America is Coming to Phantasy Star Online 2 this August :)

[diamondx]

Phantasy Star Online 2 is coming to America this August with the unveiling of Earth’s second field: the City of Gold “Las Vegas!”. does this mean it is coming to the USA finally.

[Flaoc]

inb4 flood of people who still believe western pso2 is happening

[SteveCZ]

We are all wrong after all. PSO2 does coming to the US. If you know what I mean. 8-)

[Kondibon]

http://puu.sh/pyq7d/dd4c098599.png

[Tunga]

inb4 flood of people who still believe western pso2 is happening

But i want to play an inferior outdated version with bad support :wacko:

[Sirius-91]

PSO2 x Coming to America collab plz

I want my eddie murphy costumes

http://i.imgur.com/gMev5LC.jpg

[Dark Emerald EXE]

Shall their be a casino within Las Vegas?!

Otherwise i call shenanigans

[Raujinn]

gr8 b8 m8 i r8 8/8

[isCasted]

http://ci.memecdn.com/339/9588339.jpg

[PrinceBrightstar]

As much as I want to laugh, it truly is sad the lengths we have to go to in order to enjoy the current game in the series.

[Shoterxx]

http://2static.fjcdn.com/pictures/This_66061a_5703098.gif

Oh wow, took so long to find the image, someone else took the initiative.

[FireswordRus]

3rd location - Russia

[TaigaUC]

I have to wonder if they would actually start from episode 1 or just release episode 4 like they did for the PS4.

[isCasted]

3rd location - Russia
With this as a midboss:
[spoiler-box]http://img1.joyreactor.cc/pics/post/%D0%AF-%D0%92%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%8C-%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C-1329501.jpeg[/spoiler-box]


I have to wonder if they would actually start from episode 1 or just release episode 4 like they did for the PS4.

PS4 client is just a different client, they don't run separate servers for it. Tbh, starting with EP1 would make more sense (content-wise, everything else should be up-to-date), so masses of new players wouldn't be overwhelmed by amount of stuff, lacking direction etc (like it is right now with PS4 players). But catching up fast would be a big priority (not like with SEA server).

[FireswordRus]

and nuclear missile as camo for sword)

[TaigaUC]

No, but my point was, a lot of new players joined from the PS4 episode 4. Probably more than any other time.
SEGA knew that would happen, and somewhat designed episode 4 to accommodate that.

Meaning it wouldn't be too outlandish to assume that a Western version would likely start at episode 4 as well.

Then the question would be, why didn't the Asian, Thai, etc versions start at episode 4?
Well, because it wasn't ready back then. And episode 2/3 weren't as designed to accommodate new players.
They probably decided it would be easier to start at episode 1 for those versions.
Also, who knows if they'd decided they would improve the graphics?
The companies that contracted PSO2 from SEGA probably did not expect them to do that, and wanted to localize it ASAP.

I'm sure they realize that the fancier graphics in 4 would guarantee a larger Western playerbase.
SEGA makes a lot of terrible game design decisions, but when it comes to this sort of thing, they are usually on the ball. Because it makes them money.
It'd be a ridiculously bad idea to release an inferior graphics version now. I can't see them doing that.

In Japan, they can rely on the Japanese community, Japanese collabs, Japanese Phantasy Star fans. But they can't use those to be successful in the West.
They probably knew that episode 1-3 couldn't have competed with all the fancy graphics international MMOs.
If they marketed PSO2 to the West back then, they would probably have alienated many more players than if they marketed it now.
Most people probably wouldn't have given PSO2 a second chance. It makes more sense to snag and keep them on first attempt.

Aside from fancy graphics, they have stuff like class tutorials, Pokemon class, and Star Gems microtransactions ready to go.
Now they're adding Las Vegas, an international location that most people will probably be able to relate to.
They may have been waiting to complete all these things before making a move to release in the West.
They're all things they couldn't have announced too far ahead of time either, which might explain why they couldn't explain the delay and silence.
So, I personally think there is a chance they might announce a Western version now.

Although, AFAIK, they didn't say anything at E3, and there's still the issue with all the JP-themed content and collabs.
But then I also wonder if the PSO2 channel following the Battlefield1? channel has any significance.
Of course, I'm not saying to get all excited. I just personally think now seems like a good time for SEGA to try for international release.


@FireswordRus
In Soviet Russia, sword camoflages YOU.

[FireswordRus]

ep4 not bad, i am like crosstime story. and i am think - this is not end...even we are can save PD from class ;)

[jooozek]

where is that rate thread option when you need it

[yoshiblue]

But i want to play an inferior outdated version with bad support :wacko:

https://67.media.tumblr.com/6ad71463acb879a97340a6f3bab38e99/tumblr_nawbkkSISG1ql7ul6o1_500.png

[PrinceBrightstar]

I guess I should remind people of this article if this thing is really going to happen.

http://www.seganerds.com/2016/05/04/sega-working-on-solutions-for-phantasy-star-online-2-to-west/

[ArcaneTechs]

Ricardo needs to edit that description a bit because of dumb assumptions like this. 100% knew ppl would act stupid and think they're releasing the game to the west because of that description yet ppl can't seem to think field=official release. Bait or not,I mad with these hopeless assumptions. West release ded deal with it

[Kondibon]

Ricardo needs to edit that description a bit because of dumb assumptions like this.Yeah but...
http://puu.sh/pyq7d/dd4c098599.png

[ashley50]

Phantasy Star Online 2 is coming to America this August with the unveiling of Earth’s second field: the City of Gold “Las Vegas!”. does this mean it is coming to the USA finally.
Nope, it only meant as a field in-game.

[ArcaneTechs]

Yeah but...
http://puu.sh/pyq7d/dd4c098599.png

Quit spreading this stuff everywhere, we get enough "US Release" threads as is

[lostinseganet]

Ricardo needs to edit that description a bit because of dumb assumptions like this. 100% knew ppl would act stupid and think they're releasing the game to the west because of that description yet ppl can't seem to think field=official release. Bait or not,I mad with these hopeless assumptions. West release ded deal with it
I was hopeful i admit....

[Sirius-91]

Ricardo needs to edit that description a bit because of dumb assumptions like this. 100% knew ppl would act stupid and think they're releasing the game to the west because of that description yet ppl can't seem to think field=official release. Bait or not,I mad with these hopeless assumptions. West release ded deal with it

Wouldn't matter how he words it, you'll get dumb questions regardless.

[jooozek]

clickbait like hell
makes you think they joined gawker or some shit :wacko:

[Kondibon]

Quit spreading this stuff everywhere, we get enough "US Release" threads as isHey, I just got it from bumped. :wacko:


clickbait like hell
makes you think they joined gawker or some shit :wacko:
I wouldn't really call a single cut out of a poorly worded line in the middle of the article clickbait. The actual title of the blog posts straight up says its a new area.

[metatime]

The irony America is going to be in the game before the game is in American

[Sacrificial]

America is Coming to Phantasy Star Online 2

next epi4 earth map /s

[NoobSpectre]

No, but my point was, a lot of new players joined from the PS4 episode 4. Probably more than any other time.
SEGA knew that would happen, and somewhat designed episode 4 to accommodate that.

Meaning it wouldn't be too outlandish to assume that a Western version would likely start at episode 4 as well.

Then the question would be, why didn't the Asian, Thai, etc versions start at episode 4?
Well, because it wasn't ready back then. And episode 2/3 weren't as designed to accommodate new players.
They probably decided it would be easier to start at episode 1 for those versions.
Also, who knows if they'd decided they would improve the graphics?
The companies that contracted PSO2 from SEGA probably did not expect them to do that, and wanted to localize it ASAP.

I'm sure they realize that the fancier graphics in 4 would guarantee a larger Western playerbase.
SEGA makes a lot of terrible game design decisions, but when it comes to this sort of thing, they are usually on the ball. Because it makes them money.
It'd be a ridiculously bad idea to release an inferior graphics version now. I can't see them doing that.

In Japan, they can rely on the Japanese community, Japanese collabs, Japanese Phantasy Star fans. But they can't use those to be successful in the West.
They probably knew that episode 1-3 couldn't have competed with all the fancy graphics international MMOs.
If they marketed PSO2 to the West back then, they would probably have alienated many more players than if they marketed it now.
Most people probably wouldn't have given PSO2 a second chance. It makes more sense to snag and keep them on first attempt.

Aside from fancy graphics, they have stuff like class tutorials, Pokemon class, and Star Gems microtransactions ready to go.
Now they're adding Las Vegas, an international location that most people will probably be able to relate to.
They may have been waiting to complete all these things before making a move to release in the West.
They're all things they couldn't have announced too far ahead of time either, which might explain why they couldn't explain the delay and silence.
So, I personally think there is a chance they might announce a Western version now.

Although, AFAIK, they didn't say anything at E3, and there's still the issue with all the JP-themed content and collabs.
But then I also wonder if the PSO2 channel following the Battlefield1? channel has any significance.
Of course, I'm not saying to get all excited. I just personally think now seems like a good time for SEGA to try for international release.



Well from my perspective, if your case is true, it is more likely to be... still a bit late for that.

If you read Gamania Contract with SEGA (TW Publisher) it ends in 2017 March or June (3 years). Means TW server is most likely closed by then. Asiasoft might be weird cuz they both manage TH and SEA, but if the terms are the same, Most likely June will mark the closing of SEA/TH.

Announcing a west release and start from ep1 is most likely kill it in the basket as you mentioned (and yes, graphics issue for PS4). But directly start from EP4 might not be feasible either due to other servers complaining and no buffer zone.Well unless SEGA does it anyway to pissed foreigners, which is one of their speciality.

So IMO the most likely outcome is, Starting from EP1 which directly release to VHAQ Era and full story (until chapter 11, ARKS Tournament) for the first month, which is near end of 2016, blast the way through EP2 in 2-3 months at start of 2017, then another 2-3 months to release the EP3 content. When all the "older" contract ends, servers down, bingo, time to ep4. Around 1 year behind but still same EP. Other servers complaining? What servers?

Issues for this move will be collabs (as usual), scratch issues (how to put 4 year worth of scratch into half a year), leveling speed for upcoming crammed Emergencies, and SEGA operating mindset.

Oh yeah btw, below this thread will be people saying that "I am content of living in JPN servers", "No transfer char data no talk", "Spend too much AC to care other servers" etc.

[NightfallG]

No collabs kills this game dead where it stands. Western copyright laws are dogshit and prevent collabs from happening without more money than SEGA is willing to spend.

It ain't happening folks and it'd be a turd sandwich if it did. Stop theorizing how they could do it.

[Zysets]

Well yeah, of course it's never gonna happen, but it's still entertaining to come up with stuff about it, as obnoxious as it is at the same time.

[TaigaUC]

Maybe now they're waiting for the other versions to get episode 4, then they won't have to deal with them complaining.

[Rakurai]

I fully expect the Rideroids to be utilized in the next boss EQ somehow with how much they're emphasizing them in the new field.

[Poyonche]

But are those things even able to attack ? :v

[loafhero]

But are those things even able to attack ? :v

Doesn't look like it but it makes sense for gameplay. They want players to fight the new enemies on foot and experience the new monsters attack patterns and behaviours.

If the Rideroids do get implemented in a boss EQ, I hope it involves a boss that forces players to take advantage of the amount of freedom the Vegas map provides while on a Rideroid. Maybe chasing the boss down (or avoiding it), take out its spawns, and eventually forcing it to a stop for a standard on-foot assault. Maybe some kind of... Jet Ghidoran?

[NoobSpectre]

Doesn't look like it but it makes sense for gameplay. They want players to fight the new enemies on foot and experience the new monsters attack patterns and behaviours.

If the Rideroids do get implemented in a boss EQ, I hope it involves a boss that forces players to take advantage of the amount of freedom the Vegas map provides while on a Rideroid. Maybe chasing the boss down (or avoiding it), take out its spawns, and eventually forcing it to a stop for a standard on-foot assault. Maybe some kind of... Jet Ghidoran?

That reminds me of an android game which features FFVII Cloud that rides a bike and blasting the mobs and boss away during the ride or something. And from PSO2 arsenal, it might be possible to implement that. (ranged and magic as usual, melee, on the other hand...)

Then again, aint boss gonna be fought in single party area or something and limited space to make convenience to either boss or the player/s? Not to mentioned if you have TitanfallAIS, why would you need a Rideroid for a humongous boss?

[Meteor Weapon]

Maybe something like Xehanort Dragon Form chase would be nice. Inb4 they copied that straight for Hell Dragon God Kashina's battle lol.



If you read Gamania Contract with SEGA (TW Publisher) it ends in 2017 March or June (3 years). Means TW server is most likely closed by then. Asiasoft might be weird cuz they both manage TH and SEA, but if the terms are the same, Most likely June will mark the closing of SEA/TH. .

Wait seriously, for real? You mean closed as in shutting down the whole server? That would be a blessing for us JPplayers from SEA.

[loafhero]

Then again, aint boss gonna be fought in single party area or something and limited space to make convenience to either boss or the player/s? Not to mentioned if you have TitanfallAIS, why would you need a Rideroid for a humongous boss?

Maybe because Rideroids might be faster and more suited to simultaneously attacking and moving at high speeds at the same time? AIS specific bosses like Magatsu and Yamato never really moved much and were mostly stationary which was convenient for AIS users because AISs have to slow down when attacking.

[SteveCZ]

If you read Gamania Contract with SEGA (TW Publisher) it ends in 2017 March or June (3 years). Means TW server is most likely closed by then.

Source?

[NoobSpectre]

Source?

I would gladly show you, but unfortunately the original thread has been killed by bahamut moderator (http://forum.gamer.com.tw/B.php?bsn=25167&subbsn=0). It seems that he/she/it has lesser tolerance in either cynicism or flat out mild arguments.

Please assumed that my statement is false at the meantime. I see if I can get the link from there (assuming if anyone still remember the link).


Maybe something like Xehanort Dragon Form chase would be nice. Inb4 they copied that straight for Hell Dragon God Kashina's battle lol.



Wait seriously, for real? You mean closed as in shutting down the whole server? That would be a blessing for us JPplayers from SEA.

What is that even related to JPplayers anyway? It shutdowns or not does not benefit or harm JPNplayers in any way, unless they think of sealing back up IP block after SEA gone or something, which is definitely not a blessing.

If the blessing is real, mutual feeling though, luckily we don't have to suffer the EP4 system (Hi SG).


...

Assuming they even want to close it, that is, its a nightmare if they want to continue the contract, like a movie which brings sequel after sequel after sequel.

[blkbox11]

What is that even related to JPplayers anyway? It shutdowns or not does not benefit or harm JPNplayers in any way, unless they think of sealing back up IP block after SEA gone or something, which is definitely not a blessing.

Some people are assuming that SEA's shutdown would mean that SEGA would lift the IP block from the SEA region on the JP servers. That means we wouldn't have to use Tweaker and Proxy to play the game anymore, making things much more convenient.

I honestly think it's unlikely that will happen. The fact that SEGA agreed to put the IP block there so eagerly, while TW and HK weren't affected, means that they also have another reason to block SEA players, which may have been related to hacking incidents and such. It's understandable because gamers from this region aren't exactly the most disciplined bunch.

[Meteor Weapon]

It benefits us JP players from SEA region who got IP blocked, not Japanese themselves. Having SEA server shutting down would probably have Sega turning off the IP block, but then again they'd probably just forget it and leave it there anyway.

Hackers can come from anywhere, if you're talking about attitude how many loud pinoys(i don't mean everyone) do you even see in JP servers? You could say the same about a couple of westerns being obnoxious. Who's the one building up the whole b20 and b1 in the first place? Every single obnoxious foreigners no matter where they come from.

The whole reason they IP blocked SEA is because the contract itself. I thought HK got blocked because most of RMT coming from there.

[blkbox11]

Hackers can come from anywhere, if you're talking about attitude how many loud pinoys(i don't mean everyone) do you even see in JP servers? You could say the same about a couple of westerns being obnoxious. Who's the one building up the whole b20 and b1 in the first place? Every single obnoxious foreigners no matter where they come from.

The whole reason they IP blocked SEA is because the contract itself. I thought HK got blocked because most of RMT coming from there.

No reason to get defensive. I'm not saying hackers are exclusive to SEA. However, I'm also from SEA, and I've played several MMOs that were published for the region. Quite a few were particularly unpleasant due to the rampant RMT, bots, hacks and so on being used casually. When I mentioned a lack of discipline, it was solely addressing this willingness to cheat to get to the top, and not how the players interact with each other (being obnoxious in lobby, etc).

I'm aware that not everyone is like that. That being said, I also know that people don't like the idea of one region contributing more to a particular issue than others. But sometimes, that can be the case, and it's just my guess that SEGA saw more than just the contract as a reason for IP blocking SEA from their servers.

I also believe that was not HK, but mainland China that was hit by the first IP ban issued by SEGA. HK and Taiwan can still access PSO2JP IIRC.

[ShotGun]

I was shocked when I read the title. Appeared that this is only a new location, that's what I've heard. Continue playing with the Japanese grils, who secretly hate me for being invaded their domains. Hope only that my region will not be banned one day, cuz I'm pretty sure that game will never been localized here. (And I see no reason to use bots/hax in such simple demi-casual games like pso2.)
^^

[CoWorker]

btw guys, is this legit datamined or fake?
i found these in discord chat
http://i.imgur.com/rCXSNpy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tu3VQIk.jpg

[jooozek]

"datamined" more like, icons aren't in such shitty quality in the game files ever

[Kondibon]

btw guys, is this legit datamined or fake?
i found these in discord chat
http://i.imgur.com/rCXSNpy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tu3VQIk.jpg
They definately aren't data mined, they look like they were cropped out of screenshots from a video. I'll see if they're in any of the trailers...

[CoWorker]

Yeah... datamine really isnt the right term for these pics... but im still skeptical about it, i really dont recall seeing these icons on the broadcast

[arkeido]

btw guys, is this legit datamined or fake?
i found these in discord chat
<images>


Those were changed on game release (notice the old subpallete)

http://puu.sh/pAGkL/39ef917339.png
http://puu.sh/pAGov/31e4230f7e.png

Someone probably just messing with you or something . it's in the game files named "tut" which they seems didn't change/remove.

[Kondibon]

Those were changed on game release (notice the old subpallete)

http://puu.sh/pAGkL/39ef917339.png
http://puu.sh/pAGov/31e4230f7e.png

Someone probably just messing with you or something . it's in the game files named "tut" which they seems didn't change/remove.Mystery Solved. :wacko:

[SilverFoxR]

Of course... because they have no problem theming locations from North American locations, but they won't localize to a location after announcing it years ago.

Seriously... @#$% you, Sega.

[Vintasticvin]

Oh hey welcome back o7

I wonder how many petitions the poor guy signed only to have thwm ignored and he'll be back when theres new America related Pso2 news

[Meteor Weapon]

Good luck getting their western game release with full blown censorship and lack of fashion stuff cuz copyright/censorship.

[ArcaneTechs]

Of course... because they have no problem theming locations from North American locations, but they won't localize to a location after announcing it years ago.

Seriously... @#$% you, Sega.
get rekt
and play JP already
oh wait no don't

[IchijinKali]

Of course... because they have no problem theming locations from North American locations, but they won't localize to a location after announcing it years ago.

Seriously... @#$% you, Sega.

Oh look another person who apparently doesn't know they can play PSO2 on the JPservers and use a downright simple method to make the important stuff English.

Up next we look for a person that thinks when, NEVER, SEGA brings PSO2 to the West it will have nothing altered and feature all of the collaborations SEGA has done with since the start and not be behind on content compared the the JPservers.

[TaigaUC]

At this point, I really want to see a Western localization just so I can laugh at the changes.
There seems to be a lot of people who think nothing will be changed.

[Batty]

if the game doesnt come to america, america goes to the game

[neilp4453]

Oh look another person who apparently doesn't know they can play PSO2 on the JPservers and use a downright simple method to make the important stuff English.

Up next we look for a person that thinks when, NEVER, SEGA brings PSO2 to the West it will have nothing altered and feature all of the collaborations SEGA has done with since the start and not be behind on content compared the the JPservers.

Playing a partially translated PSO2 doesn't appeal to everyone or maybe even playing on PC.

There were still things that made our life in PSO2 hard despite the translation.

[Altiea]

Playing a partially translated PSO2 doesn't appeal to everyone or maybe even playing on PC.

There were still things that made our life in PSO2 hard despite the translation.

We're honestly lucky that we even got a form of translation, even if it doesn't cover everything. I think that some of us take the translation team for granted; without them, we would barely be playing at all.

[CocoCrispy]

^ Truths. People need to realize the translation team works really hard for basically sweating over an unpaid job. That doesn't even account for GG's many attempts to patch out the translation efforts. A lot of the more important gameplay aspects are translated already. A casual fan doesn't necessarily need those little pod things in the field to play. Quality of life stuff can always come later.

[Sirius-91]

^ Truths. People need to realize the translation team works really hard for basically sweating over an unpaid job. That doesn't even account for GG's many attempts to patch out the translation efforts. A lot of the more important gameplay aspects are translated already. A casual fan doesn't necessarily need those little pod things in the field to play. Quality of life stuff can always come later.

Well, we could quit our jobs and or stop going to school, ignore friends & family, and just focus on the the translations and we'd probably get it completely done. But let's be realistic, that's really not the ideal way to live. Our social lives and priorities outside of translating PSO2 are more important to us than translating for people who feel a strange sense of entitlement.

We don't get paid for this, people rarely like to drop us donations especially after the whole fight between zipzo and aida.

Drama aside, we translate this game because we have something that SEGA does not: dedication.

[MightyHarken]

Well, we could quit our jobs and or stop going to school, ignore friends & family, and just focus on the the translations and we'd probably get it completely done. But let's be realistic, that's really not the ideal way to live. Our social lives and priorities outside of translating PSO2 are more important to us than translating for people who feel a strange sense of entitlement.

We don't get paid for this, people rarely like to drop us donations especially after the whole fight between zipzo and aida.

Drama aside, we translate this game because we have something that SEGA does not: dedication.

I always shut down anyone who whines about what you guys do. And like I keep telling Aida, I'm extremely thankful for all of your hardwork, because honestly, I wouldn't be playing this game if it was all in jp. You do a good service to people and you deserve a lot more donations than what you get.

On your side always, Harken.

[CocoCrispy]

Well, we could quit our jobs and or stop going to school, ignore friends & family, and just focus on the the translations and we'd probably get it completely done. But let's be realistic, that's really not the ideal way to live. Our social lives and priorities outside of translating PSO2 are more important to us than translating for people who feel a strange sense of entitlement.

We don't get paid for this, people rarely like to drop us donations especially after the whole fight between zipzo and aida.

Drama aside, we translate this game because we have something that SEGA does not: dedication.

I think the same could be said for most of anything in the Phantasy Star fandom right now. Information gatherers like us who work on wikis basically work on what amounts as a thankless job too. You see many western fans complain all the time about why there isn't a complete English wiki, yet they never contribute to the projects that have popped up countless times to make them better. Projects such as: The Arkive (http://arkive.info/), a sister wiki on wikia (http://pso.wikia.com/wiki/Phantasy_Star_Online_Wiki), and the Visiphone (http://pso2.arks-visiphone.com/wiki/Special:RecentChanges). Somehow we never seem to have a complete database because instead of working together as a community, we decide complaining is much more important. Even the chinese (http://zh.pso2.wikia.com/wiki/PSO2_Wiki) have their own database that's more up to date than most of ours, granted they also have their own localized version.

Dedication is really important to keep up the morale. I didn't help a wiki for recognition. I do it because I feel satisfied to see a nice database in my native language without having to get out a book to translate 24/7. When someone says a thank you or a keep up the good work, it just helps keep me going. :rappy:

[neilp4453]

We're honestly lucky that we even got a form of translation, even if it doesn't cover everything. I think that some of us take the translation team for granted; without them, we would barely be playing at all.

The people that don't play aren't anything for granted because they aren't playing at all.

Don't get it the wrong way. Being able to play PSO2 is a god send and for those of us that do play are forever grateful. Let's face it, we can look far and wide and nothing seems to replace the void.

[IchijinKali]

We don't get paid for this, people rarely like to drop us donations especially after the whole fight between zipzo and aida.

First I have heard of this anybody got a link to what went down or at least a quick summary of it?

[Altiea]

First I have heard of this anybody got a link to what went down or at least a quick summary of it?

It was regarding the WebMoney service they were running; basically, AIDA was accused of stealing from customers due to a major backup of orders with nothing outgoing (something along those lines). At any rate, no one talks about it anymore, and the relevant topic was either locked of deleted. Also, they don't do the WebMoney thing anymore, so you gotta get your AC from PSO2es.

[IchijinKali]

It was regarding the WebMoney service they were running; basically, AIDA was accused of stealing from customers due to a major backup of orders with nothing outgoing (something along those lines). At any rate, no one talks about it anymore, and the relevant topic was either locked of deleted. Also, they don't do the WebMoney thing anymore, so you gotta get your AC from PSO2es.

Thanks I guess it was around that time my team told me it was faster and easier to go through es. Didn't like the idea since I was thinking it helped Arks-Layer but the wait was killing me.

[SteveCZ]

Those who disrespected the unofficial translated version of this PSO2 should read the story (http://kotaku.com/the-curse-of-kiseki-how-one-of-japans-biggest-rpgs-bar-1740055631) of full-time, paid, official translators for The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC.

[Sirius-91]

Those who disrespected the unofficial translated version of this PSO2 should read the story (http://kotaku.com/the-curse-of-kiseki-how-one-of-japans-biggest-rpgs-bar-1740055631) of full-time, paid, official translators for The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC.

For PSO2, SEGA loves to add weird dialog, odd sentence structures that don't make any sense in any language that isn't japanese, pseudo-german, french, indian, ancient japanese and chinese mythology and language bits, the occasional SEGA related pun, probable inside jokes etc.

The more people complain, the more we'll likely have this shit for the story:

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[Kokurokoki]

I'm not even hype for this update.

Uhh... can we get back to the space-magic science fantasy setting where we fight against eldritch abominations? Like, it was funny fighting brown bears and dinosaurs, but now I'm just kinda annoyed.

*Puts up original PSO2 Episode I intro*

Yeah. Let's go back to that. And please... no umbrella/surfboard/lolipop weapons please. You have a fucking creative art department, pay them more and actually put them to work.

[Sirius-91]

I'm not even hype for this update.

Uhh... can we get back to the space-magic science fantasy setting where we fight against eldritch abominations? Like, it was funny fighting brown bears and dinosaurs, but now I'm just kinda annoyed.

*Puts up original PSO2 Episode I intro*

Yeah. Let's go back to that. And please... no umbrella/surfboard/lolipop weapons please. You have a fucking creative art department, pay them more and actually put them to work.

Look at it this way, we stumbled upon a parallel dystopian universe in which SEGA has dominated the world, and has become the illuminati. Using their new found illuminati powers, they create monstrous creatures based off people's fears.

We, by chance, have assimilated one of their kind into our society who has taken one of ours and brainwashed him into believing he's a small child who doesn't understand war.

The illuminati doesn't like this idea, and want a trade, we keep the sega-earth-girl, and they keep the brainwashed soldier. Of course, we being the superior advanced alien race find this highly unfair. So we wage war against the SEGA-Illuminati, creating a resistance group while grooming them into becoming a proxy pro-ARKS government to replace the SEGA-Illuminati.

[Meteor Weapon]

If Luther gone back being the head of Oracle/ARKS, he would just Exterminus the planet Earth without a second thought.

[Zeroem]

If we're being honest here, ARKS are going to stumble into Earth at some point. And it fits ARKS M.O, since ARKS are space explorers. If a foreign planet has a possible connection to their primary goal (eradication of [Profound Darkness]), then ARKS would stay and investigate it to the end. Not to add that this phenomenon at Earth might have connection with their predecessor's mess.

And this is not the first time Earth exist in PS franchise.


If Luther gone back being the head of Oracle/ARKS, he would just Exterminus the planet Earth without a second thought.

I think Luther would do the opposite, actually. Luther would be gladly stay and study Earth. After all, it's a brand new galaxy. Earth's culture; Ethers and its manipulation by certain individuals would made an excellent study as of how ARKS would improve their photons weaponry with Ether's unique properties, utilizing photons (based on how Ether works)to establish advanced information network, studying Earth's flora and possibility of adopting the plants to ARKS ship; and so on.

I mean, just look. He's working at Shimamura now with Matoi :wacko:

[Sirius-91]

If we're being honest here, ARKS are going to stumble into Earth at some point.

We wouldn't have normally.

I'll quote our ep4 ch1


Once again, I'll share the information about the planet we just transferred to. That star is located in a point of subspace that's not quite the same as ours. In layman's terms, it's a whole new world in a completely different dimension!

It's oddly creepy that Earth discovered photons in 2016, which relevant to ARKS, we don't have much information on other than the original 3 heros sealed Elder.

Something happened that allowed them to create advanced photon comms tech with 21st technology.

[Zeroem]

We wouldn't have normally.

Well, that is assuming that ARKS never complete sub-space travel technologies just like Emilia did in post-game PSPo2:I. I personally see that Earth's discovery of Ether and making contact with ARKS is just hastening the process in unnatural speed.

But yeah, the methods of ARKS discovering alternate dimension and Earth is not normal.

[loafhero]

I think Luther would do the opposite, actually. Luther would be gladly stay and study Earth. After all, it's a brand new galaxy. Earth's culture; Ethers and its manipulation by certain individuals would made an excellent study as of how ARKS would improve their photons weaponry with Ether's unique properties, utilizing photons (based on how Ether works)to establish advanced information network, studying Earth's flora and possibility of adopting the plants to ARKS ship; and so on.

Until he gets bored and abandons the planet in a completely violent and chaotic state overrun by mutated versions of the original inhabitants like as though its a used toy, just like Planet Vopar, or its inhabitants become extremely anti-ARKS, like Planet Amduscia. Maybe Earth would end up becoming a post-apocalyptic world ala Mad Max or Fist of the North Star, if Luther started toying with it. Basically, Luther wouldn't destroy Earth completely but he'd leave it in a state where it may as well be put out of its misery because Luther holds no value for life.

Honestly, if there's one thing good thing I can say about Earth being the new planet the story is focused on is that we're at least visiting a planet that has a proper civilization (besides Planet Harukotan, that is). We've had 4 planets (Naberius, Amduscia, Lilipa, Vopar) which were rather primitive or just too chaotic and its friendlier inhabitants that were capable of communication are the lowest in their respective planet's food chain (the Lilipans and the Vopar Shellheads).

[Meteor Weapon]

I'd rather have a planet with advance civilisation that's still alive rather than something we're already super familiar with. Like the Protoss or anything similar. Still wondering about the civilization of the planet that Double blew up, looks pretty advanced to me with that orbit rings around it.

[Zeroem]

I'd rather have a planet with advance civilisation that's still alive rather than something we're already super familiar with.

Well, if you put it that way, it's a similar case just like how some people still persistent in hoping for playing official English version of PSO2 that is not SEA and not via patches like most of us do now. While it's not the case for all people, adding familiar places and situation would add people's attachment to the game.

It's just another reminder that PSO2 are shaped for JP players and audience, not international crowd.

[Meteor Weapon]

It's a phantasy star game, having a modern Earth itself is already a problem lore wise. I don't know about you but everything about Earth looked so bland and flat.

[Sirius-91]

It's a phantasy star game, having a modern Earth itself is already a problem lore wise. I don't know about you but everything about Earth looked so bland and flat.

A Futuristic Earth was in Phantasy Star II and III.

I welcome modern earth.

[Zeroem]

It's a phantasy star game, having a modern Earth itself is already a problem lore wise. I don't know about you but everything about Earth looked so bland and flat.

......Sometimes I wonder how many times people need to be reminded that Earth already exist in other PS titles.

Also.....

A Futuristic Earth was in Phantasy Star II and III.
^This

[TaigaUC]

I heard Earth already blew up a long time ago, but I've also heard PSO2 might actually take place before PSO or something.
I doubt SEGA gives a damn either way.

[Meteor Weapon]

PS Zero takes place before PSO. PS Zero's Earth is in actuality not Earth but a Planet named Coral.

PSO2 had nothing to do with PSO as far as we are concerned other than the old PS terminology being reused.

About PSO2 Earth, I don't mind if it's a post apocalyptic Earth as that would make it more interesting....or Earth is already in post apocalyptic state screwed up by the Profound Darkness getting thrown into Earth's subspace, and the Mother Cluster's are just secretly protecting Earth and everything we know about the Earth in it's current state is a gigantic illusion. Phantom's acts as an anti-body to prevent intruders from digging deeper. Well, I don't know. The story pacing is way too slow to keep me from being biased about the story. *shrugs*

[Ziel]

But are those things even able to attack ? :v

[SPOILER-BOX]39797[/SPOILER-BOX]
[SPOILER-BOX]39798[/SPOILER-BOX]

Maybe they will pull a ride chaser/mega rider and attach weapons to it?

inb4 Vegas turns into a Megaman X "bike level"

Also, securitrons where :c?

[loafhero]

inb4 Vegas turns into a Megaman X "bike level"


I can see that happening but as a short E-Trial like the one in the Tokyo Map that involves chasing down Phantom drift racing cars on the streets. Either Rideroids temporarily gain guns when the E-Trial is triggered to blast away the targets or the Rideroids can tackle enemies kinda like how on-foot player characters can do a powerful flying kick after gaining a speed boost.

[CocoCrispy]

Haha that song fits Vegas so well. I kinda like it.

As people said, the pso universe doesn't have a legit Earth kinda Earth until the anime came along. But even that's iffy. This universe doesn't seem to have any connections to any other universes, including the pso series. I mean, unless this research fleet was somehow connected to the mass exodus from Coral or the refugees escaping from the Palma disaster, pso2 may be its own compact thing. I don't think even the time travel in infinity was canon but I'm not too familiar with the Universe series beyond Ethen Waber captain of myself.

[NightfallG]

PS Zero takes place before PSO. PS Zero's Earth is in actuality not Earth but a Planet named Coral.

PSO2 had nothing to do with PSO as far as we are concerned other than the old PS terminology being reused.

About PSO2 Earth, I don't mind if it's a post apocalyptic Earth as that would make it more interesting....or Earth is already in post apocalyptic state screwed up by the Profound Darkness getting thrown into Earth's subspace, and the Mother Cluster's are just secretly protecting Earth and everything we know about the Earth in it's current state is a gigantic illusion. Phantom's acts as an anti-body to prevent intruders from digging deeper. Well, I don't know. The story pacing is way too slow to keep me from being biased about the story. *shrugs*


As much as stories like these fuck me up, I really really hope that's the case. Etrian Odyssey's big reveal is similar in a way.


E: Ah shit. The whole "phantom" thing made me think of something; what if the entire planet's just one big-ass phantom? In the old PS lore, Earth got flat out *blown up* right? What if they decide to make this Earth 100% illusory, like not just the surface being an illusion but the entire existence of it?

[CocoCrispy]

I wouldn't say blown up more so the planet just died from all of its resources being expended. That would be a super creepy theory though. So what would that make the earthlings?

[Zysets]

I wouldn't say blown up more so the planet just died from all of its resources being expended. That would be a super creepy theory though. So what would that make the earthlings?

They're all living a lie, like the Matrix. It's a good step up from the anime, the anime gives us "The game is REAL!" and then the game gives us, "The Earth doesn't exist!".

I don't think they should bring the Profound Darkness back though, maybe it influenced Earth, but I wouldn't want it to be the actual antagonist again, just to keep Episode 4 (and the next few) mostly as their own stories, as 1-3 was it's own too.

[CocoCrispy]

Awwww snap! Earth won't be the only thing exploding if Sakai pulls an M. Night Shyamalan!

Actually, all this profound darkness talk reminds me. If there's a profound darkness, shouldn't there also be a Great Light? It was the counter to the darkness but it wasn't necessarily completely legit saint incarnate. It just represented the winning omniscience of the universe. Chaz actually refuses to fulfill his destiny for awhile after learning how cruel the Great Light was for using the heroes just to keep its over rule of the universe in its own dominion. It basically amounted to: either fight for me to save the universe or don't fight and watch everything you ever cared for perish. It wasn't until Rune prodded him before he decided he'd fight, but only because he wanted to end the war with the darkness.

Twist ending: the great light is what gave Earth ether and is trying to take over the pso2 universe.

[Cyber Meteor]

^ Xion matches that description of Great Light pretty well :D

[loafhero]

^ Xion matches that description of Great Light pretty well :D

Especially since PD is basically an evil clone of Xion.

[Zysets]

Yeah, Xion was the Great Light, like I said in my last post, the whole PD thing should be it's own self contained story in Episodes 1-3. We'll see how Episode 4 goes though, all the speculation does make me excited to see how it unfolds. I've been enjoying Episode 4, despite all the hate it seems to get.

[Punisher106]

Yeah, Xion was the Great Light, like I said in my last post, the whole PD thing should be it's own self contained story in Episodes 1-3. We'll see how Episode 4 goes though, all the speculation does make me excited to see how it unfolds. I've been enjoying Episode 4, despite all the hate it seems to get.

Content-wise, Ep4 is decent. I LOVE the Tokyo field, and the Las Vegas field looks promising, too. However, STORY-wise, Ep3 takes the cake, what with you being the Profound Darkness, an element of the story that I've wanted to see in the PS series since PSO1.

[MightyHarken]

Content-wise, Ep4 is decent. I LOVE the Tokyo field, and the Las Vegas field looks promising, too. However, STORY-wise, Ep3 takes the cake, what with you being the Profound Darkness, an element of the story that I've wanted to see in the PS series since PSO1.

"Loves tokyo and las vegas in a phantasy star game" Kill yourself

[Altiea]

"Loves tokyo and las vegas in a phantasy star game" Kill yourself

Don't whine if your opinion of what makes this game interesting differs from someone elses. It just makes you look bad.

[Selphea]

Can't go wrong with the Statue of Liberty riding a sphinx

[Zeroem]

Content-wise, Ep4 is decent. I LOVE the Tokyo field, and the Las Vegas field looks promising, too. However, STORY-wise, Ep3 takes the cake, what with you being the Profound Darkness, an element of the story that I've wanted to see in the PS series since PSO1.

Well, the new field so far is kind of creative, kind of fresh, and introducing potential future mechanics (Boost pad on Tokyo, and perhaps vertical movement for future free field from Vegas), albeit with its own downside as well (Tokyo methods of spawning enemies). That being said, I think no one would disagree that EP3 story is superior to what EP4 has to offer atm.


"Loves tokyo and las vegas in a phantasy star game" Kill yourself

What a way to display your opinion. Which is not the way to win an argument. Also, Earth do exist in PS titles. So why Tokyo and Vegas can't exist in PS titles again?


Can't go wrong with the Statue of Liberty riding a sphinx
Well, the only way to top that, is that those two combine into a giant robot.

[CocoCrispy]

What a way to display your opinion. Which is not the way to win an argument. Also, Earth do exist in PS titles. So why Tokyo and Vegas can't exist in PS titles again?


Well, the only way to top that, is that those two combine into a giant robot.

Because he's some narrow minded "fan" that apparently can't handle change which isn't really change and has been a concept in the franchise the whole time. Ridiculous. I can appreciate rolling around at the speed of sound in Tokyo. And even if I didn't, there are better ways to voice opinions beyond all or nothing thinking.

It's giving me a very Casinopolis vibe. Hoping the Vegas mobiles are more than just carnival rides.

[starwhisper]

Let's say I love rugby. I have been playing rugby for years and loving it. But after some years the rules of rugby are being changed: there will only be 11 players instead of 15, the ball will be changed to a spherical ball and we will not be able to touch it with the hands anymore. There is a change of concept and I really don't like the direction it is taking. Does it means I am narrow-minded? Some people may like it, some other don't, why somebody having a different opinion than yours is "narrow minded", Cocorispy?
I like the fights against huge vilans in outer space and savage planets full of feral species. This earth stuff is completely out of context for me. I did not install PSO2 for this and I really prefer naberius/amduscia/lilipa/harukotan stuff over earth stuff.It's only a matter of preference, not be narrow-minded. I totally share the opinion of people of people wanting more outer space stuff and less casual earth stuff. Can you accept a difference of opinion or are you totally narrow-minded?
One last thing about "rolling around at the speed of sound in Tokyo": be real, it's only fun for ~10secs per day. The map is so flat a squared it becomes boring really fast.

[NoobSpectre]

PSO2 Episode VII: SEED invasion of Oracle Fleet.

Oh wait, Nagisa is here already.

Anyway, ^, those EP1-3 planets are already running out of SEGA's ideas. So time to borrow the surefire solution of highschool vs conspiracies, vs more conspiracies, then vs even more conspiracies and finally more conspiracies. You know, 90% of JPN heroes live their lives at 12-17.

Phantoms, ughhh... not a great way to express your next baddies army solution, but.... Unless you throw in new Darkers variant, which you need a new Dark Falz... and then it affects Anga or PD sooner or later (oh wait, is that it? Ether Darkers! Photons!! er I mean, Phantoms!!! no pun intended)

Hope this storyline is done within 1 Episode, cuz... bringing the fight to the moon is a bit... oh wait, ARKS Operatives can breath in space, it is not even a problem!

[CocoCrispy]

Let's say I hope rugby. I have been playing rugby for years and loving it. But after some years the rules of rugby are being changed: there will only be 11 players instead of 15, the ball will be changed to a spherical ball and we will not be able to touch it with the hands anymore. There is a change of concept and I really don't like the direction it is taking. Does it means I am narrow-minded? Some people may like it, some other don't, why somebody having a different opinion than yours is "narrow minded", Cocorispy?
I like the fights against huge vilans in outer space and savage planets full of feral species. This earth stuff is completely out of context for me. I did not install PSO2 for this and I really prefer naberius/amduscia/lilipa/harukotan stuff over earth stuff.It's only a matter of preference, not be narrow-minded. I totally share the opinion of people of people wanting more outer space stuff and less casual earth stuff. Can you accept a difference of opinion or are you totally narrow-minded?
One last thing about "rolling around at the speed of sound in Tokyo": be real, it's only fun for ~10secs per day. The map is so flat a squared it becomes boring really fast.

Look at this message below and judge for yourself.


"Loves tokyo and las vegas in a phantasy star game" Kill yourself

I don't know about you but "kill yourself" is not a legit response for anything really. It's plainly obvious he was going for a joke, but I'd have to say it fell pretty flat. I have no idea where your spiel about rugby came from when I explicitly said that as long as people explain how and why they don't like something is valid without resorting to interesting statements like what Harken said. That's not to say people won't debate with you about it, but that's part of the fun of message boards. Explaining why you like such and such. Opinions, subjectivity and all that good stuff. I would totally play rugby with a diamond ball but I believe this is going off topic.

[BIG OLAF]

"Loves tokyo and las vegas in a phantasy star game" Kill yourself

I don't agree with the 'kill yourself' statement, but I do agree that these new areas and story are complete out-of-place schlock and have been major contributors to the personal 'death' of PSO2 for many players. It's completely ridiculous, and not Phantasy Star at all whatsoever.

[CocoCrispy]

Eh, I think I've been falling off the pso2 map because the eqs and events just haven't been interesting to me anymore. I'm one of those rose tinted breakfast cereals that loved running around in 8 of the same areas over and over again in pso, but somehow running around in circles killing things for a few minutes just doesn't have the same appeal here. It's because of these new gimmicks like speed boosters and rings that brings me back every other patch because it's new and exciting.

[TaigaUC]

If it were me, I would simply have both proper Phantasy Star shit and crap like Tokyo/Vegas on the side.
I don't like that the series is forcefully going in the Liberty riding a Sphinx direction. Can't take it seriously anymore.
There are also way too many NPCs that SEGA just creates and then tosses into the bin and forgets about.

They are effectively diluting everything meaningful about the Phantasy Star universe. Of course fans of the series are going to be upset.
People get interested in a sci-fi space fantasy setting for that reason. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that episode 4 does not fit into that description.
Imagine if Star Trek or Star Wars started focusing heavily on Californian High School or something. No thanks.
As a side story/parody/alternate story thing, then sure. But not as part of the main story. This all feels like filler.

Like I said, why not just put both serious and silly in? Instead, they just focus on the silly.
I'm sure they have a really stupid reason for doing so, too.
Like, "more casuals can relate to modern Tokyo!" or "now we can do Kancolle and Call of Duty imitation themes without needing to collaborate!!"

[Caetho]

Where are all the Trump posters? Where is the giant wall to keep immigrants out? Japan isn't up to date with the circumstances are they? :wacko:

[MightyHarken]

If it were me, I would simply have both proper Phantasy Star shit and crap like Tokyo/Vegas on the side.
I don't like that the series is forcefully going in the Liberty riding a Sphinx direction. Can't take it seriously anymore.
There are also way too many NPCs that SEGA just creates and then tosses into the bin and forgets about.

They are effectively diluting everything meaningful about the Phantasy Star universe. Of course fans of the series are going to be upset.
People get interested in a sci-fi space fantasy setting for that reason. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that episode 4 does not fit into that description.
Imagine if Star Trek or Star Wars started focusing heavily on Californian High School or something. No thanks.
As a side story/parody/alternate story thing, then sure. But not as part of the main story. This all feels like filler.

Like I said, why not just put both serious and silly in? Instead, they just focus on the silly.
I'm sure they have a really stupid reason for doing so, too.
Like, "more casuals can relate to modern Tokyo!" or "now we can do Kancolle and Call of Duty imitation themes without needing to collaborate!!"

Exactly, the star trek and starwars example was a perfect way of putting things, now imagine a dude on a star trek forum saying "god i love the new highschool setting star trek has taken" what more can you say besides "kill yourself"? but yeah I don't mean it seriously.

[Meteor Weapon]

Sega was involved in the production of Kancolle Arcade, I'm not even sure why the hell they didn't take the chance and make a collab out of itinstead of relying on Lagassmal Faggotship Yamete, where the Yamete weapons themselves would be redundent later on. Unless they're planning to make all weapons camo-able soon.

[Maninbluejumpsuit]

I've ranted about the loss of pso2's identity since EP3 when we were drowning in collabs for months straight. I just gave up talking about it.

I've tried to ignore the elephant in the room that is ep4 story and setting with the 'I don't play for story' mantra, but I'd be lying if I said the mere existence of this contrived as all hell story so disconnected on the surface from everything else in the past few years didn't bother me.

Most of us see PSO2 as another RPG with it's own story and universe like any other RPG... at least until ep4. The premise alone of the latest matter board, and anime tie-in kills alot of immersion instantly because of its self-reference which borders on parody of it being a game. I hate that shit so much.

What little immersion I coulda've gotten from this game's RPG elements has been killed off from the story almost breaking its own 4th wall.

[BIG OLAF]

I've ranted about the loss of pso2's identity since EP3 when we were drowning in collabs for months straight. I just gave up talking about it.

I've tried to ignore the elephant in the room that is ep4 story and setting with the 'I don't play for story' mantra, but I'd be lying if I said the mere existence of this contrived as all hell story so disconnected on the surface from everything else in the past few years didn't bother me.

Most of us see PSO2 as another RPG with it's own story and universe like any other RPG... at least until ep4. The premise alone of the latest matter board, and anime tie-in kills alot of immersion instantly because of its self-reference which borders on parody of it being a game. I hate that shit so much.

What little immersion I coulda've gotten from this game's RPG elements has been killed off from the story almost breaking its own 4th wall.

I 1000% agree with your and TaigaUC's posts.

For me, I never played PSO2 for the story, because I thought the story was total garbage from day 1. But, the story is only a part of a games identity, and everything else kept me playing. However, the story isn't the only thing that suffers from SEGAs jumped-shark bullshit "content," sadly - everything does. The entire game has more or less been going down in flames since Harukotan was introduced (even though those areas and enemies aren't that ridiculous, especially since the classic Phantasy Star games had humanoid races capable of speech, etc.), but this newfangled anime collab that is Episode 4 has put the final nails in the coffin, in my opinion.

Once again, sorry, but if you think that running around in 'Neu Tokyo' or 'Futuristic Las Vegas' = Phantasy Star, then I've no words for you. Go back and play some old PS titles, and I mean really play them - immerse yourself in the story, the setting, the lore, all that. Then go back and play PSO2, and if you aren't disgusted with it, then there's no helping you.

[TaigaUC]

Tons of people have been saying from day one that PSO2 has a serious lack of world sense.
JP reviews on 4gamer stated that over and over. 4 years, and SEGA has proved they do not give a damn about that.
Let's not forget the scenario writer telling us that we must have mental issues if we don't like his shit, and that we "don't have to do it".
Bullshit. It's unavoidable and intertwined with the rest of the game.

One of my female JP friends really likes fantasy stuff. Used to play PSO2, but lost interest.
She really dislikes the whole Tokyo and Vegas thing. That isn't the only reason she quit though.
She said they added too many new things that she can't keep up with. She was already always worried about dragging down multis.
That's another topic, though.

I show PSO2 stuff to a friend from Canada who doesn't play. He's very disgusted by how much of a mish-mash mess PSO2 is.
He said he would never play such a game.

Another friend from Mexico (who does play but essentially quit a while ago) often complains about how PSO2 just copies everything else and has no self.
Sure, PSO was originally heavily influenced by Star Wars, but it had its own thing going.
PSO2 just feels like SEGA hooks onto whatever the hell is the current "in" thing that they believe will hook new players for a few moments.

Some of us were pretty huge fans of PSO1, by the way.
I think it's bad enough PSO2 is just going off on random tangents, but it's doubly bad that they aren't even respecting the Phantasy Star franchise.

[Altiea]

I 1000% agree with your and TaigaUC's posts.

For me, I never played PSO2 for the story, because I thought the story was total garbage from day 1. But, the story is only a part of a games identity, and everything else kept me playing. However, the story isn't the only thing that suffers from SEGAs jumped-shark bullshit "content," sadly - everything does. The entire game has more or less been going down in flames since Harukotan was introduced (even though those areas and enemies aren't that ridiculous, especially since the classic Phantasy Star games had humanoid races capable of speech, etc.), but this newfangled anime collab that is Episode 4 has put the final nails in the coffin, in my opinion.

Once again, sorry, but if you think that running around in 'Neu Tokyo' or 'Futuristic Las Vegas' = Phantasy Star, then I've no words for you. Go back and play some old PS titles, and I mean really play them - immerse yourself in the story, the setting, the lore, all that. Then go back and play PSO2, and if you aren't disgusted with it, then there's no helping you.

Everyone has their own opinion. Clearly, you dislike Earth in Phantasy Star. Does that mean others will? No. Does that mean that if others follow your steps and go and play the other Phantasy Stars, they will hate Earth like you do? No. Everyone has their own pre-defined concept of what makes Phantasy Star "Phantasy Star" based on where they started and what they've played, which means there are people who won't see it from your angle, and just because they like Earth, you shouldn't deem them a lost cause.

P.S.: I already took your advice long ago and played Zero and IV after starting PSO2. I still don't hate Earth.

[TaigaUC]

I don't have a problem with Earth being in Phantasy Star. There are a ton of ways that could have been done well.
I have a problem with them making a Phantasy Star sequel revolve around a parallel post-modern world where PSO2 is an online game played by high school students.
If they wanted to make Sword Art Online, they could have made a new franchise instead of bastardizing Phantasy Star.
And I was only a fan of PSO1, not even the other games. i can only imagine how disappointed and disgusted true Phantasy Star series fans must be.

It's like if Dot Hack suddenly became entirely about military world wars in the real world, instead of the whole stuck in an online game thing.
Very much a 180 of the original content. In that case, they should just make a new franchise.

I'm generally not a fan of bastarding franchises.
Resident Evil 4-7 = no longer survival horror, trying to be Call of Duty and now P.T.
Dead Rising 3 = trying to be Call of Duty.
Those are just two examples. Why don't they just make new IPs?
If a game is really that good, people won't care about the IP name.
Look at Overwatch, TERA, Blade and Soul, etc. Those are all new IPs, and they are all pretty damn popular.

Another good example is Berserk. A friend and I recently got around to reading through the manga.
The later parts of Berserk are nothing like the beginning. It went from very Dark Fantasy to High Fantasy, and it feels like the story has completely lost its direction.
It doesn't even seem to take itself seriously anymore, and the author likes Idolmaster so much that he keeps adding new lolis.
If he wants to draw lolis, why doesn't he just make a new manga about lolis instead of sending Berserk in some weird direction?

[Altiea]

Do you think that if there were a much better explanation for why we are at Earth, we would be more tolerant of it?

[TaigaUC]

Well, like I said, the fact that they're blatantly ripping off Sword Art Online is irritating.
A game series with a long history, suddenly referring to itself, in its own canon, as a game. Makes me want to facepalm.
No respect for the original franchise, no respect for themselves.
In general, it feels like current SEGA does not have much capacity to make anything unique or fresh.
It's just copy this, copy that. PSO2 has no soul.

Imagine if Street Fighter V added a character who fights by playing SFV on their phone.
It's like that.

I don't know the Phantasy Star history well enough to write a relevant explanation for why Earth is there.
Maybe something like a space-time distortion, sort of like in R-Type Final.
There's this awesome twist in R-Type Final, even though it's just a side scrolling shoot'em up.
[spoiler-box]The general plot of R-Type is that an alien lifeform called the Bydo invades Earth.
In R-Type final, you're the pilot of prototype spaceships made using technology recovered from the Bydo.
The Bydo are bizarre twisted grotesque creatures that could be described as being borne from the darkest parts of the human soul.
I remember hearing such a description.

Anyway, near the end of R-Type Final, there is a boss that, if you fulfill certain requirements, it can suck you into a black hole.
You are then transformed into a Bydo version of your ship and sent through a wormhole back to the start of the game, where you attack Earth.
The final boss of that route is yourself before you became possessed by the Bydo.
It's implied that the Bydo really did originate from humans, in some kind of weird space-time distortion thing.
Or at least, that's my understanding of it. It's kinda disturbing, but also somewhat unique and interesting.

Edit: One more thing I forgot! You can actually see your Bydo self flying by, far off in the background of the first stage!
Of course, you won't know what it is until you experience that space-time distortion route.

SEGA could probably have done something like the above to explain how Darkers originated from Earth in the past.
And that Earth was able to become technologically advanced because of a space-time distortion where future Earth tech was sent to past Earth.
[/spoiler-box]
Another interesting example I recall is Martian Successor Nadesico. That had a huge twist too.
[spoiler-box]Basically, Earth is fighting against aliens from Jupiter. But it turns out Jupiter was actually a space colony of Earth.
I forget the details, but something went wrong during the colony process.
The Earth government wanted to cover up and deny the existence of the Jupiter space colony, so they branded them as "aliens" and tried to wipe them out.
Despite the fact that they are all still regular humans. So what seemed like a space war between human and alien was really just human vs human.
SEGA could probably have done something similar to that in PSO2.[/spoiler-box]
The above are both pretty old. Early 2000s or so.

I know that my suggestions are still referencing other media.
But I think there's a difference between being a wannabe rip-off trying to cash in on a popular franchise, and being inspired to create something similar.
It's usually obvious which it is, depending on how well it's done. PSO2 generally does not feel like it's done well. That's why so many people complain about it.
Everything is inspired by something else, anyway.

Like I was saying about bastardizing IPs... a lot of those popular franchises were great because they were originally more unique, doing their own thing.
When they started trying to mimic other popular stuff, they went to shit. And because they keep trying to make sequels, they chain themselves down.

It's sort of like how Japan is good at making Japanese stuff, but lately they've been trying to appeal to Western markets, and that usually ends up sucking.
They are better off just making their own stuff, without trying to be something else.
I mean, people get into Japanese-style media for what it is. They don't look to Japan to fulfill their Western media interests.

Same thing goes for SEGA trying to be everything. Collaborations can be fun, but if people want Sword Art Online, they will just go to Sword Art Online.
They don't go to Phantasy Star looking to experience Sword Art Online.
Phantasy Star can never top Sword Art Online because it's trying to BE Sword Art Online, while Sword Art Online is just being itself.
Meanwhile, Phantasy Star just forgot itself. It's sad.

By the way, I know almost nothing about Sword Art Online. Too lazy to watch it.
I've just heard other people saying PSO2 is copying SAO, and considering how popular SAO is, it makes sense.

[MightyHarken]

Well, like I said, the fact that they're blatantly ripping off Sword Art Online is irritating.
No respect for the original franchise, no respect for themselves.
In general, it feels like current SEGA does not have much capacity to make anything unique or fresh.
It's just copy this, copy that. PSO2 has no soul.

I don't know the Phantasy Star history well enough to write a relevant explanation for why Earth is there.
Maybe something like a space-time distortion, sort of like in R-Type Final.
There's this awesome twist in R-Type Final, even though it's just a side scrolling shoot'em up.
[spoiler-box]The general plot of R-Type is that an alien lifeform called the Bydo invades Earth.
In R-Type final, you're the pilot of prototype spaceships made using technology recovered from the Bydo.
The Bydo are bizarre twisted grotesque creatures that could be described as being borne from the darkest parts of the human soul.
I remember hearing such a description.

Anyway, near the end of R-Type Final, there is a boss that can suck you into a black hole, and it also transforms you into a Bydo version of your ship.
Then you are sent through a wormhole back to the start of the game, where you shoot all the other pilots and the final boss is yourself before you became possessed by the Bydo.
It's implied that the Bydo really did originate from humans, in some kind of weird space-time distortion thing.
Or at least, that's my understanding of it. It's kinda disturbing, but also somewhat unique and interesting.
Oh, and note that the whole getting sucked in and going back to the past is an optional route. So that's interesting too.

SEGA could probably have done something like the above to explain how Darkers originated from Earth in the past.
And that Earth was able to become technologically advanced because of a space-time distortion where future Earth tech was sent to past Earth.
[/spoiler-box]
Another interesting example I recall is Martian Successor Nadesico. That had a huge twist too.
[spoiler-box]Basically, Earth is fighting against aliens from Jupiter. But it turns out Jupiter was actually a space colony of Earth.
I forget the details, but something went wrong during the colony process
The Earth government wanted to cover up and deny the existence of the Jupiter space colony, so they branded them as "aliens" and tried to wipe them out.
Despite the fact that they are all still regular humans. So what seemed like a space war between human and alien was really just human vs human.
SEGA could probably have done something similar to that in PSO2.[/spoiler-box]
The above are both pretty old. Early 2000s or so.

I know that my suggestions are still referencing other media.
But I think there's a difference between being a wannabe rip-off trying to cash in on a popular franchise, and being inspired to create something similar.
It's usually obvious which it is, depending on how well it's done. PSO2 generally does not feel like it's done well. That's why so many people complain about it.
Everything is inspired by something else, anyway.

Like I was saying about bastardizing IPs... a lot of those popular franchises were great because they were originally more unique, doing their own thing.
When they started trying to mimic other popular stuff, they went to shit. And because they keep trying to make sequels, they chain themselves down.

It's sort of like how Japan is good at making Japanese stuff, but lately they've been trying to appeal to Western markets, and that usually ends up sucking.
They are better off just making their own stuff, without trying to be something else.
I mean, people get into Japanese-style media for what it is. They don't look to Japan to fulfill their Western media interests.

Same thing goes for SEGA trying to be everything. Collaborations can be fun, but if people want Sword Art Online, they will just go to Sword Art Online.
They don't go to Phantasy Star looking to experience Sword Art Online.
Phantasy Star can never top Sword Art Online because it's trying to BE Sword Art Online, while Sword Art Online is just being itself.
Meanwhile, Phantasy Star just forgot itself. It's sad.

By the way, I know almost nothing about Sword Art Online. Too lazy to watch it.
I've just heard other people saying PSO2 is copying SAO, and considering how popular SAO is, it makes sense.

I have to agree with the whole Berserk thing.

Also I was telling a friend of what would have been a MUCH BETTER ep4. Basically it goes like this: "An arks ship goes to explore an unknown planet but ends up being taken by some dark force, now it's up to us in our own ship to investigate the whereabouts and find out what happened in that planet". PSO1 all over again, but would have been a much better story to go with instead of the crap we have to deal with now.

[TaigaUC]

PSO1 episode 1 had this amazing atmosphere of mystery to it. Everyone looked forward to a bright future, they expected to have a happy colony and all that.
But what happened? Where did everyone go? You could see evidence of their existence scattered here and there.
And you got to find out little by little as to what was really going on, and how it wasn't just about colonizing but also experimentation and so on.
PSO2 sort of tries to do this, in a really not very interesting way. Unlike PSO1, you no longer fulfill various requests that further the story.
You don't go on missions with objectives. It's just go find Darkers, kill them. Zzzz.

PSO2's story is like... well, Darkers attacking the universe. We gotta kill them.
But actually we're just parts of an experiment so that a guy can merge with his beloved omnipotent girl.
Meanwhile, Darkness wants to be revived and needs a host. So we gotta eat all the other hosts to revive Darkness. Actually, we ARE the Darkness host. And stuff.
But wait, this is actually all just a game played by an alternate world where a bunch of assholes think they're elite chosen and cause trouble.
Now we have to travel around Earth's countries fighting possessed amalgamations of famous pop culture icons!

...what?

Note that I haven't studied the PSO2 story in detail because i lost interest, so I probably made it sound even crappier than it is.
I also didn't play PSO1 past episode 1, so I don't know if it got worse or not. I didn't like PSU's story, though. From what I understood of it.

Again, I want to emphasize... if they wanted to add silly stuff, then that's fine. You know, for fun.
But when they just throw out everything that made Phantasy Star what it is, and replace it with something else... that's not cool.
At the very least, give people an option.

Even hosts on the livestream have sometimes said stuff like, "uhh... what happened to Phantasy Star's sense of world?"
I am not kidding. I clearly recall Atsuko Enomoto saying that. I forget what it was in reaction to. Possibly episode 4 cutscenes.
And Ichitaro was super harsh on that abomination that is Sonic Nyau. He was like, "what the hell is the design team thinking?"
Sakai had to say "hey, hey now..." to get him to stop bashing it.


Sega was involved in the production of Kancolle Arcade, I'm not even sure why the hell they didn't take the chance and make a collab out of itinstead of relying on Lagassmal Faggotship Yamete, where the Yamete weapons themselves would be redundent later on. Unless they're planning to make all weapons camo-able soon.

That confuses me too. And the Yamato weapons have ass latents.
There was discussion on the JP swiki that if you get caught using a Yamato weapon people immediately know you are trash.
SEGA knew all the new players and Kancolle fans would aim for those weapons. And they still made them crap.
That's just one example of them intentionally creating huge gaps for no good reason.

[Altiea]

People who compare PSO2 to SAO have little to no idea of what they're talking about. The concepts aren't even remotely the same; SAO involves high school kids being trapped in a video game with their real lives at risk. PSO2 involves high school kids finding out that their "video game" actually connects to an alternate dimension, then said inhabitants of alternate dimension coming to Earth to help the high school kids protect Earth. The only thing they share in common is that they both involve video games.

[TaigaUC]

The thing is Phantasy Star was never an "online game".
I thought it was pretty obvious to everybody that SEGA was trying to cash in on SAO's popularity by hopping onto the "online game" bandwagon.
I'm under the impression that, if SAO was not popular, it's very likely that PSO2's episode 4 would have gone in a totally different direction.

Yes, it's not the exact same concept. So I guess you could say it's inspired, not a rip-off.
But they chose the wrong thing to be inspired by, because it really doesn't fit into the Phantasy Star series.

For example, Capcom has said they intentionally tried to make Dead Rising 3 and Resident Evil 6 to be like Call of Duty.
Those game series were originally completely different genres. Most people don't play those series to experience CoD, so of course they're not pleased.
Capcom also keeps pumping out Call of Duty style wannabes, like Raccoon City (forgot the name) and that new Umbrella Corps game.
Sure, all these imitations aren't exactly like Call of Duty, but you can tell they are trying real hard to cash in on CoD's popularity, despite CoD being something entirely different.

I'd assume the guy who wrote the PSO2 scenario was probably a huge fan of SAO and wanted to do something like that, so he used PSO2 as his outlet.
Could probably check his Twitter to see if it's full of SAO stuff. I'm too lazy to do that, and the guy sounds like an asshole anyway.

It's sort of like how the Nier Automata guy wanted to make a bullet hell shooter, but Squenix won't let him.
So he said he's just stuffing bullet hell elements into Nier Automata. Which sounds bad at face value.
But he actually seems to have done a good job fitting bullet hell elements into that game without breaking Nier Automata.
What SEGA's been doing has essentially destroyed the Phantasy Star series as people know it. Of course people are going to be upset.

I used to have a friend who bought a book or something on "how to write a good story".
One of the things he told me was, "when making something, you should shut yourself off from the world until it's complete".
That way, you won't get constantly influenced and pulled in all sorts of directions. Your work would be more "raw" and "unique", in that sense.
I know well the dangers of being constantly influenced by other works. Your work ends up never being complete, or becoming something totally different.
Like what happened to Berserk.

Anyway, I'm starving to death and should go do something more productive.
Sorry if my explanations are too long-winded and not concise enough.

[Altiea]

It's not just PSO2 either; a lot of recent media has involved depicting video games in anime/manga ever since the SAO anime made the subgenre popular (and even then, .hack did it first).

[TaigaUC]

I know Dot Hack did it first. But Dot Hack is nowhere near as popular now as it used to be.
Most people have short memories, they just go with whatever's most recent.
I know PSO2 isn't the only one trying to get on the "online game" bandwagon.
And just because everyone's doing something doesn't mean it's okay.

PSO2 is Phantasy Star. It already has its own universe. About ~20 years worth of history?
Imagine if the Game of Thrones writer suddenly got hooked on Dot Hack or Sword Art Online.
If they wrote into canon that the Game of Thrones universe actually takes place inside an online game, I think a lot of people would be ultra pissed.

Imagine if the next Star Wars movie tried to be like Ghostbusters, or something.
Or if Twilight was still popular, imagine if Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles suddenly started focusing on teen vampire romance.

You kinda have to draw the line at what's relevant within the scope of a series. Especially for something with such a long history as Phantasy Star.
If it doesn't fit into the scope, you should really just make a new IP or find an IP where it would fit.
Otherwise you end up trashing the series and trashing its fans.

People in general need to stop trying to turn everything into everything else.
Specialists are the best at what they do, they're not generalists. A single person can't be the best at everything.
The same goes for games, movies, books, whatever. It's impossible to cover all bases and still be the best.

I mean, imagine a world where we have specialized tools. If I want to do something really well, I'll use a tool specifically designed to do it best.
Now, imagine a world where every tool does what every other tool does, but none of them are really great. As a result, we can never exceed a certain level of quality.
It's like that. That's how the world is becoming.

Yes, I know my analogies suck.


Edit: I just remembered another good example.
Look up the Kuma Miko controversy. I heard about it myself from JP livestreamers.
It's a good example of how the anime adaptation went off in a direction that betrays the original work as well as the fans.

Here are some links:
https://mageinabarrel.com/2016/06/23/on-the-kumamiko-ending-controversy-and-creative-ownership/
https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/4p6lk6/kuma_miko_anime_scriptwriter_deletes_twitter/

Summary:
[spoiler-box]I haven't seen it myself, but here's the gist of it.
Kuma Miko is about a girl who suffers PTSD and avoids people or something. Her dream is to go back to school normally.
It's based on a manga, which I assume has inspiring/light-hearted themes.

Anyway, the anime adaptation staff decided to end the anime with the girl giving up, going somewhat insane and regressing to a childlike state.
This was against the spirit of the original manga, not to mention being incredibly depressing and sad.
So a lot of people got super upset at it, to the point that the anime scriptwriter had to delete their Twitter.

Even the original author criticized them. They said they trusted the staff to do it well because they're pros, but still felt they had to express their disappointment.
The original author also deleted that post afterwards.[/spoiler-box]

[CocoCrispy]

Before I go on, I should clarify that I have been getting tired of the gameplay. I don't find the story offensive. Maybe not the best written material I've ever seen, but not the worst either.


Imagine if the next Star Wars movie tried to be like Ghostbusters, or something.
Or if Twilight was still popular, imagine if Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles suddenly started focusing on teen vampire romance.

Yes, I know my analogies suck.

Heh. I was about to say something. ;3


I know Dot Hack did it first. But Dot Hack is nowhere near as popular now as it used to be.
Most people have short memories, they just go with whatever's most recent.
I know PSO2 isn't the only one trying to get on the "online game" bandwagon.
And just because everyone's doing something doesn't mean it's okay.

PSO2 is Phantasy Star. It already has its own universe. About ~20 years worth of history?
Imagine if the Game of Thrones writer suddenly got hooked on Dot Hack or Sword Art Online.
If they wrote into canon that the Game of Thrones universe actually takes place inside an online game, I think a lot of people would be ultra pissed.

If it doesn't fit into the scope, you should really just make a new IP or find an IP where it would fit.
Otherwise you end up trashing the series and trashing its fans.

People in general need to stop trying to turn everything into everything else.
Specialists are the best at what they do, they're not generalists. A single person can't be the best at everything.
The same goes for games, movies, books, whatever. It's impossible to cover all bases and still be the best.

I mean, imagine a world where we have specialized tools. If I want to do something really well, I'll use a tool specifically designed to do it best.
Now, imagine a world where every tool does what every other tool does, but none of them are really great. As a result, we can never exceed a certain level of quality.
It's like that. That's how the world is becoming.

Edit: I just remembered another good example.
Look up the Kuma Miko controversy. I heard about it myself from JP livestreamers.
It's a good example of how the anime adaptation went off in a direction that betrays the original work as well as the fans.

Here are some links:
https://mageinabarrel.com/2016/06/23/on-the-kumamiko-ending-controversy-and-creative-ownership/
https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/4p6lk6/kuma_miko_anime_scriptwriter_deletes_twitter/

Summary:
[spoiler-box]I haven't seen it myself, but here's the gist of it.
Kuma Miko is about a girl who suffers PTSD and avoids people or something. Her dream is to go back to school normally.
It's based on a manga, which I assume has inspiring/light-hearted themes.

Anyway, the anime adaptation staff decided to end the anime with the girl giving up, going somewhat insane and regressing to a childlike state.
This was against the spirit of the original manga, not to mention being incredibly depressing and sad.
So a lot of people got super upset at it, to the point that the anime scriptwriter had to delete their Twitter.

Even the original author criticized them. They said they trusted the staff to do it well because they're pros, but still felt they had to express their disappointment.
The original author also deleted that post afterwards.[/spoiler-box]

It's funny you mention Phantasy Star's rich history. Let me give you a recap of that history.

Phantasy Star II was the beginning offender to the real world Earth business. If you had to compare it to something, I'd have to say the reveal was almost as shocking as the movie The Sixth Sense. The reveal comes out of nowhere, but the game was leading up to it the whole time.

You're lead to believe in the beginning that the Mother Brain was the true antagonist the whole time, however, there are also other mysteries. Who has been spreading biohazards everywhere? Why are they doing this? Is the Mother Brain malfunctioning? Where did the Noah (not Lutz) come from? At the end, everyone is shocked to find it was the earthlings' faults this whole time. If it weren't for their crazy love of controlling nature, they wouldn't have created the Mother Brain to torment the somewhat peaceful Algo residents. If it weren't for their planet dying, they wouldn't have left to find other worlds to claim as theirs. It's a story about the dangers of what can happen if people become too reliant on machines and mistake their existence for godhood all wrapped up in a cheesy 80's video game package.

Phantasy Star III is next and this one was also going for the shock factor. Aron goes on an adventure to destroy Dark Falz once and for all. What are his efforts rewarded with? A black hole. What luck. So the Alisa III gets eaten and sent back in time. When the ship finally comes to, they are immediately contacted by the London communication center questioning if they're friend or foe. What a twist! This plot development came completely out of nowhere.

And before we get to pso2, we first have to look at Zero. Zero had an "earth." It was enticing because fans wanted to know how earth connected the pso1 universe. Would this be a continuation of the classic series? Well as it turns out, earth was never actually Earth. It was a name Coralians used after they got nuked by Mother Trinity because they forgot their past after spending years just surviving in a desert wilderness.

All these games use Earth as a twist ending. M. Night Shyamalan would have been proud. Now we go to pso2.

Arks are fighting against the very things they created: Profound Darkness, Dark Falzes, and darkers. You could say it's a bit of karmic retribution for thinking they could replicate omniscience behind the thinly veiled theme of science. Suddenly, they notice they have a few more Arks members than they remember. All these people are popping up out of nowhere? Why is this happening? Well, as it turns out, they came from Earth's chosen folk or earthlings that are born with latent photon controlling capabilities. Pso2 is not actually a game. It's just presented that way because SAO. In actuality, the "game" is connecting Earth and Arks as a dimensional portal.

I guess the whole question boils down to is this: What exactly is Phantasy Star and what does it mean to you? What could this game have done differently to have not made the story offensive? Based on previous games, the franchise hasn't not been known for using this element of shock value. The only game I can say that didn't do this was pso1 and maybe some of the Universe titles. Infinity did a time travel thing but only as a fun nod to some really popular characters.

[MightyHarken]

We already made our point, and it's quite clear. People who still say ep4 is good, are people who never gave a shit about PSO in the first place or PSO2 is their first Phantasy star game. (I feel bad for these people)

[Altiea]

I'm just waiting for the day when everything comes together. It may not happen, but it's better than being upset about it.

[CocoCrispy]

We already made our point, and it's quite clear. People who still say ep4 is good, are people who never gave a shit about PSO in the first place or PSO2 is their first Phantasy star game. (I feel bad for these people)

No, I'm not sure if the point has been made. Reading through the responses opposing ep4, I've found that people don't like:

The fact that PSO2 needs proper Phantasy Star elements with Vegas and Tokyo on the side. If Phantasy Star has had these elements since the beginning, what exactly is a Phantasy Star element you're arguing for?
The pacing. This one I can get behind because the pacing is incredibly slow.
The anime. The easy element of this whole discussion which is an easy target to point fingers at. I'd be lying if I said I liked it, but I feel like it suffers the same pacing issues like pso2 itself. At the end of the day, this could be attributed to being a huge advertisement so people that didn't know now have an anime to tell them pso2 exists, it's awesome, go play it.


People seem to want to recapture the same mystery that PSO1 had. And what's even better is we still don't have the whole story revealed to us to this day.

I'm not saying episode 4 is amazing. Poorly written but not the worst. I'm asking how pso2 isn't Phantasy Star.

[Lumpen Thingy]

We already made our point, and it's quite clear. People who still say ep4 is good, are people who never gave a shit about PSO in the first place or PSO2 is their first Phantasy star game. (I feel bad for these people)

feels bad for those people yet pso1 which was a broken mess was the first PS game you played. lmao

[CocoCrispy]

feels bad for those people yet pso1 which was a broken mess was the first PS game you played. lmao

Basically this. PSO1 is not perfect and I don't know why people put it up on a pedestal to demonstrate excellence. My rose tinted glasses allow me to continue playing it to this day because I grew up with it and played several hours, but I can't deny that it hasn't aged well.

Phantasy Star 1 was revolutionary. You had a female protagonist, 3D dungeons, and battle animations. Probably wouldn't appeal to modern day gamers with its old skool rpg elements.

Phantasy Star 2 was mediocre with slow overworld walking and gameplay that amounted to Stairs the Game.™ Somehow this is excused because it is classic, and this somehow makes it better than 3.

Phantasy Star 3 is cursed by fans as the worst entry in the franchise for having bland graphics, terrible music, and a story that goes on and on. (I like it though. The characters have some nice personality and the changing battle tune was interesting).

Phantasy Star 4 is the love letter to fans of 1 and 2. A return to form with a reworked battle system, a macro system, faster overworld walking, you name it. It's not surprise why this one is deemed one of the best this franchise has to offer.

Online threw away its past and rebooted with a new story and entered the world of online gaming. Dial up be damned.

Zero ended the Online series in one epic finale. Still salty about the eternal tower not being multiplayer. What a lost opportunity.

Universe threw away its past, created by a new branch of developers, and paved its own way. It began the second divergence between the Phantasy Star fans. And it made eternal tower multiplayer (as a very short cameo in Infinity).

PSO2 acts as a love letter to everyone that loved the collabs in Universe with their AC system. Gameplay is vastly different from what most other games have to offer including Monster Hunter. It makes occasional nods to older Phantasy Star games, but for the most part it wants to do its own thing.

[Altiea]

I think the problem I have with EP4 right now is that it feels... standard. The story moves rather predictably, kinda like I'm watching a simple anime. There aren't really any big twists or something that really makes it, and the twists they have have either little impact on the story or could have been sniffed out from a mile away. I don't really mind the content, I just wish it didn't take them so long to push out.

[Keilyn]

Before I go on, I should clarify that I have been getting tired of the gameplay. I don't find the story offensive. Maybe not the best written material I've ever seen, but not the worst either.



Heh. I was about to say something. ;3



It's funny you mention Phantasy Star's rich history. Let me give you a recap of that history.

Phantasy Star II was the beginning offender to the real world Earth business. If you had to compare it to something, I'd have to say the reveal was almost as shocking as the movie The Sixth Sense. The reveal comes out of nowhere, but the game was leading up to it the whole time.

You're lead to believe in the beginning that the Mother Brain was the true antagonist the whole time, however, there are also other mysteries. Who has been spreading biohazards everywhere? Why are they doing this? Is the Mother Brain malfunctioning? Where did the Noah (not Lutz) come from? At the end, everyone is shocked to find it was the earthlings' faults this whole time. If it weren't for their crazy love of controlling nature, they wouldn't have created the Mother Brain to torment the somewhat peaceful Algo residents. If it weren't for their planet dying, they wouldn't have left to find other worlds to claim as theirs. It's a story about the dangers of what can happen if people become too reliant on machines and mistake their existence for godhood all wrapped up in a cheesy 80's video game package.

Phantasy Star III is next and this one was also going for the shock factor. Aron goes on an adventure to destroy Dark Falz once and for all. What are his efforts rewarded with? A black hole. What luck. So the Alisa III gets eaten and sent back in time. When the ship finally comes to, they are immediately contacted by the London communication center questioning if they're friend or foe. What a twist! This plot development came completely out of nowhere.

And before we get to pso2, we first have to look at Zero. Zero had an "earth." It was enticing because fans wanted to know how earth connected the pso1 universe. Would this be a continuation of the classic series? Well as it turns out, earth was never actually Earth. It was a name Coralians used after they got nuked by Mother Trinity because they forgot their past after spending years just surviving in a desert wilderness.

All these games use Earth as a twist ending. M. Night Shyamalan would have been proud. Now we go to pso2.

Arks are fighting against the very things they created: Profound Darkness, Dark Falzes, and darkers. You could say it's a bit of karmic retribution for thinking they could replicate omniscience behind the thinly veiled theme of science. Suddenly, they notice they have a few more Arks members than they remember. All these people are popping up out of nowhere? Why is this happening? Well, as it turns out, they came from Earth's chosen folk or earthlings that are born with latent photon controlling capabilities. Pso2 is not actually a game. It's just presented that way because SAO. In actuality, the "game" is connecting Earth and Arks as a dimensional portal.

I guess the whole question boils down to is this: What exactly is Phantasy Star and what does it mean to you? What could this game have done differently to have not made the story offensive? Based on previous games, the franchise hasn't not been known for using this element of shock value. The only game I can say that didn't do this was pso1 and maybe some of the Universe titles. Infinity did a time travel thing but only as a fun nod to some really popular characters.


Congratulations
You just proved that 20 years of "Rich History" was not so rich because it can be described in 1 - 3 pages of text. Now stories like One-Piece that are written weekly... now THAT has a history.. :) so much so that after watching every episode of the anime and reading all the chapters in the manga (820+ chapters), the One-Piece video game that retells the story of the first 700 chapters just touches on the most important points of the story. A year from now it will be its 20th year anniversary since One-Piece started as Romance Dawn in 1997! ^_^

[Zysets]

We already made our point, and it's quite clear. People who still say ep4 is good, are people who never gave a shit about PSO in the first place or PSO2 is their first Phantasy star game. (I feel bad for these people)

I enjoy Episode 4, and I started playing with PSOv2 on Dreamcast, played through all of Universe and the Portable series, and have even gone back to play the original four games, as well as the text adventure spin offs of PSII, all before PSO2 even existed. Surprisingly (not really), whether you like this direction PSO2 has taken or not, has nothing to do with that and more with personal preference.

I'll admit, Episodes 1-3 were better, but that's only from what I know now. I mean, Episode 1 was pretty predictable to me, but 2 and 3 really got me interested. So who knows, maybe Episodes 5 and 6 (assuming they'll continue the story of Ep4) will be interesting and fun in that same way. I feel like we aren't far enough to fully say anything with certainty.

And of course, people are allowed to not like it, I didn't get around to finishing Episode 1 until 2-3 years after it ended, so I pass no judgement on any opinion.

[Altiea]

Congratulations
You just proved that 20 years of "Rich History" was not so rich because it can be described in 1 - 3 pages of text. Now stories like One-Piece that are written weekly... now THAT has a history.. :) so much so that after watching every episode of the anime and reading all the chapters in the manga (820+ chapters), the One-Piece video game that retells the story of the first 700 chapters just touches on the most important points of the story. A year from now it will be its 20th year anniversary since One-Piece started as Romance Dawn in 1997! ^_^

So Phantasy Star doesn't have a rich history because it can be summarized in a few paragraphs? Also bear in mind that the above statement only draws parallels based on series history, it doesn't recount the entire saga. You also happen to be comparing a franchise that utilizes a single, continuous plotline to a series that has three distinct universes.

[CocoCrispy]

Congratulations
You just proved that 20 years of "Rich History" was not so rich because it can be described in 1 - 3 pages of text. Now stories like One-Piece that are written weekly... now THAT has a history.. :) so much so that after watching every episode of the anime and reading all the chapters in the manga (820+ chapters), the One-Piece video game that retells the story of the first 700 chapters just touches on the most important points of the story. A year from now it will be its 20th year anniversary since One-Piece started as Romance Dawn in 1997! ^_^

Well to be fair, I was just talking about the connections between Phantasy Star and its love of bringing our Earth into the games. I'm sure I could sum up the entire franchise's story in a few paragraphs if I really wanted to since I basically explained 2 in a short one right there. The Phantasy Star story is pretty deep and exciting, with a lot of heart ache and the reality that life isn't fair but we deal with it anyway.

PSO2 could be better if they stepped up their writing game. It's definitely got Phantasy Star in its blood, but I feel like the writers are having a hard time showing that with how much money they're making with these collab scratches. It kinda makes gameplay and story secondary.

[wefwq]

EP4 was a mistake.

[Meteor Weapon]

Congratulations

You just proved that 20 years of "Rich History" was not so rich because it can be described in 1 - 3 pages of text. Now stories like One-Piece that are written weekly... now THAT has a history.. :) so much so that after watching every episode of the anime and reading all the chapters in the manga (820+ chapters), the One-Piece video game that retells the story of the first 700 chapters just touches on the most important points of the story. A year from now it will be its 20th year anniversary since One-Piece started as Romance Dawn in 1997! ^_^

Why do your post tend to use other franchise or your own real life stuff to relate whats going on in a game? It turns into a nearly pointless wall of text it's annoying to read.

[Vintasticvin]

Why do your post tend to use other franchise or your own real life stuff to relate whats going on in a game? It turns into a nearly pointless wall of text it's annoying to read.
I've been wanting to say the same for a while myself lol

[Meteor Weapon]

Tons of people have been saying from day one that PSO2 has a serious lack of world sense.
JP reviews on 4gamer stated that over and over. 4 years, and SEGA has proved they do not give a damn about that.
Let's not forget the scenario writer telling us that we must have mental issues if we don't like his shit, and that we "don't have to do it".
Bullshit. It's unavoidable and intertwined with the rest of the game.


Whoa,did he seriously told people who wants "serious story that doesn't make too much fun of it self" to fuck off?

[TaigaUC]

Some images were posted to MMOLoda showing the scenario writer tweeting that people who complain about his scenario must have some kind of mental sickness.
He said something like he doesn't have time to waste on such people, and that "if you don't like it, don't read it."
The MMOLoda comments attached to the images said "if you don't have time to waste, then how about writing a better scenario instead of wasting time tweeting nonsense like this?"
The whole thing was composed over about 2-3 tweets, so there was probably a little more I forgot.

I can't link to them now because MMOLoda deleted those images. I bet the asshole deleted those posts from his Twitter, too.
I should have saved them.

Here's a page running through Phantasy Star's history. A JP friend linked it to me a while back. I think it's the same page, anyway.
http://www.geocities.jp/hakuadou/history.html
I haven't read it yet, to be honest. In the same chat, they basically already told me the most important points in relation to PSO2.

And yeah, the gameplay is also kind of stale. SEGA tries too hard to limit possibilities, like mixing classes and stuff.
I suspect SEGA doesn't raise the level cap because they realize it will open a can of worms in terms of balancing new possibilities of skill point redistribution, etc.
It took them about 3 years to get decent balance. I doubt they want to deal with that again any time soon.

There's probably too much focus on "getting stronger" now, and not so much on just messing around and having fun.
When we get new stuff now, it's usually "go and do this old thing again for a sidegrade".
It's always been about the incentives, though.

[MightyHarken]

I've been wanting to say the same for a while myself lol
No offense, but you guys are right, and how he always makes space in his walls of text to show off his degree and shit lol

[MightyHarken]

Also, a story doesn't need to be extremely long for it to be good, PSO1's story was awesome, short, and immersive, basically, that's all you need to make an amazing MMO

[Sirius-91]

Also, a story doesn't need to be extremely long for it to be good, PSO1's story was awesome, short, and immersive, basically, that's all you need to make an amazing MMO
Not with today's industry.

[BIG OLAF]

Someone said the history of Phantasy Star isn't rich? You must not pay attention to the deeper lore and/or overarching storylines.

Honestly I'm just glad folks are having a dialogue about what's 'good' and bad' about the series. Because I mean, Jesus Jumping Christ, the fact that I was like the only person in the 43° Broadcast thread that said something other than "WOW OMG THAT LOOKS SO AWESOME" when it came to the Las Vegas field was mortifying.

For me, Phantasy Star is about a rich, lush world(s) with enigmatic characters and an interesting, science-fiction story that isn't too overbearing and/or ridiculous, topped off with a dose of 'good vs. evil', the evil usually being in some form of demon (Dark Falz, The Profound Darkness, etc.).

...and, PSO2 has precisely none of those elements, save for the tried-and-true enemy in Dark Falz. So, at least they got that right. The worlds are flat and uninteresting, the characters are all annoying and terrible, and the story...well, we all know about the story. Fuckin' yikes.

[Meteor Weapon]

EP4 takes the cake introducing annoying characters and using a goddamn overused cliche, the bath scene which was just unnecessary for me.

Och had the guts to call our MC 70% fucking weak when we just blasted Profound Darkness back to it's hell hole and even Hitsugi knew through record that our MC is the person who defeated Profound Darkness(while not true defeat)

[TaigaUC]

I didn't think it was awesome. It's okay. Actually, it was pretty much what I expected from the datamined enemy names.
Really though, everything would be fine if they had both Earth stuff and outer space stuff.

I was going to talk about PSU having multiple planets, but so does PSO2.
But PSO2 dumped the whole multiple planet thing to focus on Earth. Which seems like a much smaller scope than episode 1-3's saving the galaxy.
The universe is a big place. Surely there are more planets that ARKS has business on. Planets also tend to be huge.
Is the galaxy such a happy place with just the Falzes/Darkers gone, that ARKS literally has nothing better to do than focus on a single planet in an alternate reality?
I heard Earth blew up a long time ago in the Phantasy Star universe. If so, all the human ARKS should be super ecstatic that their home planet exists somewhere.

The bath scene is super cliche, yes.

Today's industry tends to be about hand holding people through a story where everything is fully laid bare.
It's terribly boring. I liked when stories were more about hinting at stuff and letting people figure out the rest themselves.

[Meteor Weapon]

Well Ultimate Amduscia is coming so there's that.

[Altiea]

I didn't think it was awesome. It's okay. Actually, it was pretty much what I expected from the datamined enemy names.
Really though, everything would be fine if they had both Earth stuff and outer space stuff.

I was going to talk about PSU having multiple planets, but so does PSO2.
But PSO2 dumped the whole multiple planet thing to focus on Earth. Which seems like a much smaller scope than episode 1-3's saving the galaxy.
The universe is a big place.
Is it really such a happy place with just the Falzes/Darkers gone, that ARKS literally has nothing better to do than focus on a single planet in an alternate reality?
I heard Earth blew up a long time ago in the Phantasy Star universe. If so, all the human ARKS should be super ecstatic that their home planet exists somewhere.

The Profound Darkness is still running around, it's just that since ARKS apparently figured out how they needed to kill it, for some reason its threat level has been degraded from "the worst thing to happen to the universe" to "it's here again, go kill it". Falzes even moreso, since at this point every Falz is a clone generated by PD.

[TaigaUC]

I heard PD is tied to the player so it just comes back when it feels like it.
It must not be very important since ARKS is more interested in solving another reality's problems.

[Meteor Weapon]

Xiao was still searching away to kill it for good, and throughout the whole time skip he found nothing. So no, they have yet to find a way to kill it other than hoping they'd weaken it for Persona to jump in, rewind it's time and save the day, but even that can't last forever.

I'll say this again, PSO2 Earth's stupidity and ignorance to PD's existence might be the cause that could possibly doom everyone.

[Altiea]

I heard PD is tied to the player so it just comes back when it feels like it.
It must not be very important since ARKS is more interested in solving another reality's problems.

Meh, it's really has to do with time travel shenanigans. Which is tied to the player, because PD's host is Persona, who is a version of Player-chan from another timeline who can travel through time.

Also, no love for PSO2es's story?

[Meteor Weapon]

I don't even know what PSO2es story was all about, last I read it was about internal conflict within ARKS about experimentation gone wrong.

I wished Weaponoids was a thing in the main game so people could relate between the two games.

[CocoCrispy]

That geocities link was a nice read. I was surprised though. The photon circles actually have a meaning?

FARLLA, ESTLLA, GOLLA, PILLA, LEILLA, MYLLA2 / F, E, G, P, L, M / I WISH IT AN ALLIANCE FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO / PLEASE PROTECT US BY VIRTUE OF YOUR THE GREAT LIGHT POWER

I'll need to look at a texture rip for that. Very interesting.


Honestly I'm just glad folks are having a dialogue about what's 'good' and bad' about the series. Because I mean, Jesus Jumping Christ, the fact that I was like the only person in the 43° Broadcast thread that said something other than "WOW OMG THAT LOOKS SO AWESOME" when it came to the Las Vegas field was mortifying.

Gotta love the hype train. Choo choo! And speaking of, how bout that Odin coming up in a few days? :wacko:

Those are some interesting points too. I do like expansive landscapes myself, especially if they change from say a cavern to a beachside. Paracabana coast was probably one of my favorite places in PSU along with that one lobby with the waterfall and the tiny moat that no one ever went to. I forgot where it was but I wanna say Moatoob. If anything, I find a lot of the scene transitions in pso2 are really jarring. They start as one entire continuous field theme and then immediately you're sent to something completely different, ala amduscia's volcano to skyland.


I was going to talk about PSU having multiple planets, but so does PSO2.
But PSO2 dumped the whole multiple planet thing to focus on Earth. Which seems like a much smaller scope than episode 1-3's saving the galaxy.
The universe is a big place. Surely there are more planets that ARKS has business on. Planets also tend to be huge.
Is the galaxy such a happy place with just the Falzes/Darkers gone, that ARKS literally has nothing better to do than focus on a single planet in an alternate reality?
I heard Earth blew up a long time ago in the Phantasy Star universe. If so, all the human ARKS should be super ecstatic that their home planet exists somewhere.

Today's industry tends to be about hand holding people through a story where everything is fully laid bare.
It's terribly boring. I liked when stories were more about hinting at stuff and letting people figure out the rest themselves.

I dunno if there's an actual phrase for this, but Arks seem to suffer from Space Invaders syndrome. They're attacking darkers where they appear instead of searching for where they will be and defeating the source. So then we just follow them wherever they wreck havoc. Start at Tokyo, rush over to Vegas, end in Europe?

I do agree with the hand holding too, but I feel like long stories aren't inherently bad. It's the difference between a novel and a short story. They can both be good, but novels can make readers become bored if the plot is wishy washy. Short stories can make you feel like you wasted 15 minutes on a piece of junk story that amounted to nothing. It all depends on having a good, engaging writer.

[Altiea]

I dunno if there's an actual phrase for this, but Arks seem to suffer from Space Invaders syndrome. They're attacking darkers where they appear instead of searching for where they will be and defeating the source. So then we just follow them wherever they wreck havoc. Start at Tokyo, rush over to Vegas, end in Europe?

If the Materials Collections are of any indication, Darkers actually follow ARKS (originally Oracle) rather than the other way around. This is enforced by the fact that every planet we have been to besides Harukotan and Earth was already discovered by Oracle in the far distant past, when they fiddled with the environment to make said planets habitable. Where ARKS go, Darkers spawn, so it's ARKS' job to eradicate them. It'd be easier if they weren't a space exploration organization.

Looking back at it, I sorta wish Apprentice wasn't completely neutralized so that we would have a Darker problem to solve besides Nyau being an asshole every so often. It would add a more valid reason to showing up on Earth and give us a real threat to solve besides GENERIC EVIL ORGANIZATION

[loafhero]

Another good example is Berserk. A friend and I recently got around to reading through the manga.
The later parts of Berserk are nothing like the beginning. It went from very Dark Fantasy to High Fantasy, and it feels like the story has completely lost its direction.
It doesn't even seem to take itself seriously anymore, and the author likes Idolmaster so much that he keeps adding new lolis.
If he wants to draw lolis, why doesn't he just make a new manga about lolis instead of sending Berserk in some weird direction?

Oh, hell no! I don't want this topic to suddenly become more about Berserk but what you said is pure bullshit! Berserk's shift to high fantasy elements is NOT a good example of PSO2's shameless shift to what is trending and popular. Its shift from dark to high fantasy is the natural progression of the story. Puck, the little flying elf that has existed in the first chapter, was the obvious hint at what the world of Berserk was like in the past.

If you paid attention to Berserk's dark fantasy beginning, the high fantasy elements had always existed in Berserk's lore but the reason it wasn't as prominent then as it is now was due to the story's religious organization spreading its influence across the world and crushing the old teachings (part of the story's recurring theme of how religious fanaticism and human arrogance can distort and pervert the original peaceful teachings). The friggin nightmare that was the Eclipse event in the story was meant to point out how the world of Berserk has begun shifting back to how it was once was; a High Fantasy world where demons, mythical beasts and elves were more prominent. The author does know exactly what his story is meant to be.

The lighter tone in the later half of the story is meant to reflect how the protagonist's outlook on life is growing more positively because he has now regained the joy of having a group of comrades he can trust. Life is after all, as bad as we perceive it to be. Additionally, the story has always had a weird sense of humor even back during its darker fantasy years.

Also, its just one loli. Isma does not count as she's clearly hitting her teen years. Don't go exaggerating things just cause the story adds in one cute little girl. Said cute little girl is crucial to the story, a highly competent member of the protagonist's party, and one of the most knowledgeable characters too date as she explains many of the supernatural elements that were previously barebones knowledge to the protagonist.

[MightyHarken]

Hey here's a new idea for EP4. How about we get new york pre-9/11. It would cool to run around the world trade center. A boss could be a big airplane that fires bombs on the floor, an e-trial could be "deactivate the bombs" scattered around the many levels of the towers, failure resulting in the destruction of the wrold trade center. Sound great doesn't it?

We could get steven tyler from aerosmith as ambassador of new york for lore purposes, that would work.

[TaigaUC]

Oh, hell no!
If it was pure bullshit, other people wouldn't have independently reached the same conclusions.
I literally quoted some of the things friends said about it.

You're talking to someone who normally doesn't mind lolis and was a huge fan of Berserk before it was even known in the West.
I bought a Dreamcast primarily for the Berserk game, which I imported.

As far as I and the people I've talked to are concerned, they liked the start, and they don't like how it's become.
I usually enjoy reading manga from start to finish, and if it's good enough, I re-read it.
But I found that I have completely lost interest in Berserk and have no desire to re-read it.
That's me. And the people I talked to had similar reactions. You're entitled to your opinion, as are we.
If you still like it, then good for you. You're lucky.

And I wasn't relating PSO2 copying popular trendy to Berserk going off in a weird direction.
It was more about if the PSO2 scenario writer used SAO because he's a fan of it.
Berserk has been going for a very long time, and the author has taken very long breaks.
It's clear that his interests and the direction of Berserk have significantly shifted since it started.

To elaborate, THIS is what I was talking about:
If you can't stay consistently faithful to why people got hooked to your work in the first place, you should probably end the work.
Or start something else on the side that deals with the stuff you want to do. That way, you don't end up ruining your main work.
I consider those better alternatives to changing direction in a way that alienates a significant number of your audience.

Much like how PSO2 currently lacks much of what most people got into Phantasy Star for.
It wasn't about Berserk copying trendy. Berserk is about Miura drawing what he feels like.
We don't know exactly why PSO2 has gone off the deep end.

By the way, I wasn't only talking about Isma.

[Sirius-91]

I don't even know what PSO2es story was all about, last I read it was about internal conflict within ARKS about experimentation gone wrong.

I wished Weaponoids was a thing in the main game so people could relate between the two games.

Weaponoids are a by-product of ARKS Weapon R&D. In Seraphy's Story, the reason we use photons is due to their capability to destroy (or cancel) negative photons from darkers. By using conventional weapons, they do kill darkers but they don't erase the photons completely, which dead darker corpses can continue to infect, via their Nega-Photons.

Anyways, Seraphy recruits you, by having trusting you for helping her out on her personal side quest, into a new team, comprising of you, Jeané, and More, a Weaponoid of the weapon Claymore.

Your mission was to investigate the sudden appearance of a survivor of an ARKS Research Institute, who everyone, including Jeane's parents, perished in.

That's all I got.

[loafhero]

If it was pure bullshit, other people wouldn't have independently reached the same conclusions.
I literally quoted some of the things friends said about it.

You're talking to someone who normally doesn't mind lolis and was a huge fan of Berserk before it was even known in the West.
As far as I and the people I've talked to are concerned, they liked the start, and they don't like how it's become.
I usually enjoy reading manga from start to finish, and if it's good enough, I re-read it.
But I found that I have completely lost interest in Berserk and have no desire to re-read it.
That's me. And the people I talked to had similar reactions. You're entitled to your opinion, as are we.
If you still like it, then good for you. You're lucky.

And I wasn't relating PSO2 copying popular trendy to Berserk going off in a weird direction.
It was more about if the PSO2 scenario writer used SAO because he's a fan of it.
Berserk has been going for a very long time, and the author has taken very long breaks.
It's clear that his interests and the direction of Berserk have significantly shifted since it started.

To elaborate, THIS is what I was talking about:
If you can't stay consistently faithful to why people got hooked to your work in the first place, you should probably end the work.
Or start something else on the side that deals with the stuff you want to do. That way, you don't end up ruining your main work.
I consider those better alternatives to changing direction in a way that alienates a significant number of your audience.

Much like how PSO2 currently lacks much of what most people got into Phantasy Star for.
It wasn't about Berserk copying trendy. Berserk is about Miura drawing what he feels like.

Berserk has been consistent. It still has most of the elements that got people interested in it to begin with. You and your friends clearly don't pay much attention to the hints and foreshadowings but instead, take things at face value. There are far more people within the fandom that don't reach the same conclusion to you and your friends. So yeah, I'm still calling you and your friend's opinion on Berserk's direction utter bullshit.

You say you don't mind lolis yet you go on saying that the manga has been worse because the author's interest in Idolmaster is making him add more lolis. Again, its just one loli and its not even such an obvious sign of the author's interest in Idolmaster pervading the manga. We're still getting the supernatural elements present throughout the manga since the start but this time, with the addition of a little girl providing meaningful exposition about it.

If you don't like Berserk any more, that's fine. This is a matter of your comparisons being off. The number of fans it has alienated with its current progression is minor. Its fanbase is still very large.

You're comparisons about both PSO2 and Berserk being inconsistent is wrong. Berserk is heading into a direction it was meant to be, sticking on track while adding new stuff that doesn't completely alter the story in a bad way whereas PSO2 is just throwing away whatever it was with something vastly different. I can see the Berserk now and say "There are some new things its introduced but its still the same manga I read before" but not the same with PSO2's current update. I'm still seeing Guts cleave through hordes of horrifying monsters with his big ass sword, I'm still seeing his growth of character and I'm still seeing Puck being his stupid funny self. Berserk's identity is still there.

[TaigaUC]

Oh yeah? Well, I just looked up some discussion of it on MangaFox and JP reviews of the manga.
There are several people saying the same things I wrote earlier. That the story has been going astray, that its lost its direction, etc.

http://forums.mangafox.me/threads/519515-Will-it-continue?p=13639285&viewfull=1#post13639285
http://sakuhindb.com/jmanga/BERSERK/
http://www.manngareview.com/mannga/51/
^ Added another link with some JP reviews saying similar things.

Someone else agreed with me earlier in the thread, too. Sorry, forgot who it was. Only slept 2 hours today.

I didn't say the manga was worse ONLY because he's adding more lolis. There are plenty of other reasons.
Pointing out his long breaks to play Idolmaster and the influences from that is symbolic of how Berserk has changed.
As a fellow creator, I know very well that it's easy to be influenced and pulled in other directions.

Obviously, Miura has lost interest in drawing Berserk, or else he would post more than 1 or 2 chapters a year.
There are enough people who've independently reached the same conclusion that Berserk has shifted genres and lost its way.
Are you seriously trying to argue that his repeated long breaks to go play Idolmaster are in no way influencing these changes?
I strongly get the impression that Miura would prefer to be doing something else.
If I recall correctly, I've read other manga that went on for decades but did not lose its way like Berserk did, so I think I can tell the difference.

I will give you one thing. Everyone has different reasons for liking something.
I can't speak for everyone as to why they are a fan of any work. Obviously.
But I won't concede about Berserk because, as I said, there are plenty of people who felt the same way. So it is really not just me.
You think I wanted to dislike where Berserk was going? I'm giving my honest impressions as someone who was a big fan.
One of the reasons I held off on reading the rest of the manga was because I was afraid this would happen. I ended up disappointed anyway.
I really don't like it when series I like end up becoming something I don't like. It happens all too often nowadays.

If you were wondering what I wanted to see in Berserk:
I like stories where an innocent guy who is misunderstood and treated badly by everyone, comes back and proves that they were a good guy all along.
I like when they are able to enact deserved vengeance upon the assholes who screwed them over.
That's not happening in Berserk. It doesn't look like it will happen any time soon.

[spoiler-box]I expected it to be more about Guts taking out God Hand one by one. Instead, God Hand have very much gotten their way, and Guts has gone off somewhere.
Sure, I understand that his priorities have changed. But it's obvious that the story will lead to Guts and Griffith clashing again.
There's no way that's not going to happen. It's only a matter of time. And going by the pace of the manga, it has and will be a hell of a long time, if ever.
That's why it feels like it's been dragging along for ages. It's not going towards that direction, and is in fact still moving away from it.
This is despite the fact that he barely draws Berserk anymore. I would be even more disappointed if I was awaiting each new chapter instead of catching up.
Imagine waiting 3 years for around 6 chapters and literally nothing happening in regards to Guts vs Griffith.

Quite frankly, it's frustrating to read. I don't mind Guts companions that much.
It's the constant Griffith ass-kissing, sudden huge influx of characters with almost no background that I don't care about, and side stories that aren't going anywhere.

Some of the JP reviews point out that Guts has yet to defeat even a single God Hand over 20 years of the manga's publication.
They said the bad guys have become so powerful that they can't imagine how they will be defeated.
Many people expect that Berserk will never be finished.
[/spoiler-box]
I've been saying that Berserk can be summed up as being about a guy with super shitty luck, who gets constantly screwed over by a guy with super amazing ultra luck.
I think there needs to be a significant reversal to that over the course of the story, or else it's just not my kind of thing.

[Meteor Weapon]

I've been wandering but was the scenario write was the same person who wrote EP1-3?

[TaigaUC]

Looks like it. There's only one name under Scenario in the in-game credits.
宇野涼平 Uno Ryohei (http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/by_genre/developerId,592801/) (Ryohei first name)
His Twitter is at https://twitter.com/ryohuno but he's protected his tweets. Figures.

There seems to be a Wiki dedicated to his "low quality scenario": http://www50.atwiki.jp/unoryohei/pages/25.html
I guess if there's even a Wiki complaining about him, then there's probably a significant amount of people displeased about PSO2's story.
Who knows how accurate the information on there is, though.

It says Uno Ryohei's previous works are:
PSU Ambition of Illuminus: enemy planner (ie. movement and method of attack, not design art) for Ubakurada
PS Zero: Sub scenario, enemy planner (Ark design)
Phantasy Star Portable 2, Infinity: Main scenario (as support to Takaharu Terada (http://www.giantbomb.com/takaharu-terada/3040-94037/))

Interestingly, it says the Staff Roll of PSO2 has changed the credits listing several times:

PC version initial launch: Uno Ryohei, Otake Yasushi (http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Yasushi-Otake/-2133877355)
Vita launch (Quna arc): Uno Ryohei only
After the start of episode 2: Uno Ryohei, Otake Yasushi

And as I mentioned above, episode 4 currently only lists Uno Ryohei as Scenario staff.

Even more interestingly, one of the introduction questions is, "I feel like I know something else with a similar scenario to PSO2...?"
The answer is that Uno Ryohei has a habit of often reusing his old scenarios and copying other games and anime.
Then it lists 3 similar past works that seem to be linked to him.

It even says there's a term called "Unorish". It's a parody of a Nomura Tetsuya Squenix work's language, known as "Nomlish".
It refers to Uno Ryohei's "strange writing even for a Japanese", "plagiarism from other works", "new and meaning unknown combination of Chinese characters", etc.

If this Wiki is true, then I guess it wasn't so much SEGA trying to be trendy and popular but that their scenario writer is... lacking.

[Meteor Weapon]

I wonder if no one begged for a scenario writer change in the feedback sheet back when sega asked for it.

Tbh, even if EP3 was "good", there's a huge lack in the build up of story towards Profound Darkness. A military organization would do everything they could possibly do to stop a powerful force from growing, but in ep3 they had to rely on only 2 person when there were armies of thousands of ARKS they could rely on to stop Double and they couldn't explain the reason behind why only us could do it, also the fact that no one bothered to investigate why Kuronians were working with Darkers and it was already too late when they realized.. Military and management wise, the Oracle could get easily screwed if Tyranid hive fleet appeared right infront of them. Darkers really went easy on them despite being unable to get killed completely by conventional weapons and require Photon Weapons which not a lot of them seem capable enough to use it at full potential and had to rely on an high schooler who was capable of asspull excalibur(total rip off) for some reason.

[EvilMag]

was Uno Ryohei involved with the writing for the PSO2 anime? Ep4's purpose seems to be just connecting the story of the game with the anime.

[TaigaUC]

According to http://seesaawiki.jp/w/radioi_34/d/PHANTASY%20%20STAR%20ONLINE%202%20%20THE%20ANIMATI ON he is listed as "Supervisor" alongside someone else named Mizuno Akikazu (not sure how it's read).
It looks like there isn't a "scenario writer" role on the anime staff.

[loafhero]

Oh yeah? Well, I just looked up some discussion of it on MangaFox and JP reviews of the manga.
There are several people saying the same things I wrote earlier. That the story has been going astray, that its lost its direction, etc.

http://forums.mangafox.me/threads/519515-Will-it-continue?p=13639285&viewfull=1#post13639285
http://sakuhindb.com/jmanga/BERSERK/
http://www.manngareview.com/mannga/51/
^ Added another link with some JP reviews saying similar things.

First off, that mangafox thread barely lasted for 2 pages and has died so its hardly proof of a majority opinion, Secondly, I can't read Japanese. You could go to the Berserk Reddit thread and you'd find that those that complain about the shift to High Fantasy are either not given attention or are countered by several more people who not only like the shift but acknowledge it as something Miura had planned since the very beginning of Berserk. Why do you think the Golden Age arc was called the "Golden Age"? Because its referring to the fact that the dark fantasy era of its world was coming to an end and the high fantasy era was returning.

Also, Berserk has just resumed publication. Last year, SEVEN chapters of the manga had been published and the only reason it went on hiatus starting last December was because the author was involved in the production of the (now released) anime. So the argument you're making that Miura has lost interest in Berserk makes no sense.

My point here is that you're comparisons of both Berserk and PSO2's shift in direction is not a good comparison. I could care less if you don't like Berserk and have your own vision of what it should be. Berserk had an actual story arc called the Fantasia arc lasting for 11 chapters explaining the shift to High Fantasy as an acknowledged plot point. Berserk's shift to High Fantasy was clearly planned out years before. It is not a weird and sudden change in direction especially when the High Fantasy elements has existed in the universe's lore since the first chapter. Meanwhile, PSO2's shift in direction was not planned out earlier and has absolutely nothing to do with whatever it had previously established. PSO2 and Earth is a blatant "jump the shark" whereas Berserk's shift is not.

If you still don't like Berserk's shift, that's fine but don't compare it to PSO2's shift as both have an entirely different context.

[TaigaUC]

http://i67.tinypic.com/saxy6a.jpg

I don't want to waste anymore time arguing with you. Even if I'm a fan of something, I try to be objective. I don't like to be blindly faithful.
I also don't have the confidence to simply state my own opinion as it is. I question myself and often check to see if there are others with similar views before I say anything.

And if you want someone to take you seriously, maybe not open by saying stuff like I'm pure bullshit and that I take things at face value.
Notice I didn't accuse you of having character flaws or being full of shit.
If you think I'm wrong, just correct me where I'm incorrect. In a reasonable manner. Preferably with some kind of proof.

[Altiea]

http://i67.tinypic.com/saxy6a.jpg

Even out of context, this image is great.

[DrCatco]

http://i67.tinypic.com/saxy6a.jpg


And thus, a meme is born. First time I witness this; truly a nature's marvel.

[Zysets]

A few pages ago people were discussing the story itself, and I just had the thought, what if Earthlings are the Photoners? That would be a weird twist. ARKS comes in contact with Earthlings, Earthlings learn of their ability to manipulate Photons, they develop newer and better technology, they go into space, and become the Photoners that create ARKS in the first place.

I have no idea how to incorporate the whole Phantom situation, and there's probably things that contradict this theory, but I'd like to believe that's where this is going. There's also the fact that this would make a weird paradox, but PSO2 already has those, so I bet it doesn't matter.

I doubt our dear scenario writer would go with that though, considering the previous posts pointing out his inability to do something not directly inspired by anime trends.

[Zephyrion]

A few pages ago people were discussing the story itself, and I just had the thought, what if Earthlings are the Photoners? That would be a weird twist. ARKS comes in contact with Earthlings, Earthlings learn of their ability to manipulate Photons, they develop newer and better technology, they go into space, and become the Photoners that create ARKS in the first place.

I have no idea how to incorporate the whole Phantom situation, and there's probably things that contradict this theory, but I'd like to believe that's where this is going. There's also the fact that this would make a weird paradox, but PSO2 already has those, so I bet it doesn't matter.

I doubt our dear scenario writer would go with that though, considering the previous posts pointing out his inability to do something not directly inspired by anime trends.



Well, at SOME point, this story would have to at least somewhat link back to the core setting of the story (probably won't, but let me try to muster all of my optimism to weather through all the anime BS the next story events will throw at me)

- Sierra does confirm in the story during the long explanation summing up their situations (that I mostly skipped sooo) that Ether has similar properties to Photons. Mother Cluster is made of people who are gifted at using Ether, and use it to create Phantoms, similarly to how Dark Falz use photons to create darkers. Also accounts for how Mother Cluster can actually infiltrate ARKS, under the pretense of bug-fixing a game.

I don't expect this to go further than "hey random photoners decided to go to earth long ago and yaay humans and ARKS have similar origins, love and brotherhood, yaay ! Let's use this power to vanquish evil Mother Cluster, who will probably associate with Dark Falz for x reason. Final fight, evil is defeated, now establish true peace ! But now, Arks have to go back to space and do actually relevant stuff so bye, but we won't forget the fact that somewhere in space, we have bros watching over us !"). I' d actually prefer your scenario 40 times over that, but the story has been so predictable so far (I called Enka being secret superhero the MOMENT they introduced him, just had to think of the most cliché thing to do and BAM) that I wouldn't place my two cents on this.

- The only thing that would remain a question mark, and the only reason I'm somewhat remotely going through this is "in this case, what's Aru's role, aside from being an annoying kid. His role seems important enough for him to go through obligatory embarassing bath scene and be extensively introduced, but can't pinpoint exactly what's his purpose (probably because I've skipped through every scene that looked irrelevant to the "plot", read half of the story episodes). If anybody can cue on this ?

[Altiea]

They also set up the plot point with the weird shadow in the beginning, but I'm sure no one expects that to be resolved anytime soon.

[TaigaUC]

I'm still wondering what that was. It looked like a Super Yakuza Zombie (tm).

[Meteor Weapon]

Probably Apprentice, what else that could be? Apprentice is like the only Falz still alive in hostless form and the only one that tried to invade Earth, worst case probably residing inside Aru without making a noise. MC didn't even purify him completely because Hitsugi being so dumb logging out way to fast. Lol at Mama Cluster interested in Aru for having Apprentice inside if that were the case. Why not go after PD if they're so interested in the power of Dark Falzes?

[TaigaUC]

Yeah, I thought maybe it was Apprentice, but it looked too manly.

Well, I talked to a JP friend about that PSO2 scenario writer Wiki.
They said they already knew about that guy and even knew about "Unolish". So it must be a pretty widespread thing.

I also talked to them about Berserk. They'd only read a little, and they looked up JP reviews to see what they said.
A lot of them said the exact same things I did. Without me even telling the friend what I said, they came to the same conclusions.
That Miura just draws what he feels like, that Guts is no longer the same person, that Berserk has become a lost cause, etc.
That people who liked Berserk at the beginning would no longer like it as it is now. They expressed confusion at how Western fans could remain so adamantly faithful.
They also pointed out that Masamune Shirow stopped working on Appleseed because he felt he could no longer continue it in faithful fashion.

Not saying the above for the sake of arguing. Just wanted to express that I'm not insane or a minority.

[Caetho]

So, when is ultimate Earth coming? :wacko:

[Meteor Weapon]

When zombies infest that Earth.

[Pyrei]

I wanna say this has been said before, but idr where... but PSO2 is currently going down the path of Star Ocean 3: till the end of time, which basically is cool and fun till 2/3s through the game, your party jumps out of a TV screen to escape their from universe being destroyed... the only thing that was worse was afterwards every time you ran into an important figure in "the real world" they would play "bitter dance" which is probably the oddest boss music ever known to a rpg... it was literally workout music.... and not epic workout music, oh no it was a song that made you go wtf every time you heard it and could never take the game seriously after that.

But really pso2 seems like its going SO3, which isn't good, no one liked that part of the SO series, it was like a giant F this to all of the series' lore, same here in pso2, this version of earth is bad, not saying that earth in pso2 is bad, but how this was done is just sad, there's no real lore from what I've seen/heard of its just a bad radical shift as if pso2 closed its book and started writing a new book with the blank pages at the end of pso2's book, I'm hoping that all this will somehow tie together but not holding my breath there.

[KazeSenoue]

Nice bait

[sparab]

So I just find this article on g-heaven. Please tell me it is not real.

"SEGA is trying to revive the western PSO2 project"
http://www.g-heaven.net/topics/2016/07/160714a.html

[Meteor Weapon]

Inc removal of boob sliders and massive amount of costumes and collabs not included.

They're too late unless they make JP, US, and EU servers work and update consistently side by side and provide server transfer for people to switch to servers they feel closes to home. 1-10 being JP ship and the rest of numbered ships being their respective region ship. Then again, it's near impossible to happen due to difference in law and such, I'm not sure about how FFXIV servers works tho.