Ambition of the Illuminus
Contents
About Ambition of the Illuminus
Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus (ファンタシースターユニバース：イルミナスの野望 Phantasy Star Universe: Illuminus no Yabou) is the upcoming expansion to SonicTeam's 2006 multi-player online RPG Phantasy Star Universe. This article details all known facts about this upcoming game.
Release Information
The PC and PlayStation 2 versions of Ambition of the Illuminus are scheduled to be released in Japan on September 27, 2007. A specific release date for the Xbox 360 version has not been set, however Fall 2007 is anticipated. While neither the North American nor European versions of the expansion have official release dates, SEGA have confirmed a Fall 2007 release for North America and Winter 2007 for Europe.
The PC and PlayStation 2 editions of Ambition of the Illuminus will be released on disc for sale in retail outlets just as the original game was. The Xbox 360 version, however will be released on Xbox Live as download-only.
Network Trial Information
Japanese PC and PS2 users were able to participate in a free trial of Ambition of the Illuminus this Spring (PS2 users were required to log in to their accounts on a PC with PSU installed in order to play the trial). According to SonicTeam, the purpose behind this trial was to test connection and network stability as well as try out new in-game features. This trial ran from April 05 until April 26.
Participants in the trial were able to either start a brand new character or carry over their current character from PSU. If a participant decided to carry over their current character, a copy of their character data was made to the servers specifically set up for the trial of Illuminus while the original character data remained on the main game servers. The reason for this being that no information, stats or items from the network trial would carry over to the original game. Following the close of the trial, all character data on the trial servers was wiped. At this point, anyone who decided to carry over their character data has returned to the original game where they left off.
PSO in PSU?
Magazine scans and screenshots of the expansion have shown various Phantasy Star Online references, ranging from weapons such as the Durandal Repca and the Holy Ray, to screenshots showing a character in a HUmar outfit, fighting Rappies in what appears to be Lupus Silva (a.k.a. Forest 1). Currently, no detailed explanation has been given to explain these weapon, clothing and location references.
The Ambition of the Illuminus trial featured a mission called Deja Vu Forest (既視の樹林) which took place in the previously mentioned Lupus Silva look-alike, but the description was vague, only stating that the mission occurred in an alternate dimension.
New Weapon Categories
Four new weapon categories have been revealed for this expansion, bringing the total up to an impressive 27 categories.
Photon Whip
Photon Whips (フォトンウィップ) are right-handed striking weapons capable of attacking multiple targets around the wielder. Vishi (ヴィシ) and Vishi Adan (ヴィシ・アダン) are two of the currently known Photon Whips.
Slicer
Slicers (スライサー) are right-handed ranged weapons capable of releasing blades of photon energy whch home in on their target. Hiken (ヒケン) and Shurahiken (シュラヒケン) are two Slicers which have been revealed so far.
Madoog
Madoogs (マドゥーグ) are left-handed TECHNIC-casting weapons. Despite greatly resembling MAGs from Phantasy Star Online, they should not be confused with PSO's support partner. A maximum of two TECHNICs can be attached to a Madoog. Ten types of this weapon are currently known: Pit (ピット), Gipit (ギピット), Rapit (ラピット), Girapit (ギラピット), Gorapit (ゴラピット), Roggapit (ロッガピット), Pegi (ペギー), Sato (シャト), Soniti (ソニチ) and Dolly (ドリー).
Shadoog
Shadoogs (シャドゥーグ) are left-handed ranged weapons that automatically fire at enemies within range. All Shadoogs come with an elemental attribute tied to them, so it is not possible to link a Photon Art to the weapon. The element of a Shadoog determines which status effect it can inflict on the enemies it shoots. Eight types of this weapon are currently known: Duke (ドゥーク), Giduke (ギドゥーク), Raduke (ラドゥーク), Giraduke (ギラドゥーク), Goraduke (ゴラドゥーク), Roggaduke (ロッガドゥーク), Ebrozeek (エブロズィーク) and Flowduke (フラウドゥーク).
New Weapons
The following table lists all of the currently-known weapons planned for Ambition of the Illuminus. Please note that the English names given are not official localizations.
| JP Name | EN Name | Manufacturer | Weapon | Grade | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ソダ・ハッゾ | Soda Hazzo | TENORA WORKS | Sword | A | 7★ |
| ブレイバクル | Bravacle | Yohmei | Knuckles | A | 7★ |
| ゲキツナアタ | Gekitsunata | Yohmei | Spear | S | -★ |
| グングナアタ | Gungnata | -- | Spear | -- | -★ |
| ライカソベラ | Raikasobera | -- | Double Saber | -- | -★ |
| オウソベラ | Ohsobera | -- | Double Saber | -- | -★ |
| マトホノウ | Matohonou | Yohmei | Axe | A | 7★ |
| リョウサベウド | Ryo-Sabeud | -- | Twin Saber | -- | -★ |
| デュアルストリーム | Dual Stream | GRM | Twin Dagger | A | 7★ |
| ラッピー・ティッピーズ | Rappy Tippies | Kubara | Twin Dagger | -- | -★ |
| ネイクロー | Nei Claw | Kubara | Twin Claw | B | 6★ |
| デュランダル・レプカ | Durandal Repca | Kubara | Saber | A | 7★ |
| ラピッドストリーム | Rapid Stream | GRM | Dagger | A | 7★ |
| ヴィシ | Vishi | TENORA WORKS | Photon Whip | A | 7★ |
| ヴィシ・アダン | Vishi Adan | -- | Photon Whip | -- | -★ |
| ヒケン | Hiken | Yohmei | Slicer | A | 7★ |
| シュラヒケン | Shura-Hiken | -- | Slicer | - | -★ |
| ハクツラホウ | Hakutsurahoh | Yohmei | Rifle | A | 7★ |
| ホーリーレイ | Holy Ray | Kubara | Rifle | S | -★ |
| マダム・ブレラ | Madam-Brella | -- | Shotgun | -- | -★ |
| ヴァン・ブレラ | Van-Brella | -- | Shotgun | -- | -★ |
| ロングボウ | Longbow | GRM | Bow | C | 1★ |
| アロウシューター | Arrow Shooter | GRM | Bow | C | 2★ |
| ティラールク | Tiralk | GRM | Bow | C | 3★ |
| ボウゲンシー | Bowgency | GRM | Bow | B | 4★ |
| ルムアルス | Rumuals | GRM | Bow | B | 5★ |
| イズルーカ | Izuruka | GRM | Bow | B | 6★ |
| コルトバズーカ | Koltobazooka | Kubara | Grenade Launcher | B | 6★ |
| ブラングレネード | Bran Grenade | GRM | Grenade Launcher | A | 7★ |
| コウハカノウ | Kouhakanoh | Yohmei | Laser Cannon | A | 7★ |
| リョウビイムトル | Ryo-Beemtore | Yohmei | Twin Handgun | A | 7★ |
| ビイムトル | Beemtore | Yohmei | Handgun | A | 7★ |
| ヴァリスタ | Varista | Kubara | Handgun | A | -★ |
| ルビーバレット | Ruby Bullet | Kubara | Handgun | A | 9★ |
| ブドゥキ・マガナ | B'duki Magana | TENORA WORKS | Handgun | A | 7★ |
| カードファンテ | Card Fante | GRM | Card | A | 7★ |
| マッガ·スビナ | Magga S'bina | TENORA WORKS | Machinegun | A | 7★ |
| ドゥーク | Duke | GRM | Shadoog | C | 1★ |
| ギドゥーク | Gi-Duke | GRM | Shadoog | C | 2★ |
| ラドゥーク | Ra-Duke | GRM | Shadoog | C | 3★ |
| ギラドゥーク | Gira-Duke | GRM | Shadoog | B | 4★ |
| ゴラドゥーク | Gora-Duke | GRM | Shadoog | B | 5★ |
| ロッガドゥーク | Rogga-Duke | GRM | Shadoog | B | 6★ |
| フラウドゥーク | Flow-Duke | -- | Shadoog | -- | -★ |
| エブロズィーク | Ebrozeek | -- | Shadoog | -- | -★ |
| ロッド | Rod | GRM | Staff | C | 1★ |
| ヘリクセン | Helixen | GRM | Staff | C | 2★ |
| リュシエール | Ryushiel | GRM | Staff | C | 3★ |
| ストレーガ | Strayga | GRM | Staff | B | 4★ |
| マルギーサ | Margeesa | GRM | Staff | B | 5★ |
| ヴィエディーマ | Viedeema | GRM | Staff | B | 6★ |
| プリースト | Priest | GRM | Wand | A | 7★ |
| ピット | Pit | GRM | Madoog | C | 1★ |
| ギピット | Gi-Pit | GRM | Madoog | C | 2★ |
| ラピット | Ra-Pit | GRM | Madoog | C | 3★ |
| ギラピット | Gira-Pit | GRM | Madoog | B | 4★ |
| ゴラピット | Gora-Pit | GRM | Madoog | B | 5★ |
| ロッガピット | Rogga-Pit | GRM | Madoog | B | 6★ |
| シャト | Sato | Kubara | Madoog | A | 9★ |
| ペギー | Pegi | -- | Madoog | -- | -★ |
| ソニチ | Soniti | Kubara | Madoog | A | -★ |
| ドリー | Dolly | -- | Madoog | -- | -★ |
New Lobbies
Three new lobby areas have been revealed; one for each planet. Parum features the beach-front city of Paracabana, Neudaiz has a Gurhalistic shrine on Mt. Ohtoku and Moatoob has a Rappy-themed casino known as Casino Volyale. Aside from these main lobbies, there are a number of smaller mid-point lobbies which can be accessed in between different missions.
Paracabana Beach
--
Mt. Ohtoku
--
Casino Volyale
Collect your daily allowance of Vol Coins and gamble them on the casino's roulette table and various slot machines. You can use your winnings to exchange for special items.
New Fields
Multiple new fields have been revealed for Ambition of the Illuminus. Even though they were not all accessible in the trial version of the game, field names have been discovered at various mission counters across Gurhal.
Old Rozenom City
The ruined city of Rozenom lies to the southeast of Paracabana Beach on Parum. Details on exactly what caused the downfall of this once bustling city are currently unknown.
AMF Central HQ
This is the headquarters of the AMF, located in Holtes City.
Saguraki Conservation District
A beautiful mountain trail on Neudaiz lined with blooming cherry trees.
Pavilion of Air
This is the Ohtoku City headquarters of the Communion of Gurhal.
Pavilion of Air Upper Levels
--
Granigs Mine
The icy caverns of Granigs Mine stretch out beneath Moatoob's Vio Tonga.
Il Carbo Base
This is one of the AMF's bases located on Moatoob.
Habilao Restricted District
A mysterious forest filled with over-sized mushrooms. The air is teeming with incredibly high concentrations of photon energy.
Forest
Accessed from the Clyez City space dock, this area is described as existing in another dimension. Players from Phantasy Star Online will recognize this area as Ragol's Lupus Silva, otherwise known as Forest 1. The area is complete with enemies such as the Booma and Gobooma and familiar scenery which includes Pioneer 2 and the Central Dome. Rappies also make an appearance, however they are now white in color and are known as Rappy Polleck.
Cave
Fans of Phantasy Star Online should recognize this area...
Mine
It's No Man's Mines from Phantasy Star Online.
New Photon Arts
New Photon Arts will be added not only for the new weapons, but also for existing types. Here are the new Photon Arts that have been revealed so far.
| JP Name | EN Name | Rarity | Weapon | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| チュウエイジトツシン | Chuuei Jitotsu-shin | -★ | Twin Claw | -- |
| クロスハリケーン | Cross Hurricane | -★ | Twin Saber | -- |
| ヴィッシ·グルッダ | Visshi Grudda | 1★ | Photon Whip | -- |
| チッキョレンジン | Chikkyoren-jin | 1★ | Slicer | -- |
| レンガチュウジンショウ | Renga Chuujin-shou | -★ | Twin Dagger | -- |
New SUV Weapons
CASTs will have access to multiple new SUV weapons. Here at the ones that have been revealed so far.
| JP Name | EN Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ギガス・エスパダ | Gigas Espada | Summons an enormous sword. |
| パラディ・カタラクト | Paradis Cataracte | A rain of death. |
| ギガス・ファウスト | Gigas Faust | Summons a mechanical fist. |
| ラピア・フリューゲ | Lapia Fluge | Cures, heals and revives all allies within its range. |
New Room Goods and Redecoration Tickets
As opposed to the original game's strict layout for room decorations, Ambition of the Illuminus allows for much more freedom in where you can place trophies and items in your room. And to go along with all of the new items you can decorate your room with, there are a number of new redecoration tickets, allowing for an even more unique style.
| JP Name | EN Name | Rarity | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ナチュラル・マット | Natural Mat | -★ | -- |
| レッド・コート | Red Coat | -★ | -- |
| ハッピー・スコア | Happy Score | -★ | -- |
| オールド・フューチャー | Old Future | -★ | -- |
| オリエント・ホワイト | Orient White | -★ | -- |
External Links
PSU: Ambition of the Illuminus Official Site (Japanese) PSU: Ambition of the Illuminus page on the English Official Site
