Random Game O' the Day: Phantasy Star Online

[digitalpress]

Day 10.

Though online gaming had been a fair success for many years previous, and is now a staple in many console gamers' gaming diet, it was the Sega Dreamcast that truly brought online interactive play to home consoles. Of the games on the Dreamcast that featured this option, there was arguably none better than Phantasy Star Online, which combined a successful RPG franchise with multi-player real-time fantasy battles. With the aid of a keyboard, the game also created a sense of community.

I met several DP Forum members while playing this game, including one of our mods, Buffy DP, one of our present columnists, Monique Trulson ("A Woman's Touch"), and our resident ninja, SaitoH. The game was later re-released with all of the features of the Dreamcast game (and it's semi-sequel) and lots of new levels and features, but there will always be a place in my heart for this game.

So what are your thoughts? Have you played it? Have you played it ONLINE? Have you made friends, enemies, acquaintances through the online play? How did PSO fare against other "offline" versions of this series? What were the game's strengths and what would you have done to make it better? Write your own mini-review here!

Phantasy Star Online (Dreamcast, by Sega) $4/R1 +
Developed by Sonic Team. Soundtrack by Wave Master. In the last days of Dreamcast, Circuit City was blowing this title out at $9.96. Supports the DC Keyboard. Role-Playing/Third-Person Real-Time. Supports online play. EASTER EGGS: Put the game into a PC CD-ROM drive, and open the folder "/extras". There you'll find some very nice Windows desktop wallpaper. SANTULLI SLANT: A whole lot of my life went into this game, several characters maxed out at level 100, lots of new online friends and unpaid bills, and really long grass outside - where as I understand there were still things happening while I played. The game isn't quite the same without the online features, which left it's mark on the Dreamcast players' world. If you don't own/haven't played either, just jump directly to version 2, since it includes everything from this game and a bunch of nice new features as well. [Gr: 8, So: 8, Ga: 9, Ov: 9] Released 01/30/01.

Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 (Dreamcast, by Sega) $8/R1 +
Developed by Sonic Team. Soundtrack by Wave Master. Supports the DC Keyboard. Role-Playing/Third-Person Real-Time. Supports online play. EASTER EGGS: To see the ending graphics and credits, plug in the Dreamcast keyboard and type "uraending" at the title screen. Released 09/01/01.

[CrazyImpmon]

I'm also PSO fan myself. While I haven't reached level 200 yet, I do have a couple that has passed 100 mark. Now if only I can get online, I could chat with you guys. All I need is a credit cards (no one likes me :P) and a decent GC keyboard.

I still have v1 for DC but I hardly see anyone left last time I checked and I don't even know if the DC server's still on or not anymore.

[maxlords]

Bought it brand spanking new as I'm a big fan of the PS series. Played it for two days to give it a fair chance. Hated everything about it. Played it online, offline, with others. Still hated it. It took all the cool tech from Phantasy Star, threw in a half-assed story and a lot of beastie killing, and a bunch of rude online players, all in one. Shelved it, never played it again. I guess I'm not designed for online play, unlike my DC.

[JWKobayashi]

Ugh...

I played V1 for about 1200-1500 hours (lost the exact count somewhere inbetween) and had a blast every minute. I met people to whom I still talk to online, and one day I wouldn't mind meeting up with. At first it was about the game; finding the new rares, beating Falz on Vhard, playing the damn fun timed online missions. After that got old though... it became the people that kept the game fresh. Even after I had raised 3 or 4 100's and couldn't level up any more, I kept playing. I had all the rares, had beaten everything, but it was the connections to people that brought you back.

Unfortunatly, as most of my online friends upgraded to V2, I played less and less. I had it, but wasn't able to play it online due to my lack of a credit card at the time. Also, the massive delay in V2's release (supposed to come out in June, didn't end up coming out until later in the year... a 'massive delay' for a junkie needing a new fix ;) ) kept interest waning. I never really ended up beating Ultimate or getting a character to 200.

Ah, the day came when the GC version came out. I was so stoked about being able to play it on a broadband connection. Most of my old PSO friends were not Gamecube owners, but big deal, I could make new friends, right? The lack of a keyboard killed this game online for me. It was so frustrating using the stupid oskeyboard, not to mention time consuming. Damn Sega/Nintendo/Ascii/Whoever for not having this for a US launch. I'm sure the game would have done much better had there been one. The only time I really play anymore is when a friend of mine that also plays comes for a lil offline multiplayer.

RIP PSO.

[Ronfar]

PSO was fun for about 3 hours then got real old real quick. I was pretty dissapointed with it.

[Raedon]

I played to lvl 10 and just got so f**king frustrated with the lack of comunication.. If a Keyboard had shipped with the game it would have been more then a weekend $100 waste.

I think the lack of the PSO success (which is because of the keyboard, not the online) gave Nintendo the idea that online was not viable but in fact they neglected to see that online gaming and quick communication (keyboard/headset) is so VERY impotant.

Nintendo has become very short sighted in what the gaming community wants and it's going to kill them. It's like they don't listen to the consumer.

[digitalpress]

Rise from your grave, topic of old!

I declare this to be "Random Game O' the Day REDUX" Day!

Surely more of you have played this. If not the DC version, share your experiences with the GC or Xbox version!

[Gamereviewgod]

*Looks over at sealed copies of both*

*Thinks, realizes he hates RPG's and online games even more.*

*Kepps game sealed.*

[digitalpress]

*Looks over at sealed copies of both*

*Thinks, realizes he hates RPG's and online games even more.*

You're missing out. The game is much more a 3rd-person-view battle royale than it is an RPG, but to really appreciate the battle royale you SHOULD play online.


*Kepps game sealed.*

Added value of sealed PSO: $1.
Added value of sealed PSO v2: $1.
Added value of playing PSO: Priceless.

[Oobgarm]

I've got the Cube version, and I have yet to pop it in and play it. I really want to...but I don't have the time to invest in something like that.

I tried the Dreamcast one when it first launched, I just couldn't get into it. I liked the premise and the way it played, but something kept me from really enjoying it.

The stories I heard about BSOD and PKers kept me from making a second effort.

[sisko]

I played the DC version offline for a little bit and didn't much like it. After lots of pestering from coworkers, I bought it and played it a good deal....both online and off.

I got to level 72 or so and then I started to get really sick of it. Fun game, but only 4 different levels got old. I never bothered to pick up V2 or the new XBox/GCN versions, but thats really because I can't play it online any more.

[Gamereviewgod]

but to really appreciate the battle royale you SHOULD play online.


Kinda hard when it's not online anymore, ain't it?

[tynstar]

I love PSO. I have the Dreamcast ones but have never played them. Captain Nintendi and i play almost every night on the GC version. I am addicted to this game. I have over 1200 hours logged in about a year. I think about it and the game is very repetitive but I can't stop playing. If any one whats to join us we are on Altair block 7 in a game called digitpress.com. We start around 9 PM AZ time.

Here is a list of my characters:
Tynstar-160
Bethany-136
Sif-105
AnukSaNamun-100
Apophis-70
Bra'Tac-55
Ra-34
Blunt Man-1

Characters I have deleted:
Tynstar- 37
Metatron-54
Hathor-57

Maybe one day I will get Tynstar to 200 but that seems to far away.

[captain nintendo]

I have both ver 1 and 2 for the DC, but was late in buying a DC. So I could not enjoy the online aspect of PSO while on the DC. I do have PSO for the GC, and enjoy the hell out of it. Some people might think it is repetitive. And they might be right if they are only playing offline. But so much more content is online. And they add quest every now and again. I have alot of "buddys" online who I quest with. A fellow DP member "tynstar" who is also my real life best friend play almost nightly. The ASC2 keyboard controller rocks. But if you cant spend 90 on a controller then there is always the power board which is about 25. I have 4 characters currently. Captain Nintendo, who is level 132. Serendipity who is 152. Optimus Prime who is level 67 and Shockwave who is 71. I have alot of hours of enjoyment into this and the online aspect of gaming only makes this game better. I agree that Nintendo could have done alot of things better for online gaming. But never the less, PSO is the poo :D

[punkoffgirl]

but to really appreciate the battle royale you SHOULD play online.


Kinda hard when it's not online anymore, ain't it?

If you play it on the GameCube it is.

[Ed Oscuro]

I have the GameCube version, haven't played it online. Still have logged some serious hours into it...I've spent dozens of hours on Zelda: WW, beating it once, and ripping through the first few dungeons playing a second time yesterday. Even so, I've spent more time with -individual- PSO characters. So far I think my highest d00d is a level 35.

Stuck on one of the missions in Ep. 1, oddly (the "find robot's parts" one, I think) and played a lot of Ep. 2 as well.

[captain nintendo]

Cool. I love the fact that the Gamecube version came out with the episode 1 and 2 on one disc. I have beaten both versions online and off. Episode 2 is beautiful. Even after logging in close to 700 hours total in a year I havent found every item I desire. I do make the occasional trade online for such items, but enjoy finding them if I can.

Captain Nintendo - 132
Serendipity - 152
Shockwave - 71
Optimus Prime - 67

[Ed Oscuro]

Episode 2 IS beautiful; it's a shame that Ep. 1 (which everybody has to slog through) is so blasted ugly and plain by comparison. I could die a happy man if only I never had to see another Native creature again (mechawolves, Goomba, er, the big goofy things, and the apes especially).

The levels aren't anything on a level with Metroid Prime (or any half decent shooter, for that matter) but the leveling aspect is obviously a cure for some of that.

[tynstar]

I have the GameCube version, haven't played it online. Still have logged some serious hours into it...I've spent dozens of hours on Zelda: WW, beating it once, and ripping through the first few dungeons playing a second time yesterday. Even so, I've spent more time with -individual- PSO characters. So far I think my highest d00d is a level 35.

Stuck on one of the missions in Ep. 1, oddly (the "find robot's parts" one, I think) and played a lot of Ep. 2 as well.

At what point are you stuck?

[captain nintendo]

Episode 2 IS beautiful; it's a shame that Ep. 1 (which everybody has to slog through) is so blasted ugly and plain by comparison. I could die a happy man if only I never had to see another Native creature again (mechawolves, Goomba, er, the big goofy things, and the apes especially).


Yeah. I seem to find that you can get experience quicker on episode 1. Episode 2 is more spread out. Also when you get your character to Ultimate the monsters on episode 1 are much cooler.

If anybody wants to join me and tynstar online, we are on almost every night at 9 p.m. ( arizona time ) We can be located on the server Altair...Block 7, lobby 1

And our game is always called digitpress.com

[gamergary]

Of course I always have to have the game on the wrong system so I can never play anything online but it is still a fun game. I would need to hook up my dreamcast to play it some more which will happen in about 3 months or until I can get off my lazy ass and do hook it up.

[Cantaloup]

I have PSO 1&2 for the GameCube. I have only played it offline, but I found it to be disappointing. The game play mechanics are frustrating, the controls are poorly contrived, and the bosses are insanely cheap (unavoidable one hit kills). I'd rather play Diablo II, which is similar but has much more diversity in terms of characters, skills, and items.

[anagrama]

Aaah, PSO. Impeccably timed to that it's release neatly co-incided with the last few months of my university course.

"Hmm, should I concentrate on my work and get a decent result, or should I spend 500-600 hours running around Ragol as a fat purple Force called Boris, and end up with a second-rate degree?"

Bet ya can't guess which it was? : ;)

[Raedon]

All I know is the Game Cube version was the final straw in me caring about Nintendo.

[tynstar]

I have PSO 1&2 for the GameCube. I have only played it offline, but I found it to be disappointing. The game play mechanics are frustrating, the controls are poorly contrived, and the bosses are insanely cheap (unavoidable one hit kills). I'd rather play Diablo II, which is similar but has much more diversity in terms of characters, skills, and items.

One hit kills. Not if you are the correct level when fighting them.


All I know is the Game Cube version was the final straw in me caring about Nintendo.

Explain please.

[Ed Oscuro]

Bleh, I'll figure out that mission eventually. Must've missed something.

The ports to GC and XBox supposedly have graphical glitches (I wouldn't know) and probably the PC port too (still has the same control method...but with mouse...heh!)

One hit boss deaths...yeah...if the game is this difficult you REALLY need to level up a bunch. I can dodge just about any boss attack (or figure out how to do it) when I'm playing at that level, so this is a result of not being leveled up enough.

[digitalpress]

but to really appreciate the battle royale you SHOULD play online.


Kinda hard when it's not online anymore, ain't it?

If you play it on the GameCube it is.

Or Xbox, where you can even TALK to your teammates... quite a culture shock after playing via keyboard for so long, but I'm going to give it a go soon.

[tynstar]

Or Xbox, where you can even TALK to your teammates... quite a culture shock after playing via keyboard for so long, but I'm going to give it a go soon.

Would not be to much of a shock for Cap Nintendo and I. Every time we play we use are X-Box head sets on are home phone and talk. We used to use the three way calling to talk to a third person aswell. Yes I know we are PSO Super Geeks :o

[captain nintendo]

All I know is the Game Cube version was the final straw in me caring about Nintendo.

I know tynstar asked, but why? Shed some light on your statement for us PSO junkies.

Also I have a level 152 force who has no problem with boss fights. Its all a matter of being the correct level for that boss. Hell my level 71 character had no chance of beating Dark Falz when he was level 59.....You get the idea x_x

And 3 way calling works great for the GC version for me and tynstar.
Just plug in the headset and run all over Ragol.

[TRM]

I did not care for this game when I played it on the Gamecube. I never played the Sega Dreamcast version, so I can't say much about it. Anyway, my friend had brought up the Gamecube version for me to play and I didn't care for it much. It went over my head, I must say. It had surprised me that a game would do this to me --- considering the fact that no other games ever left me with a lost/confused feeling like this.

[Raedon]

All I know is the Game Cube version was the final straw in me caring about Nintendo.

I know tynstar asked, but why? Shed some light on your statement for us PSO junkies.

Also I have a level 152 force who has no problem with boss fights. Its all a matter of being the correct level for that boss. Hell my level 71 character had no chance of beating Dark Falz when he was level 59.....You get the idea x_x

And 3 way calling works great for the GC version for me and tynstar.
Just plug in the headset and run all over Ragol.

Read my post before the REDUX post.

[tynstar]

Read my post before the REDUX post.

Ok, that is understandable but now there is a keyboard. Would you try it again?

[Raedon]

Nope, the game wasn't all that great. It's an MMORPG but without the dynamic world it just feels outdated. The quest for rare items is ok I guess, but there isn't enough there to keep me coming back.

You have to remember I spent a great deal of time inside the world of Norrath and nothing out there right now can even touch the scope and reality of that online world..

[Castelak]

PSO

My life changed dramatically because of this game, might of even saved it!

Best. Game. Ever. Really.

[geelw]

i sorta missed most of the excitement when the game was originally released. i felt sega was missing the point of the series by losing the story elements and making the bulk of play online. still, i got a few chances to play the game online using someone else's character, and there was a genuine sense of community (well, until i ran into some folks who wanted to follow me around and see if i died so they could take my stuff, lol).

the single player game is addictive once you get used to not really having a focus for your wanderings (the plot is thinner than paris hilton under an overtunred bus). i'm not so sure about part III's card battle system (wtf???),
the visuals are great (except for a few minor elements) , and the combat is well-done (except for one or two annoying boss fights later in the game).

i really think that sega should have either put together another single player game for those folks who didn't want to go near an online game, or make the offline experience a bit longer. then again, at least you can play the dc and gc versions offline with no hassles. the need for xbox live to run the single player pso game is a bit restrictive- the game should have been given away with that tetris worlds/clone wars offer just to draw more players into it...