next time we'll feature some of our favorite items in the item design contest.

Phantasy Star Portable 2: Challenge 3 Stage 3; Sakai Interview

  • Corrected typo from handheld market to console market.

What will Sakai do Next; Part something…

I always like reading the "What Sakai will do next" entries but as usual they are vague and open for interpretation. If you haven't been keeping track, so far we know the next Phantasy Star game will not be a PSPo2 port to PC/Console. In addition, the game will be something "brand new" that may somehow commemorate PSO's 10th anniversary.

Shougai PSO linked to an interview with the man behind Phantasy Star's current generation, Satoshi Sakai. This time he sorta kinda answers questions regarding PSO's 10th anniversary. We also learn of some interesting little tidbits about age groups.

Game Bridge: What was the aim for switching over to Phantasy star Portable?

Satoshi Sakai: Porting to Phantasy Star Portable was decided when I was in the process of making PSU. During those times, players were experiencing the Game Cube version of Phantasy Star Online. Since multiplayer games were great around that time, […] there was the idea of having a portable version. Though usually the age group in the handheld market is young [kids], yet when "Phantasy Star Portable 1" came out,  the age range was higher.  Also there's the thought about "wanting a PC version, Console version, etc etc…" We want the  "Phantasy Star" brand as something that should be seen for a long period of time, so that everyone [of all ages] can become familiar with it.

Game Bridge: Is it possible you will return to the console market*?

Satoshi Sakai: I don't know… (laughs) Since this year is Phantasy Star Online 10th anniversary I want to start something big…

 

OK so there you have it, I guess we can expect to see something huge for Phantasy Star in the future since he dodged the question. He could have just said Yes or No, but notice how he transitions quickly to PSO10th anniversary out of nowhere…. You can of course interpret this quote any way you want, it's up to you. Additionally we can make an assumption that the next generation of Phantasy Star games will try to cover all bases again, PC version, Console version, Portable versions, you name it.  But there's more…

 

Gamebridge: So there's a desire for  younger players to know about Phantasy Star?

Sakai: Phantasy Star Portable 1's player base was considerably young. As for  Phantasy Star Portable 2 player base, there's many high school students.

 

Gamebridge: What is the age range for PSU players?

Sakai: Naturally there's middle and high school students, but the median seems to be in their 20's.

 

Gamebridge: Did the direction of the game change  when it transitioned from Hardware to Handheld?

Sakai: At first I was going to do a direct port of PSU, but by looking at the situation of PSU and the characteristics of the handheld gaming system, we had to come to a decision. Looking at PSU, there are too many MMO aspects  [to place within the portable version] so we had to make the game simpler. If anything, the handheld games are more closer in respects to PSO.

I did notice the age range for NA/EU PSU seems to be around 18, but also I do like the comparison of the Portable games with PSO. No more than 4 players in a party? I don't think that was a hardware limitation at all.

[via shougaipso] [thanks yuki for translation help]

Challenge 2 Stage 3

Tomorrow, what's being dubbed as Challenge (Season 2), we will see a brand new mission titled; チャレンジⅡ ステージ3・絶影 Shadow Suppression. This mission you are tasked with protecting an object from being damaged by enemies. To make this mission harder, there will also be invisible enemies…  You can download this mission automatically by signing into Phantasy Star Portable 2 Internet Multimode, otherwise  you can download it from here.

 

Guardians Advanced Content

If all goes as planned, Monday July 19th – July 20th, will mark the first days for the Supplemental update coming to the Xbox 360 PSU servers. The update will be applied after the extended maintenance…  Enjoy!

Phantasy Star Portable 2: Wandering Peddler 3

On June 30th, 2010, a new exchange mission さすらいの星間行商人【第3弾】 Wandering Interstellar Peddler 3 will be delivered to the Japanese Phantasy Star Portable 2. You can exchange various items to receive weapons and parts. This mission can be accessed via Story Mode > 交換ミッション Exchange Mission.

Winter is no match for Bruce's baldness.

 

ネオルウ・レプカ (Neo Lou Repca)

 

Items Requirements
ネオルウ・レプカ
Neo Lou Repca
フォトンクリスタルx12
P. Crystal 12
フォトンブースターx5
P.Booster 5
ハンドスピアS
Hand Spear S
フォトンコードx10
P.Code x 10
ライアアックス
Laia Axe
フォトンスフィアx12
P. Sphere 12
フォトンブースターx9
P.Booster 9 
ヤスミノコフ9000改
Yasminokov 9000R
フォトンコードx30
P.Code x 30
ザ・タロット
The Tarot
 フォトンクリスタルx12
P. Crystal 12
フォトンブースターx6
P.Booster 6
Tヤスミノコフ2000H
Twin Yasminokov2000H
フォトンスフィアx12
P. Sphere 12
フォトンブースターx5
P.Booster 5
ヤスミノコフ2000H
Yasminokov2000H
フォトンスフィアx12
P. Sphere 12
フォトンブースターx5
P.Booster 5
ヤスミノコフ3000
Yasminokov3000
フォトンスフィアx24
P. Sphere 24
フォトンブースターx12
P.Booster 12
ガルド・ミラ
Guld & Milla
フォトンコードx25
P.Code x 25
  • You can obtain Photon Code (P.Code) and Photon Boosters by playing Maximum Attack X マキシマムアタッククロス missions as well as Famitsu Maximum Attack ファミ通マキシマムアタック.

Notice 6/30/2010

There is an issue where the PSP shuts off during gameplay. This issue occurs to some users in Internet Multimode when the party is disbanded.  The current workaround for this issue, all members in the party (other than the leader) should leave first and return to the title menu. The leader should then disband the party. This issue is under current investigation.

  • Can't connect to Internet Multimode? Remember to update your PSP firmware to 6.30.
  • Gamestop has changed the release date for US version of PSPo2 9/14/2010.

[via pspo2 blog]