So I never played PSP/PSU

[kongajinken]

and now I'm about to import the japanese version of PSP2. >.>

I have about 500 hours into PSO, so I'm well versed in that, but PSZ I found to be missing something so I'm going to give PSP2 a shot. I've been reading the forums here a lot lately and there's been a few things pop up that I didn't really get.

What are some big differences between the two?

[ashley50]

http://phantasystaruniverse.com/game_intro.php

read thru the information there...

[Pillan]

I'll try to name as many differences as I can.

First, there's the stats. TP is replaced by PP, which acts as the bar for specials. TP is the new MST, and MST is DFP for magic. Additionally, the new stat, STA, is a lot like enemy special resistances which prevents status changes from hitting you. Also, unlike PSO or PSZ, PP recovers rapidly to allow you to use bullets, techiques, and skills.

Another change is the basic system. Bullets drain PP, which means you can't infinitely shoot enemies like you could in PSO. Bullets have a charged shot, which is similar to the Photon Arts in PSZ, but less flashy and more useful. Melee weapons also have skills which drain a lot of PP to deal a lot of damage. Melee weapons no longer require you to press the button with correct timing to combo, but by doing it correctly you'll preform an Exact Attack (or Just Attack) which increases your damage and restores PP even faster. Tech weapons can no longer attack without techniques, but wands and rods can combo techniques.

Overall, there are more weapons to choose from. Partisan, Slicer, and Wand styles from PSO were removed. The new Spear is a forward thrusting attack that can hit 2 enemies and the new Slicer fires like a laser cannon. Shotguns are more like a slower spread needle, while Crossbows retain the original speed. PSO's Machineguns are PSU's Twin Handguns. PSU's Wands are more like PSO's Canes. Mags are no longer overpowered stat-modifying machines and your Blast Gauge is based by race rather than Mag. Other new weapons include Axes, Twin Claws, single Daggers, Whips, Grenades (in PSP2, they're like Iron Fausts), Machineguns, Shadoogs (R-Mags that fire shots randomly), and Madoogs (T-Mags which act as left-hand wands).

There's also the dodge and guard system, which allows you to take no damage by properly blocking or rolling out of the way of the attack. It's really useful in a pinch, but enemies have been strengthened to make it's mastery necessary.

The action pallet has been drastically simplified. Each weapon only has two attacks on screen. Square is your basic attack and Triangle is your chain-ending special attack. With guns, Triangle is always the charged shot button. With melee, Triangle is always the Skill button. With tech weapons, square and triangle can be set when equipping techs to the weapon. You can press X to view the pallet and choose to use items, switch weapons, or switch armor. The pallet holds 5 items, 6 weapon combinations (either 2 one hand weapons or one two hand weapon), and 6 armors. O picks items up off the ground or rolls. L locks onto opponents or strafes, and R switches weapon, switches techs, or blocks.

The races are pretty much the same as PSO, so there's not much to say there. Cast is good with attack, accuracy, and defense. Newman is good with accuracy, magic, and magic defense. Human is your standard all-around, with high defense, magic defense, and stat resistance. Beast is more like a hunter specialist with higher attack and survivability than Cast. They're also the only race that doesn't waste an armor slot to use their Blast Gauge.

And that's all I can think of.

[kongajinken]

Awesome thank you.
One question though does PSP2 have: foretecher, gunners, etc. that PSU has, or was that removed in PSP2?

[Pillan]

PSP2 is simply the classic Hunter, Ranger, and Force with one new hybrid class, Braver. The types are essentially as you'd expect them to be, but you can add any weapon to any class in this game. Plus you can move any abilities you unlock as another class to whichever class you want.

EDIT:

Another change I forgot. All races can use techniques and traps, but traps change with class and technique effectiveness varies by race and class.

[xizsec01]

skill lv that you can use will limit by class you use