Phantasy Star Universe

Published on May 18, 2004 12:50 PM

60 Comments

As you most likely already know, Sega has announced a new game for the PS series mysteriously called "Phantasy Star Universe."

Here's the full article by IGN:

May 12, 2004 - Phantasy Star Online fans who were disappointed that Sonic Team declared Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution the last installment in the PSO series or those turned off by the card based nature of Ep. III had better turn that frown upside down. In Sega's booth at E3 2004, Sonic Team held its "stealth announcement" of its latest project -- Phantasy Star Universe.

What exactly is Universe? According to Sonic Team, "it's a rebirth of a legend." But, we don't really know. IGNcube learned from Sega that this title is so far in the future that they aren't allowed to release any details. The trailer, which aired every two hours, was merely there as a teaser for fans of the series -- telling them that there is something coming. Platforms weren't even revealed, although we imagine that it will definitely be on GameCube because of the large PSO user base (and it's the traditional PSO platform now that the Dreamcast is defunct). There have also been rumors that a PSO game is slated to appear on PS2, so Universe might be Sonic Team's initial foray onto Sony's console. Xbox is a possibility because Episodes I & II were released in 2003 -- heck, it could even be a PC title (we doubt it since PC is getting Blue Burst. Pure speculation.
The only other concrete details we learned was that this is going to be an action MMORPG. Does this mean it'll be akin to Phantasy Star Online? Or, will it resemble Final Fantasy XI? All we know is that it's going to be a while before we find out -- especially since the trailer revealed "just started..."

The trailer itself lasted a little under four minutes. The first minute and a half was a brief introduction to the new title. Apparently, it will be Phantasy Star Online 2 because it's a whole new game that takes place in a whole new world. The rather ambiguous thing is that the trailer references both Phantasy Star Online 2 (which is what we think this is) and Phantasy Star V.

The rest of the trailer was composed of highly detailed full motion video. The most noticeable thing? FMV sequences. Next? Sonic Team has overhauled the art style for universe -- everything looks a bit smoother (although it does maintain some similar elements). The trailer roves from lush grass to a futuristic city. You watch as a character jumps out into the air onto a hover board, activates some sort of suit, and then zips off into the horizon. Later, a similar theme is displayed when a different character morphs into a beast. For the finale, a group of adventures fight a giant two headed dragon/lizard creature. The trailer is simply amazing. Watch it here.

Trust us, we'll report back with more on Phantasy Star Universe as soon as details are available. It's gonna be a long wait, so watch the trailer now , seriously.

Check out IGN's media here.

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General

59 Comments

Arislan - May 19, 2004, 04:00 AM
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Magicbox reported off of a Pic that gamefront.de put up, which Famitsu supposedly has in it's mag. If you take a look at the pic though, it's a pretty obvious fake. There is a lot of layering errors in the pic (the PS2 logo looks pasted on, and the gamefront and 2005 texts look to be modified on the same label).

I'm calling bunk till I see something from Sega officially. I find it incredibly hard to belive that NOONE else at E3 saw this pic, PERIOD cept for Gamefront, or whoever took the pic, that the official website still doesn't list a date or system, and that Famitsu is the ONLY magazine that got this little scoop. We'll see, but marketing-wise, the PS2 ONLY would be an extremely bad move on Sega's part, again, lending to debunking this theory.

Deus-Irae - May 19, 2004, 04:53 AM
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"- Famitsu reported that Sega Sonic Team's newly announced online RPG Phantasy Star Universe will be coming to PlayStation 2 in summer 2005"

that does not say: PSU is coming to PS2 only. its only says that it will be coming to the PS2. reading comprehension is your friend.

anyways this is all just conjecture untill we get a real official announcement. lets just stop speculating, be patient, and wait for the real story to come out.

sounds great from what we know though! im pretty excited about the news.

- May 19, 2004, 05:55 PM
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it has been confirmed for ps2 true but no one has stated that it WONT appear on other consoles..which im sure it will. if you study the video carefully while the text is appearing you can see alot of interesting things...very very small snippets of what seems to be the battle system in action as well as character and monster art. two of the art pieces in particular interested me the most...one of which what looked like a RAmarl but with HUGE robotic arms...maybe she was in a robot suit of armor? another looked like a transformed version of a hunter...so maybe all of the characters have the ability to transform? or drive robots? god this game is going to be amazing..

Fredrick - May 19, 2004, 05:55 PM
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lmfao, and magicbox has been a good source sence when?

KatanaMaster - May 19, 2004, 05:59 PM
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yo geuss what i found out to help us geuss for what system PSU is coming out for!!well if you look deep in ign.com and look at the systems realeases dates.And it didnt say anything for ps2 or xbox.It only says that it comes out for gamecube!!!but you dont have to belive me im just saying this to inform you guys.but DAM IT I CANT WAIT FOR IT!!!!I also i saw it comes out in the summer of 2005!!!!!!!!No lie i saw it.it said its gonna come out summer 2005 you got to believe me in that part.

- May 19, 2004, 07:01 PM
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alot better source than ign and gamespot.

- May 19, 2004, 07:05 PM
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What took you guys so long to post this? The leading PSO information site took over a week to post about the next Phantasy Star game? What happened?

Arislan - May 19, 2004, 08:41 PM
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Simple. Life. All of us here have things to do outside of simply running the site and needed to place those ahead of updating things.

Arislan - May 19, 2004, 08:42 PM
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Again, from a different post...

Magicbox reported off of a Pic that gamefront.de put up, which Famitsu supposedly has in it's mag. If you take a look at the pic though, it's a pretty obvious fake. There is a lot of layering errors in the pic (the PS2 logo looks pasted on, and the gamefront and 2005 texts look to be modified on the same label).

I'm calling bunk till I see something from Sega officially. I find it incredibly hard to belive that NOONE else at E3 saw this pic, PERIOD cept for Gamefront, or whoever took the pic, that the official website still doesn't list a date or system, and that Famitsu is the ONLY magazine that got this little scoop. We'll see, but marketing-wise, the PS2 ONLY would be an extremely bad move on Sega's part, again, lending to debunking this theory.

As for GCN release... Gamespot had their Trailer up in the XBox section. IGN put theirs in GCN. They have to put it somehwere, and that's where was chosen. Means nothing for now till we get an announcment. Calm down.

- May 19, 2004, 08:48 PM
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Hmm Well I think that it would be foolish for Sega to release this title in 2005 for any of the current systems. Unless the next gen consoles really dont come out until the end of 2006 (that would suck), I cant see Sega releasing this game so near the end of this generations life. We'd play for 6 months, then be prematurly and permanatly distracted by the three new systems...hell I know I would! Anyways, it would make sense to me from a marketing standpoint to have this game published on one of the new consoles. We were told that this game is WAY off so that leads me to believe that this is the case. I certainly hope so anyways. How cool to have a game like this avaliable at or near launch time!

- May 19, 2004, 08:49 PM
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Hmm Well I think that it would be foolish for Sega to release this title in 2005 for any of the current systems. Unless the next gen consoles really dont come out until the end of 2006 (that would suck), I cant see Sega releasing this game so near the end of this generations life. We'd play for 6 months, then be prematurly and permanatly distracted by the three new systems...hell I know I would! Anyways, it would make sense to me from a marketing standpoint to have this game published on one of the new consoles. We were told that this game is WAY off so that leads me to believe that this is the case. I certainly hope so anyways. How cool to have a game like this avaliable at or near launch time!

voxie - May 20, 2004, 02:15 PM
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I think the whole reason why they haven't revealed what consoles the game is coming on is because it will appear on all of them! (GC, PS2, XBox and possibly the PC) This brings about the meaning of 'Universe' in the games title. Why would they spoil us with trailers without any mention of a console? Only to disappoint us to say it will only appear on ONE of those machines? I don't think so. I think Phantasy Star "Universe" will live up to that very title!

Of course, if this guess is wrong, I will off myself ^_^

MakoSOLDIER - May 21, 2004, 04:04 PM
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ya at this point gamesite lists don't mean anything

bibj - May 22, 2004, 07:28 AM
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The trailer was very cool I think ... I hope that it the the new game will be like Phantasy star Online ep 1&2. They are so GREAT. Wonder if the game is offline? or Online? or booth?

Very nice anyways... See ya on PSOW...

Ranger_Larry - May 22, 2004, 09:32 AM
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I think it should be for next generation consoles for 2 reasons.

#1 current consoles will drop in popularity bigtime when the new ones come out. Since this game is "far away" from completion, the new consoles will be either out, or soon to be out when this game is done.

#2 on new consoles the graphics could be ALOT better, and with more RAM more things can be done as well. (larger play areas)

Ranger_Larry - May 22, 2004, 09:35 AM
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I think it should be for next generation consoles for 2 reasons.

#1 current consoles will drop in popularity bigtime when the new ones come out. Since this game is "far away" from completion, the new consoles will be either out, or soon to be out when this game is done.

#2 on new consoles the graphics could be ALOT better, and with more RAM more things can be done as well. (larger play areas)

- May 23, 2004, 06:05 AM
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sonds liek segas take on Star wars galaxies.

bibj - May 23, 2004, 12:56 PM
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yes... that would be stupid ... because the one that plays PSO have either Gamcube, Xbox, PC and not to forget the DreamCast ... why would they change to a nother consoll? they would lose the many gamers.

It would be SMARTER to release on gameCube, Xbox or PC... and thats what I hopes for ... thats my opinion.