GameCube

Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution

PSO fans still may not be believers of the C.A.R.D. system in Episode III. However, those of you who aren't need to try out the game first. I'll admit it - PSO III isn't a game for everyone to enjoy. It takes patience to get most out of the title's rewarding experience. I'll be honest that I wasn't impressed at all with Sonic Team's decision, but that was before playing the game to its full potential. Give this game a chance, especially if you're a PSO fan. The offline and online experience alter in experience, but they offer plenty of what Sonic Team was aiming for. A game of pure competition, this title isn't about blowing off your friends from questing with them in a dungeon as in I & II. PSO III is a smarter game, a testament of true game design. If you're as open-minded as I am to even trying the only online game on the GameCube, give C.A.R.D. Revolution a chance.

Am Anfang erfasste mich der blanke Horror. "Das ist doch nicht mehr Phantasy Star und erst recht kein Rollenspiel mehr!", dachte ich. Aber nach einigen Stunden konnte ich nicht mehr die Finger von Phantasy Star Online Episode III lassen. Hat man erst mal den Dreh raus, vermag das Spiel für Stunden an den Bildschirm zu fesseln. Allerdings muss zunächst die harte Eingewöhnungszeit überwunden werden. Danach offenbart sich dem Spieler ein Kartenspiel mit enorm viel Tiefe und Freiraum für die unterschiedlichsten Taktiken. Online kann der Titel ebenfalls wieder überzeugen, auch wenn dem Spiel durch das veränderte Spiel-System ein wenig der Wind aus den Segeln genommen wurde. Löblich ist auch die wiederverwertbare Hunter-Lizenz aus dem Vorgänger.

War still rages on the planet of Ragol. Phantasy Star Online Episode returns for what is to the the third and final of the PSO series. Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution is also surprisingly the second game that features online play for the Nintendo GameCube. The first title was Phantasy Star Online 1 & 2. I am very surprised by this because while i am a huge fan of Nintendo's, I find it extremely disappointing that they are not pushing the online capabilities of the Nintendo GameCube. They have the broadband adapters out there but they are not doing anything to promote the damn thing. I see very little in terms of articles from Nintendo themselves or anything in Nintendo Power, on their site, etc. That really angers me to no end. Sega has now released it's second online game for the GameCube and it still seems like Nintendo and the GameCube are nowhere to be found on the Online Gaming Map.

However, Phantasy Star Online Episode III is a real testament of game design. It's as open ended as a card game can be. Sonic Team incorporated many things fans wanted (story and a worthy offline mode). If you're a PSO fan, don't turn your back on Episode III simply because it's a card game -- you might be surprised (I was). If you love strategy or card games (and want another use of for your broadband adapter), I highly recommend giving PSO III a shot.

O resultado da nova fórmula é que a opção offline para um jogador se tornou muito mais interessante (e tem uma trama muito mais elaborada), que serve não só como um treino mas também como maneira de adquirir um bom baralho para se preparar para o desafio online. A mudança radical na fórmula deve desagradar fãs de ação - e jogos com duelos que podem ultrapassar 30 minutos podem desencorajar muitos. Mas tendo em visto a popularidade dos jogos de cartas colecionáveis, a Sega fez um excelente trabalho em adaptar a fórmula de maneira competente.

The hardest thing for a diehard Phantasy Star Online fan to wrap his or her head around while playing this game is that it's not really very much like PSO as you know it. Apart from the art resources and setting, they really could have plugged in just about any property, licensed or original. Once you accept that, though, this is a compelling game that eventually proves itself worthy of the PSO name.

Tout inconditionnel de Phantasy Star Online se sera déjà plus ou moins fait une idée sur le potentiel de ce troisième épisode. Dans un registre totalement différent de ses prédécesseurs, le soft passionnera les amateurs de duels stratégiques au tour par tour, d'autant que le système de jeu et les deux approches différentes (Hunters ou Arkz) s'avèrent très prenants les premières heures. Il faudra en revanche se contenter de la collecte de cartes et des tournois online pour y trouver son compte sur le long terme.

When Sonic Team first launched Phantasy Star Online on the Dreamcast in early 2001 in the US, it was a landmark title. PC gamers had already been enjoying widespread online gaming for a while, but PSO was the game that shepherded online console gaming into the mainstream. The game endeared itself to thousands of players across the globe with its accessible action RPG gameplay, its extensive item system, and the community that grew from it. A sequel came out later that same year, and both episodes of PSO have made their way to the GameCube and Xbox, but it's been years since we've seen an original title bearing the Phantasy Star Online name. Enter Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D.

For almost two decades, the name Phantasy Star has been stamped onto some pretty decent RPGs; however, Sega's latest episode in the PS saga has very little in common with its ancient predecessors. While remaining faithful to the style of its older online brethren, Phantasy Star Online Episode III strays from the pack in one key area: it's a card game.

When Sega annoucned that the latest installment of Phantasy Star Online would be a card battling, turn-based RPG instead the popular online action RPG style of PSO I & II, it was a strange surprise. Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution dispenses with much of what made PSO addictive to thousands of paying gamers and replaces it with a new gameplay mechanic revolving around trading cards, and there's little doubt in my mind that many fans won't want to come along for the ride, even if it gets the job done.