Phantasy Star 0 thoughts

[FantasiaWHT]

Well I've played for about two hours now. Started a fonewearl, played for an hour and a half. For reasons I'll get into shortly, started over as a... forgot the name, but the male human ranger.

Overall so far not very happy.

Positives:

1) Great animated cutscenes, animated conversations.
2) Weapons now have special attacks triggered by holding down the attack button for a little variety
3) New weapon customization abilities, apparently, although I haven't been able to use them yet. More than just grinding +1
4) Some destructible environmental pieces (fences, so far) that yield materials
5) Different races have different beginning sequences, and it -seems- that the storylines will be different. As a newman, I crashed in some kind of invasion pod and was commanded to go and mix with the humans. As a human, I'm following my mentor to join the hunter's guild.

Negatives:

1) Techniques have been SEVERELY GIMPED. Foi, Barta, and Zan are now all identical in all forms with the only distinction being what element enemies are weak against. Horrible, simply horrible. The fun of being a force in PS games is each technique, AND each variant of the technique (basic, gi- and ra-) has a different area of effect, so casting can be highly challenging. Now it's just a single target or hold down the button for a "fan" for all spells. Horrible. Takes all the fun out of being a caster, which is why I switched to a ranger.
2) I couldn't kill the first boss as a force, even after burning through a fortune of healing items. It's the very first "mission" so it should not be so difficult - it's not like PSO where the first boss came after several missions.
3) Your AI companions have bad AI, even after fiddling with the various settings.
4) Gameplay graphics are pretty ugly. I wish, given the DS's limited capacity, they had gone with a simpler, cel-shaded kind of look.
5) For some reason, although you can use the touchscreen to access some functions (map and chatting), the rest of the functions, even though they are displayed visually as BUTTONS, cannot be tapped. Inexplicable why you would create something that looks like a button to be tapped but can't be tapped, when other things that look like buttons can be tapped.
6) Still. Six. Actions. How can this not have been updated since PSO came out almost 10 years ago? Could easily have had 8 by using X, or 9 by having 3 banks instead of 2.
7) Although the rolling evade is interesting, the camera and targeting systems are clunky so by the time you turn around and get the camera facing the enemy you just rolled past, they are attacking you again. You essentially have to roll twice to get enough space to recover.

What's everyone else think?

[FantasiaWHT]

A negative I missed:

8) Load times. The game has LOAD TIMES IN CONVERSATIONS. When you walk up and talk to someone, the game pauses for a minute while it loads up. Wow. Also, in the combat field, every "room" (back to more discreet rooms than in more recent PS games) has to be loaded. Or maybe it wasn't every room, thinking back, but it loads frequently. Bizarre not to have smooth transitions from area to area

[kupomogli]

forgot the name, but the male human ranger.

RAmar

Anyways, I was going to pick this up, but since it seems the game sucks compared to the PSO games, I may just wait PS Portable 2. Not much of a fan of the Universe games compared to the Online games, but I like them enough to find some enjoyment to it. I was actually looking forward to this one and to hear it sucks, may as well wait for that price drop.

One thing. Are quests still in the game? So you can scroll down a list of quests that do nothing for the game if you wanted?

[vrikkgwj]

A negative I missed:

8) Load times. The game has LOAD TIMES IN CONVERSATIONS.

Sorry, PS0. You just made me not buy you.

[PentiumMMX]

This game has load times? Instant turn-off for me; load times on a cartridge brings back too many bad memories of Diddy Kong Racing DS...

[NayusDante]

Gahhhhh! Another release that snuck by me! If it's at least comparable to PSO, I'll probably pick it up. I haven't grabbed PSOP yet, but this seems more appealing for some reason.

How's the online? Is there a lobby or is it Nintendo Wi-Fi crap?

...and can I be a FOmar?

[Cloud121]

I love how it's called "Phantasy Star Zero" when it's in the PSO universe, and has no relation to the actual numbered classic games. :grrr:

[NayusDante]

I love how it's called "Phantasy Star Zero" when it's in the PSO universe, and has no relation to the actual numbered classic games. :grrr:

What has, in the years since PS4?

It might be a good thing in disguise, since so many other franchises suffer when they try to expand the continuity over the years. Since creative teams come and go, asking new people to expand someone else's universe isn't going to further their original vision.

I'm going through my change bucket right now, gonna pick this up today after class. Hooray for $19 in quarters...

[walrusmonger]

I played the japanese version with an old friend when it came out earlier in the year, I really enjoyed it! If you have friends to play multi with, it's a fun little game.

[FantasiaWHT]

Isn't Phantasy Star Online in the same vein as 1-4? I thought the escape ship that brought everyone to that planet was (a) the same type as those flying around in PS3, and (b) the same type as the one that you come across in PS4

[FantasiaWHT]

Hey, does anyone know if there's a hospital/inn? It seems that there's no way to heal yourself in town except with spells and items...

[NayusDante]

I nabbed the last sealed copy at the GameStop I passed after class. Well, last non-reserved copy, as the guy asked if I had preordered. Can't wait to play it.

I always associate PSO with Depeche Mode, not sure which album to throw on just yet.

[FantasiaWHT]

Ok I take back what I said about spells being identical. There's a little variety, but it's hard to see and use properly on the small screen. At least you can use barta to go through multiple enemies.

And there is no hospital, I learned =/ Weird.

[kupomogli]

Fantasia, did your thoughts about the game change yet or do you still not like it?

Atleast I can always wait for the game to drop to 19.99. I love the PSO games and even if this is a downgrade, so was the Universe series and I enjoy those, though I haven't picked up PS Portable, going to pick up PS Portable 2.

[NayusDante]

I normally play a FOmar, but they messed up their look in this one. No blue hair, no long robes, nothing that made me like FOmars in the first place. When I do make a Force, I'll probably be a FOnewm, they actually look kinda cool this time around. I rarely melee as a Force anyway...

I started off as a HUnewm, thinking I'd try to melee for once. Well, the attack combo timing is way off from PSO. I struggled with it for about two hours, and beat the octopus once. "I'm really not enjoying this," I think to myself. The game was fun, but it just felt kinda clunky compared to PSO. I loved the control in PSO, and it felt too rigid here. After that quest, I saved and quit.

Not really feeling completely tired of the game, I tried making a RAcast. I like how they still look like the original RAcasts, just not as fat. I always wanted to try a Ranger, but never really bothered.


*Five Minutes Later*

"Oh.... THAT works better!"

Playing with ranged weapons feels a LOT better than melee, given the controls. Fun, fun! I'm guessing Forces handle similarly, so I'll be enjoying the crap out of this game.


//The Good
+ It feels more like PSO than PSU did.
+ The music sounds like they made a soundfont from the original OST and wrote new songs with it.
+ Mags are back, not sure how well this plays out though. I like that you can feed five items at a time instead of three.
+ Charging weapons. ^_^
+ Ad-hoc multiplayer potential. That is, if any of my friends get it.
+ I keep saying to myself, "this really feels like PSO." PSU was based on PSO, but this really feels like it in so many respects.

//The Bad
- Yeah, there's no hospital. WTF... At least I usually have the cash for monomates.
- No analog control, not even with the touchpad. In fact, I don't think the game uses the touchpad AT ALL. That's kinda... stupid. At least make it an option.
- Movement seems to be trying to compensate for no analog control, but it still doesn't feel right.
- Weird timing on weapon combos
- I don't believe there's voice chat. Again, if it's there, why not use it?
- Character customization is horribly gimped, compared to PSO. No slider bars or scaling, just preset pieces to put together. Humans have more natural hair colors, which I really don't like.

//The Odd
? Photon Drops aren't that rare...
? There's a delay after picking up an item before you can grab another one...
? The sound effects seem intentionally retro. It doesn't really fit in well.
? You find the notes out of order, and I don't think they tell any kind of story. That makes me sad, because it was an important part of PSO's story.


How's this game selling? I'm curious about PSO's future potential here in the west...

[FantasiaWHT]

The gamefaqs board on it has people posting friend codes constantly, so it looks pretty hopping.

Timing is different yeah, but it's different for every weapon. And a few weapons can't be chained into 3-hit combos (shooting with gunblades and the bazookas, from what I've found so far).

I've always played rangers since PSO but they are awful here... my force of the same level (a) does about 1.5X as much ranged damage (with the ability to multi-hit with charged spells and barta), and (b) does about 2X as much melee damage as the ranger (and equal melee damage as the hunter...) Forces are really overpowered, and it takes a lot less skill to do a force than it used to.

The big overall minus is poor controls compared to previous PS's. They screwed up BIG time by not letting you use the stylus (except to draw pixelated smiley faces and pick tactics for AI parties). Unlike previous PS, when you pull up the menu to do things like changing weapons or using items or non-palleted techniques, you're frozen and completely vulnerable. (Also for some BIZARRE reason, you can't cast spells out of the menu, you have to put it on your palette first.) So no changing weapons mid-fight, hard to use your menu to use -mates and -fluids... just significantly worse UI overall.

If they had allowed you to navigate through the menus with the stylus while you moved around to dodge with the D-pad, major problems would have been avoided.

Going to try multiplayer when I'm home tomorrow.

[NayusDante]

Stuff about menus and controls

Agreed. The menus are starting to get to me, and it's going to be a pain to play a force with the quirks. I'm used to having the numpad hotkeys, from Blue Burst, which makes playing a force very enjoyable. It's SUCH a shame that they didn't just turn the bottom screen into a big action pallet! I'm still going to do a force, but it's going to be kinda rough only having six spell keys, and that's when my R button isn't being unresponsive (gotta open it up again to fix it, not fun >_<).

I don't see it being a big deal for a force's attacks to be stronger than a ranger's. Keep in mind that forces consume TP, while a ranger can shoot all day. Forces do a lot of damage, but they can't put it out at the same steady rate that a ranger can. It's the difference between a nuker and a damage dealer.

I got to the octopus with my RAcast. I probably wouldn't be getting pwned if my party could stop running into walls.

Think I'm going to do my characters like this:
-FOnewm
-RAcast
-HUmarl

I've always just focused on one force before, but the fact that different races have their own stories makes it interesting enough to do three characters.

[NayusDante]

My friend code is 0947 2385 1934, if anyone wants to play a bit this afternoon. I've got my RAcast to lv11.

[lagartija_nick]

I love how it's called "Phantasy Star Zero" when it's in the PSO universe, and has no relation to the actual numbered classic games. :grrr:


The game is not actually titled "Phantasy Star Zero" Its "Phantasy Star 0".
It just occurred to me that its another way of saying "PSO".

Maybe Sega were trying to send some kind of subliminal message to those who hated PSU, that a return to PSO was at hand.

Certainly there are three distinct eras of Phantasy Star. Classic, PSO, and PSU.
It does not seem the three eras are related yet everygame has some version of Dark Falz as the main enemy. Witch makes it a bit confusing.
The exceptions being all the side games of the classic era, Phantasy Star Gaiden, Phantasy Star Adventure, and The Phantasy Star 2 text adventures.

I don't know where 0 fits in, but I must say the few minutes I have spent with it, I get the distinct feeling that artistically the game feels like they were trying to capture they style of Phantasy Star 1. Especially in the way the conversations are handled, character on screen change to portraits.

I wonder if Sega is trying to combine something from all the PS eras in this release?

[NayusDante]

I still type out Zero, because PS0 looks too much like PSO. Technically, it's "Phantasy Star Ø". I'm not looking up ASCII codes every time I want to differentiate PSØ from PSO.

Pokémon... Pokemon... Brütal Legend...

[Steve W]

Ah crud, I haven't bought a new release game in years, but I'll have to break down and get this one. Even though it sounds a little awkward, and I have a DS but never play it for my deep dislike of Nintendo, I've got to grab this one. PSO was like heroin for me, even in single player mode, so I'll be on this one pretty quick.

[lagartija_nick]

I still type out Zero, because PS0 looks too much like PSO. Technically, it's "Phantasy Star Ø". I'm not looking up ASCII codes every time I want to differentiate PSØ from PSO.

Pokémon... Pokemon... Brütal Legend...


Trust me, I was not trying to be critical or a know it all. I was just trying to Point out Sega's possible homage/subliminal message.

Zero and 0 are of course the same.

[NayusDante]

I'm in a game right now, and I really wish the chat options were better. There's no "hold on" or AFK message. There's also no "I have to leave," the closest being "Leaving to city."

Someone before mentioned loading times. If you're referring to the white screens between rooms, it's barely noticeable. Since there's no zone loading times like every other PSO, it's a nice change.

[kupomogli]

I'm in a game right now, and I really wish the chat options were better. There's no "hold on" or AFK message. There's also no "I have to leave," the closest being "Leaving to city."

I thought you could draw or type your own messages? You can't save those to your quick message section?

[NayusDante]

I thought you could draw or type your own messages? You can't save those to your quick message section?

Not for non-friend games. We have to protect kids from inappropriate drawings, after all. >_<

[kupomogli]

Not for non-friend games. We have to protect kids from inappropriate drawings, after all. >_<

That sucks, but in a way it's sortof a good thing. FOnewearls and FOnewms were the two main types I played as. I don't want some homos flirting with me every second I play multiplayer because I have a hot FOnewearl.

[BHvrd]

How in the HELLLLLLL do you beat the damn opctopus???? I guess I just need to level up but DAYUM! First level boss is as hard as damn Dark Falz!

I'm loving the hell out of this game, it's close to what PSU should have been and is a helluva lot better than it was and closer to the original, i'm really loving that they kept the photon weapon attributes from PSU though and added element damages also! I don't understand the "load time" gripe in this thread, what load time? THERE ARE NO LOAD TIMES. Can't believe you consider screen "transitions" as "load times", that's just false information.

This game "imo" is a reason to own a DS, as if there weren't already enough reasons....

My Friend Code:

Brandon
4640 9543 8930

[SplashChick]

My thoughts are that your complaints are all very trivial. Are you people really not going to buy a game because there's a 2 second pause before a conversation starts? Talk about shallow, people.

BTW I beat the first boss with a Force at lvl 4. The game is difficult, not impossible. Spells also have different effects than each other, try using the spells next time instead of just reading the description.

[FantasiaWHT]

My thoughts are that your complaints are all very trivial. Are you people really not going to buy a game because there's a 2 second pause before a conversation starts? Talk about shallow, people.


Wow talk about taking what I said way out of context. How'd you get the idea even that this was a make-or-break thing for me? Many problems are much much worse - mostly how poorly the menu system is designed, especially considering (a) how well it worked in previous games where you could still move while in the menu, and (b) the obvious yet completely-overlooked touchscreen capabilities for going through menus.

How about the complete idiocy of being UNABLE TO SEE your PP when you are using the menu to use fluids?

And I stand by "load times". I don't care if they're short, they're still load times. The screen flashes white for ~2 seconds everytime you talk to someone (this is a freaking RPG, that happens a lot) and in between every "room" in dungeons. Deal-breaker? No. Annoying? Yes.

[NayusDante]

Since when do you talk to a lot of people in PSO? Between quests, maybe you'll talk to three NPCs.

I'm just thankful to have pocket-PSO. It's good enough.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm confused about what's meant by the spells being identical. You look at PSo, and there you just map & cast. Granted, I don't remember being a caster in PSO. I did see FantasiaWHT modified his original statement.

[SplashChick]

Wow talk about taking what I said way out of context. How'd you get the idea even that this was a make-or-break thing for me? Many problems are much much worse - mostly how poorly the menu system is designed, especially considering (a) how well it worked in previous games where you could still move while in the menu, and (b) the obvious yet completely-overlooked touchscreen capabilities for going through menus.

How about the complete idiocy of being UNABLE TO SEE your PP when you are using the menu to use fluids?

And I stand by "load times". I don't care if they're short, they're still load times. The screen flashes white for ~2 seconds everytime you talk to someone (this is a freaking RPG, that happens a lot) and in between every "room" in dungeons. Deal-breaker? No. Annoying? Yes.

I stand by my statement of TRIVIAL.

[BHvrd]

Not enough people listing friends codes! Start listing friends codes people!

Seriously this is my favorite game atm out of everything I play on PC and PS3, it's really hardcore and I can't believe the amount of game crammed into this DS cart, best RPG i've played in a LONG time, very challenging, resources are useful. We really need to get on the ball with this one cause as hard as it gets people are going to need help.

Btw, here are some codes for a vending machine in the sewers I guess "haven't made it there yet" but they sound cool:

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/rpg/phantasystarzero/hints.html

I'm really going to be dedicated to this game, so anyone and everyone add me. Phantasy Star Zero Friend Code: Brandon 4640 9543 8930

Lets do this game up!

[kupomogli]

Not enough people listing friends codes! Start listing friends codes people!

Once it gets any sortof sale I'll be picking it up though so I'll add you then. Until that happens, it may take awhile. It's been awhile since I've bought a game at full MSRP. Batman Arkham Asylum and Demon's Souls. Well, not too long, but yeah. I was immediately on those. I'm currently working on some games so it'll be awhile before I go to something else.

[Nz17]

Just finished Phantasy Star Zero/0/Ø (Is not division! ;)) about two days ago, and that was some fun all right! I do agree with a few of the statements made here, but I must say that when playing through the game before reading this thread I didn't even perceive any of that as problematic. I just took things as "the way the game is" - as in, some of it was oversight, but much of it was just a unique personality for PSZ.

I finished the story mode with the clock at around 17:38 hours, but that also includes probably about five hours of multi-player with a friend of mine. But since I did need all my levels to defeat the final boss, I guess that seventeen hours is a reasonable amount of time for the whole story mode whether you leveled-up through single-player or multi-player.

However now there are a lot of optional side quests and the more difficult modes to complete, so that's some things to look forward to. Plus I don't know about any of the Phantasy Star releases since PSO, but this game has the equivalent of achievements and there are many of those which I'd like to complete, plus a full bestiary and item collection lists to complete. Getting those achievements earns you items for the game, so don't forget that!

By the way, I found the artwork and character design quite appealing, and I may have discovered why: Toshiyuki Kubooka, the character designer from the LUNAR series, did the character artwork for this game. That's all the more reason to buy this PS entry!

Just wondering, but for those who have finished this game, where do you think it chronologically fits in story-wise? I know that the designers of the game called it Zero because it is supposed to be a new start for the series, unconnected to either PSO or PSU. But in my opinion, after seeing the end of the story, I think that the world you begin playing on is actually the original planet of those you see "later on" in the Phantasy Star Online series, just hundreds or thousands of years beforehand. Any thoughts?

Oh and by the way, since I have had so much fun playing the game with my friend, I'd certainly like to know if anyone here at DP is still up for playing online multi-player. If you are, post/repost your friend codes and let's schedule a time to play, Retrogaming Roundtable style!

[NayusDante]

I've been wanting to play this one lately, I don't think I got far when I started it originally. One of the triggers on my DS wasn't working, so I couldn't play it very well. I've since fixed it, but I just haven't had the time to play it at all, much less online. Still, I'd really like to finish it, maybe once I finish a few other titles I'll come back to it.