Portable Star Online

[Blank]

So PS0 is out. As someone who still plays PSO:BB on schtserv I've been looking forward to this release. PSU was a big let down, making the once fun and simple PSO into another typical, boring MMO. I've heard decent things about Universe Portable but overall it doesn't sound much different to me. Got my hands on PS0, hopefully it'll be a pleasant experience. If anyone else still cares about this series I'll get my friend code up eventually.

New character designs are rather nice, nothing fresh but charming. Haven't played very far, but overall I like many of the new changes. Items drop for every player, weapons and spells can be charged for different effects (Like charged Anti becoming reverser), photon drops and weapon customization overall seems more common, and the battle mechanic changes seem logical and more balanced (Though balanced doesn't always mean fun). Like for one, weapon effects are now random rather then you being allowed to assign them to a button. So you're not going to be immobilizing enemies intentionally, at least I haven't been with my Twin Ice Fire. Thats really okay with me considering weapons such as Spread Needle and Snow Queen were way overpowered and EZ-mode in PSO. Weapons also now have chargeable photon arts, which I haven't found useful in the slightest yet but it could change. I sort of wish elemental effects were assigned to photon arts to give them some use. Immobilizing might not be so great if it had charge time.

So far the maps aren't anything stellar, but they aren't the bland and empty maps seen in PSU. Hopefully the maps will eventually have more eye candy. I still don't understand why these games never have jumping or platforming of any kind. It really can't be all that hard and would make levels a ton more interesting. That aside, the bosses have a little more wow factor and overall the game has been a rewarding experience. One issue I have is that there doesn't seem to be different difficulty modes. It'd really be a shame if I have to spend a few levels on one area, only to move on to the next area and spend another x number of levels there until eventually more then half the stages aren't worth playing anymore besides the end-game stuff. Hopefully quests will separate difficulty levels and create the bulk of the game's variety. Another thing I've noticed is that rather then a true online server, the game has pre-scripted events like Pokemon that I'm sure will be held in the future where you can enter a code to the vendor to get free items or goodies.

Really though, the game doesn't add much new to the PSO formula but does a good job of replicating the familiar item variety and addicting, rewarding gameplay so far. No tedious item-fetching or micro-managing of your inventory to make weapons like in PSU, and haven't run into a quest thats just a pure grind your way to a mediocre boss fight chore. The music and style was a little unsettling at first, doesn't have that nice timeless feel but it still has its quirks. Music especially has some SEGA quality to it, but its rather soft and I haven't bothered messing with BGM options yet. Graphics are a little underwhelming, but I expected as much and so long as I can still have fun watching enemies die in mass freezing gunfire then I'm satisfied.

May not be the great times of PSO, but its still a fun little portable expedition. So far I've stuck to my guns and am taking RAMar's new place as lowest stat total like a soldier, with a cute RAceseal put off to the side. I won't find much time to party in the next few weeks, but I'd be happy to later. Though I know the GHZ consists of a lot of UK folk and the game's release won't be til yonder over there.

[Blank]

Another thing I forgot to add and have been noticing lately, mob placement is just lame. I'm actually lamenting getting my hands on a nice shot or needle simply because the spawns are just so simple. Cluster of five here, group of five or so afterwards, few stragglers in wide open area etc. Nothing as interesting as ep.2 or 4 and no strategy involved like with Towers. Forget lining them up for pierce, lily formations or traps/ambushes. Enemies are spawned for you to kill, and then move on to the next group of enemies or be rewarded with a box in the center of the room usually. I sincerely hope it improves along with the maps.

[Dasher]

Its a charming game, I'm really enjoying it ATM...one question can you trade items in this game? I already have a lot of stuff id like to trade.

I love how they want to stress that this is PSO's love child.





It truly feels like a cute PSO handheld, much more fun than PSU that's for sure..ugh...not that PSU is fun at all I quit that game ages ago *shivers*.

Its not a button smasher at all attacks must be timed like in PSO and the return of, Photon Drops, Monofluids, monogrinders ect..!!

[Radrappy]

I played the import a few months ago and loved it. It does everything right where PSU did everything terribly and painfully wrong.

[Neo]

I haven't played much PSO in recent times (I have an account on schtserv), but I've already ordered this. Opinions seem to be mixed, so I'm not sure what to expect just yet.

One issue I have is that there doesn't seem to be different difficulty modes.

Hard mode is unlocked at Lv. 30 and Super Hard mode at Lv. 60. In offline mode, I think you have to clear all the quests.

Though I know the GHZ consists of a lot of UK folk and the game's release won't be til yonder over there.

Anyone with half a brain and a credit card will import the first version with english text instead of waiting another three months. I still can't get around how the japanese version was released for Christmas 2008 and how it took them a year to release it elsewhere.

[Dasher]

Did the Japanese version had English text option?

Also I need a MAG guide fast!

[Neo]

http://www.pso-world.com/

[Dasher]

Thanks youre a life saver!

[Radrappy]

So having put a few more hours into the game (6 to be exact) I wanted to share some thoughts. I've only played single player thus far so keep that in mind.

+ Love the level designs. There are a number of things that were done to spice up levels and keep them from being just rooms with enemies. (spikes, exploding crates, turrets that fire a spread of bullets when slashed)

+ Love the enemy designs (orangutans with automatics!)

+ Loved the first two bosses (especially that the octopus had a very specific weak point).

+ Love the combat improvements made while retaining the basic structure of PSO's carefully timed attacks.

+ Love the rolling dodge, the chain combos, and photon arts.

+ Love the music and atmosphere of levels.

+ picto chat

+ Charming single player mode characters and surprisingly competent dub.

+ Love the enemy/player animations for the most part.

- Hate having to equip while standing still. This was a really important part of PSO's gameplay especially during bosses. It's really vital to be able to switch gear on the fly while still being able to dodge attacks. This is something that really should have been implemented given the fact that the game works with a dual screen interface.

- Hate how every weapon is ornately decorated and looks like a rare, even the earliest ones. In PSO there was a great system of visual identification with weapons where the only difference between a class of weapons as they improved was the color of the photon. That way when you finally did get a rare, it was impressive.

-Hated the third boss. Might give it another try online and see if the experience improves.


I'll post more thoughts as they come. I meant to go to bed last night at 1:00 AM but ended up playing this until 4. Thoroughly enjoyable so far.

[Xyton]

My very, very initial impressions: I'm kinda disappointed with the character creation system. One of the things I really impressed me about PSO back in the day was the flexibility you had for your character, and say what you will about PSU, but that's one area I thought they improved even further. Then this drops, and while I wasn't expecting it to be PSU-level, I am surprised that you don't get a color pallet for your hair at the very least. There are "only" 180 visual combos per class (I'm not including voice or mag color), which is not small, and it's not gonna ruin the game or anything, but it does seem rather inflexible by comparison. Maybe you get more options when you play more. On the up side, the graphic engine seems pretty competent, and the controls seem good from what little I've played.

Off to sink my teeth into story mode!

[Dasher]

OMG, there's a gun in this game so big you wont believe your eyes! hahaha You get it from a boss.

Im in love with this game, it keeps getting better and better as you go, careful when you feed your MAG its easy to lose a good weapon.

My favorite Photonblasts are Pacifal a Black Robot Bat thing that flies in circles and Granir some Red Horse thing that charges foward.

[Dasher]

Uniting Photon blast gauges is amazing! I activated Granir and my bro added his gauge to mine and the power was so massive it killed the Dragon boss in one hit.

[Radrappy]

It's pretty amazing. I played it with a friend last night and it was orgasmic.

[Arcade]

So, based of people comments, this is a game you should get if you liked PSO, despite the fact that it has some flaws. But, why this and not Phantasy Star Zero?. I have both consoles (A PSP and a DS) and I want to know witch one to get...

[Neo]

I think Arcade just made the most incoherent post I've ever seen him do.

This is a topic about Phantasy Star Zero, not Phantasy Star Universe Portable.

[Dasher]

This is basically PSO ep5, buy it now!

[Xyton]

So I finished making my way through (CAST) story mode last night. Here are some thoughts.

On the upside, the game is fun as it ever was. The levels and enemies are varied and there's a good bit of length to the game. The graphics are nice, and the segregated rooms thing the game has going on works for it very well. I don't know if I like it better that way, but it helps keep you from being able to tell what's the right way and what's a dead end. Also, I don't know if this is going to be true online / with friends, but you don't need to have hit a monster to get experience from it. My guess would be that the rooms allow for that as well. I would love to see that in more games going forward.

On the downside, some of the dialog options seem a bit misleading -- I would sometimes pick an option thinking it meant one thing, but the characters reacted as if it meant completely another. Also, because the character creator is on the more limited side, it would have been awesome if they could have drawn up your character for some of the cutscenes or what have you. Small gripes, though.

Overall I'm enjoying the game so far, and I'm looking forward to trying out online play. I do think the experience would be improved a little for me if it were on a console, but no complaints. Also, the series might be coming back to consoles...? (Jump to 5:49.) That would be cool.

[Dasher]

As long as it is like PSO or PSZ then yes, I would love to see PSZ2 on consoles...or DS again but I really don't like handhelds for one reason..It hurts to play! Ouch my neck!

[Dasher]

Still playing PSZ and I'm not getting tired of it, tried a demo for PSP2 and got tired of it fast! Im looking foward for more Phantasy Zero related games!

[Brazillian Cara]

So, would you guys recommend PSZ to someone that never played a single game of the series?

[Xyton]

I'm not sure. If seen this described as PSO Lite, and that's pretty accurate, I'd say. The story mode is nice while it lasts, but in the end, it's gonna come down to how much you enjoy killing monsters a million times and playing online. If you have people to play with in person, all the better. I'm not a bad entry point, but it's not exactly mind-blowing, either. Is the person in question you? Are there any particular parts of the game you're curious about?

[Brazillian Cara]

Yeah, it's for me. Well, it's not that there was something that picked my interest - I'm not sure how many people I know will get the game, or how much connectivity it has (or even how exactly it works), so I was just wondering if it has an enjoyable 1-player mode with lasting replay value.

And if it's not TOO repetitive, I'm ok with killing that many monsters.

[Xyton]

Well for what it's worth, I did enjoy the story mode, and it's remixed a bit depending on what race you choose. The thing that hurt the replay value the most for me is that apparently on the higher difficulties, insta-kill attacks abound, but the game is still fun, and if you're primarily looking for the solo, that's not likely to enter the picture (and even if you play online, it shouldn't come up until the high levels, or so I'm led to understand). If you like crawling the occasional dungeon, I'd say take a look.

[The Doc]

I barely started playing this game a few weeks ago, but I get so busy that I haven't even had time to start the first quest.