Phantasy Star � zeroes in on US, Europe this fall

by Jason Dobson { Jan 10th 2009 at 6:30PM }

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

Tags: phantasy-star, phantasy-star-zero, sega

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Number_Zero @ Jan 10th 2009 6:37PM

But does it have a monthly fee like the console ones?

Snowblind @ Jan 10th 2009 6:41PM

No, it's free to play, although I still think it uses friend codes.

I loved PSO, and I've really been looking forward to this. I hate how they've turned it into an anime (even the classic theme music is replaced with a generic anime song), but as long as the gameplay is as good as it was before, I can live with it.

Josh @ Jan 10th 2009 8:16PM

I also do not like the new style, but PSO is PSO.

(and I like anime in general, but the anime style of this game is too clean)

MegaSnort @ Jan 10th 2009 9:58PM

Umm... Phantasy Star has always been anime style. Well, I never played the *first* but 2-4 certainly are. I can go and find a shitload of links to PS artwork from the actual games but honestly I think most people who are true fans of the series are equally shocked as I am to hear this sort of blasphemy. The original PSO was definately anime style too.

Anyway, single-player PS title coming out?! Finally, I can stop sacrificing goats 'cause Sega finally answered my prayers. Maybe it'll be better than 4... or even 2 o_O

Snowblind @ Jan 11th 2009 5:57AM

They were definitely anime, but not to this sort of degree, especially PSO which maintained some level of unique design. The redesigned classes here just look very generic, especially the HUmars, which are just little tytpical anime hero kids with goggles..

The android hunters have even been changed to look like Gundam robots. And again, the Phantasy Star II theme music, which was used to awesome effect in PSO has been replaced with some j-pop song and an anime intro.

Whether or not the original games were all that anime, is irrelevant, as this is supposed to be a sequel (prequel) to PSO, which most definitely did not have that much of an anime influence, some, maybe, but you can't honestly compare these two and tell me they haven't made some *massive* design departures.

Christian Walters @ Jan 11th 2009 6:07PM

Ive got agree with you guys, this is a bad departure from the PSO that we know and love. PSO was never anime, it was future/techno/magical...but not anime. I will prolly still buy it, but my heart will always belong to PSO v1 and v2 on the Dreamcast...and PSOBB on the PC,....and SCHTHack PSOBB which I am playing right now...heh.

raindogtoo23 @ Jan 16th 2009 10:36AM

Actually the original PSO (on the dreamcast; yes I have one) was free.

I've been a Phantasy Star fan since the first one on the SMS; I'm old. It's what got me into RPGs; and probably the freeroaming/sandbox games later on.

infernus @ Jan 10th 2009 6:45PM

Yep, still uses Friend Codes.
I must say, I am rather impressed with the graphics. Didn't know the DS could look this good.

Superstar90 @ Jan 10th 2009 6:46PM

Sweeeeeeeeeet.

I watched videos for the Japanese version and it may be the best looking 3D on the DS.

And it has 4 player Wi-Fi co-op and picto-chat.

Can't wait for it :D

ice~ @ Jan 10th 2009 7:13PM

I loved the Phantasy Star on the gamecube, but being the gaming nub i was back then, I didn't even know it was an mmo, me and my friends would play split screen all the time. I'm definitely going to pick this up, but I'm really looking forward to the PSP one.