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Phantasy Star Portable 2 revealed for the second time
Sega looks prepared to announce Phantasy Star Portable 2 not once, not twice -- but three times. The highly successful PSP RPG was first uncovered through a promotional UMD for the budget re-release of the original Phantasy Star Portable. Now, it's been discovered yet again through Japanese mag Famitsu, making it all the more official. Sega will then announce the game one more time through its still-in-progress countdown site.PSO-World has noticed a few details about the upcoming sequel. PSP2 will take place three years after the events of Phantasy Star Universe and the original Phantasy Star Portable.Two of the characters revealed so far are Amelia Percival (not related to PSNation's Glenn, we're afraid), and Yoot. We're sure to see much more when Sega announces the game again in a few days.Update: 1UP reports that the game will support online Infrastructure mode. Finally! [Thanks, Jonathan S.!]
European Nintendo downloads: Flipnote Phantasy
If you're into RPGs and in Europe or Australia, today's Wii Shop update is killer -- the original Phantasy Star for Sega Master System is available! For a ridiculous 500 Wii Points, you can get one of the best role playing games ever made. We hope you have a high tolerance for first-person dungeons.WiiWare gets another of Arc System Works' Family titles, about which we've learned to be wary -- but we're intensely curious about the idea of a slot car racing game. Also, Tecmo's 3-2-1 Rattle Battle!, a game whose openness about being entirely about shaking the Wiimote frantically is impressive.On DSiWare, Europe gets a number puzzle game with online multplayer, based on a larger DS game that didn't come out there! And Flipnote Studio finally arrives! Go download it and make Flipnotes! Right now! Phantasy Star (Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Family Slot Car Racing (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) 3-2-1 Rattle Battle! (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points) Sujin Taisen Number Battle (DSiWare, 1-4 players, 500 DSi Points) Flipnote Studio (DSiWare, 1 player, free)
Phantasy Star Zero screens -- now with English text
It's been a long time since we've seen Phantasy Star Zero screenshots. In fact, it's been a long time since we've heard anything about the DS RPG, which is why these English screens (the first we've seen) are such a great comfort to us. Look, Sega's working on the game, probably!As demonstrated in the screen seen here, the chat macro system from Phantasy Star Online returns in this game, joined by the new Pictochat-style stylus chat. Technically, these two systems mean that you can chat with people who don't know your language. And now, thanks to this English release coming this fall (we hope), you'll actually be able to know what the game is saying as well.%Gallery-69479%
Phantasy Star Portable 2 rumored to make debut in budget re-release
Sega's competitor to Monster Hunter found moderate success in Japan, when it sold upwards of 600,000 copies. Phantasy Star Portable is being re-released in Japan as part of Sony's "The Best" budget collection, and the new release will include a bonus UMD filled with extras.While the bonus UMD is confirmed, an image circulating Japanese blogs and message boards suggests the disc may contain an unexpected surprise: the opening movie for the currently unannounced Phantasy Star Portable 2, in addition to video summaries of the entire Phantasy Star Universe saga. Considering the success of the first game, it's more than likely Sega would be interested in creating a sequel. However, without any other concrete source, this rumor is far from confirmed.[Thanks, John C.! Via IGN]
Majora's Mask, Phantasy Star on Japanese Virtual Console in April
Wow! This has been a really great week to be a Nintendo fan. It's been a really great week to be a Virtual Console fan in particular -- when was the last time we could say something like that? The week has just gotten a lot better with the release of the list of upcoming Virtual Console releases for Japan.Why? Two reasons. First: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. Like Ocarina of Time, it costs a painful 1,200 Wii Points -- and like Ocarina of Time, it will probably drop to the usual 1,000 in North America. Second, and possibly even more exciting: Phantasy Star! The Sega Master System RPG masterpiece is also coming to the Virtual Console. Maybe it's not a big deal to those of you with Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, but personally, it's awesome news.We fully expect to see both of these games in North America soon. Neither SMS games nor N64 games seem to take long to make it overseas. Also of interest: Hudson's PC Engine port of the NES Ninja Gaiden. And the arcade version of Space Invaders, which marks the third time the "original" Space Invaders has been released on VC. The full list is after the break.
Phantasy Star Portable gets new release date: March 3rd
PSP fans looking to join in on Sega's latest addition to the famed RPG series won't have to wait much longer. The US release is just one month away -- March 3rd.Phantasy Star Portable expands the world featured in Xbox 360's Phantasy Star Universe. The RPG is heavily rooted in ad-hoc multiplayer, with up to four players doing missions in tandem. The game will retail for $39.99.%Gallery-11817%
Sega releases new Phantasy Star Portable trailer
What would one expect from a game called Phantasy Star Portable? Well, dear reader, if you answered "a portable Phantasy Star game," you win. Sega's bringing the upcoming PSP-exclusive Phantasy Star Portable to America and Europe. This follow-up to Phantasy Star Universe features a brand new story and tons of missions. But, there's one problem. Where's the Infrastructure support?Phantasy Star Portable arrives in the US this March.%Gallery-11817%
The early years of Phantasy Star Zero
Here's something: early on in its development, Phantasy Star Zero bore more than a passing resemblance to the original Phantasy Star Online on the Dreamcast.Unseen64 has assembled a collection of work-in-progress Zero screens and concept art, and the similarities are striking: according to these, Sega was also planning to include the opening Forest stage that featured in Phantasy Star Online, right down to the awesome dragon boss! Unseen64 says neither are featured in the final game (sadly, we have yet to play Zero ourselves, so we'll take their word for it).Other changes from the initial build include noticeably different character design, changes in the way items and currency are distributed (to make sure the game ran smoothly and looked as pretty as this), and a selection of monsters that missed the cut.%Gallery-31775%[Thanks, Joe!]
Phantasy Star ?? zeroes in on US, Europe this fall
Like meseta from heaven, Sega has rained down another entry in its long running Phantasy Star series, announcing plans to release Phantasy Star Ø, or 'Zero' for the numlock impaired, on the Nintendo DS in both North America and Europe this fall.Released in Japan over Christmas, Phantasy Star Ø is set in an alternate Earth history 200 years following a devastating war, and will feature 14 different customizable character types and in excess of 350 different weapons. In addition, while players will be able to adventure out by their lonesome, the action-RPG will also support both wireless and Wi-Fi multiplayer. A Pictochat-style chat system is also promised, letting us phantasize about exploring Earth's ravaged countryside as we level up our phallus-scribbling skills. Gallery: Phantasy Star Zero
Phantasy Star Zero confirmed for North America
If this rough shot of the most recent copy of Nintendo Power is to be believed, Phantasy Star Zero will hit North American shelves this fall. A reader sent the photo in to our friends at GoNintendo, and posters at NeoGAF also report the Nintendo Power cover. Word of mouth on the game has been incredibly positive, so we would be excited even if we weren't talking about Phantasy Star Zero. But we are, so that means we're over the moon. Are you as excited as we are? If not, maybe you should check out a trailer.Oh, and we should also mention that Sega just sent us a press release confirming the game will release in Europe.%Gallery-31775%Read -- GoNintendoRead -- NeoGAF
VC Monday Madness: Phantasy Star IV
Phantasy Star IV (Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)Wii Fanboy says: download it! Not much going down this week, as we've only got one Virtual Console game available for download. Luckily, it's a good one, as the turn-based combat and everything on offer here in Phantasy Star IV is very enjoyable. If you're looking to kill some time this holiday season, then shell out the $8 and enjoy. Each week, we here at Wii Fanboy like to check out the latest Virtual Console releases in our VC Monday Madness feature, in the hopes that you can make the most sound decision possible regarding purchasing retro titles from the Wii Shop Channel. If you're looking for more retro goodness, check out Virtually Overlooked, which talks about games that should be on the Virtual Console.
Retail and download releases for the week of Dec 22nd
Well, folks, with this being Christmas week and all, there aren't any new retail releases available. But, that doesn't mean we don't get some new gaming content. WiiWare and the Virtual Console are here to the rescue! So, without further delay, head past the break and check out what's new on Wii this week.
Getting chatty in Phantasy Star Zero
As Phantasy Star Zero's Christmas Day release (in Japan) draws closer, we're being taunted with more and more media. The newest video showcases the excellent Pictochat-style chat system, which comes across as a more flexible, expanded version of the Symbol Chat system from previous games.As well as simply writing/drawing what you wish to say "live," you'll be able to save a bunch of preset sketches (because drawing stuff like this as a Rappy pecks your face off isn't practical), and simply tap a menu to bring them up. We don't know how many preset speech bubbles you can store in this way, but the player in this video has around twenty in his inventory, so ... at least that many. Also, if somebody sends you a drawing you really like, you can save it and pass it off as your own use it yourself!%Gallery-31775%
A delightfully comprehensive Phantasy Star Zero trailer
If, for some reason, you haven't been following Phantasy Star Zero, Sonic Team's DS followup to the Phantasy Star Online series, you can catch up with this video. The rest of us can just enjoy another look at the game before its Christmas release (in Japan).The enthusiastically-narrated clip introduces the three gameplay modes -- solo, wireless multiplayer, and online multiplayer, with a nice helping of gameplay footage of each. We can also get a glimpse at the possibilities for character customization! Jaunty hats, antennae, and huge green afros abound.We think that there may even be a different story in the single-player mode for Humans, Newmans, and Casts. Combine that with the animated cutscenes, and Phantasy Star Zero may actually have a story mode worth playing!%Gallery-31775%[Via Gamekyo]
VC Friday: Mega Phriday
Unless you've got a PS2 or a PSP, there's really no excuse to miss out on downloading Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, a game that is treated with justifiable reverence by fans of the franchise's early years. Mega Man 3 might not represent the peak of its respective series, but it's still worth a punt for 500 points. Especially as you don't have to look at this. Mega Man 3 -- NES -- 500 Wii Points Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points You know the drill: embedded footage of both games is past the jump.%Gallery-32143%
A brief look at character creation in Phantasy Star Zero
In a post about the filming of a new commercial for Phantasy Star Zero starring actor and singer Takeshi Tsuruno, GAME Watch also included a few screens of the character creation process. We've quickly translated the visible options; there aren't any real surprises, but we at least know that there are three different aspects of the character costumes that can change color, that the player can change the color of the floating "mag" robot, and that there are multiple selectable voices like in Phantasy Star Universe!Other screens show a party gathering and calling out for a Photon Blast (a charged attack that could be combined in Phantasy Star Online) and the boxart, which is a delight.%Gallery-31775%
Virtually Overlooked: Phantasy Star
Sega has graciously ensured the Wii's status as an excellent RPG platform with downloadable versions of, among other classic RPGs, Phantasy Star II and III. IV is in our future, as well, having been released in Japan and rated for US release by the ESRB. Even Phantasy Star Online is playable on the Wii via GameCube backward compatibility.There's still one obvious void, and it's one that is also found in compilation titles on other systems: Phantasy Star. Well, and a few Japan-only text adventures. And Phantasy Star Gaiden. But while it's basically totally unreasonable to expect those titles in English for six bucks each, it's not really out of the realm of possibility that Sega could include Phantasy Star on the Virtual Console to complement its sequels.
Phantasy Star Portable coming stateside in March
Sega announced that it will bring Phantasy Star Portable, the on-the-go flavor of its popular Phantasy Star Universe, to North America in March 2009, finally giving us a reason to cash in those meseta savings bonds grandma left behind before taking off for Palma to retire. Serving as a kind of prequel to its console cousin, the game will bring a new character to the series, alongside 150 new weapons and items and support for wireless co-op play. Phantasy Star Portable's release in Japan earlier this year was met with rabid sales, and it will be interesting to see if players over here will be just as eager to level up to Sega's latest role-playing offering.
TGS 08: Phantasy Star Portable coming to US fo' sho'
Sega of America quietly told reporters at TGS that their "secret PSP game" was in fact, a localized version of Phantasy Star Portable -- a fact made not-so-secret when Kotaku ran their story today. It's true: PSP is coming to the PSP. Phantasy Star features the same addictive Ad-Hoc multiplayer that made Monster Hunter such a hit amongst Japanese gamers -- and it looks pretty, to boot. Hopefully, this early announcement will appease the American masses that are currently experiencing a PSP games drought. You see? Games are coming. We swear. [Thanks, Ben!]
DS Daily: Phantasy Star on the small screens
We've had our (first) gushing moment about a Phantasy Star Online iteration on the DS. Now it's time to think semi-critically about the development. We know that we like online gaming on the DS, and we like action-RPGs on the DS. But most of our ARPGs have been single-player, and our online gaming competitive.Simply put, will the kind of longer-session multiplayer questing work on the DS as well as it did on the Dreamcast and all those other systems? Do you look forward to that kind of experience on a handheld? Obviously, people in Japan dig it (see: Monster Hunter Portable, Phantasy Star Portable). To us, there's something strange about this style of play on a handheld, and yet something quite appealing.%Gallery-31775%
