Phantasy Star Universe

[ROMate]

The latest installment of the Phantasy Star online games, set to release in 4 days to America. Beta is out, and so far, we're seeing these big changes:

Beasts: A new race, they're good at Hunter stuff and get tattoos that let them turn into were-creatures.

Casts: They get big fucking guns no matter what class they are, which are called SUVs. No, not after those big chunks of rolling metal.

Mixed Classes: Ever wanna be a Hunter and a Force all at once? Well now...YOU CAN. Your character will mix all the best traits that make those two classes so loveable.

FOcast: Casts can now be Forces. OHSHIT.

Diga: Earth-typed attacks make their debut!

GiResta: The new Revive/Regenerate spell. It either revives you, or gives you HP regeneration. Reverser is now set up to cure status ailments.

Knuckles: Giant fucking photon knuckles are now a standard weapon, and are made of severe ownage.

I'm looking forward to it. I have a thin & wimpy Waferstation, so I can play online as soon as I get it (and money to pay the monthly fee). I'm REALLY looking forward to all the new Force stuff, but the new Hunter weapons sound nice too. Maybe I'll mix classes or make two characters. If you've got any new insights, information, or other commentary, SHARE!

[tetsaru arigashi]

I reserved PSU for PC in the hopes that I'd get a new computer for Christmas.  There were a bunch of cool videos on Youtube that I've seen of the Beta version so far - I'll try to post 'em up later on if I find them again.

[HMD]

I don't mean to burst your bubble guys, but I haven't heard too many good things about this one. The quests themselves, from what I've heard, are pretty bad. Plus, if you buy the 360 version, not only are you paying an extra ten bucks for the game (Sega's charging $59.99 for it, whereas the PS2 version is $49.99), but you're paying an extra ten bucks for the online fee (XBox Live is $5/month, and PSU is $10/month). And there are barely any improvements over the PS2 version (graphic-wise, at least).

But at least the character creator and theme song are good.

[ROMate]

Everyone I know is way too pumped up by the new Photon Arts system and increased spell list for Forces to care overmuch about quests and junk. We just want better gameplay and new character creation options. Plus, none of us are getting it for the 360 anyway, so the increased prices aren't an issue.

[Centurion]

I don't mean to burst your bubble guys, but I haven't heard too many good things about this one. The quests themselves, from what I've heard, are pretty bad. Plus, if you buy the 360 version, not only are you paying an extra ten bucks for the game (Sega's charging $59.99 for it, whereas the PS2 version is $49.99), but you're paying an extra ten bucks for the online fee (XBox Live is $5/month, and PSU is $10/month). And there are barely any improvements over the PS2 version (graphic-wise, at least).

But at least the character creator and theme song are good.

Got a Demo of this here character creator?

[tetsaru arigashi]

Here's one I found where someone makes a female cast:

[youtube=425,350]hg1A_Y21O3I[/youtube]

As you can see, there are a HELLUVA lot more customization options this time.  Tetsaru REALLY likes games with customization.  =D

[Kiinan Yamasu]

Awesome. This oughta make an awesome title for when I get my Xbox 360.

Of course, Dead Rising and DOA come first. Because 1) zombies, and 2) boobs.

[Centurion]

Here's one I found where someone makes a female cast:

[youtube=425,350]hg1A_Y21O3I[/youtube]

As you can see, there are a HELLUVA lot more customization options this time.  Tetsaru REALLY likes games with customization.  =D

Me want more footage. What system does this thing come out on? Please dont say next gen...

[ROMate]

360, PS2, PC. Maybe more, not sure yet.

[tetsaru arigashi]

Me want more footage.

Here's a couple on the different weapons:

The "SUV" weapons:

Some new fan-type weapon.  It seems like an improved version of the old slicer:

[MMX]

I dont' get this whole Photon Arts business...

And am I the only one irked by FOcasts?  It's like... so wrong.  Make head hurt.  And I've never heard of a Beast race in any PS game before this one, are they making it up for this installment?

Anyways I've still got bad taste in my mouth from the first PSO aka Diablo II smeared with PS characters.

>_>
<_<
I dunno maybe it will turn out well...

edit re: character creator vids

NOT ENOUGH BOOBIE CUSTOMIZATION

[tetsaru arigashi]

Two of my friends are already playing PSU now - one on PS2, and one on PC.  I've got the PC version now, but, as most of you should know by now due to my constant bitching, my computer is too crappy to handle it.

"Well, geez Tetsaru, why the hell did you get it for PC??"

...Because I know that I'll be getting a new comp for Christmas now.  =3  I just gotta figure out what my and my parents' budget will be when the time comes so I can decide what hardware to get.  Besides, I didn't want to waste my money getting a network adapter for my PS2, especially with the PS3 coming out (although I know it's very expensive).  My new comp will most likely cost a lot more than a PS3, but I know I'll be using it a lot more than a gaming console, and for more purposes (such as getting Photoshop so I can finally start practicing on my own with it).

I dont' get this whole Photon Arts business...

And am I the only one irked by FOcasts?  It's like... so wrong.  Make head hurt.  And I've never heard of a Beast race in any PS game before this one, are they making it up for this installment?

Anyways I've still got bad taste in my mouth from the first PSO aka Diablo II smeared with PS characters.

>_>
<_<
I dunno maybe it will turn out well...

edit re: character creator vids

NOT ENOUGH BOOBIE CUSTOMIZATION

Okay, lemme explain a few things I've learned from watching my friend play...

In PSU, you have a PP (Photon Points) guage, similar to the TP guage in PSO.  This guage is used for various things, and it changes in amount depending on what weapon you have equipped, and how high your stats are.  If you are wielding a sword-type weapon (saber, sword, daggers, knuckles, etc.), you can get these disks (sorta like the technique disks in the old one) that teach a Photon Art specific to that weapon type, and attach it to that weapon.  You can then use the Photon Art as a normal attack, provided that you have the PP to do so (my friend's CAST has a PP guage of about 120 points or so, and using a Photon Art attack consumes about 15-30 points, depending on how it is used).  Basically, Photon Arts are just more powerful versions of your normal physical attacks.  Some of them can even knock enemies off their feet, or even into the air!  Also, Photon Arts level up the more you use them, and you can eventually gain another combo hit with them (I think the max level for Photon Arts is 20).

If you're wielding a gun-type weapon, then your PP guage basically becomes your ammo (no, you no longer have infinite ammo like in PSO).  However, your PP guage usually becomes a lot larger (I believe my friend's was around 450 when he switched to his handgun, and each shot consumed 5 points).  Guns, as a result of this, do not have Photon Arts associated with them; however, I've heard that you can equip status effects and/or elemental properties to your bullets.  Guns are still much less powerful than sword weapons are, but they're a lot easier to use now - you can now strafe while firing, or go into a first-person view to fire wherever you want, although you cannot run while in this view (it's mainly used to target aerial enemies, since they got rid of that horrible targeting system in PSO now).

As far as techniques go for Forces, I don't know very much about how they work since my friend hasn't been playing as a Force (yes, CASTs can become forces now, but as far as races go, they have the shittiest mind strength of all the races - newmans are still dominant in this field).  I'm guessing you still find the different technique disks like in PSO, but instead of finding the different levels, you probably level them up through continuous use like the Photon Arts.  Also, Forces cannot use sabers to my knowledge (I think they can still use handguns, but I'm not sure) until you gain enough job points through doing missions to increase your job level to the point where you can access an advanced class, which I believe allows you to be proficient with more than one type of weapon (such as swords and techniques).  The game is still quite new, and no one has really gotten to that high of a level yet (job points take a WHILE to level up).

The beast race is supposed to have the highest attack power of all the races (even more than CASTs).  After reaching a certain level (20, I believe), they can learn/use Nanoblasts, which transforms them into a beast form for about a minute or so once you fill up a limit-break-type gauge (which I hear fills up rather slowly).  During this state, their attack power skyrockets and they can attack rather quickly, but they have no access to healing or ranged attacks, as far as I know.  CASTs have a similar move called SUV weapons (I think I posted a video on it earlier), which summon huge gun attacks to unleash on enemies.  Compared to Nanoblasts, you are pretty much rendered immobile when using an SUV weapon (athough you can to an extent rotate to face different directions), and the attack only lasts for several seconds, but in certain circumstances, it can do significantly more damage than a Nanoblast, since Nanoblasts require you to physically attack your enemy, whereas SUVs can hit from a distance.

Another few things to consider - CASTs no longer have immunity to certain status effects, and CASTs and newmans no longer have HP/TP regeneration, respectively, when they stand still.  I believe there is now a stat that governs resistance to status effects, and a character's PP guage will slowly regenerate for whatever weapon you have equipped at the time (although there are also items and points in-game where you can restore all of your weapons' PP for a small meseta fee).  One method my friend uses is to carry several different weapons with you at the beginning of a mission, then unload as many Photon Arts as possible on your enemies with one, then switch to another weapon when your PP runs out and repeat the process until all of your sword-type weapons' PP are exhausted.  When this happens, exit the level and abandon the mission, then return to one of the nearby PP restore points as mentioned.  Then do it all over again.  This allows you to quickly level up your Photon Arts without having to wait for your PP to recharge.  Plus, by abandoning the current mission, the enemies will regenerate, giving you more chances to use your Photon Arts!

As for this "boobie customization"...  I'll probably end up making a female character when I finally get online, so we'll see just exactly this works, lol.  It'd be cool to see a character similar to the insanely busty HUnewearl you could make in PSO, lol...

Btw, when you create an account, you are automatically given 4 character slots, so you don't have to worry about paying more to make another character.  Plus, you can always delete a character if necessary, and the best thing is, before you do so, you can move all of his/her items to a place called the commons box, which allows all of your characters to access the items that are inside.  So, find something with one character, put it in the commons box, delete that character, create a new one, then give the item you found to the new character!  MUCH easier than in PSO, although stat restrictions on items still apply.

Anything else you'd like to know?

[MMX]

As for this "boobie customization"...  I'll probably end up making a female character when I finally get online, so we'll see just exactly this works, lol.  It'd be cool to see a character similar to the insanely busty HUnewearl you could make in PSO, lol...

I'll be waiting for the results of your field study.

[ROMate]

2 of my friends have sold their souls to this game, and now we never see them except at meals. But even then, it's not worth much because all they do is talk about the game and more or less ignore everyone else.

[tetsaru arigashi]

I've finally gotten online with this game!  If anyone around here plays, look for a huge black gun-wielding CAST named Tetsaru - that's me!  I'm selling elemental Photons (when I get them) for 5k each, which is a LOT better than what most other people are selling em for.  I've also got some other random odds and ends for cheap in my shop as well.

I'll be waiting for the results of your field study.

I haven't figured out a good way to do screenshots yet, but think something along the lines of Ino'lis from PSO III in terms of maximum bustyness... maybe slightly less.  =/  I've also heard that there are some bikini clothes that female characters can buy as well...

[ROMate]

As fast as it hit, PSU fever is gone. Nobody's playing it anymore, which makes me laugh and cry at the same time. I'm somewhat pleased that they all stopped, but I hate that they more or less wasted their money, since they only played it maybe a month.

[Aphelion]

As fast as it hit, PSU fever is gone. Nobody's playing it anymore, which makes me laugh and cry at the same time. I'm somewhat pleased that they all stopped, but I hate that they more or less wasted their money, since they only played it maybe a month.

Is it honestly dead already? I would've expected it to live as long as its PSO legacy would've.

[tetsaru arigashi]

Is it honestly dead already? I would've expected it to live as long as its PSO legacy would've.

No, it's not dead yet, lol.  There was actually an update today, adding some new missions, as well as areas to trade in PA fragments for new Photon Arts.  I guess a lot of people just got upset over the differences between the two games, but I still feel that it's way too early to judge.  PSU is still in its infancy - it came out around last October or so.  I say give it some time to develop, even though Sega DOES tend to do some stupid stuff every now and then...

[Aphelion]

No, it's not dead yet, lol.  There was actually an update today, adding some new missions, as well as areas to trade in PA fragments for new Photon Arts.  I guess a lot of people just got upset over the differences between the two games, but I still feel that it's way too early to judge.  PSU is still in its infancy - it came out around last October or so.  I say give it some time to develop, even though Sega DOES tend to do some stupid stuff every now and then...

Ah, that's good to hear. I haven't heard much about PSU, so that's why I was worried when I was struck with that news. I should probably get around to purchasing PSU soon as well.

[ROMate]

I meant that the hype surrounding the game in my group of friends has died and they've all lost interest, not that the game itself was toast. Read more carefully, plz.