Phantasy Star Universe

[Beefy Hits]

Can't wait for this to come out. It's been like 5 years since I played PSO (Didn't have BB to play it on Xbox or GC at the time).

Anybody else interested in this game?

[slip81]

depends on what type of game it actually is. some write ups say it's an MMO, other say it's single player, while other still call it an MMO with a single player aspect.

if it turns out to be a true single player turnbased RPG, I'm all over it. Phantasy Star used to be an awesome series, why they removed the story and single player aspect is beyond me.

If it's an MMO I won't get it as online hack n slash dungeon crawlers bore me.

[VACRMH]

depends on what type of game it actually is. some write ups say it's an MMO, other say it's single player, while other still call it an MMO with a single player aspect.

if it turns out to be a true single player turnbased RPG, I'm all over it. Phantasy Star used to be an awesome series, why they removed the story and single player aspect is beyond me.

If it's an MMO I won't get it as online hack n slash dungeon crawlers bore me.

:-/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwPSwQhwToY

[JWKobayashi]

depends on what type of game it actually is. some write ups say it's an MMO, other say it's single player, while other still call it an MMO with a single player aspect.

if it turns out to be a true single player turnbased RPG, I'm all over it. Phantasy Star used to be an awesome series, why they removed the story and single player aspect is beyond me.

If it's an MMO I won't get it as online hack n slash dungeon crawlers bore me.

It has both an online and offline component. Both modes are more of an action-RPG, there is no turn based content found here. The offline mode has a full story and is about 15 hours in length.

The online mode is much the same as offline - all action- RPG. You're able to have up to 6 team members in your party as you go to the different locales.

All in all, it's much like the true sequel to PSO that we never got. The fights have a much faster pace to them. I found the PS2 controller to be a bit akward at first (unlike the DC controller when I first played PSO), but you get used to it.

I haven't been able to play online yet, as there is a DNAS error preventing me from playing it (has to do with needing a J PS2). I've played about 4 hours into the offline mode and it's pretty good. I'm just not-so-patiently waiting for the domestic release (supposedly on Oct 24th) so that I can finally play online. :D

[189]

http://www.phantasystaruniverse.com/image/game_battle_suv01.png

Yeah, I'm sold.

[captain nintendo]

I'll be playing this!

[diskoboy]

Phantasy Star is really the only RPG series I've ever really enjoyed.

Yes, I'll definitely be buying this, but I'm hoping for a good single player campaign.. I'll be a little more hesitant if it's strictly an MMO.

[Julio III]

I'll probably get it, PSO was a great experience, if limited.

One thing thats bugged me for ages - have they taken mags out of the game???

[189]

I'll probably get it, PSO was a great experience, if limited.

One thing thats bugged me for ages - have they taken mags out of the game???

Yeah, mags were only cool if they were hacked. I remember having a complete collection of hacked mags at one time.

http://gr.bolt.com/games/dreamcast/rpg/phantasy_star_online_v25.jpg
Definately my favorite.

[JWKobayashi]

I'll probably get it, PSO was a great experience, if limited.

One thing thats bugged me for ages - have they taken mags out of the game???

Yeah, mags were only cool if they were hacked. I remember having a complete collection of hacked mags at one time.

http://gr.bolt.com/games/dreamcast/rpg/phantasy_star_online_v25.jpg
definitely my favorite.

Mags are gone, replaced with "Partner Macherinery". I'm not quite sure how they work, but you can supposedly level it up to the point where it will fight alongside you. I wish I could read Japanese during the single player campaign, as I've just gotten to the point where you get your PM, and it doesn't make any sense to me yet. :roll:

[AMG]

The game looks phenomenal, it should be awesome.

[captain nintendo]

You can download the Beta of Phantasy Star Universe on XBL Marketplace as of today. :D


I cant wait to get home from work and check it out.
11 more days until it comes out! I guess I will be using my 360 a bit more now :)

[segagamer4life]

You can download the Beta of Phantasy Star Universe on XBL Marketplace as of today. :D


I cant wait to get home from work and check it out.
11 more days until it comes out! I guess I will be using my 360 a bit more now :)

sweet,... I was waiting for this to be released... wooo freeakin hooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Overbite]

woop i was playing it and its confusing because the tutorial is bugged and crashes the game if you go through it.

Plays like a refined PSO.

[business]

Plays like a refined PSO.

Which is not worth $10.00 a month, or whatever the fuck Sega is charging.

Also, the lag really is starting to bug me. Could this be just because it's a beta?

[MegaDrive20XX]

I just got the beta demo for 360 and Im having so much hell trying to connect lol keeps giving me an error message. I cant wait to see how the full game works if I can get connected LOL

[diskoboy]

woop i was playing it and its confusing because the tutorial is bugged and crashes the game if you go through it.

Damn right - I got to the 4th floor on the tutorial. The game freezes up.

Not a good sign, Sega...

[SarKenobi]

I played the game on the xbox and liked it except the 2nd boss was hard for me to beat alone so I stopped. Def looking forward to PSU (and it's the name of the college I went to as well!) but no online access on my xbox 360 (old xbox adapter doesn't allow my level of wireless security) to try out the beta. I'll probably get it for my PC because I'm addicted to MMOs. Sounds like more to the MMO side than the single player side.

[Overbite]

to all of those complaining, all of these bugs and slowdown and all are native to the 360 version. People have been playing the PC version since august without any of this happening.

[FantasiaWHT]

So should I get PS2 or PC version?

PS2

Pro- Better controls, it feels right to play a PS game on a console

Con- worse graphics, harder to play online (have to buy a wireless adapter or have a long ethernet cord running through the house), have to somehow get a keyboard going, worried about fitting patches on a memory card

PC

Pro- better graphics, internet already set up, keyboard is already there, easy to patch

Con- worse controls, but I could buy a USB-PS2 adapter thingy.

Ok it totally looks like PC is winning, but damn playing it on a PC would be totally weird... maybe I should just buy both lol. Play the single player on PS2 and MP on PC.

[business]

to all of those complaining, all of these bugs and slowdown and all are native to the 360 version. People have been playing the PC version since august without any of this happening.

This is so depressing. I really had high hopes for PSU on Live. I guess we can't really judge until it's released in about a week, but from what I have played so far, it's not looking too hot. :/

[swlovinist]

I played the 360 beta. I played the crap out of the first one. Is is still 9.99 a month on the 360? Is their voice chat? If not, then why play it on the 360? x_x. I would say that this so far looks to be a decent game, but nothing the Xbox couldnt do. Sega, your graphics engine does not have the WOW factor anymore.

[business]

I played the 360 beta. I played the crap out of the first one. Is is still 9.99 a month on the 360? Is their voice chat? If not, then why play it on the 360? x_x. I would say that this so far looks to be a decent game, but nothing the Xbox couldnt do. Sega, your graphics engine does not have the WOW factor anymore.

The 360 version does have voice chat. You must first join a party to use it though. Yeah, kinda blows. x_x

And yeah, I agree, those graphics did not make me say "wow."

[diskoboy]

After my 3rd day of attempts, I finally got in, and played for about 2 hours. The graphics are definately Xbox 1 quality, but damn I've forgotten how fun PSO was..

Day 1 buyer here. Hopefully everything will be worked out by release, network-wise.

[Tron 2.0]

Count me interested in PSU.. btw i'm going with the PS2 version.

Afther all it means more ppl to play with,since the ps2 and pc users will be on the same server.

While the 360 will be not :P

[Cryomancer]

That's why I was dissapointed to hear the gmae was coming out for ps2 of all things. Making this "PSO 2", ie something that will be ported and played for another 5+ years and then making it be able to run on ps2 just seems like a bit of a pre-crippling to me. Not that the ps2 is OMG UNDERPOWERED CRAP but if it's gonna be a viable game fro several years they shoulda stuck to PC adn the higher-end consoles. But who knows. Ep I&II was a graphical step up, so was PSOBB, so maybe it'll work out alright. Not that *I* care what it looks like anyway, I just question the soundness of the decision.

I'm sure it was basically "ps2s=everywhere, we will make cash this way" though, heh.

[captain nintendo]

Played it for about 6 hours this past weekend, and must say that I enjoyed the hell out of it. Reached level 9 (close to 10).


I learned alot from: Sega/ PSU forums (http://boards.sega.com/psu/index.php)


I froze up on the tutorial as well, but then decided to just forget about it after that. Voice chat works in partys only (as previously mentioned).

Partys can be upto 6 people this time around :D

There is seemingly alot more to learn this time around!
*Photon Arts
*Synthesizing items?
*Partner machine? (in your room)

And a whole hell of a bunch more that I haven't even touched in 6 hours.

10 dollars a month? :( .......... Seriously :roll: Dont cry about it :P

That's like what? 30 cents a day? Hell of a deal considering I will be playing it a bunch!


Count me in as a first day buyer.


And incase you want to play.


Captain Nintendo is my PSU name

[business]

10 dollars a month? .......... Seriously Dont cry about it

That's like what? 30 cents a day? Hell of a deal considering I will be playing it a bunch!

I'll cry if I please. I'm a poor college student! LOL

So, any news on the lagging serves and disconnects?

[captain nintendo]

Laggy servers eh?

Seriously.... Considering this is a beta test in order to "stress test" the servers, it went really well. The only lag I had was in team voice chat.

I also have not been disconnected 1 time :D


There were a few times (at peak gaming hours) where I had to wait to get onto the server. But when the demo/beta is a free download, I fully expected that there would be a ton of people trying it out.

[business]

Laggy servers eh?

Seriously.... Considering this is a beta test in order to "stress test" the servers, it went really well. The only lag I had was in team voice chat.

I also have not been disconnected 1 time

I see. Well, the rest of the interweb experienced some connection diffuculties. I guess you are one of the lucky ones. ;)

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2006/10/psu-server-issues-bah.jpg
That's what I got --^

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/14/phantasy-stars-universal-issues/

More on that --^

To be fair I just logged in to give it another try. I was connected with the server in no time. Once I exited my room and started exploring the lobbies, all of that lag came back though. I guess I'd just like to run into battle with my team mate without wondering where he/she is. One minute their there, the next minute they are gone (repeat process).

[jdc]

I've been playing PSO on DC and Cube since the day it came out. (main character was FOnewm named Merlin online) I still play the first Dreamcast game offline. I like the simplicity of the level 100 cap. Gotta find me a legit spread needle LOL

I'll be all over PSU on launch day. It ain't the deepest "MMORPG" by a long shot, but the lure of rares is fun as hell.

[swlovinist]

After playing it more, this is what I have to add.

I think I like the setup of PSO 1 better. I would have liked the initial customizible control setup on this one. I dont like having to go back to your room to feed your mag. I have played it about 5 hours, and like it, but am dissapointed with the evolution of the game. It really is a PSO 1.5. Not being able to have multiplayer offline blows. So far, I have not found of it and will speak with my wallet of not buying it. After paying $50 for XBL, you would think that Sega would score a deal for Xbox live owners. If it is going to be $10 a month on all three platforms, I would say go ahead and get it for the Computer or PS2, considering that it will probably be 10 dollars cheaper on those platforms anyways. I think that PSO freaks will be pleased, and I am glad to see Xbox 360 have a MMO. Overall I guess it adds up to alot of money to play it on xbox 360. $59.99 plus $49.99 xbox live plus $9.99 a month. Even if the first month is free to play, you are still out $110.00 initially.

[captain nintendo]

I did actually have some trouble connecting last night. But hey it is a beta test. I hope some of these issues I am hearing about dont end up on the retail version. And if they do, I would fully expect them to resolve it. :/ I mean that's what the 10 dollars a month is for right? Server maintenance and what not?


I fully agree with you swlovinist. I hate going back to my room to feed my mag. I also agree that PSO/ Phantasy Star fans will enjoy the game. (even if it does feel like a PSO 1.5)

6 man partys are pretty sweet, and the replay value on this will be insanely high (for me). For andbody getting the 360 version, and if you know how to be a good party member..... ;)

CaptainNintendo is my XBL gamertag.

Captain Nintendo is my characters name.

[business]

I did actually have some trouble connecting last night. But hey it is a beta test. I hope some of these issues I am hearing about dont end up on the retail version. And if they do, I would fully expect them to resolve it. I mean that's what the 10 dollars a month is for right? Server maintenance and what not?

Yeah, it's a beta test so there are bound to be issues. By the games release I'd imagine that all the kinks will be worked out. That $10 a month has to go to something, right? LOL

[captain nintendo]

Incase everybody did not know, the Beta testing will be going on until the 21st. Originally they were going to end it on the 18th.

[diskoboy]

Incase everybody did not know, the Beta testing will be going on until the 21st. Originally they were going to end it on the 18th.

That's good news. I only got to play about 3 hours... And since XBL was down 2 days ago, and almost all of yesterday, I knew Sega would extend the date.

Smart move, Sega!

[captain nintendo]

Anybody find PSU today?

I heard the delivery was delayed a day? No big deal since I play hockey on Tuesday nights anyhow ;)

But I did call Best Buy and they said it would be on the floor Oct. 26 :/ I guess I'll have to wait until Thursday before PSU starts sucking the life from me.

[Overbite]

the gamestop near me said wed

[FantasiaWHT]

Yeah I had always heard 25th. Better be tomorrow, cuz the EB I pre-ordered it at is a hike from here, but I work out near it on Wednesday nights

[FantasiaWHT]

Ok I've got it, but for the life of me I can NOT figure out how to play online!!

Loading up a Network game tells me to go get a Game ID and a Guardian License, so I go to the website it tells me to go to and I can't find anything except in the FAQ saying go to playsega.com. Ok, I go there, and it only gives me an option to buy a hunter's license for PSO BB or PSO I/II/III

Help!

[FantasiaWHT]

Never mind, figured it out... for some reason you have to go through the PSO BB link to do it, go figs. Happy me!

[BydoEmpire]

I picked it up for PS2 today. I was actually going to hold off, but a friend of mine gave me his ps2 network adapter and HDD FREE! Being a huge fan of PSO, how could I pass it up? I'll probably play around offline for a while, as I need a long ethernet cable before I can hook it up.

[captain nintendo]

I found that it was very easy to purchase the Guardians license through Xbox live marketplace.

1. Sign into live.

2. Turn the game on

3. Choose to play on Xbox live.

4. Option given to "go purchase" your License from XBL Marketplace.


EASY!


Played the hell out of it tonight before the servers went down for maintenance. I think I got upto level 9.

My forces name is "Serendipity"
I'll eventually make a ranger named "Captain Nintendo"

I just needed to make a support force becuase seemingly nobody else understands that role :roll:


Captain Nintendo is my XBL name. Look me up if you want to play some time.

[Beefy Hits]

Got in a 2.5 hour play session last night (PS2).

Random thoughts:

I have to say it's confusing to find your way around. Signs would have been nice.

People don't seem very socialable during missions, only in the lobby.

Synthesizing seems complicated.
The tutorial doesn't seem very useful to me.
I liked the graphics and the controls of PSO DC better, but I'm getting used to them. What happened to the rhythmic button presses of the DC? One attack button makes this game a button masher.

[BydoEmpire]

What happened to the rhythmic button presses of the DC? One attack button makes this game a button masher.Wow, say it ain't so! That was a HUGE part of what made the DC/Cube games so utterly addicting for me. If they removed that I might return the game. ;(

[FantasiaWHT]

Got in a 2.5 hour play session last night (PS2).

Random thoughts:

I have to say it's confusing to find your way around. Signs would have been nice.

There are signs...



People don't seem very socialable during missions, only in the lobby.

Totally opposite experience here


Synthesizing seems complicated.

No more complicated than any other MMO game that has crafting. Collect a variety of different types of materials, get a recipe (board for your personal machine) and make your item. Only thing new is the limited uses each recipe/board gives you.



The tutorial doesn't seem very useful to me.

Did you play through the whole tutorial? If you did, you wouldn't have trouble finding your way around- it shows you where everything is.



What happened to the rhythmic button presses of the DC? One attack button makes this game a button masher.

The faster weapons you can mash, but bigger weapons you have to have the correct timing. Even fast weapons you strike faster if you use the right timing than if you mash.

Also, what do you mean one attack button? Attack, special attack, and left-hand attack are all different buttons. Add holding down another button to strafe, and I've actually been trying to find the skill to use four buttons in the same combo (hold down "left" to strafe, hold down "up" to keep my left hand weapon drawn, fire with "down" and use my special with "right"

[BHvrd]

Been playing single player myself, haven't gone online just yet. Xbox 360 version btw.

Initial impressions "i'm on chapter 3 in story mode":

The story is much more in depth than the original. I would so far rate the story along the same lines of a Zelda game, simple but effective. The voice aciting is above average.

The graphics are a mixed bag. Good animations and movement, average texture quality with some bad pixelation in areas, overall not very impressive, especially for a 360 game, slowdown in spots don't help.

The music is a nice mix, yeah I like the music, it's as hypnotic as the original with a better mix.

Lastly the contols...in one word...better. This really brings it together for me, I like the way combat feels and with the way enemies move it works. You can start swinging the sword in a 3 combo attack and change direction while swinging, pull both top trigger and start firing your gun.

All in all, it's adequet so far. The cities look MUCH better, the controls are much more flexible, and the addiction is still there even if it doesn't look exactly like a next gen game.

I would at this point recommend it to fans of PSO, but don't get your hopes TOO high, I would say think PSO with more of an rpg feel. PSO 1.5 seems about right to me as well.

Now I just gotta figure out the robot in my room, the synchro, and all this other stuff, lol. Btw, there are so MANY FUCKING SHOPS. If you like shopping, haha, you gonna love all the new shops ><.

Btw, I heard you can set up your own shops online....is this true?

[diskoboy]

Excellent single player game, the bit that I've played so far.

I just wish Sega would spring to hire some real voice actors for a change, but the fun-factor definitely helps me overlook it.

So I haven't bought my hunter's liscense yet... Is it worth it?

[BHvrd]

Dunno, gonna get mine soon though, cause the more I play the more i'm getting jazzed to go online.

Looks like scape dolls are more rare now, the shop wants to buy mine for 5000 meseta =D.

Also just got told by an npc that wands can be equipped with 2 technics and rods can be equipped with 4. Interesting...

Getting more so by the minute.

[diskoboy]

UGH - the J-pop is killing me. :roll:

But I love how the chapters play out like TV episodes.

".....On the next chapter of Phantasy Star Universe."

[BHvrd]

I'm so immersed now man it's not even funny I can feel my life being sucked into this game.

Just found out you can team up with npc's offline to form parties and you can actually CHANGE YOUR FREAKIN CLASS!

Not sure how it work, but supposedly with 1 charactert you can be a Hunter, Ranger, and a Force, you just have to pay meseta to change class. So you can change classes infinetely, not sure of the reprecussions or how the leveling changes or whatnot, but that's just too sweet.

Btw...WHat J-pop? You mean the standard music? Haven't heard that I don't think. I saw that there is a club though, lol. Must be only online it syas it's closed =(

[diskoboy]

Btw...WHat J-pop? You mean the standard music? Haven't heard that I don't think. I saw that there is a club though, lol. Must be only online it syas it's closed =(

The cutscene and intro music.

The in-game music is still great. Not as dreamy and futuristic sounding as the Dreamcast music, but still good.

Yeah... I'll definately be getting a hunters liscense tonight or tomorrow.

[Neo Rasa]

Btw, I heard you can set up your own shops online....is this true?

Yup, you can dump all your unwanted items into it. It'll even be operable when you're offline, and then update what's been sold when you log on again.

[Overbite]

I got this for PC and have been playing it a lot. My name is Linear, a lvl 13 Hunter. I hang out on Universe 5 with the goons so parties are always lively :)

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/1125/linearen7.jpg

[Cryomancer]

Universe 12, I play as DeeCee, the woman plays as Cola and Tea, she will probably also make Coffee, and I'm gonna make an android here eventually.

[Sothy]

I played a little of the beta... dont think Ill pay 10$ month for the honor.

Especially since Eternal Tune will let you kill all the monsters and then steal all of the items/health etc.

Im gonna throw hot grease in her face.

[FantasiaWHT]

The economics are veeeeeery very different than PSO.

For instance, weapon drops are rare (I've picked up 2 weapons while fighting so far in 10 hours of play) and I haven't seen any armor drop. Nothing else you pick up really sells for a lot of meseta, so most of your money comes from picking up meseta drops.

And everything is VERY very expensive in the shops.

There are player shops, but the system is incredibly clunky. From your personal room, you can either

a) visit stores you've visited before
b) search by item
c) search by advertisement
d) search by something else, I forgot...

But all you get is a list of stores that match your search- you DON'T get prices! So you have to go to that room, which takes a short load, check in their store and see how much it costs. Then you can't even go from that store to a different store, you have to go BACK to your room first!

Very very clunky and slow.

Also, because of the lack of meseta coming from hunting, and the necessity of gathering materials for synthesizing, grouping up seems counter-productive... you might get a little more exp (the exp from much harder monsters is nowhere near as much as you'd expect... I can kill a monster in 1 hit that gives me 8 exp, but a monster that literally takes me 2 minutes to kill (by myself) gives me 16. Even grouping up for even harder monsters didn't net me more than 15-20 exp per kill at the most...

It really seems like the balance is off... not balance between classes, but the balance of exp to material goods that should keep a game like this moving forward.

[FantasiaWHT]

The economics are veeeeeery very different than PSO.

For instance, weapon drops are rare (I've picked up 2 weapons while fighting so far in 10 hours of play) and I haven't seen any armor drop. Nothing else you pick up really sells for a lot of meseta, so most of your money comes from picking up meseta drops.

And everything is VERY very expensive in the shops.

There are player shops, but the system is incredibly clunky. From your personal room, you can either

a) visit stores you've visited before
b) search by item
c) search by advertisement
d) search by something else, I forgot...

But all you get is a list of stores that match your search- you DON'T get prices! So you have to go to that room, which takes a short load, check in their store and see how much it costs. Then you can't even go from that store to a different store, you have to go BACK to your room first!

Very very clunky and slow.

Also, because of the lack of meseta coming from hunting, and the necessity of gathering materials for synthesizing, grouping up seems counter-productive... you might get a little more exp (the exp from much harder monsters is nowhere near as much as you'd expect... I can kill a monster in 1 hit that gives me 8 exp, but a monster that literally takes me 2 minutes to kill (by myself) gives me 16. Even grouping up for even harder monsters didn't net me more than 15-20 exp per kill at the most...

It really seems like the balance is off... not balance between classes, but the balance of exp to material goods that should keep a game like this moving forward.

[FantasiaWHT]

The economics are veeeeeery very different than PSO.

For instance, weapon drops are rare (I've picked up 2 weapons while fighting so far in 10 hours of play) and I haven't seen any armor drop. Nothing else you pick up really sells for a lot of meseta, so most of your money comes from picking up meseta drops.

And everything is VERY very expensive in the shops.

There are player shops, but the system is incredibly clunky. From your personal room, you can either

a) visit stores you've visited before
b) search by item
c) search by advertisement
d) search by something else, I forgot...

But all you get is a list of stores that match your search- you DON'T get prices! So you have to go to that room, which takes a short load, check in their store and see how much it costs. Then you can't even go from that store to a different store, you have to go BACK to your room first!

Very very clunky and slow.

Also, because of the lack of meseta coming from hunting, and the necessity of gathering materials for synthesizing, grouping up seems counter-productive... you might get a little more exp (the exp from much harder monsters is nowhere near as much as you'd expect... I can kill a monster in 1 hit that gives me 8 exp, but a monster that literally takes me 2 minutes to kill (by myself) gives me 16. Even grouping up for even harder monsters didn't net me more than 15-20 exp per kill at the most...

It really seems like the balance is off... not balance between classes, but the balance of exp to material goods that should keep a game like this moving forward.

[FantasiaWHT]

argh, sorry... stupid debug message.

BTW, combat as a whole is tons of fun, and the bosses rock!

[Overbite]

I totally pimped out my room. If you had my card you could go look at it :D

[FantasiaWHT]

How'd you get the money to do that?

BTW, anybody know where to get an "inverter circuit"?

[diskoboy]

Played 5 hours straight, yesterday. about to finish Chapter 3. Character is Lvl 11.

Does anyone besides me think the single player mode is way easier than past Phantasy Star incarnations? I haven't even come close to dying yet.

Even when I fought the De Ragan - it seemed incredibly easy.

[BydoEmpire]

I played through half of Chapter 3 offline. I really enjoyed it, but yeah, I thought it was pretty easy. I expect the first few chapters to be easy, though and let you get a feel for the game. It was surprisingly fun. Anyways, I finally hooked up my ps2 network adapter so I pretty much quit offline. I'm lvl 10 Newman FORCE - BydoMage, usually in Universe 3 or 13.

I noticed that about the economy, too. I have no money for anything. I'm guessing that after a while I'll be able to synthesize items and weapons of value, which will offset the lack of meseta.

My one complaint would be that it seems much harder to aim than in PSO. Now, you really have to be careful centering the camera and positioning your character. It's a little annoying, but I'm getting used to it (and I do like the strafe move and weapon palette system).

[FantasiaWHT]

Yeah my main character (who I'm abandoning, more on that later) is level 11 beast hunter, and STILL by FAR the best way for her to get a) exp b) meseta c) photon art exp d) materials, and e) mission points is STILL just to do the first level over and over again, solo.

The balance is seriously messed up... it really seems the game is missing the balance needed to keep everything moving forward... I go through so many mono- and di-mates while hunting, even being as careful as I can, that I lose money if I go anywhere but the first level. I can never find a force to come along and heal our party.

Which is why I abandoned my main character and made a newm force :) And I love it a ton more!

I've come to the conclusion that in PSO, the force was gimped. There was very little a force could do that really added to a party. Other classes could heal, cast shifta and deband, and use moon atomizers (which were cheap and/or easily obtainable) to rez people. Forces just didn't bring much to the table.

In PSU, it seems that the hunter is gimped and forces now are absolutely vital. Hunters need to spend more money on weapons, armor, and mates than rangers and forces, they can't heal themselves without mates, and they don't do substantially more damage than either forces or rangers.

Does anybody understand how grinders work? You have to get a board, and then grinder parts, make the real grinder... but then I take it and my weapon to the weapon upgrade shop in Clyez City and they say they only do "Kubara weapons or synthesized weapons". I couldn't find a weapon upgrade shop in the other cities, either.

Does anybody know anything about the advanced job classes? In the tutorial it says you eventually can pick an advanced job... are there advanced jobs for hunters and rangers that allow them to use technics?

[BHvrd]

I don't mind the struggle to make a buck, it should take time to earn uberness, i'm glad you can't make meseta as easily in offline mode. I was honestly worried that they would use that structure online, glad to see they are totally seperate games.

I like how you can craft items now, so cool. Oh and the house, shop, decorations, combat, voice chat, oh hell i'm liking everything about this game. :D

Btw, as far as aiming goes I just always hold both top buttons and strafe constently while in battle, I have few problems when doing it that way, aiming is much more challenging, but i'm loving that you can actually control the camera this time.

I'm so addicted to this game, it's a great sequel, and imo one of the best mmo's out there especially for a console.

[Overbite]

I don't know why you're having so much trouble getting stuff. I'm a 18 Hunter and I have almost enough for a shop (I got 13000mst so far) and that's with upgrading my weapons, armor, room, and not selling my synth mats. I'm also half way through hunter rank 3.

Getting money and mission points really isnt that hard, it's just you were grinding the first missions over and over. That won't do it.

Go down to Parum and do some missions there as a group. If you S rank the De Ragan mission you get almost 1k mst and 8 mission points! That's in addition to the money you pick up.

If you want, you can meet me sometime on Universe 5 (as Linear) and I can bring you though on some groups I go in. You can see how easy it is to save.

On an unrelated note, I wanted to try a force so I made MAGIC ROBO

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6291/psu20061031090040000pg1.th.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=psu20061031090040000pg1.jpg)

[Overbite]

Since I can't edit my post, I'd like to add that I'm on the PC version so you can only join me if you're on pc or ps2.

[BydoEmpire]

Yeah, the game definitely rewards playing in parties. I'll do solo missions occasionally to get items and such, but for getting experience and levelling up, you need a group to quickly tackle harder foes.

I'm really disliking having to play through the same few missions over and over and over again. PSU really needs some variety. :/

Anyone know when Guardian missions become available?

[captain nintendo]

Been playing this game as much as I can when I can. Right now I have a level 18 Newman Force named "Serendipity" (one of my characters from PSO Ep 1&2)

Making money is pretty easy if you solo missions, and sell what isn't important. Of course now that I have started to synth, I will be saving more of these items.

I have the 360 version, and I love the voice chat feature. It makes it a hell of a lot easy to let your party know what is up. :)

Of course I would have settled for a handy dandy keyboard controller like I had for the Gamecube as well (if they didn't have voice chat).


(FYI)
If you are running the 360 version, and are having trouble with voice chat while in a team...

You need to start your 360 while the disc is out of it.

Then sign into XBL.

Then insert disc and wait to start. Since I have starting doing this, I have yet to have a voice chat problem. :D

[FantasiaWHT]

I must just not have had good groups. Not having a force is a problem- you're spending more in mates than you're making.

I am MUCH MUCH more loving being a force now. I soloed the first mission in Parum at level 5 :) Trick was buying the 2,000 meseta wand right away and then pumping it with grinders on a good day. I do 150 damage to the critters in that level, so I can two-hit all of them. I hate those damn birds though!

Are other forces not finding the variety of spells all that useful? I only use barta when I'm fighting in the newb dungeon and barta one-shots the monsters. I almost always just fire away with FOIE. Rafoie only if I'm absolutely POSITIVE I'll hit three, which is rare.

Is it worth spending the money on any of the other RA- spells? (barta, zonde, and diga)

[Overbite]

just to have a full aresnal I guess. The only available spells atm are the first tier, the rest of them will be made available sometime later.

[diskoboy]

On chapter 6 in single player. Level 22.

Opened "Extra Mode".

Not playing multiplayer until I've beaten the game.

[captain nintendo]

I made it to level 20 last night with my Force (Serendipity).
So far, my most used tech is Diga. By far the best tech (at this point) IMO.


Playing on the 360 version for those of you who need a force in your groups.

[FantasiaWHT]

Diga is the one I haven't tried yet, what's it do?