Phantasy Star Portable

[Tonberry]

I was browsing for PSP games I have yet to try, and lots of people are recommending Phantasy Star Portable 2, which I've never heard of before but it looks pretty cool and seems to have a gorillion tons of content. I saw that the repo has an english patch for Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity, which everyone seems to agree is even better than Portable 2, or at least the "definitive" version to play.

My main question though is this; is it absolutely necessary to play Phantasy Star Portable 1 beforehand? If it comes down to "the story is a continuation but the mechanics of 2 are vastly superior" then I think I'll stick to playing 2 Infinity first since I'm not invested in the story of this series but I'll happily take a superior gameplay experience over not knowing a few terms/story beats, since it seems to be more focused on the gameplay regardless, but I figured I should ask beforehand in case there's anyone here who has more experience than I

I suppose this thread can exist as a sort of discussion for the whole series too, if there are enough people who want to discuss it, so I left the thread title a bit ambiguous.

 

[Cu-Neo]

The answer is yes and no. Phantasy star Portable 2 is a much better game and the story is very independent, but you can import your character from Portable 1 to 2 and you get bonuses for doing it. For example you can get a really good sword for the beginning, and even some NPC recognize your character from the first game in some way. I love when games do that

 

[Yousef]

I actually never heard about the psp game. Might check it out of morbid curiosity.

 

[jankusanagi]

and even some NPC recognize your character from the first game in some way. I love when games do that

Nice!

I haven't played them yet, so that's good to know

 

[Tonberry]

The answer is yes and no. Phantasy star Portable 2 is a much better game and the story is very independent, but you can import your character from Portable 1 to 2 and you get bonuses for doing it. For example you can get a really good sword for the beginning, and even some NPC recognize your character from the first game in some way. I love when games do that

Thanks for the info!

Based on that I think I'll begin with 2 Infinity then. Details like that are cool and all, but I generally don't like to use powerful "freebie" weapons early on in games, so I don't mind losing out on that if I get to play simply better game.

 

[BigTony]

The story in PSO isn't important

 

[Karnik]

As for me, I recommend you start with Phantasy Star Generation 1 & 2 for ps2: they are the improved versions of the first two titles of the series for Mega Drive. Two unmissable classics.
I tested them with NetherSX2 on Android, and they work great.

 

[AnonymousCookieMonster]

As for me, I recommend you start with Phantasy Star Generation 1 & 2 for ps2: they are the improved versions of the first two titles of the series for Mega Drive. Two unmissable classics.

Interesting. Good to know. I've only played Phantasy Star 4, the other three difficulty spike or not knowing what was going on threw me for a loop.

I'm also not sure about the portable version, i've tried it a little and the move to 3D just doesn't feel like it did it justice. So i haven't played far.

 

[Tonberry]

My first impression so far is that this game has really impressive character customization for a PSP game. It has like 20 different eyebrows alone!

 

[YuriSukiSan]

OOoOOOoOOO! A pseudo-MMORPG friend, gimme gimme! -- Awh, it's already over. I hope you enjoy Phantasy Star 2 Infinity, it's REALLY good!

In all seriousness though be sure to post updates it always fun to see new players get in to Phantasy Star.

 

[AnonymousCookieMonster]

A pseudo-MMORPG

Sacred and Sacred 2... Those were good ones, and you could get like 20 players on at once.

PSO also was the same way. Though playing solo it was a bit of a grind. Not that i ever had anyone join except couch-coop.

 

[Ikagura]

I missed that topic because I expected it to be on the Sony forum.

PSO also was the same way. Though playing solo it was a bit of a grind. Not that i ever had anyone join except couch-coop.

Phantasy Star Online has always been marketed as a "Network Online RPG", I think it was mostly the western side that called it a MMO because it was online.

The story in PSO isn't important.

Isn't it a bit paradoxical for a RPG?

I'd say that while story isn't too much in the centre it's still a competent one. Universe and Portable 2 still have more narration than Online.

As for me, I recommend you start with Phantasy Star Generation 1 & 2 for ps2: they are the improved versions of the first two titles of the series for Mega Drive. Two unmissable classics.

I personally wouldn't fully recommend them as they're pretty much low cost remakes like many of Sega Ages 2500 series games...

I also think that the Switch Ages and SMS Power hack are better ways to enjoy PS I.

 

[INTIMIDAT3R]

I played the original Phantasy Star on my GameGear.

Then I played all 4 Phantasy Star's on my SEGA Nomad.

So I was mobile before it was cool.

 

[Ikagura]

I played the original Phantasy Star on my GameGear.

Then I played all 4 Phantasy Star's on my SEGA Nomad.

So I was mobile before it was cool.

I'm a bit confused, on the Game Gear there were Phantasy Star Gaiden and Adventure but I don't recall a port of the first game.

I still wish we got an official, english-released, compilation including the two.

 

[INTIMIDAT3R]

I'm a bit confused, on the Game Gear there were Phantasy Star Gaiden and Adventure but I don't recall a port of the first game.

I still wish we got an official, english-released, compilation including the two.

You had to have the Master Gear Converter so Master System Cartridges could be played on the GameGear.

 

[Leon]

The story in PSO isn't important

Well, phantasy star portable was a phantasy star universe game, not phantasy star online.
Story in phantasy star online was minimal, universe and phantasy star online 2 on the other hand had far more fleshed out stories, can't speak for new genesis because i only played it for a little bit before the community got REALLY weird.

 

[Ikagura]

You had to have the Master Gear Converter so Master System Cartridges could be played on the GameGear.

View attachment 12379

View attachment 12380

Rad, Sega were too good for this world.

Well, phantasy star portable was a phantasy star universe game, not phantasy star online.
Story in phantasy star online was minimal, universe and phantasy star online 2 on the other hand had far more fleshed out stories, can't speak for new genesis because i only played it for a little bit before the community got REALLY weird.

I would sound annoying but I do love the minimalistic narration Online chose with Rico's logs and the optional sidequests in single player.

It gave Online's world an "aura" where you had to actively search for bits of lore and use your imagination (because of the technical limitations of an online multiplayer game made in the year 2000).

PSU also has lore (regarding the war of 500 years + 100 years of peace as well as the RELIC sites from the Ancients that were guarded by STATERIAs and the antagonistic SEED) but it also overdid the narration by giving us a Saturday morning/Shonen story about a rookie who becomes a GUARDIAN because his father was also one before he passed away.

I don't hate Ethan but I didn't connect with him (and his father issues) compared to my silent protag Hunter who was sent in what was basically a black operative mission about finding the daughter of what is basically the president on board of the ship you were in while officially you were just "investigating" after the enormous explosion.

Take a look at this major side mission: Soul of Steel, it has a lot more story and added some lore bits

As well as Seat of the Heart in Episode 2 (shame they didn't add more quests to that)

There are even optional parts for these so you could come with a different ending depending of your actions in another side quest, it's quite a lot of attention to detail from the Sonic Team even if you could ignore these.


This quest is less important lore-wise yet still has a good story about an older Cast model wanting to find back her master after he threw her out of Ragol

Ambition of the Illuminus is where the story became more interesting but then again, being a 2007 video game, it went towards an edgier route with Ethan

Spoiler

becoming an anti-hero

which is surprisingly a good character development from being your typical shonen protag.

I can agree that Phantasy Star has always been edgier than Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest (as Sega was always pushing boundaries) but sometimes they may go a bit too far.

PSO2's first three episodes were fine I guess but then Episode 4 was an isekai with your typical anime tropes (like a bath scene) which made me not believe what I see... This ain't Phantasy Star there, it's just a Multiplayer Online game taking the popular brand instead of being its own thing. And before you're asking at least the original PSO still had some DNA from the original series like PSU with the 3-planets Stellar System.

 

[SLEDGE_DOG]

Love PSO, but I think Portable 2 Infinity is the best in the series.
If you're emulating, be sure to get the 60 FPS, right stick camera control, and online spoof cheat to make it even better.
All can be found here: https://psp2i.wiki/w/Modifications

 

[Tetro]

OOoOOOoOOO! A pseudo-MMORPG friend, gimme gimme! -- Awh, it's already over. I hope you enjoy Phantasy Star 2 Infinity, it's REALLY good!

In all seriousness though be sure to post updates it always fun to see new players get in to Phantasy Star.

Offtopic, but I know a large series of pseudo MMORPG games - dothack. Heard bout that?

 

[Tonberry]

Love PSO, but I think Portable 2 Infinity is the best in the series.
If you're emulating, be sure to get the 60 FPS, right stick camera control, and online spoof cheat to make it even better.
All can be found here: https://psp2i.wiki/w/Modifications

I’m playing it on Vita, so I don’t think a 60fps patch would work. Camera control might be nice though, thanks for the link.

 

[Ikagura]

Offtopic, but I know a large series of pseudo MMORPG games - dothack. Heard bout that?

The guys behind DotHack actually loved PSO among other games of the kind:

For The World's design, writer Kazunori Ito did an extensive research on online games available at the time: the staff played titles such as Phantasy Star Online, Final Fantasy XI, and Ultima Online. Nevertheless, according to Hiroshi Matsuyama (president of CyberConnect2), they were not actively looking to make the fictional game seem like a real-life one. Instead, the idea was to create a "gigantic game system that, if the CC Corporation (the creators of The World in the game) actually existed, it would make sense for them to be behind" [emphasis added]; a game described by Matsuyama as largely "futuristic and alien".

Love PSO, but I think Portable 2 Infinity is the best in the series.
If you're emulating, be sure to get the 60 FPS, right stick camera control, and online spoof cheat to make it even better.
All can be found here: https://psp2i.wiki/w/Modifications

Wait, there's also a right stick cam control? Nice.

 

[Leon]

Rad, Sega were too good for this world.


I would sound annoying but I do love the minimalistic narration Online chose with Rico's logs and the optional sidequests in single player.

It gave Online's world an "aura" where you had to actively search for bits of lore and use your imagination (because of the technical limitations of an online multiplayer game made in the year 2000).

PSU also has lore (regarding the war of 500 years + 100 years of peace as well as the RELIC sites from the Ancients that were guarded by STATERIAs and the antagonistic SEED) but it also overdid the narration by giving us a Saturday morning/Shonen story about a rookie who becomes a GUARDIAN because his father was also one before he passed away.

I don't hate Ethan but I didn't connect with him (and his father issues) compared to my silent protag Hunter who was sent in what was basically a black operative mission about finding the daughter of what is basically the president on board of the ship you were in while officially you were just "investigating" after the enormous explosion.

Take a look at this major side mission: Soul of Steel, it has a lot more story and added some lore bits

As well as Seat of the Heart in Episode 2 (shame they didn't add more quests to that)

There are even optional parts for these so you could come with a different ending depending of your actions in another side quest, it's quite a lot of attention to detail from the Sonic Team even if you could ignore these.


This quest is less important lore-wise yet still has a good story about an older Cast model wanting to find back her master after he threw her out of Ragol

Ambition of the Illuminus is where the story became more interesting but then again, being a 2007 video game, it went towards an edgier route with Ethan

Spoiler

becoming an anti-hero

which is surprisingly a good character development from being your typical shonen protag.

I can agree that Phantasy Star has always been edgier than Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest (as Sega was always pushing boundaries) but sometimes they may go a bit too far.

PSO2's first three episodes were fine I guess but then Episode 4 was an isekai with your typical anime tropes (like a bath scene) which made me not believe what I see... This ain't Phantasy Star there, it's just a Multiplayer Online game taking the popular brand instead of being its own thing. And before you're asking at least the original PSO still had some DNA from the original series like PSU with the 3-planets Stellar System.

Lol i played pso for like 4 years online and offline, trust me, i know.
PSO was dark as hell, the world felt borderline like a eldritch horror story, as for psu, i agree that psu's story was dumb as hell, while anime doesn't bother me, it's still super cringey.
Pso2's like a balance of the 2's stories, but honestly the best part of pso2 is it's combat system is the best mix of the 2 series.

 

[Ikagura]

Lol I played pso for like 4 years online and offline, trust me, i know.
PSO was dark as hell, the world felt borderline like a eldritch horror story

Another thing I loved in PSO is how you were explicitly told that you were not a hero (or not the only one) and that the character who was seen as such was Rico Tyrell (aka Red Ring Rico) who said that she didn't choose to be one but the person people needed the most at the moment.

She was both a scientist (like most of Pioneer 1's crew) and a Hunter so it was also an important plot point (she even told in a log that as a Hunter she was excited to discover new things but as a scientist she started to feel frightened).

Phantasy Star, especially with Dark Force/Falz, was always more or less Eldritch-like (and not like other RPGs where the main villain was the demon king or an evil emperor although FF started that trope of having to kill a god at the end of a JRPG) than other series of the genre.

Online managed to make Dark Falz still like that by telling it needed a host to live in our reality after being sealed for so long (and unfortunately the Pioneer 1 team basically opened up that seal).

I partly blame PSO (along with FF7 and other games I forgot) to make me love the Biopunk genre (since it's talking about genetic manipulation of the local fauna in the lore). The more you play the game the more you notice how Pioneer 1 was anything but clean about the scientific experiments (especially those led by Dr. Osto who could be basically the one responsible for most events in the game, namely De Rol Le).

as for psu, i agree that psu's story was dumb as hell, while anime doesn't bother me, it's still super cringey.
Pso2's like a balance of the 2's stories, but honestly the best part of pso2 is it's combat system is the best mix of the 2 series.

I believe Sega wanted to appeal to a younger audience and the western market with this one.

Notice how more western-like PSU looks as a Space Opera compared to the previous series? Even the art style tried to be grittier (like most late 6th gen games I'll say) and how it's greyish/less saturated colours (the meadow is less green than PSO's forest). Even when some areas from PSO came back in PSU they looked less bright (although PSO Version 2 on the Dreamcast felt way more atmospheric than the subsequent versions).

Portable 1&2's story felt more fine imo. I need to do PSO2 but sadly the first 3 episodes are no longer available I think.

 

[YuriSukiSan]

Offtopic, but I know a large series of pseudo MMORPG games - dothack. Heard bout that?

Yahyah! I know dothack! I've played through all of them they're pretty fun!

 

[Prism_Red]

I’m playing it on Vita, so I don’t think a 60fps patch would work. Camera control might be nice though, thanks for the link.

Man I spent more than 200 hours playing this, I'm really lucky that I got like 5 friends who owns a PSP and we all would grind together all day long after school.
These days when I open my old save file I just walk around in my room doing nothing.

If it's possible for you to transfer your save file and play through emulator, I recommend adding friend data from other save file you can find in the internet. Friend charas are much more powerful than the NPC party member.

Someone made a spreadsheet about various stuff here as well, there are visiphone passwords here too, just don't redeem the weapons' pass if you don't want the powerful freebies, some of them are strong enough that you can use it until postgame.

PSP2iDatabase

docs.google.com