PS0:Phantasy Star ZERO

The Phantasy Star ZERO logo

Phantasy Star ZERO (ファンタシースターＺＥＲＯ, also called PHANTASY STAR 0 in the logo, and abbreviated as PS0) is the latest addition to the long-running Phantasy Star series. It is exclusive to the Nintendo DS and has been available in Japan as of December 25, 2008. The game takes place in an all-new continuity, albeit one that is heavily inspired by Phantasy Star Online. As such, the game has no meaningful story ties to the Phantasy Star Universe series (or any other existing Phantasy Star game, for that matter).

The official site states the name ZERO is intended to invoke a feeling of 'a return to the origin.' The developers have also said that they chose the abbreviation PS0 deliberately to emphasize the connection to Phantasy Star Online.

PS0 is slated for a Fall 2009 release in the United States as well as a Winter 2009 release in Europe.

Features

• Has a single-player story mode as well as a 2-4 player multi mode that can be played online over local wireless or Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Details on how players will meet each other or whether Friend Codes will be used are unknown.
• Players can create their own characters in both modes, choosing from three races (human, newman and CAST) and 14 classes based on classes from Phantasy Star Online.
• Multi mode will allow for communications, where players can draw images or text to send to their teammates via Pictochat.
• Revealed areas include the Gurhacia Valley, Riou Snowfields, Ozette Wetland and Dairon City.
• The game will take place on the Earth and its moon.
• Rappies will return.
• Photon arts will return, explaining the presence of individual player PP gauges as opposed to TP like in Phantasy Star Online.
• Two techniques have been revealed: Resta and Alresta. While Resta will heal only the caster, Alresta will heal party members within a radius of the caster.
• The background music will change when encountering enemies, similar to PSO.

Characters

• Sarisa, a newman described as a "young girl from a forgotten race."
• Kai, a human described as a "veteran Hunter."

Classes

There are 14 classes in PS0. They are similar to Phantasy Star Online in that each class is in reality a combination of race, gender and an archetypical class type (Hunter, Ranger or Force).

H u n t e r	HUmar	Male human
	HUmarl	Female human
	HUnewm	Male newman
	HUnewearl	Female newman
	HUcast	Male CAST
	HUcaseal	Female CAST
R a n g e r	RAmar	Male human
	RAmarl	Female human
	RAcast	Male CAST
	RAcaseal	Female CAST
F o r c e	FOmar	Male human
	FOmarl	Female human
	FOnewm	Male newman
	FOnewearl	Female newman

Weapon categories

Phantasy Star ZERO features a total of 16 weapon categories, some returning from previous Phantasy Star titles accompanied by a few newcomers.

Striking weapons
Swords	Spears	Sabers
Double sabers	Claws	Daggers
Shields	x	x
Ranged weapons
Handguns	Machineguns	Launchers
Rifles	Bazookas	Gunslashes
Magic weapons
Rods	Wands	Slicers

External links

• [1] [2] - a couple of scans of the Famitsu article first announcing Phantasy Star ZERO.
• [3] [4] - scans of a second Famitsu article.
• The Phantasy Star ZERO official site.