Platform: PC
Genre: MMORPG
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
ETA: Spring 2005

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Review: Phantasy Star Ep. 1 and 2 (Xbox)

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Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst

Ever since it appeared on the Dreamcast several years ago, Phantasy Star Online has had a strong cult following.  People could finally take various character classes from the series, and play online in new adventures, finding out what happened to the people who escaped the destruction of Palma in Phantasy Star II.  Now, PC gamers can get in on the action with Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst.

At its core, Blue Burst is the same as the early forms of Phantasy Star Online, containing the same battle system and quests.  However, there will be plenty more being added for this PC rendition of the series, as the game gets a very pretty high resolution face lift, and almost three dozen new quests.

What remains to be seen is how well Blue Burst can compete against other online RPGs available for the PC.  Unlike console gaming, where MMORPGs are far and few between, there are dozens of games in the genre that are available for the PC.  Going head-to-head with goliaths like World of Warcraft, Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot, City of Heroes, and countless other popular MMORPGs already available for the PC will not be easy.  On top of this, PC gamers have very high expectations when it comes to online RPGs.  Will Sega be more vigilant against cheaters in Blue Burst?  Will 

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they provide a decent flow of downloadable content?  These are things not only hoped for, but also expected from the PC gaming community in this sort of game.  Will Sega be up to the challenge?  Only time will tell.  The game is slated for release later this Spring.

Mr. Nash

(April 2, 2005)

Game Features:

- New Quests: Thirty three quests have been created from the offline portion of the PSO story. Visit the Governor-General and receive up to 15 quests, or get to the Laboratory to accept 18 quests that await you there.

- Customize 12 characters: A new character named Momoka is introduced through one of the Governor-General's quests. Also, new morphing technology allows you to customize your character's face, hairstyle, clothing, and body size.

- Play from any PC: Your character data is held on a server allowing you to play anytime from any PC that has Internet access and PSO Blue Burst installed.

- Team Features: Join a team and chat with other members at any time via "Team Chat". The "Team Point Ranking System" allows you to compete and it converts undesired rare items into team points.

- 3D Battle Action: Outstanding sense of realism where results of battles are determined by player's ability and the parameters of the player's character. Customize your command palette for simple, straightforward operations.