Phantasy Star Online 2 shining in Japan next year
By
Tom Magrino
Sega confirms new installment in sci-fi hack-and-slash RPG series for PC in 2011; Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity comes to PSP in late 2010.
Sega's Phantasy Star Online charted new ground in the console space upon its release for the Dreamcast in Japan in 2000 as the first high-profile online-focused console game. With the game's 10th anniversary quickly approaching, Sega announced today as part of the 2010 Tokyo Game Show that a proper sequel to the game, Phantasy Star Online 2, will be available in Japan for PCs next year.
Details as to what gamers can expect from Phantasy Star Online 2 remain under wraps, though Sega did release a brief teaser trailer for the game on its official Web site. The Japanese-language teaser lacks any footage of the game, as it merely positions today's announcement as a homage to the original Phantasy Star Online's 10th anniversary.
However, the trailer did provide a look at Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity, an online-enabled extension of the sci-fi role-playing series for Sony's PSP. With Phantasy Star Portable 2 set to make its bow in North America this month, Infinity is slated to arrive in Japan later this year.
As detailed in GameSpot's first look at the game from TGS 2010, the biggest new addition to the portable title will be cooperative multiplayer for up to four--a feature that harkens back to the original Phantasy Star Online. Otherwise, gamers will experience similar action to Phantasy Star Portable 2, as gamers hack and slash their way through environments that recall both fantasy and sci-fi tropes.
Sega did not indicate whether Phantasy Star Online 2 or Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity would see release in the West. US reps of the publisher had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.
By
Tom Magrino
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
Be patient everyone.. practically every Phantasy Star game has made it to the states, (with the exception of 1 i think) this should be no different. Hopefully this comes to the states late this year or early next year. Give this a thumbs up to get some recognition
i dont know to be happy that ther is a new phantasy star or sad that japan is getting it forst
Yay! More Phantasy Star, this series is awesome, thank you sega for putting hatsune miku stuff in phantasy star portable 2, and PSO comming back? I never played PSO, but hey it's pntasy star, it's gonna rock!
FOR PC?! thats just great...a great sequel for an memorable game.
Finally! A sequel to the best game ever made! I've been playing PSO since day 1 on Dreamcast and I'm still playing PSOBB on PC! I really hope it stays true to the original unlike PSU. But I think they know the difference because PS0 on DS is like PSO while PSP2 on PSP is like PSU. Anyway, THANK YOU Sega/Sonic Team! I love you guys!
@Ratatoskr321: No, none of the PSO games in the past were "PSO2". On the Dreamcast there was PSO and PSO ver.2, for the Gamecube there was PSO Episode 1 & 2, and PSO Episode 3 (which was a card game), and for PC there was PSO Blue Burst (Episode 4).
Wait... wasn't there already a PSO2 for the DC? Not to mention a PSO3...
This is actually bad news if you play PSU.
OMG. I Loved the other one. I hope this one turns out to be BETTER than the other one. Please do.
The only Phantasy Star game I ever played was PSO on the Dreamcast. That game was amazing, first console game I ever played online. I have many fond memories of playing it all throughout high school. If they release a new online PC game I might have to jump back in..
Phantasy Star Online was THE BEST. I somehow doubt a sequel can live up to the original, but even so, I'll keep this on my radar. Watching the vid... ahhh the music was so beautiful T_T
@ KillerWabbit23 shoulda bought a Dreamcast instead of a ps2 back in the day you moron then youd have your console MMO
I just got PhSP2 from PSN for the GO and this game is awesome! Way better than the first one.
Dagnit, I just bought PhStPo2! And why does the new PSO have to be on PC? I want a console MMO, fuhgodssake!
I hope Infinity doesn't take too long to be released here. and PSO 2 had better be on consoles as well.
A new PSO? :o I loved the first for both Dreamcast and Gamecube. Here's hoping this next one is better than Blue Burst...that one was glitchtastic and it lost some of the positive elements that made PSO Ep.1&2 so good.
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- Publisher(s): Sega
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Release: TBA 2012 (JP)
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