According to a recent homepage update, Sega will be releasing Phantasy Star Zero to Japan on December 25th of this year. That's only three months away! Compared with PSP, the announcement and ship dates for this title are quite close.
Just in case one video wasn't enough for you, here's another one containing gameplay footage of Phantasy Star Zero from this year's Tokyo Game Show!
As you can see, the video features another battle with the dragon Rayburn, this time with the player using a HUmar. You may notice a familiar death animation for our dragon friend, and it's also worth noting that players appear to take damage as the boss falls defeated.
Be sure to stay tuned to PSO-World as we continue to follow the latest news and media from the Tokyo Game Show and feel free to visit our new Phantasy Star Zero Forum for further discussion!
The February 2009 issue of Nintendo Power has confirmed that Phantasy Star Zero is scheduled to be released in the United States in the fall. This issue also features a special cover and preview of the game. Be sure to check out the latest issue of Nintendo Power for additional details. Credit goes to Shiroyu for bringing us this news. You can share your thoughts in this forum thread.
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Update: Sega has posted press releases for the US and Europe.
PSO-World.com staffer HUnewearl_Meira and his family attended the Phantasy Star Zero Community Day Event at Sega Headquarters on November 4th. Attached to this news story is his report on the evening's activities. This includes his experiences playing the English version of Phantasy Star Zero and meeting with Satoshi Sakai. Be sure to click on the "Read More" link to read his report. You can discuss this event in this forum thread.
If you're a die-hard Phantasy Star fan with a pre-order for the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Zero, you might be in for an early Christmas present. Several reports have come in that import retailer
PlayAsia started shipping pre-ordered copies of the game to customers in the US on Friday. While this may just be an attempt to make sure the games arrive as close to release day as possible, some lucky folks may just be getting their copies before their Japanese counterparts do.
Pre-orders are still being taken, for those of you still interested in getting some play time before the US release. Stay tuned to PSO-World as we continue to add features and information to support this title, and feel free to drop by the Phantasy Star Zero forum to join in on the latest discussions!
According to the latest issue of Famitsu, a Phantasy Star Zero mini game will be making an appearance on Nintendo's DSiWare download service. The game, appropriately titled "Phantasy Star Zero Mini", will feature a score attack mission in which players will run through Gurhacia Valley and ultimately face off against the Rayburn.
The DSiWare title will have the same online functionality as the full game, including chat and wireless play. However, it currently looks like there is not a way to play the game with your Phantasy Star Zero character. Instead, players will take on the mission using one of three pre-selected characters. At a mere 200 DSi Points ($2 US), though, "Mini" will hopefully be a fun treat and a great way to lure new players into the full Zero experience! Phantasy Star Zero Mini is slated to arrive on DSiWare in Japan sometime this March, while a US release date is currently unknown. A big thanks to our tipsters for the story! For more of the latest Phantasy Star Zero news and discussion, be sure to stop by our Phantasy Star Zero forums!
Update: Thanks to Japanese fan site Shougai PSO, some details concerning this mini-game have been cleared up. The three selectable characters are Ogi, Kai and Sarisa, and Gurhacia Valley serves as the field for this adventure. As players make their way through the area, they will face other enemies such as Gawls and Galapythons, until they reach the boss, a large dragon known as Rayburn.
Earlier today, the official English Phantasy Star 0 website was unveiled. The website currently contains information about basic gameplay features, classes, weapon types, and enemies. The website will be updated with additional information in the near-future. Credit goes to Niered for bringing us this news. You can discuss the website in this forum topic.
The first English screenshots for Phantasy Star Zero were released today. The 14 screens over at nintendoeverything.com primarily come from the opening, but include a few action shots. The worthplaying website has 40 screenshots. These screenshots consist of a mixture of character creation, NPC interaction, and in-game action sequences. The latter website is definitely worth viewing if you are interested in the English version of Phantasy Star Zero.
HUcast Character Creation courtesy of nintendoeverything.com
Credit goes to Sayl for providing the nintendoeverything.com link. You can discuss these pictures in this forum thread.
EDIT: Several unmarked screenshots have been released on Sega of America's Flickr page
Phantasy Star Zero was formally released in Europe and Australia over the last couple of days. Australian players can pick up the game for 70 Aussie Dollars. European players will have to pay 39,95 Euros for the game. If you are new to the game and need help getting started, be sure to check out the Phantasy Star Zero Item Database and Guides section. Stop by the Phantasy Star Zero forum if you have any questions or would like to arrange matchups with fellow PSO-World players.
PSO-World user Tummai has been kind enough to translate the Famtisu review article. You can find the translation and scans at this website. In addition, three new Japanese commercials for Phantasy Star Zero have been released at gamekyo.com:
Some more unique commercials can be found here and here. Credit goes to RisingSun for discovering this videos.
The DSiWare title will have the same online functionality as the full game, including chat and wireless play. However, it currently looks like there is not a way to play the game with your Phantasy Star Zero character. Instead, players will take on the mission using one of three pre-selected characters. At a mere 200 DSi Points ($2 US), though, "Mini" will hopefully be a fun treat and a great way to lure new players into the full Zero experience! Phantasy Star Zero Mini is slated to arrive on DSiWare in Japan sometime this March, while a US release date is currently unknown. A big thanks to our tipsters for the story! For more of the latest Phantasy Star Zero news and discussion, be sure to stop by our 
