Phantasy Star Online 2 Magazine Info Roundup

Information Magazine Roundup taken from Shougai.

So far we know the Oracle fleet can travel to different planets, but what about a few planets we're already familiar with. In an interview with Famitsu, Sakai dropped a few hints that we may likely cross the Ragol and Gurhal Solar Systems.

Famitsu asked if PSO2 will have some connection with PSU/PSO. Although Sakai being tight lipped about the whole endeavor he did say that maybe this star fleet could potentially reach Ragol and Gurhal to a degree. (It appears they may have some future plans to add some form of them into the game, but nothing is certain. Though this reminds us of when they wrote how PSPo3 (Victory) should take place in a new setting.)

Each game server is called, "World" and there will be multiple "Worlds" to choose from. Each World is independent from the other, and thus you can not "exchange" with a different world.  When you start the game you choose a world and create a character, but you can make different characters in different worlds. They are considering giving you the ability to move your character into another world (not certain yet.)

For now, there are three races, but there's a possibility that we could see more.

As you earn EXP, your class level rises, when you level up you acquire "points." By using these points you can learn class skills, and these class skills are for your current class. You can not use a class skill designated for one class to another. Even if you reach the maximum level you can not acquire all the skills. So you should choose the skills that you want. They are considering plans to be able to redoing your skill tree.

Wired lance: You can't throw the larger sized enemies. According to Dengeki, the Wired Lance can do something else other than flinging enemies, it can tear off a part of the body. Perhaps you may have to rip parts of enemy's armor to expose its weak point? [shougai]

Rod: You can link 3 kinds of techs, and for the linked techs you can charge them. For example; by charging, the power of the technic changes, the effective range changes, and the effect changes. However the PP consumed does not change with a charged Technic.

Technics: You learn them by acquiring the disk. But each disk has a stat requirement in order for you to learn it, say for example, you need atleast 50TEC to learn this technic. There are no limits to the number of Techs you can learn. They are considering whether you should be able to transfer techs to other players. High level disks are dropped by enemies, low level disks can be obtained in tutorials and such.

Jump: During a jump you can perform a normal attack, just attack, or photon art. During a jump the original combo and techs behavior will change (for example the range of the attack). There are some enemies where you can only jump on their backs if they have collapsed, however some other enemies will allow you to jump on them while they are standing.

Original Combo: You can set up the first / second / and third photon art to perform your original combo. Like; 1: Tornado Break 2: Spinning Break 3: Gravity Dance. It's even possible to weave in normal attacks.

Makes sense now does it!

Interrupt Event: There will also be "rare events" as well the usual random events. The enemy level may suddenly change and can create for a more difficult battle, but if you fail the conditions of the interrupt event, you will receive no penalty. You will receive reward items for successfully completing it.

Incapacitation: The end result grade will drop based on the amount of incapacitation one has. Each result is independent from the other player. So if Player A dies many times, it won't affect the results of Player B who didn't die.

Photon Sensitive Effect: When you continuously defeat enemies your PSE  has a chance of activating. When this happens your EXP, Drop Rate, and Meseta rate can increase. If you acquire an "Evolution Drop" from an enemy you can get even more bonuses applied to your EXP, Drop Rate, and Meseta. If PSE occurs consecutively, you can get a PSE Burst which increases the drop rate and the number of enemies that appears in a huge amount. PSE Burst can be extended by killing more enemies.

Multiparty: You can have multiple players up to 12 participate. But they don't necessarily have to be 3 parties of 4 people. It can be 12 parties of 1 person. You can also set up and shuffle the parties each member is in at the area, so If I'm in party A, I can be shuffled to party C. While you are in a multiparty area, your support technic only applies to your own party, but some technics from other parties can affect your party. (No details about which Technics yet.)

Drop Items: Each player sees their own drops, the system is similar to PSZero and PSP2i.

Units: You can have units for the arm, back, and leg. Some things can be used as an additional part for the costume, so when you equip it you may see a visual change. These units can do things like increase defense and attribute rate.

Mags: Mags are back but they will not be shown in the Alpha test. Details about them are unknown.

EXP: It is applied when you are within the viewing range of the enemy. If you are too far away you will not get EXP.

Reincarnation: At present this feature does not exist, it may occur in the future but details are unknown.

Visual Lobby: Events and related information will appear on signboard, there will be a theater which is just a huge screen, and it will play videos too.

My Room: They will return but not much details about it for now.

PSP2i DLC MIssion: Festival + GBR August 2011

This morning Sakai updated the details of the GBR for the new few months and a new mission featuring Yaoroz and an extremely long title which we'll shorten to Ceremony of God (If you want to suggest something better comment away). Yes, Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity still exists! Don't give up!

  • Name: 神宴狂瀾の超星霊祭
  • Date: 7/29/2011
  • Mode: Internet Multimode and Multimode

This Super Light Ceremony of the dead is held once every 100 years in Neudaiz. In this mission, you collect as many holy light stones as you can. Hey you may even receive a holy light gift. There is also going to be special bonuses applied like; Drop Rate x2.0 and EXP x1.5. PSST there's a rumor going around that there may or may not be a secret route where a certain man could appear. Hmm.

 

 Battle with Yaoroz

 

May the Holy Light bring you these rewards

 

Maybe you'll get this weapon.

GBR August 2011

  • 7/29 ~ 8/10 蒼海の巨殻 Blue Water Beast C ~ Infinity
  • 8/10 ~ 8/17 星の傷跡 Scared Planet
  • 8/17 ~ 8/24 太古からの侵略者 Ancient Invader
  • 8/24 ~ 8/31 狂う珍獣 Mad Beast

Same bonuses applied, 2x Everything.

 

PSO2 Followup

Now you can download the pamphlet, Sakai previously blurred, as a wallpaper, if you look closely you can see the concept character artwork! This week every game magazine will have an interview with Sakai. The Alpha test will begin sometime in the middle of August. The details will be posted at the official site, please wait a bit longer.

Now you can breathe in the PSO2 Environment (via DarK-SuN)

PSO2 will also be playable at the 2011 Tokyo Game Show. It looks as if the Official Site will update on August 1st, and most likely detail some of the features stated in the new Concept Movie.

Will add more stuff to the previous Phantasy Star Online 2 post once I'm able to.

Phantasy Star Online 2 Features

Good Morning, Phantasy Star Online 2 Official Site updated today. News of the briefing is covered below from both Famitsu and 4gamer.

You, the player, are a member of the planet investigation team called the "Arks." They travel aboard the space fleet "Oracle" to planets unknown. The first planet you visit is called ナベリウス Navelius (sp?). In the forest area, your first job is to defeat the beasts that roam the land who became brutal.

So far the weapon types revealed are Sword (Hunters) Wired Lance (Hunters), Assault Rifle (Rangers) and Gun Slash (All Classes). The Wired Lance acts kind of like a whip but allows it to latch onto enemies and spin them around (like the new AXE PA in PSP2). The Gun Slash acts the way it did in PSZero.

Not only can you play with the GAME PAD, but you can also play with Mouse and Keyboard!

When 4gamer played the game using the gamepad, they had their buttons set for these actions;

  • Using Gamepad Buttons
    • Normal Attack
    • PA/TECHNIC
    • Selection/Item Pickup,
    • Jump/Cancel.
  • Using L buttons
    • Lock On/Off
    • Sub Palette Access (L1)
  • Left Stick
    • Character Movement
    • Auto Run (When Pressed in)
  • Right Stick
    • Camera Movement
    • POV Change (When Pressed in)
  • Arrow Key
    • Change Action Palette (Up / Down)
    • Sub Action Palette Target Change(Left/Right)

 Visual Lobby

 

Random Field

Randomly generated fields occur every time you step foot. From the enemies that appear, to the typography of the terrain, to even the events that occur within the mission. You can enjoy fresh gameplay each time.

 

Interrupt Events

Surprising events can occur during a run. Situations like, "Kill a number of a certain enemy, or save an ally from the enemy's trap."

 

Multiparty Areas

PSO2 introduces Multi Party areas, allowing multiple parties at the same time. You can have up to 12 players in one area.

 

 Original Combo

You can set weapons and items and quickly access them from the action palette. When you set a weapon in palette, you can setup an "original combo" to perform your own moves.

 

(We're not entirely sure the meaning behind this picture, but the title of the window is called, "Main Palette Customize." On the left side in the first slot, it shows the Sword icon. In other screenshots this sword icon is set to the L or Left Mouse Button. The 3 icons are displayed on the Right Mouse Button. Possibly you can rearrange these icons to set up the combo.)

 

Jump

 

 

This allows you to jump into the air and attack enemies from above. You can also jump over various terrain, utilize it for strategic attacks like sniping enemies from above.

 

TPS Style

You can use third person shooting to snipe at enemies. In this style, the camera will shift behind you so you can aim precisely at, for example, enemies dropping eggs, or aiming for a head shot.

 

Levels and Skills

The general concept of character levels do not exist in PSO2.* Instead PSO2 will use your class level. When you increase your class level, you can learn skills to enable further character growth.

(Update: We've checked three sources all saying the same thing, character levels don't exist. キャラクターレベルの概念はなく,クラスと呼ばれる職業のレベルのみとなる。クラスレベルを上げるとスキルを習得可能で,キャラクターを成長させていけるわけだ。)

Players can further enhance their character by selecting skills, for example:

  • Guard > Just Guard > Just Guard Master > Just Guard Stun.
  • Step > Step Attack > Step Advance.
  • War Cry
  • Guard Stance > Guard Stance Up > Guard Stance Heal
  • HP Up > HP Up 2 > HP Up 3

4gamer stated that after they learned the Guard skill, they were able to utilize it by pressing SHIFT.

 

Also in the skill tree screenshot, the hunter class is selected in yellow, the ranger and force class are also level 01. Perhaps you can change classes on the fly. We also note there's a Main Class, which is currently selected as Hunter, and a sub class.

 

Enemy

The larger enemies are ferocious, they could even grab a hold of you and throw you. As for the dragon, once it has collapsed, for the first time you are able to jump onto its back and attack its weak point directly!

 

 Weapon Types

Gun Slash (All Classes)

The gun slash allows you to shoot and attack enemies. You can switch over your action by pressing the SHIFT key. This weapon allows you the ability of comboing melee attacks with ranged attacks and finishing it off with a special PA attack (Right mouse button).  The range for this weapon is short, and is unreliable against  many enemies if you are soloing.  Its attack speed is fast and the gun's firepower is not as powerful as the Assault Rifle.

 

 

Wired Lance (Hunter)

The Wired Lance has a wide attack range but it has slow attack speed. You wave this weapon (like a whip) to attack about 5 steps ahead of you. You can also grab onto enemies with this weapon and spin them around in a circle.

 

 Recovery Items

According to 4gamer in their playthrough of the game, when they used a recover item, they had to stand still for a brief moment. This might be a concern for you if you are surrounded by powerful enemies. It might be a better opportunity to be healed by a force instead of using a mate.

 

Character Creation

At the character creation screen, you can choose one of 3 races, Human, Newman, or Cast. In the next screen you choose your class, Hunter, Ranger, or Force. Character creation is robust allowing you to customize various parts of the body freely. Now you have infinite freedom to create the character you want!

 

We saw sliders for eyes, ear length and direction, nose and mouth, bust size, arm size and length, leg size and length. We also saw the ability to use hairstyles, beards, tattoos, and even stickers to place on your outer armor.

When they demonstrated character creation they went through several different looks from a young boy, to an old man, to a black muscular fat guy. According to 4gamer's observation, you can add up to 3 accessories, and choose among 17 different voices.

 

 

This screen shows the many Stickers and Body Paints you can add.

 

For example, after selecting the CAST Race, you can select Hunter, Ranger, or Force class. (This means the whole concept of restricted character classes is thrown out the window! 🙂  FoCast FTW)

With the Cast parts, you can customize different parts of the body, like the head, arm, legs, body, and the parts size.  In addition you can color the main body of the armor with several different sub colors.

 

Well I'm sold. 😀