Quote:Sci-fi role-playing game sequel confirmed for fall launch, complete with online multiplayer mode.
Sega's long-running series Phantasy Star might be flickering of late, but the sci-fi role-playing game franchise still has life left in it yet. Sega provided the latest example of that today, as it announced North American and European releases for Phantasy Star Portable 2 for the PSP.
Phantasy Star Portable 2 has sold over 600,000 copies to date in Japan alone.

Perhaps the biggest selling point for Phantasy Star Portable 2 is the addition of online multiplayer action in both ad-hoc and infrastructure modes supporting up to four players at once. The game also includes a full single-player campaign set three years after the events of Phantasy Star Universe.
Phantasy Star Portable 2 had a strong Japanese debut late last year, racking up more than 286,000 copies sold in its first week on sale. That would be good enough to top the Japanese charts most weeks, but Sega's PSP sequel had to settle for a distant second behind the debut of New Super Bros. Wii. Nintendo's side-scrolling revamp for the portly plumber notched nearly 1 million copies sold in its first week

Quote:A Japanese retailer leaked first word about Phantasy Star Portable 2 a few weeks back. Today, we have confirmation of the game thanks to the latest issue of Famitsu.

Phantasy Star Portable 2 puts players in the role of a member of a private military organization called Little Wing. The game's story promises to be far beyond that of the original, with producer Satoshi Takai telling the magazine to expect more than double the amount of voice and text. The advances in story are being made in response to player complaints about this particular area of the original.

Players will have access to some stylin' default characters, with Sakai explaining that he believes players wanted to start the game off with a cooler looking cast. Of course, you're free to adjust face, body and clothing to your liking just like in the original.

Gameplay changes include the addition of a shield that can be equipped when you're using single-handed weapons. The shield is something that was featured in DS's Phantasy Star Zero. By pressing the R button, you can make your character guard. You can also time your guards with enemy attacks to perform a counter move.

Other gameplay additions include a charge shot and evade. The charge shot lets you charge up your projectile weapon prior to firing. The evade is... well, presumably just an evade. We're not sure of the specifics.

Perhaps the biggest change to the game is in its implementation of multiplayer play. The original Phantasy Star Portable was ad-hoc -- meaning, you could only play with local players. PSP2 now supports full infrastructure support via its Internet Multi Mode. This will allow players to team up over long distances without using Sony's AdHoc Party PS3 service.

Phantasy Star Portable 2 is far along in development, it seems. Sega has a Japanese release planned for December 3. There's no word yet on an overseas version.

Rob Wrote: I mean, Khoi, in a year we'll be addicted as f'uck. PSP2, God Eater and MHP3. They all are meant to have online feats without a PS3...