Product Description

Phantasy Star Universe contains both a "Story Mode" for the single player and an online "Network Mode" for multiple players. Online battles take place in real-time as players collaboratively fight together. In the players' room, each player can create items, and create and customize their own Partner Machinery which is a robot that holds items retrieved in the field, and more.
The story unfolds in a faraway place... the Gurhal System. The three planets that make up the Gurhal System are populated by humans and three other races born of the humans--Newmans, Beasts and CASTs. Wars between the races raged for 500 years, but the races eventually settled into a moderately peaceful coexistence. But now, after a century of peace, certain devastation arrives. Seventeen-year-old Ethan Waber and his sister Lumia were attending the grand ceremony commemorating the centennial of the Gurhal System's Tripartite Treaty when suddenly a mysterious alien species known as the SEED launched a surprise attack. The Alliance Military's armada was completely unprepared for the sudden invasion and was all but destroyed as the ceremony's attendees succumbed to panic. In the ensuing chaos, Lumia is left behind in the rubble. In order to save his little sister, Ethan borrows some equipment from a Guardian named Leo, and for the first time in his life, he's flung into a dangerous battle of life and death...
In Story Mode, the player assumes the role of Ethan Waber, a young man enlisted in an interplanetary security force known as the GUARDIANS. With the help of numerous partners, he fights to uncover the mystery of the SEED, stands up against conspiracy, and grows up along the way as an epic story unfolds. What is it that you fight to protect?
The events of Network Mode take place in the same place and era as Ethan's adventure in Story Mode. In order to help bring peace to the Gurhal System, the interplanetary security force kn

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10089 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sega Of America, Inc.
• Model: 85152
• Released on: 2006-11-21
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Platforms: Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP
• Format: CD-ROM
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds

Features

• Sega
• Phantasy Star Universe PC

Customer Reviews

Skip this, buy its expansion
It is in my opinion that you shouldn't buy this game. If liked Phantasy Star Online, and would like to see a similar game, check out the stand alone expansion for this game (called Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus). The expansion improves upon the gameplay by adding features that SHOULD have been included in this one. Take a look at my review on the expansion for a more in-depth exploration of my reasons for not liking this game.

It will do...
I never grew into the Phantasy Star franchise until I purchased Phantasy Star Online for the Sega Dreamcast. And that should speak for itself, since the first Phantasy Star game I played was III, and for the Sega Genesis. But anyway...

I recently got out of Guild Wars, mostly due to a number of issues I had with the MMO. And when I finally got hold of this game, it took me a while to get used to everything. Heck, I need to consider re-adjusting a couple of buttons due to the fact one is the "camera reset" button. Never the less, this is how I feel about the game:

+ Animation style is true to its Phantasy Star Online roots.
+ Free missions can be replayed.
+ Character creation feels more personal and less military (compared to PSO).
+ Each chapter was given an episode-by-episode feel to it.
+ Non-character customizations added (i.e. room, etc.).
+ Phantasy Star Online charm is still there.

- Subtitles are off-key from time to time.
- Controls have to be customized for most players.
- Must be logged on just to play the game offline.
- Lack of a camera control option can become an issue.
- Might feel like a "been there, done that" kind of game for those who played .hack (the first one especially) or Phantasy Star Online.
- May lack some charm for fans of Phantasy Star and/or Phantasy Star Online.

OVERALL OPINION: I feel that, from my past experience, this is an average Sega game. It has the potential to shy away major Phantasy Star Online fans, and also has the potential to make most .hack fans feel like they played the game before. Which is why I am going to say it has an overall average entertainment value. But what will interest me is to see how many Namco and Bandai franchise characters I can create in this game. And with the lack of an ability to play online, I can only wait until I am given that option.

OVERALL FEEL: The PC version for me is a new experience. But it does make me feel like I should purchase a new Sega Dreamcast, a memory card, and a copy of Phantasy Star Online. Then again, I was given the same feel when I played the GameCube version.

OVERALL RECOMMENDATION: If you have DSL or better and want a MMORPG experience without the MMO, this game is for you. If you want to play a good Japanese sci-fi MMORPG, you can either go with this game or Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst. The difference in fee is $1, and Blue Burst is free to download. But I do recommend thinking about your preference on social interaction and customization before you make your final decision.

IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH VISTA
After playing my brother's PS2 copy, I figured I'd give this a try. Unfortunately, after installing the game on my brand new Vista computer, I found the performance was very sluggish and slow. After checking through Sega's technical support section, I found out that this game is not supported for the Windows Vista operating system. Needless to say, I tossed this thing in the trash afterwards.

So buyer beware. This game is NOT VISTA COMPATIBLE.