Phantasy Star Universe announced for 360

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http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2006/4/19-40

SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that Phantasy Star™ Universe will be available on the Xbox 360™. Scheduled for release in Fall 2006, the highly-anticipated role playing game (RPG) will release on multiple platforms including the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system and PC. Phantasy Star Universe offers two complete RPG experiences – a single-player action adventure spanning multiple planets, and a robust online multiplayer component that will support Xbox Live®.
Since its humble beginnings in 1988, Phantasy Star has revolutionized the RPG genre by creating new standards through innovative gameplay and online capability. Phantasy Star Universe offers a compelling story, both offline and online, that rebuilds the foundation of role-playing games with stunning cut scenes, sharply drawn personalities, and a cohesive narrative. This game revitalizes the Phantasy Star brand heritage while staying true to its roots.

"The reinvigoration of this beloved franchise on the Xbox 360 signifies another step for SEGA towards next-gen leadership," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Entertainment Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "Phantasy Star has a rich history, and now with Phantasy Star Universe in support of the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, gamers can enjoy a fantasy role-playing experience of unprecedented depth both online with their friends, and offline in the robust single-player game."

Developed by SEGA Studios, Phantasy Star Universe offers long-time fans the single-player experience they have been clamoring for. The solo adventure features more than 40 hours of gameplay, an emotionally engaging story, stunning cut scenes, and a strong cast of characters with very distinctive personalities. The title's hero is Ethan Waber, a 17-year old cadet who begins his epic journey by first rescuing his sister at the GUARDIANS, a colony under siege by mysterious life forms known as THE SEED.

In Online Mode, players are given the opportunity to create their own characters from a range of races, as they explore all three planets in the Gurhal system. Fans can travel with their friends as a squad of six adventurers, enter urban sprawls teeming with hundreds of other players, and build their avatars into powerful warriors.

Key Product Features:

• Epic Story: Phantasy Star Universe offers a suspenseful single player adventure that fans have been clamoring for.
• Phantasy Star Brand Heritage: Since 1988, the franchise has evolved, and produced seven series to date – building itself as one of the most well established RPG franchises.
• Real-time battles where players choose their own strategies: Choose from over 200 weapon variations in over 20 weapon categories for melee, technique, or ranged-type combat. Players can also select numerous Photon Arts to defeat enemies.
• World Class Score: Soundtrack produced by premier orchestras and vocals from Poland, Hollywood, and New York.
• Online Gameplay: Offering the Best of Both Worlds
- Multiplayer: Create a squad of up to six players to explore the universe and conquer quests.
- Endless gameplay: In addition to over 40 hours of offline gameplay, gamers can spend endless hours online customizing characters, searching for rare items, leveling up, and joining friends for exhilarating new quests.
• Variety in transportation: Player-controlled vehicles offer a new type of gameplay for the Phantasy Star franchise.
• Character Customization: Go beyond standard customization for your character with precise measurements, an endless color palette, and outlandish outfits.
• Massive enemies: Over 20 unique enemy species, totaling over 200 enemy variations.
Click to expand...
 
40 hours of gameplay! Great! I'm getting sick and tired (truly!) of 100+ hour games. I just can't finish them given (1) other, more pressing matters in my life relative to the overall narrative of the game - by hour 80, it's been 2 months or more, so the beginning of the story is alien to me, and (2) so many good other games coming out to vie for my time.

Is there any indication that this will play like PSO? (not 3, but 1&2)
 
[quote name='mykevermin']Is there any indication that this will play like PSO? (not 3, but 1&2)[/quote]

Best move Sega has made in a long, long time.

From everything I've read, the game will return to the more hack-n-slash style of fighting found in Episodes 1 and 2. But there will be a more deep combat system.

Also, players will be able to ride in individual and group vehicles.
 
PSO was kind of fun until cheating hit. This game didn't seem too fun though, especially when you take away the multiplayer aspect. Tried it out during E3 last year for the ps2 and everything was pretty barren =(
 
I called this one a year ago when they announced it wouldn't hit in time for holiday 2005.

You can't do justice to an online franchise like PSO with >1 year of major support from the manufacturer. It just doesn't make sense. The PS2 will sell games for years and years but PSO is a franchise loved by the truly hardcore, not casuals.

If the hardcore have moved on to the 360 and are upgrading to the PS3 or Revolution you're killing potential sales. Since the 360 launched I have not purchased an Xbox, PS2 or GCN game and won't unless they're >$20. As much as I loved PSO there was a really good chance I'd skip a PS2 full price game when the 360 is going to be on 2nd generation games.

Even if it's an almost identical port, which I suspect it will be, I'd rather play it on Live and the 360 than the PS2's garbage online system.
 
[quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']
You can't do justice to an online franchise like PSO with >1 year of major support from the manufacturer.

Since the 360 launched I have not purchased an Xbox, PS2 or GCN game and won't unless they're >$20. [/QUOTE]

You mean < (less than) 1 year and and < (less than) $20 right? - because your signs are wrong.

Anyways, I don't care about the online portion - although I'll give it a try - but the 40-hour offline portion with full-fledged story is what is exciting to me. Phantasy Star I, II & IV are some of my all-time favorite RPGs. Nei > Aeris!
 
[quote name='Beana Blasta']god dammit, now i may have to buy a 360[/QUOTE]

[quote name='bisquit']OMG!!!!!! this may be the finally push i needed to get a 360[/QUOTE]

really? this? ya know its gonna be on PC too, you could save yourself a couple hundred bucks.


i wonder if this is the big rpg they were talking about a couple of months ago, the one that would sell 500,000 (i still think that sounded low) if it were on ps2
 
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