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I know a few people on this forum quite liked this series back in the day.
I enjoyed the Genesis/Master Phantasy Stars for the story and excellent music. Was there a single player component to the PSO games, and if so was it fun?
My understanding is the online portion is no longer functional because the Dreamcast and onwards servers aren't up anymore. Multiplayer online games aren't really my thing anyway.
Thought fans put up their own servers. At least this was the case for awhile now, are they not up anymore? (And not Dreamcast version, but like PC version or something)
What are you talking about? Phantasy star online on the dreamcast hasn't been any hotter online than in the past 14 years. go check dreamcast-talk.comQuote:
Originally Posted by Blades
I love all the phantasy star games but never played any after episode 2 online for dreamcast. still need to go through all megadrive games as I have finished the master system version.
The single player game was the same as the multiplayer one. You're still doing dungeon runs whether you go alone and bring people with you. Story is told via NPC on the Pioneer (ship you launch from) or scattered communication fragments left behind in the dungeons. I love it either way, but it's better on-line. Remember this is a hack-and-slash, so don't go in expecting the old series apart from using a similar style.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blades
https://www.schtserv.com/
Of the supported games, Blue Burst for PC is the latest version and arguably the best option, but if you're going for story, then you'd want to play the original first. I understand Phantasy Star Universe and Phantasy Star Portable have a better defined single player experience, but I haven't put too much time into those yet. There's a whole new PSO2 as well, but Sega hates America, so...
Just about every version is up in some form of a private server save for the Original Xbox port.
There's Schtserv, Sylverant, Ephinea, L33tserv, Ultima, etc. Most have been up for over a decade now since the official servers went down. Dreamcast PSO and Gamecube PSO simply went to the backburner after PSO:BB got up and running in a private server form because content wise that is the most complete version to play. DC and GC have seen a bit of a spike recently though due to things like DreamPi taking off and Wii/Wii U online GC compatibility becoming a thing. Heck some are even supporting PSO EP III in a limited capacity.
And for Phantasy Star Universe fans, you can play the PC version of that on the Clementine server.
All that said though, I'd suggest just playing PSO2 as it's still up and running and overall is a much better game. PSO and PSU are fun for nostalgia trips, but they really show their age these days. Playing on the Japanese servers is easy and there's a fanmade English patch that's constantly being updated. Check it out:
http://arks-layer.com/
Thanks for the info everyone.
This is what I didn't know. It's an old series Phantasy Star in name only?Quote:
Originally Posted by Benjamin
It still has the same kind of atmosphere, music, style, design, etc. that you know and love from Phantasy Star, it's just not a single player turn based RPG. It's a multiplayer action RPG.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blades
Here's gameplay of various different ones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AVCVFl13z4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBC7G7TyLlQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zTvBBiuIfo
https://www.twitch.tv/videos/153818391
I still play PSO on my Gamecube. I originally played it on my old CRT years ago with which I had played it for so much and so long I actually got fucking screen burn from the HP icon being on the screen all the time. :(
Didn't Sega ban Western IPs from joining? I remember reading that Sega lifted the ban but soon after put it back in place. As much as I'd love to play, that kind of threat scares me away from even trying.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrekkiesUnite118
That was always a pile of bullshit pushed by idiots at Kotaku. There was never an IP ban. What happened was the servers got DDoSed and Sega changed their IP. Non-Japanese ISPs for a while were still pointing to the old IPs and weren't redirecting to the new ones, hence the need for a proxy as internal Japanese IP addresses were being routed correctly. That was fixed a few years ago though and no proxying is needed anymore.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benjamin
The only IP ban that ever existed was for the SEA version in the Philippines that was ran by another company that didn't want people to have the option to play on the more up to date Japanese servers. That version has since shut down though making that entire point moot.
What's a good starting point for the series? I have most of the platforms PSO came out on. The new one trekkies linked looks great.
start with phantasy star 1. it hasn't aged too well, but the whole storyline of the series is connected pretty strongly imo. so you really need to play 1-4 although I have to admitt I still have to finish 2. I started with 4 and it really shows many elements of previous games but I stopped since I wanted the whole experience so I have to finish 2 and play 3 first.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blades
True, started with PSIV and then played through PS1. Only went back to PSIV again and was blown away by the extra things I knew. Why I'm trying to play through II & III now too, only ran into a hiccup where I lost a lot of progress in PSII that encouraged me to take a break.
The first Phantasy Star has actually aged fairly well - much better than II and III, I'd say. The second game in the original series it my favorite, but IV is probably the best in the series. Whatever you do, do not play the third one before the first two.
In regards to PSO, I've been wanting to play these games for a long time but only recently acquired them. I'm interested in what they've done with the series and want to see what I can pick up on with what I know from the previous games.
I meant starting PSO. I played (and loved) 1-4 a long time ago. Especially 3. I actually played 3 first and loved it.
Interesting. I wouldn't really consider it a good game on its own, but I'd say it's a good game to play after you're familiar with the series.
I wouldn't really start playing phantasy star online these days if you never played it back in the day.
I'd say start with PSO2. The stories aren't really connected between the online games. There's just some nice homages to the earlier games during events as well as with items, outfits, etc. that you might not get. Which there's some of those even for the classic series. If you want to look into the original after that take a look at PSO:BB on the PC as it's free and easy to get into. PSU isn't bad single player wise, but with it's official servers down some of the story stuff isn't accessible anymore as the private server is still in a development phase. Though I think most of it's online single player content was made available by a fan made expansion pack but I never really looked too much into it. Episode 3 on the GC isn't a bad single player game either, it's just very different as it's a turn based card/strategy rpg.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blades
The portable titles are fun experiences though if you want to give them a shot. The PSP ones would also give you a good taste of what PSU was like.
If you do play PSO2, make sure you make your character on Ship 02, that's where the majority of the English players are.
PSO2 looks great but isn't it in Japanese?
It is, but there's a fanmade English patch:Quote:
Originally Posted by Blades
http://arks-layer.com/index.php
It's constantly being updated so you almost never have to worry about important things being untranslated. Worst I've seen is a new single player story quest might take a week or so to get translated after it releases. Menus and multiplayer content is usually up to date by the time a new update hits.