phantasy-star-portable-2 posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Valkyria Chronicles 2 DLC announced, some requires Phantasy Star Portable 2

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 15th 2010 at 8:30PM }

Phantasy Star Portable 2 is already filled with questionable marketing partnerships. So it comes as no surprise that Sega's going to take it another step further, by making Valkyria Chronicles 2 content specially for Phantasy Star Portable 2 owners. Eight DLC packs have been announced for the Japanese release of VC2, and some will require save data from Sega's other PSP game. The listing, as translated by Andriasang:

1/21: Melfair's Crisis - Free
1/21: Request From the Guardians - Free*
1/21: Challenge from Little Wing - Free*
2/4: Strategy Battle Drills VS F Group - ¥100
2/11: Tough Battle Melfair City EX - ¥100
2/18: Kokugen no Tani - ¥100
2/18: Teisatsuhei Urakatei Shuryou Shiken - ¥100
2/25: Ultimate Challenge - ¥100

*requires Phantasy Star Portable 2 save data

Phantasy Star Portable 2 launch DLC is soda strange

by Randy Nelson { Dec 3rd 2009 at 8:30PM }

As we reported back in September, Sega struck a deal with soft drink maker Coca-Cola to feature the latter's Fanta soda in the just-released (in Japan) Phantasy Star Portable 2. (Phanta-sy, Fanta, geddit?) Well, it turns out that the deal has resulted in more than just giant Fanta cans littering the game's lobbies. The first round of DLC, launched alongside the game, includes a mission featuring a quiz focused on -- you got it -- Fanta soda.

In "Fanta Quiz Battle!," four players compete to answer questions correctly before embarking on a proper adventure. As noted by Andriasang, the second DLC mission, Sasurai no Seikan Gyoushounin, appears to have no such deep-rooted product placement. We can't argue with the fact that the DLC is free (likely because of the sponsorship) but any sort of in-game advertising tends to give us a sour stomach. Probably nothing a nice, fizzy Fanta won't help, though.

Phantasy Star Portable 2 product placement is getting ridiculous

by Griffin McElroy { Oct 13th 2009 at 11:59AM }

Oh, come on. Come on.

The incorporation of Fanta products into Phantasy Star Portable 2 was bad enough; though we could almost excuse it for its appropriately futuristic-sounding name. There's little we can do to reconcile the addition of Pizza Hut branding into the title, though -- especially when said addition includes a pizza box shield and pizza peel sword (seen above; no photoshopping necessary). Other in-game products include literal pizza huts, dolls of the company's Japanese mascot, Mr. Cheese, and an epic boss encounter against the Noid, who attempts to ruin delicious pizza pies regardless of their corporate affiliation.

Okay, so we made up that part about the boss fight -- sorta -- but the rest is totally for real!

Sega creating a Fanta-sy Star Portable promotion

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 18th 2009 at 8:45PM }

When was the last time you picked up a can of Fanta? We can't remember either. Coca-Cola isn't giving up on the fruity beverage, though. They're partnering up with Sega to create virtual Fanta items in the upcoming Phantasy Star Portable 2. We can only assume the reasoning behind this campaign is to let bloggers take advantage of a ridiculously easy pun for use in a headline. Thanks, Coca-Cola for making our jobs a little bit easier.

Fanta will be present at Tokyo Game Show next week, handing out various goodies for trying out the PSP2 demo at the show floor. It would be really smart for them to give away free drinks -- being trapped in a convention center filled with sweaty otaku is bound to make many dehydrated.

Phantasy Star Portable characters won't transfer into PSP2

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 4th 2009 at 7:00PM }

Sega's upcoming Phantasy Star Portable 2 is one of the most exciting RPGs coming to PSP. Why? Infrastructure support! We're really intrigued to finally have a real online RPG experience on a handheld. Unfortunately, those of you expecting to import your level 60 characters from the first PSP game will be out of luck: to keep things fair, PSP2 will have you creating your characters from scratch.

There are bonuses to be had for players of the original, though. While you won't be able to export your XP or gear, you will gain access to an exclusive item: "exzam weapon," according to Siliconera. Hopefully, news of this bonus will be enough to forgive us for screencapping this horrifying shot from a Japanese promo video for the game. What's with that guy's outfit?!

Sing along with the intro to Phantasy Star Portable 2

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 29th 2009 at 3:00PM }

There's a lot of reason to be excited for the upcoming Phantasy Star Portable 2. Well, there's at least one reason that stands out quite a bit: online Infrastructure support. The Sega-developed RPG was always meant to be played with friends, but the first game was relegated to local Ad-Hoc support. With the addition of Infrastructure, we can play PSP the way it was meant to be played.

The Japanese website for PSP2 has been updated with the intro movie to the game which features a theme song by Hideaki Kobayashi. Don't be surprised if you find yourself humming along to the catchy, English language chorus. Phantasy Star Universe ...

[Via PSPHyper]

Sega officially announces Phantasy Star Portable 2

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 24th 2009 at 3:00PM }

Though it was beaten to the punch by the budget re-release of the original Phantasy Star Portable, and then by a Famitsu article released shortly thereafter, Sega has officially confirmed the existence of Phantasy Star Portable 2 -- a sequel not only imbued with a brand new story and gameplay features, but also with the oft-requested addition of online multiplayer support.

The game's official site lists a December 3 launch date for the latest installment in the PSO franchise. It also gives some insight into the new features present in the game -- you can check out a translated version of Game Watch's PSP2 coverage here. We've sent an email to Sega in an attempt to find out if and when the game will be localized for U.S. release. We've got our Meseta-hungry fingers crossed for a favorable response.

Phantasy Star Portable 2 revealed for the second time

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 18th 2009 at 10:45AM }

Sega looks prepared to announce Phantasy Star Portable 2 not once, not twice -- but three times. The highly successful PSP RPG was first uncovered through a promotional UMD for the budget re-release of the original Phantasy Star Portable. Now, it's been discovered yet again through Japanese mag Famitsu, making it all the more official. Sega will then announce the game one more time through its still-in-progress countdown site.

PSO-World has noticed a few details about the upcoming sequel. PSP2 will take place three years after the events of Phantasy Star Universe and the original Phantasy Star Portable.Two of the characters revealed so far are Amelia Percival (not related to PSNation's Glenn, we're afraid), and Yoot. We're sure to see much more when Sega announces the game again in a few days.

Update: 1UP reports that the game will support online Infrastructure mode. Finally! [Thanks, Jonathan S.!]

Phantasy Star Portable 2 rumored to make debut in budget re-release

by Andrew Yoon { Aug 3rd 2009 at 6:00PM }

Sega's competitor to Monster Hunter found moderate success in Japan, when it sold upwards of 600,000 copies. Phantasy Star Portable is being re-released in Japan as part of Sony's "The Best" budget collection, and the new release will include a bonus UMD filled with extras.

While the bonus UMD is confirmed, an image circulating Japanese blogs and message boards suggests the disc may contain an unexpected surprise: the opening movie for the currently unannounced Phantasy Star Portable 2, in addition to video summaries of the entire Phantasy Star Universe saga. Considering the success of the first game, it's more than likely Sega would be interested in creating a sequel. However, without any other concrete source, this rumor is far from confirmed.

[Thanks, John C.! Via IGN]