Phantasy Star Cave Message Board

Hello everyone. I am new to these forums as you might could guess. I've been lurking here for a few months while I've been playing the Phantasy Star games in order. I'm currently on 3.

Well. I've got a lot of questions about the online game that I've not really been able to find just by browsing. I'm not new to MMORPG's, I've played FFXI, WoW, and some of the free ones, like FLYFF, Corum, and Rappelz. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to games.

Anyways, I've recently acquired some funds, and I'm planning on getting myself an Xbox 360, and I noticed that Phantasy Star Online was released on the Regular X-box. Will it play on the 360 ?

Is there a difference between Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Universe ? the on-line aspect, I mean.

Is the user-interface complicated or annoying ? How do levels progress and skills develope ?
Is there room for "individuality" without being "gimped", especially in the end-game ?

What kind of player base is there ? Will I log in and be alone ?

I appreciate any answers I can get,
Nat.

I'm planning on getting myself an Xbox 360, and I noticed that Phantasy Star Online was released on the Regular X-box. Will it play on the 360 ?

It's not in the compatibility list of XBox games, so it might not. And even if it did, I'm not sure if you'd be able to play it, as it requires an XBox Live account, which it may not be able to detect in XBox legacy mode.

Is there a difference between Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Universe ? the on-line aspect, I mean.

The fundamental idea is the same; kill monsters in teams. But the implementation is very different.

In Phantasy Star Online, you have ships that are divided into blocks. Blocks have multiple lobbies, but they are all small rooms, where people can meet and create or join a game. Creating a game is like creating a small self-contained universe for you to play in.

In Phantasy Star Universe, you have universes. In these universes, you have many lobbies spread throughout. They are connected by areas where people take missions to enter the areas where the enemies roam. Taking a mission creates a team with its own pocket universe of its associated area.

Is the user-interface complicated or annoying ?

PSO's interface is fairly simple and to the point. PSU's is more complex and a little clumsy at times.

How do levels progress and skills develope ?

In both games, you increase levels by getting experience points from killing monsters.

As for skills, there are no true skills in PSO. But you do have Techniques, which are learned through Technique disks. Technique disks also serve to level up your Techniques, as they teach a specific Technique of a specific level.

In PSU you have Photon Arts, divided into three categories. Skills are special attacks to use with your bladed weapons. Bullets are used with ranged weaponry to add elemental damage and status effects to your attacks. TECHNICs are basically the Techniques of PSO, but they are assigned to wands and rods.

Levelling up Photon Arts is done by using them a lot. Each usage nets you some experience with it, and it levels up when it reaches 100% for that level.

Is there room for "individuality" without being "gimped", especially in the end-game ?

I haven't been playing for that long compared to others, but I would say there is. There are a lot of class types to choose from, and they're all viable to use.

What kind of player base is there ? Will I log in and be alone ?

The only way to play PSO online these days is through the private server. It supports the Dreamcast, GameCube and PC versions. Most people play with PSO: Blue Burst. There's a decent player base even today.

For Phantasy Star Universe it depends what platform you play it on.

The PS2 and PC versions use the same servers, so they can play together. But even together the community isn't that large. The fact that PSU's lobbies are scattered all over the place doesn't help.

The XBox 360 version has its own server, and there's a fair amount of players playing on it.

By the way, most fans of the games don't consider them to be MMORPGs, due to the lack of one persistent world. They consider it an online RPG.

PSOX should run on the 360 (Dont have either on so I cannot verify) and also the PSOX servers are down for good. PSO and PSU are simular, but not exactly the same.

PSOX doesn't run on 360.

So, I'm pretty much too late for Phantasy Star Online ? My PS2 doesn't hook up online. IT doesn't have an HD or a modem or anything, so I'll be playing Universe on the Xbox-360.

I've already made up my mind pretty much to get Universe. I'm also definitely going to look into these private servers, and see if it's at all possible to play Online. I feel like I missed out on something good, and if there's any way I could play it, I'll do what I have to.

My computer should be able to run the game. Thanks for the answers. If I may ask a few more...

What kind of quests or missions are there ? How does the story line progress ?

How well does either game, Universe or Online, play as a solo player ? What I mean is, If i get on-line with either game, and no one's there, will I still be able to level up and do the quests or advance the story line ?

If I get PSO, It'll be on my computer, so what is the difference between the different versions ? Like, episodes 1-2, and the Blue Burst ? Will I miss anything depending on which one I get ?

That's all I can think of right now Thanks again for all the answers.
Nat.

blue burst is is ep 1 and 2 with new weapons, a new episode and improved special effects.

Nate556 wrote:What kind of quests or missions are there ?

PSO: kill all monsters, kill the boss, retrieve items/people, escort, reach goal under time limit, and some more.

PSU: kill all monsters, kill the boss.

How does the story line progress ?

PSO: you read the messages left by an important person while going through the areas. The quests at the Hunter's Guild uncover a lot more plot. There isn't really an online story, but there are a couple of online-only single-player quests that are plot-related.

PSU: Episode 1 plays like a regular RPG, with lots of battles and cut-scenes, divided into chapters. Episode 2 and 3 function as special quests with a lot of dialogue with two trials and some boss fights thrown in.

How well does either game, Universe or Online, play as a solo player ?

PSO: you can play solo online just fine, but you won't have access to the Hunter's Guild quests from single-player.

PSU: Episode 2 and 3 are available as single-player quests online.

If I get PSO, It'll be on my computer, so what is the difference between the different versions ?

Phantasy Star Online for the Dreamcast was the original.

Phantasy Star Online Ver.2 added:

• Battle Mode
• Challenge Mode
• Ultimate difficulty mode
• LV200 cap
• more rare items
• soccer lobbies
• Dressing Room feature
• LV16-30 Techniques (Forces only)

Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II added

• Episode II
• three new character classes (HUcaseal, RAmarl, FOmar)
• offline multi-player
• more rare items
• new lobbies

The character classes were also rebalanced, but I'll save you the details unless you're interested.

Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst adds

• new single-player government quests
• Episode IV
• more rares
• team system

It should also be noted that this version can't be played offline.

You won't miss anything, or much, by picking up PSO: Episode I & II (GameCube, XBox) or PSO: Blue Burst (PC).

Nate556 wrote:So, I'm pretty much too late for Phantasy Star Online ? My PS2 doesn't hook up online. IT doesn't have an HD or a modem or anything, so I'll be playing Universe on the Xbox-360.

Well, the Hard Drive wont make a difference for PS2 since PSU does not support it. If you are going to be playing online, then I can see the no modem thing being a problem.