12th May 2004, 12:56 PM
Info from Gamespot:
*prays for an extensive single-player mode*
Quote:Sega announces new Phantasy Star title
Action RPG Phantasy Star Universe will breathe new life into the hallowed series.
Today at its E3 booth, Sega revealed it is working on a new Phantasy Star game, an action RPG entitled Phantasy Star Universe.
The publisher made no mention of Phantasy Star Universe at its "surprise" press announcement this morning, where the only thing shown was a multiplayer demo of the Matrix Online. It didn't divulge much more information about the early-in-development game at its booth, either, other than show a trailer for Universe. No info on platforms or release date were made available.
The Phantasy Star Universe trailer contained only prerendered CG footage starring characters and environments that looked stylistically similar to those seen in the recent Phantasy Star Online games. We observed one character fighting monsters with electro-blades, another animal-like warrior speeding through a desert environment, and a purple-haired girl with some resemblance to Phantasy Star II's Nei as we watched the trailer.
The Phantasy Star series began eons ago on the Sega Master System. After four popular single-player RPGs, the series took a multi-year hiatus and then reemerged on the Dreamcast in the form of Phantasy Star Online. Despite the series' recent focus on online play, Sega representatives are mum about whether Universe will center on off- or online play. Since the combat in the game is real-time instead of turn-based, it could go either way.
We'll bring you more details on Phantasy Star Universe as soon as they become available. In the meantime, keep an eye on GameSpot for the game's first trailer later today.
By Brad Shoemaker -- GameSpot
POSTED: 05/12/04 01:35PM PST
*prays for an extensive single-player mode*