Phantasy Star Online : Episodes I and II Preview

By Tom Bramwell Published 15 June, 2002

Mugwum catches up with the latest news on the forthcoming Cube versions of the seminal multiplayer RPG

Episode I : The Phantasy Menace

'Phantasy Star Online : Episodes I and II' Screenshot 01b

Er, you're not going to beat him on level1

The good news from Sonic Team is that the Cube versions, overseen by Shintaro Hata, have now both entered the beta testing process. As expected, the four-player online mode is the developer's main focus, but Hata-san, speaking to Dengeki magazine in Japan, says that players of the offline mode "won't miss out". It is the online sections though - accessed via either the promised broadband or modem adapters - that will come under closer scrutiny by the gaming press.

Once Episodes I and II exit the testing process, necessary changes will be made, which probably means no more major gameplay alterations. The version in the test includes half of each of the Episodes, with level limits so that players will be forced to try out several of the characters to get the most from it. This will obviously mean that Sonic Team will end up with more quality feedback for each of the nine character classes, and the level of diversity in the game's range of characters has been greatly improved, so the team will need players to go to great lengths to test them out if they hope to garner any useful feedback at all.

On the plus side, as you might have guessed, with the Cube's increased memory capacity over the Dreamcast has come the much-needed facility to keep more than one character per game on the go at any given time. Up to four can be used, Sonic Team has said, and the character creation process has been finely tuned (eliminating the jerkiness of the DC versions for a start) and, amongst other things, age is now a consideration. Newcomers won't find it so much of a lottery this time, because the game has seen a lot of balancing. Hunters are no longer so dominant, character-specific items have been added and old favourites improved upon. Sonic Team is confident that PSO Episode I is the original game, the way it should have been.

Sonic Dream

'Phantasy Star Online : Episodes I and II' Screenshot 02b

Gratuitous split-screenage

Feedback from players of the original games has been the driving force behind a lot of the changes made to Episode I in its transition to the Cube, and has contributed directly to the development of the new stages set to appear. These have also been geared to take advantage of the Cube's extra processing power, rewarding progress through areas of tense, close-quarters battle with visual treats ranging from luscious, rolling vistas to the watery sections seen recently at E3.

In fact, the watery sections came about precisely because of the Cube's power. Each of the new levels has been designed around one or more of the Cube's strengths, with the whole beach level beginning simply with a member of Sonic Team speaking to an open design forum and pointing out that the hardware excels at rendering liquids. The developers have been keen to point out that each of the new levels was geared directly towards contributing to the overall experience, and not just at showing off new technology, but whether or not the end product stands up to this remains to be seen.

Both Episodes of the game are due out in the near future, and Sonic Team is promising that cohesion between the two is going to be central to their success. Episode II will be harder to play than Episode I, not through sheer weight of odds, but through the way you have to play it. They hope that the first game will act as a good starting point for players new to the series, whilst veterans can go straight for Episode II and reminisce quietly in Episode I on rainy Sunday afternoons.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (32) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Urbanruler #1 10 years ago

    the first gamecube online game, erm

  • #2 10 years ago

    "it could help the Cube to sail back into its previous position of second biggest-selling console in Japan."

    GameCube has already regained it's position of 2nd biggest-seeling console in Japan, at least for this week. But from my own personal opinion of each consoles performance at E3 and the slow but steady increase in sales of Xbox in Japan, I think i'll go out on a limb here and predict Xbox eventually outsells GameCube in Japan. If you look at how Xbox sales numbers have performed, they seem to be snowballing...that is, starting out really slow but slowly and steadily picking up. As more games are released, as more marketing is released, and as more word-of mouth gets around Xbox sales are going to pick up exactly as they have this year. In three years that snowball could very well be an avalanche. It'll be nothing to compete with PS2 of course, but GameCube's disappointing home-territory sales paired with Xbox's very impressive lineup and inevitable success in the western world with leak success into Japan, if slowly. GC's lead is about 1.8 million right now, and that lead will expand for the time being. What won't be expanding but rather contracting, is the week by week sales lead GameCube will carry over the Xbox. Once Xbox begins to outsell GameCube (which, if you look at the support and marketing, I believe it will) there will be a turn in the tides in sales and just a matter of time if Xbox can catch up to GameCube before the new consoles are released. Keep in mind this is all my own opinion, and this optimistic view of Xbox is more of a result of how big a piece of trash GameCube is and how incapable Nintendo is to compete. When games like Luigi's Mansion and Pikmin sell, you know there is a serious problem with quality on the console.

    Here's a list of Xbox games that are higher quality than Luigi, Pikmin, RE, and Star Wars.

    Halo
    Hunter: The Reckoning
    Jet Set Radio Future
    Dead or Alive 3
    Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
    Rallisport Challenge
    Project Gotham Racing
    World Series Baseball
    GUNVALKYRIE
    NBA Inside Drive 2002

    i'll again request those with only a GameCube to seriously consider the games on GameCube and those planned for release. As childish as the console name calling is, Nintendo should seriously consider calling it the DustCube. No games, no longterm commitment, no real online plans, no lineup depth, and plenty of neglected ports.

    Xbox is by FAR the better console on every level, period.

  • Tyronne #3 10 years ago

    To be honest I dont really have any complaints about my x-box...only downside is the price of the games....

  • Gestalt #4 10 years ago

    Just a bit. Can we have less of the wildly off-topic flame bait please?

  • otto #5 10 years ago

    As childish as the console name calling is, Nintendo should seriously consider calling it the DustCube.
    ...
    Xbox is by FAR the better console on every level, period.

    Please, everyone, just read the above. Just read it. Go on.

    (This evening's entertainment has been brought to you by Texan Bobby, also known as the ScumMeister, and his lovely assistant Fanboy FeZZ, the Flaming Fleming. They thank you all for your generous laughter.)

  • Max Diablos #6 10 years ago

    Makes a change from the usual. Rather than previous policy being a failure it looks like the recent comments from Nintendo's new CEO put new energy into design led games. This is infinitely more preferable to the tired tech led approach we see on platforms such as the X-Box. This can only mean one thing. X-Box is dead.

  • Max Diablos #7 10 years ago

    You're getting fucked by japanese developers and love it.

    Really? Looks like this site is called Eurogamer not EuroConsole. The focus is on games, the quality of games, and the future of games. Nintendo have a stronger commitment to games, and a track record to prove it, than a cash hungry Microsoft that treats its customers like a revenue stream.

  • otto #8 10 years ago

    You're getting fucked by japanese developers and love it.

    Ooh yeah, Mr Miyamoto, pleasure me with your entertaining and innovative gardening-based real-time strategy tackle! Ooh, again! You know I love it! Don't be shy, Mr Kuturagi, plenty of room for you and your music-based hypnotic ground-breaking shoot-'em-up love truncheon! Oh, oh, don't stop!

    But - who's that at the door? Eh? Mr Gates?? With a large suitcase full of viagra, some specialist magazines featuring space-based future warfare, elves and goblins, racing cars and American sports, and some exotic leather clothing and a whip? And you want me to pay you how much?? Er, no thanks, why don't you and your gimp entertain yourselves in that cupboard over there? The one marked 'FeZZ'?

    Right, Miyamoto-san, Kuturagi-san, where were we?

    o_O

  • skalmanxl #9 10 years ago

    X-Box is dead

    I see the intelligence is highly active in both camps.

  • mentat #10 10 years ago

    When this/these come out, providing we can get online access in the UK, along with Rogue leader, that'll seal the fact that i must buy a cube.

    Fantastic!

  • Max Diablos #11 10 years ago

    Hmmm. Gion Geisha. Microsoft can't compete with that.

  • #12 10 years ago

    Max, are you really falling for that bullshit that Nintendo is dedicated only to games? They are, but do you think that means quality games? If they were, wouldn't they release a couple more? From what I can see, they're losing their exclusive developers. From what I see, they've got by far the least exclusive games. From what I see, the software quality on GameCube sucks.

    How can a company like Microsoft stumble into the industry and have 33 first and second party developers? Nintendo was basically announcing that they aren't going to make anymore hardware because they can't compete.

    It's funny that Nintendo made the GameCube to focus solely on games, and it's the only console that comes up short BIG TIME on software quality. Pikmin? It's a joke. Luigi? hah! Star Wars? Just a sequel. RE? Remake.

    GameCube's lineup of games is downright horrible. End of story.

    And as for you Otto, hahaha. You try so hard to ignore me but you end up talking about me with others. Haha. Xbox is better on every imaginable level than GameCube, and it's obvious as hell. Look at any release list and you'll see for every 1 good GameCube game, there are about 10 good Xbox games. You can go ahead and play Star Fox XI, Zelda XXIV, Mario XXI, and Metroid XVI all you damn want... just don't try and compare GameCube and Xbox anymore. That'd be like comparing a paper airplane with a jet.
    Edited by 1 at 16/06/02 @ 02:29

  • #13 10 years ago

    i've got quite mixed feelings about this title. i'm not interested in online gaming in the least, yet there seem to be quite a good offline side of this....hmmmm.. guess i will find out from reviews when the time comes if it's worth the purchase without the online part.

  • Max Diablos #14 10 years ago

    ES,

    You're talking drivel. Nintendo said they were placing more emphasis on design led game development. This doesn't mean they are lessening their commitment to the Gamecube platform.

    What you also fail to appreciate is the traditional long term view Japanese business takes, and the changes taking place in the global games market. Unlike many others, I am aware of both factors.

    X-Box is dead.

  • beep #15 10 years ago

    european scum, what did Nintendo do to you to deserve your consistent anti-Gamecube sentiment? Maybe you should remove your tongue from the backside of Bill Gates trousers, stop speculating about the future and just enjoy your almighty xbox.

  • AOFanboi #16 10 years ago

    It seems some XBox apologists seem to think "high quality" means "high number of polygons" in variants on the same old formulas, or a high number of ports from the other consoles. There is zero innovation in the XBox stable compared to e.g. Pikmin or Rez on the other consoles. Most titles could just as well have been made for the PC - as some are.

    It's going to hurt them a lot when the realization they've bought a secondary PC hits them...

  • Moonbender #17 10 years ago

    o_O

    LOL ... how can you have the same stupid argument over and over again? There can't possibly be anything new in this thread, everything on the topic has been said not once but many times too often in the past.

  • skalmanxl #18 10 years ago

    Lets put it this way, the people who dismiss any of the two consoles that have been on the market (european market that is) less then six months, is a total fucking twit. I'll lift your rock if you guys promise to crawl back under it.

  • otto #19 10 years ago

    Otto, please note that when you write more then 4 lines of text, my brain can't follow anymore and I go on to the next post, sorry.

    FeZZ, not a problem, I'm not writing it for you.

  • Monkey #20 10 years ago

    LOL I'm finding this thread highly amusing, how long ago was it when EuropeanScum was enlightening us with his opinion of the Xboxen versus the PS2?
    So 'if' the GC 'were' to increase in sales with the new titles, Zelda, Mario, Metroid, et al, 'and' the Xboxen sales didn't improve sufficiently, would the direction of Xboxen arguments be directed at PSone owners? ;)

  • fernandoweb #21 10 years ago

    Otto, what happened to the thing about ignoring a certain someone (and his own personal four lettered fanboy, I'd suggest...)? You know it makes sense! It's always ironic to hear people who've bought an Xbox talking about other people being screwed - kind of like someone setting their arms on fire before giving a lecture of the danger of playing with matches. Microsoft must be rubbing their hands in glee...

  • otto #22 10 years ago

    Otto, what happened to the thing about ignoring a certain someone

    I know, I'm sorry, my bad, and I was doing so well too... but sometimes I catch the beginning or end of one of his rants and it's so hilarious I just can't resist. OK I will be strong, no more slip-ups.
    Edited by 1 at 16/06/02 @ 12:10

  • Toby #23 10 years ago

    Isn't this game coming out on Xbox too? I'm sure I read that somewhere?

  • terminalterror #24 10 years ago

    Will both episodes come on the same disk, or a disk each? If on the same disk, if you want to switch between them , will you have to reset?

    Does anyone know (roughly) how much those keyboard controller things wil cost, and do you need one to play?

    Can anyone explain why european scum hates the gamecube so much, and dismisses Rogue Leader as just a sequel, when so many of his list of Xbox games that are higher quality than Luigi, Pikmin, RE, and Star Wars are sequels themselves?

    Halo
    Hunter: The Reckoning
    Jet Set Radio Future - sequel
    Dead or Alive 3 - sequel
    Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind - sequel
    Rallisport Challenge
    Project Gotham Racing - sequel
    World Series Baseball
    GUNVALKYRIE
    NBA Inside Drive 2002

    I am not sure about the sports ones as I don't really care about soprts games, especially ones that noone plays outside of america
    Edited by 1 at 16/06/02 @ 20:02

  • Smiggs #25 10 years ago

    if anyone is remotely interested here are the console sales for japan 3rd -9th june

    PlayStation2: 49,800 (- 10,200)
    Game Boy Advance: 29,500 (- 6,700)
    GameCube: 18,700 (+ 13,300)
    PSone: 4,500 (- 3,400)
    Xbox: 3,800 (- 1,900)
    WonderSwan Color: 2,000 (+ 300)
    Game Boy Color: 1,500 (- 700)
    taken from the-spoon.co.uk

    it appears the XBox had a blip upwards after a price cut i don't see how the xbox can gain any kind of position they also don't have one game in the japanese top 50.

  • Blerk #26 10 years ago

    GameCube: 18,700 (+ 13,300)

    Looks like the price cut helped, then. :-)

    These are the kinds of figures Nintendo should be aiming for every week, not just the week after a price drop. Sony's still battering everyone else with a big stick, though...

  • mal #27 10 years ago

    Looks like the price cut helped, then. :-)

    Just a little - I think there was an article at the time on gamesindustry.biz.

    As for playing this offline, it looks more worthwhile than the DC version (since you can play multiplayer offline), and while even that was quite fun while the quests lasted, I still think it'll a bit of a waste offline.

    The keyboard is almost essential if you go online (unless they've improved the menu chat system a lot), and almost useless if you don't. I wouldn't like to guess at the price at the moment.

  • mal #28 10 years ago

    Incidentally, aren't those screenshots on the second page a bit old. They've got the old dreamcast style 'four hexagons' button mappings on them, rather than gamecube looking ones like on this screenshot.

  • Blerk #29 10 years ago

    While we're on the subject of GC RPGs, has anyone heard any new stuff on the GC/PS2 ports of Skies of Arcadia?

  • BlackANUS #30 10 years ago

    I own all three consoles and I really like to play PSO.
    Listening to twats like ES makes me buy the GC version.

    Hah, you know I'm in the same dilemna (sp?). I know that it's coming out for both GC and XBox, and I thought about which console I'd rather play it on. Most logical would be the XBox since it's already got the ethernet adapter and hard drive (not that PSO needs it), but then I thought about all the XBox trolls out there and really, GC owners seem to be alot more light hearted and carefree than the XBox owners.

    Sure I'd have to spend extra money for the GC broadband adapter (as I did for DC version awhile back), but I think the experience online will be worth it.

  • Umbala #31 10 years ago

    From what I've seen, looks like a very good game... *drools* I could use a game that'll eat up my life (eventually), since I'm not hooked on Subspace anymore... *grin*

    Oh, and about the console bashing... I love my Gamecube - it a beautiful, small box that sits perfectly with four controllers on the side of my TV.

  • Drakkir #32 10 years ago

    jup, they are old screenshots...

  • hulahoops #33 10 years ago

    Just bought a second hand copy of this for DC, along with the second hand DC (£33 from Gamestation, not bad for a net ready machine), and inspite of what the shopkeeper said I can't go online with PSO. It is of course locked to the previous owner's DC. Does anyone know how I can get round this, please?

    Ta

  • Pirotic #34 9 years ago

    any chance of a review soon seeing as the game and modem have now hit the shelves, im hearing its the best thing since sliced bread - so long as you can afford to get the most out of it..

    game, internet adaptor, keyboard adaptor.. etc etc

  • PsoDevil666 #35 7 years ago

    ugh any1 know (m) code for pso 1.1?