Phantasy Star Universe
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:52 pm
Ok. So. With the acquisition of a 360 I've been perusing the games that are out for the sucker.
I was in Game Crazy, when I saw Phantasy Star Universe, for $19.99, new. I look over at the PS2 version and see it's still $39.99. So, seeing as how I absolutely loved the Dreamcast version, Phantasy Star Online, I bought the game.
Little did I realize that would be my undoing.
This game, I can't decide if it's terrible, or if, deep down, it's as awesome as Phantasy Star Online was. When I think back on PSO, I remember talking, killing creatures, and fighting a dragon.
But in PSU, theres wayyyyy more talking. Whats even better, when you get to the very first save point. It's been roughly 30 minutes. 25 of those minutes cut scenes. Instead of giving you a combat tutorial early in the game where it could actually be used. They play the game for you in a cut scene.
The plot is shallow as hell. For those of you who haven't played the game. Let me explain, you start off as a guy named Ethan Weber, he hates the Guardians who are the peacekeepers in the game. He hates them because his dad was a Guardian, and he got killed on the job, leaving his mom a single parent, who ended up dying soon after giving birth to his little sister(whom I might add, is one of the worst looking characters modeled in the game.) Anyway, he hates the Guardians because blah blah blah insert generic RPG plot here.
By the end of the first level, after saving one single solitary person, he forgives the Guardians instantly, and then goes and joins the Guardians 30 seconds later.
Also, theres a hell of a lot of talking. So much talking thats what you'll end up doing 90% of the time in the game. Talking, and yes I know talking is a huge part of an RPG, however, they take it to access, not to mention, if you have anyone in your party, and they talk, it blocks your view of the screen, so you could be running into a monster, or a pit, ect.
This is all in single player story mode, I haven't gotten around to the online play yet, as I'm betting it's 100% better than the actual game itself.
Also, about the chapters, known as "Episodes". They actually try to make the game like a TV show. Credits before and after each and every friggin' level. They even have a narrator and cheesy music talking about the next level; "Next time on Phantasy Star Universe, who is this mysterious person? Will Ethan be able to make it to the dance on time? Find out all this and more, next time!"
Dear god is it annoying, thankfully, you can skip it all.
So, if anyone is thinking about getting this game for single player. Let me know, I'll show up at your door and headbutt you.
Multiplayer however, looks to be like the PSO we known and may or may not love. Plus, if you can get the used 360 version for $14.99. It's not a bad buy.
I was in Game Crazy, when I saw Phantasy Star Universe, for $19.99, new. I look over at the PS2 version and see it's still $39.99. So, seeing as how I absolutely loved the Dreamcast version, Phantasy Star Online, I bought the game.
Little did I realize that would be my undoing.
This game, I can't decide if it's terrible, or if, deep down, it's as awesome as Phantasy Star Online was. When I think back on PSO, I remember talking, killing creatures, and fighting a dragon.
But in PSU, theres wayyyyy more talking. Whats even better, when you get to the very first save point. It's been roughly 30 minutes. 25 of those minutes cut scenes. Instead of giving you a combat tutorial early in the game where it could actually be used. They play the game for you in a cut scene.
The plot is shallow as hell. For those of you who haven't played the game. Let me explain, you start off as a guy named Ethan Weber, he hates the Guardians who are the peacekeepers in the game. He hates them because his dad was a Guardian, and he got killed on the job, leaving his mom a single parent, who ended up dying soon after giving birth to his little sister(whom I might add, is one of the worst looking characters modeled in the game.) Anyway, he hates the Guardians because blah blah blah insert generic RPG plot here.
By the end of the first level, after saving one single solitary person, he forgives the Guardians instantly, and then goes and joins the Guardians 30 seconds later.
Also, theres a hell of a lot of talking. So much talking thats what you'll end up doing 90% of the time in the game. Talking, and yes I know talking is a huge part of an RPG, however, they take it to access, not to mention, if you have anyone in your party, and they talk, it blocks your view of the screen, so you could be running into a monster, or a pit, ect.
This is all in single player story mode, I haven't gotten around to the online play yet, as I'm betting it's 100% better than the actual game itself.
Also, about the chapters, known as "Episodes". They actually try to make the game like a TV show. Credits before and after each and every friggin' level. They even have a narrator and cheesy music talking about the next level; "Next time on Phantasy Star Universe, who is this mysterious person? Will Ethan be able to make it to the dance on time? Find out all this and more, next time!"
Dear god is it annoying, thankfully, you can skip it all.
So, if anyone is thinking about getting this game for single player. Let me know, I'll show up at your door and headbutt you.
Multiplayer however, looks to be like the PSO we known and may or may not love. Plus, if you can get the used 360 version for $14.99. It's not a bad buy.