Love the game, but.........

[Wereallmad]

I'm a little dissapointed with not seeing some of the things I was looking forward to.

Dark Falz. I can't remember ever fighting a Dark Falz. Was that the last boss of Phantasy Star 4? I can't quite recall it's name.

Also, I havn't gotten to very hard yet, so I can see for myself. But His first, second, and third forms do not resemble the form that destroys Pioneer 1. Also, none of them come even mildly close to dublicating his size. If you do fight this form ever (in very hard, or maybe the addon), he would literaly be larger than the entire arena. I can only assume that if it will be shown at all, it will be in version 2, or perhaps a sequel.

Dark Force. We don't get to see him any more. It seems somewhat sad without him. I suppose the Worm, and the Computer Boss could be equivilants of Dark Force (especialy the computer boss. Extreemly remeniscent of Phantasy Star 4).

One of the things I really liked about previous Phantasy Star games was the story. Phantasy Star 4, was by far the most story intensive. But both 2 and 3 were quite good as well. I never had an opputunity to play #1. I was diapointed by PSO's lack of a major plot. It's still a great game, and the clues left by Ricko are kind of interesting, and make up a sort of Blair Witch type senario (though i hated the movie, it seems to kind of work in this case).

I'm looking forward to seeing a pre-quil to this game. Perhaps explaining what happens after Phantasy Star 4. Though the game isn't nessesarily meant to ever be completely resolved, it's unlike PS to not tie up loose ends. Though each PS was pretty different from the next, they all made some attempt at tying inthe story with the previous episode.

Yes, online play is good. But I would have rather seen another single player Phantasy Star.

[MechDan]

Dark Falz IS Dark Force. It's just a different spelling. I think in the first game, the limitted resolution of the SMS combined with the design of the original game limitted names to 4 letters long. Thus Arisa became Alis, Algol became Algo, etc...

The "form" which destroyed Pioneer 1 is the death "explosion" that you see when you approach the obelisk.

[Ice_]

i wouldn't know because this is my first time ever playing a Phantasy star game http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/icon_smile.gif

[Wereallmad]

Okay, so if Dark Force, is dark Falz, what was that thing at the end of Phantasy Star 4? You know, the nude woman claw/wings. I still have the game. Maybe I can find a sega genesis on ebay and play it to the end.

I'm just not conviced that Dark Falz is Dark Force. Though there were changes is his design, he always looked relatively the same in Phantasy Star 2, 3, and 4 (I never played 1 because I couldn't afford a master system). I say relatively, because there were indeed changes.

Dark Falz looks nothing like Dark Force however. No bald head. No bit-bull face. The thing that appears in the compuer monitors of Volt opt sort of resembles Dark Force is a strange, way. Maybe because it's reminisent of one of the encounters with Dark Force in Phantasy Star 4, because honestly it doesn't visualy resemble DF in any way.

I examned the opening sequence closely, and it is indeed form 1 or 2 that destroys Pioneer 1. For some reason it always looked different to me. Maybe it was just the scale that threw me off.

[Wereallmad]

I seem to recall it. Profound Darkness, that was it.

[MechDan]

Believe me, Dark Falz and Dark Force are once and the same. Sonic team decided to go on a wild different direction with PSO in a lot of ways; DF's extremely different style is one of them.

[AdamW]

Yup and besides DF doesn't have a real physical form. He is just a presence that returns every 1,000 years to wreak havoc on the world. Personally, I think he has good reason to. I mean, Zio was the only friend DF ever had and those bastards just up and killed him...no wonder he resorts to violence to destory everything. As for his new look, well it sure is a lot prettier. I mean, he sure did look butt ass ugly before. I am looking at all his forms right now and you are right, his face almost always stayed the same. But his name was Dark Falz in PS1. Maybe his look changed bc this time he had a host. Who knows.

[zanza]

FYI: WHEN REFERRING TO "FORCE"
IN JAPANESE, THE "R" IS PRONOUNCED
AS AN "L". Sooo........
-U.S./EU=DARK FORCE
-JAPAN=DARK FALZ
I THINK SEGA DECIDED TO NAME HIM
-DARK FALZ- SO EVERYONE (OTHER COUNTRIES) DIDN'T HAVE TO BE REFERRING THE LAST BOSS OF PSO IN DIFFERENT NAMES.
JUST MY 2CENTS....http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/icon_smile.gif

[PhantomAlpha]

On 2001-04-05 18:19, Wereallmad wrote:
Maybe I can find a sega genesis on ebay and play it to the end.


LOL I'll give u 1 i have like 4 LOL FREE!

Seriously I willhttp://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/icon_razz.gif

[AdamW]

Hey, I want a free Genesis too.

[Wereallmad]

hehehe. Actualy, my friend gave me his. I think my sega CD, and sega 32x still work. Now then. I still have Phantasy Star 4. I could go hunting for 3 and 2, but I might as well just get roms of them.

I'll take your guys' word on Dark Falz. But I hate the name, and look. The body seems pretty cool. I like the giant railgun arms. But it just doesn't seem worth it without the head.

One thing. What was the name of the planets the previous Phantasy Star's take place on? I can't remember any more.

[Shir]

Dark Falz was his name in the first game. Plus I believe it was the name of the humanoid form with the blade arm in PS4.
The planets are...

Parm, Palm, Parma
Dezo, Dezolis, Dezoris
Mota, Motavia

Fun with translations and all.

I was sort of disspointed with the lack of storylines or series tie-ins. Besides Rappys and Grass Assassins, there seems to be nothing from other games besides Dark Force. I was sort of hoping for a real storyline, instead it's Diablo. Doesn't even seem to take place in Algo.

[Wereallmad]

I don't believe it does take place in Algo. With the technological sophistication seen in PSO (as far as backstory), I would assume traveling to another planet in the same solar system would not be very hard at all. The planet Ragol is probably very distant.

I believe all the dark Force manfestations in Phantasy Star 4 (the American version anyway) were also named Dark Force. But again, it wouldn't be the first time an American translation was horribly wrong.

As far as PSO being Diablo, lets not resort to name calling (http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/icon_razz.gif). Actualy though, on the subject of diablo, I actualy felt that Diablo 2 actualy had more story then PSO. Which is pretty sad considering the only story in that game whatsoever, was in the few cut sequences found in the game.

About the only thing PSO's stpry is good for, is those annoying..... erm, i mean lovable, fanfic writers. Hell I'm almost tempted to write up a fanfc of my own.

apparently, in addition to PSO v.2, there will be a sequil to PSO. I have a feeling v.2 will contain some sort of teaser that will make us want PSO 2 even more. But I doubt there will be a significant improvement in plot considering it's scheduled for 2002. But who knows. Sonic Team is a talented group of people. Maybe they'll surprise us.

[Breezblok]

I agree completely. The lack of a real storyline in PSO makes the game just that bit duller....you feel like you're only object in the game is to walk from room to room, executing the same button presses again, and again, and again.......

While addictive, this is somewhat mindless, and limits my offline sessions to about 1 hour at most. Online is a lot more fun though.....I think what Sega have managed to create is a real sense of teamwork in the online section.....you can have a lot more fun, make friends, etc. and this gives the game it's lastability. Here's hoping there's a decent storyline to PSO2, and that it isn't released on the Gamecube.

[Wereallmad]

I would be just fine if Sonic Team released PSO2 on gamecube. I've been a big supporter of both Sega and Nintendo since the begining. It's that X-box that I'm not going to touch.

[Breezblok]

Are you serious?!

I'll buy the gamecube when my mind decides to regress back to my infancy, and I begin to develop an uncontrollable love for soft, fluffy things hopping around and squeaking, and gaint pink boxes. Or if nintendo makes a decent fighting game, RPG, FPS or survival horror game. I think the former will come before that, though.

No offence......I own an N64 myself, but I'm not going to fork out ?400 for a large, garishly coloured box which plays nothing but horribly cutesy platformers and evil mini-game orientated pukathons. So help me god if the gamecube succeeds....BEAT IT BACK, X!! BEAT IT BAAAAAAAACK!!!

[Wereallmad]

The fact of the matter is, there has never been a single sucessfull American game console. It's just not going to happen.

[Bela]

The best gameing system ever is STILL the Turbo Grafix 16 and you all know it. I still have mine, and my genesis. I've never had a nintendo anything... well a game boy. But that was only for pokemon! I'm a sell out. But oh well nintendo is evilbadnotgood.

--Keith

[Wereallmad]

I had a PC-engine (similar to Turbo Graphics. I think it's the Japanese version). It was pretty cool. Had a lot of great games.

[MechDan]

Never been a successful American game console? Huh? Atari VCS was wildly popular, and both Intellivision and Colecovision were very popular.

Anyway, it would be the "Dark Falz" translation which is the "bad" one. It doesn't really matter, IMO.

[purhaze]

dark faltz & dark force are one in the same, maybe we'll get to see his true form in ver.2 in the end of ULTIMATE mode.

[Wereallmad]

good point. If there is indeed a new version of DF in PSO v.2, or maybe the sequel, we'll get to see Mr Oogly face again.

As far as American gaming consoles. The Atari VCS 2600 failed miserably. It was, at best, remotly popular. The the atari Jaguar, Philips CDI, and Panasonic 3DO all suffered similar fates as well. The M2 was canned before production. Lets not even bother mentioning the commodor.

I admit, I've never heard of hte other two systems you mentioned.

Also, I'm not trying to turn this into a race issue or anything. I'm not Japanese. It's simply that the Japanese have always made the best consoles, and console games.

Americans made the best PC games (I've honestly never seen a Japanese PC game besides Evangelion, steel girlfriend, that wasn't already a console game. Though even that game was later ported to playstation). Of course, these days with games like Black and White, and Tribes 2 comming out, practicaly in beta form, that might not hold true forever.

As far as the X-box. It does seem to have good support from American consumers, and Japanese developers. Which indecates that it could indeed be sucessfull. However, according to Hideo Kojima, the X-box can barely be pushed harder then a playstation 2. Though I'm guessing it will be much easier to program for.

Dispite Nintendo's rainbow's and sunshine reputation, it really doesn't matter much. It will most likely be the big daddy of them all. We'll see for sure though this Winter.

[MechDan]

Obviously, you're young and have a lot of strange misconceptions.

The Atari VCS essentially CREATED the home video game market. While its sales were slow to begin with, the then revolutionary concept of putting software on cartridges eventually saved the system and created a new entertainment medium.

At the time, arcade video games were booming, primarily because of Space Invaders. When the Atari VCS cartridge of Space Invaders came out, sales of Ataris went through the roof.

The fact that you haven't heard of Intellivision or Colecovision means you are young. It's like someone who's never heard of Lt. Col Oliver North or O.J. Simpson. You simply had to not be alive to not remember them.

What Atari did not anticipate was the possibility that third party manufacturers might make compatable cartridges and videogame consoles. Well, a lot of third party companies did (without a penny going to Atari), and Colecovision came out at the top of the heap. Why? Donkey Kong. The Colecovision had a near arcade perfect version of Donkey Kong AND it could play Atari cartridges (with an adapter).

Alas, the great video game crash rained on this parade. Atari was suffering badly because it wasn't making any money and wasn't successful in suing the clone manufacturers. There was an embarrasingly high amount of poor quality software. The market collapsed.

But the fact remains--before the crash the Atari VCS and its main competitors sold millions and made billions. They can't be considered failures. Without the Atari VCS, it's questionable if the NES would have ever existed (and if it weren't for the Atari VCS, Nintendo probably would have made the same mistakes Atari made and it would have been swamped under NES clones and crappy third party unlicensed software).

Of course, the Commodore 64 stuck out as the big survivor of the video game crash. For some reason, while the rest of the video game industry was collapsing, C64 sales rocketted worldwide. However, the C64 is not a console. It's a computer. As such, it's not really relevant to this discussion.

[Wereallmad]

Oooooh........ someone got put in his place.......


Oh wait...... that was me.......

[Cube]

I just noticed what a smart ass, mechdan really is.... I take my apology back. you are mean.

[Cube]

I would also like to stress the fact that the Atari CVS was NOT a HUGE success.. It didnt sell nearly as much as the NES, or geneses did.... for its time, it may have been popular but when we look back and then comper& contrast, it wasent such a big hit compared to today....

And lets stay away from the grim 84' Video game crash, since then NO american Console has had a fare share of popularity (maybe thats why?), especially in Japan...

Onto Gamecube... the NGC will be much better then Xbox in my opinion. Xbox is a Pc, plain and simple... it has more PC game ports then any console already relseased! lol (jk)....

Have you any proof gamecube will be another kiddy console? Pink? Ugh... thats not even a confirmed color....N e wayz, no good FPS?RPG's?FighterS?! Here is a list of a very FEW list of AAA games that Xbox could NEVER get...

Too Human... (theres an RPG, it was acclaimed one of the most amazing RPG's ever to come to PSX, however nintendo bought them and it never came out for PSX, but its comin to NGC! even better!)

Tekken....(Is coming to Gamcube, there's ur fighter http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/icon_smile.gif

RR5 (rumored to coming to gamecube, chances? 90%)

Perfect Dark 2 ( lol, how dare u list FPS as a genre Gamecube or nintendo doesnt have!)

And the obvious's... Zelda, Mario, ect...

gamecube will rule. Period.

Xbox will fail in Japan and will do well in the US. No offense to X fans but not 1 gamecube game has been confirmed but from what we know the Gamecube will already have better games lol..

[MechDan]

That's like saying Jaws and Star Wars weren't really successful because it didn't do nearly as well as Titanic. Sure, "for its time" Star Wars was popular, but it's small potatos compared to Titanic or The Matrix.

Get real. Just as Jaws's unprecedented success spawned the Hollywood "Blockbuster", the Atari VCS's unprecedented success spawned the home videogame medium.

[addsig]

<font size=1>[ This message was edited by: MechDan on 2001-04-07 19:37 ]</font>

<font size=1>[ This message was edited by: MechDan on 2001-04-07 19:39 ]</font>

[Tabolet]

>> Perfect Dark 2 ( lol, how dare u list FPS as a genre Gamecube or nintendo doesnt have!) <<

I'm curious... why is it that all console players jump to the conclusion that Goldeneye/Perfect Dark are the pinnacle of FPS play?

Compared to most PC shooters, such as Half-Life (not really a huge fan of it, but it's impressive nontheless) or Unreal Tournament, N64 FPSs come up pretty short.

Maybe I'm just not willing to trade off high rez textures, faster framerates, and larger poly counts for a four-player splitscreen?

When Nintendo puts out something that can hold a candle to current PC FPSs, I'll give it a second look.

[zanza]

FOR SOME REASON THE OLDSCHOOL GAME CONSOLES' NAMES CRACK ME UP WHEN TALKED ABOUT.http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/icon_razz.gif
GO AHEAD SAY "ATARI" AGAIN, C'MON! LOL!

[Wereallmad]

One word.

"Famicom"

you may begin cracking up.

[zanza]

On 2001-04-08 00:29, Wereallmad wrote:
One word.

"Famicom"

you may begin cracking up. [addsig]


WHOO-HOO! THAT NAME BRINGS BACK MEMORIES! HAHAHAHA!http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/icon_razz.gif

[Drahktar]

Anyone remember typing out C64 code from any of the C64 code books just so they could play a totally crappy game until the C64 was shut off? And nothing beats Grog's Revenge, 'cept maybe Mark of the Wolves =)

[Talos_13-A]

I agree that this game is great, but it is so disappointing to see that they didn't go all the way with the game. The story sucks, the action is semi-repeditive, and almost tedious at times.

Graphically, the game was good, but could have been better with the ambient background stuff (stars in sky etc). I also as a true PS fan, wanted to see a storyline on more than one planet. It wouldn't have stretched SEGA's pocketbook to do that. http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/icon_smile.gif

But to PSO's defense, I have to say that it's so addictive, not only offline, but online as well. It's pretty hard to meet permanent people online, but that's the fun in it I guess.

I am currently working the V-Hard setting, and at the Mines, level 66.

You can catch me mostly after midnight on Titania, block 3.

[Mazarin]

Four words.

Dead or Alive 3.

X-Box WILL be in my home. Tony Hawk. Silent Hill 2. Bounty Hunter. DroneZ. Malice. Project Gotham. Oddworld. e-Racer. And now Sega with 11 games comming out for it. Unsuccessful my ass.

PS2 has another year to host a game worthy enough to wipe my ass with or else I wouldn't piss on the console if it were on fire. I had it. US and Japanese ver. Sold both of them. Why? I bought a table and no longer needed to use it as a stand for my DC.

Game Cube looks very promissing, but they can only make so many games with Mario in it.

This is all personal preferrance and speculation. We'll see what the future holds for VGaming soon enough...

[addsig]"http://www15.brinkster.com/molotov/mit.jpg">

<font size=1>[ This message was edited by: Mazarin on 2001-04-08 06:19 ]</font>

[AK404]

Consider this an experiment, period. The first Phantasy Star broke the mold back in the day by introducing concepts and a play style that was totally foreign to the gamers of that day, and now PSO is doing the same. I agree that there should have been more storyline, but advancing storylines can be introduced via downloadable quests, if Sonic Team is smart.

OTOH, a storyline indicates direct involvement, that you're somehow special. Your character is not a unique and beautiful snowflake: he's one level XX hunter-ranger-force is a world full of them. There was no fate or special focus on him, he's just a schlub who stumbled in on a bad moment, and spends him time running along the sidelines right up until the end, with an act of such unbelievable magnitude that the government will have to cover it up and have your character killed and/or dismantled in his sleep so nobody ever finds out. Won't that be fun?

No, the fun is in the element of CRPGs, either console or computer-based, that plays a major role only because the game gravitates around it: treasure hunting. The trading forum should be more than enough proof of that.