More PSO Episode 3 shots, Commentary by yours truly! Options

[Crushinator]

Here's the logo...lookin' pretty spiffy.


Oh....beautiful lighting. The cards say SABER, DODGE, ATTACK, GUARD, DB SABER.
Notice the 9 block grid on the cards...I think this indicates the effective range of the card. Since both weaps are saber types, they can only attack the forward adjacent square, while the DODGE and GUARD cards have the entire area highlighted...


Cool jungle level...I hope that blue thing on the FOmar's head is a turn indicator and not another goofy hat. Since it says "move" seems like this game will take your battlefield position into play...that will add some strategy game elements.


HUnewearl and RAmar versus a FOmar in what looks like a spiffed-up Cave 2.


Bird's eye view of this awesome tower in the middle of the jungle...maybe its the elevator from P2 to the surface? (yeah yeah why do they need an elevator when they have teleporters...shut up.) I wonder what dice have to do with a card game.


HUnewearl and RAmar versus the FOmar and his RAcaseal compatriot. Looks like the FOmar's team has the advantage with a delbiter on their side...but the HUnewearl is weilding the Chain Sawd so anything goes!


I think this is the coolest looking area shown so far...That windmill is just too swawsome. Is that a mericarol I spy on the battlefield?


This screen says "DECK EDIT"...the HUnewearl's name is "SORUFA" or something. Sophie in english? Anyways, I love the new art direction for PSO. Very cool style to it, and it comes across in in the enhanced character models too. Let's see some HUcast action!


OOh a scary Hildebear! Card says "HILDEBEAR" duh. If my theory above holds true, looks like he can attack in a 3 block range in front of him. Does the red bar across the top of the card indicate he is fire element? I like how on the artwork for the card, there is a HUmar about to get punched in the face.


Ow! 4 damage, thats gotta hoit! Can't really tell who is taking the damage though...since the bar on "SORUFA"'s side is low, I guess its her. Cards say HILDEBEAR, SORUFA, and DARK FLOW. Weapons have HP eh?

[Crushinator]

The card lobby, I suppose. Since the card game uses pre-made characters, I guess this is the only spot where our custom characters (imported from PSOv3 I hope) will be used. Notice the ship name "Naka". How conceited!


Sweet jungle battle area. I like the lights cutting through the canopy of the forest.


Bird's-eye of the jungle battlefield. Man, those Chaos Bringers are big!


Beach battle area...In this screen we can actually see the grid on which you move. Check out the cutie FOnewarl with the poofy hat.


More cave battlefields. Looks like all the normal enemies will be represented in card form. I wonder if you can get boss monster cards.


Lots of cards here. From left to right..."C CANE", "FOIE", "MAGICAL P", "FOIE", MAGICAL P", "ATTACK", "PHOTON CLAW", "PHOTON CLAW", "SABER". Look at the grid on the FOIE cards...The effective range extends 2 blocks beyond the front of the grid.
Check out the RAcast with the C.Bringers rifle...he's so cool. I like how they combine Ultimate and regular difficulty monsters as different units. Finally Boomas and Tollaws can battle!

[DarkEpyon]

Looks cool, but the game engine looks more and more like MtG and Yu-Gi-Oh with PSO's graphics.

[OzzaJW]

ooh they look perty!!! i wasn't against this game, liemany were, to start with, and now i've seen this cool grid thing, it's starting to get me all excited. maybe like an online, 4 player jazzed up chess????

[Mute]

Some of the stage graphics look really great. I'm anxious to see this game in motion. The more I see it, the more I'm drawn to it. I'm not the biggest fan of card battle games, but I was highly addicted to SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighter on Neo Geo Pocket. If it's anything like that, I'll be hooked for sure.

[Henge]

those caps are pretty indeed... the characters in battle are PRE-created? i guess we'll have to see if it lives up to the images, and if the damn thing will cost more ontop of normal pso.

[OzzaJW]

woth some of ,my patented "Ozza-deduction" (a.k.a guessing) i've come to the conclusion over characters.

The character in the battle, are in fact cards. if you look at the sorufa picture, she is a card, with ranges and such. i think, as they are in every pic so far, that you MUST have a character alive to play,say in chess it's the king (i don't know chess at all, so i may be wrong here) and if she or he dies you lose. I think then you lay down certain thigns, eitehr equip them with things, or send out new monsters, so i reckon for lobby chat you can use your own look character, as shown in the lobby.

also i have deduced that the RAmarl 12345 is in fact a bingo-caller in her spare time. She has one of those suncaps with apparently no use, as they are see-thru, and have a gaping hole in the top, and then she has the patented bingo-caller puffy hair...

[Layrinn]

Well, here's something kinda interesting: (blatantly ripped from PSOW's front page)

QUOTE

Play online and interact with Hunters from PSO Episode I & II in the lobby

Now, there are several ways to interpret this statement... but it might mean that the card game is in fact just an addition to what we already have now. Imagine this, if you will:

Our characters have the ability to collect cards in addition to their regular inventory. When we log on, it's business as usual... we chat in the lobbies and we can make an ep1 or ep2 game like always. If we want to play cards, we go to the new lobby and sit on the "ready area". (Notice how the three occupied positions have arrows in the one in front of the HUmar does not?) All three episodes existing together in happy harmony. ^-^

Ok, yeah... so it's wild speculation. *shrug* But it sure would be cool if that's how it ended up. Where's our E3 info, dammit?!? =O

[Sheik]

Oh yes, this is starting to change my mind. I would be willing to give it a shot. It might not be so bad after all. Seeing all those screen shots and such is changing my mind about the idea even it it is totally card battle, but I would hope that like Rinn said earlier that it will be integrated with EP1 and 2...

Even if it is not then it would still be neat as a side thing to do but I would hope that they keep the same format of the game as EP1 and 2 have already.

[DarkEpyon]

Hopefully, we'll be able to do just as 'Rinn said above. There are endless possibilities here. The answer to the whole photon sphere bit may lie within this game. There may even be ways to obtain weapons/items that are currently inaccessable in this version. A friend of mine told me something about a gold lavis musashi and some other stuff which he couldn't remember. Any of the aforementioned info should be taken with a big grain of salt.

[Dive]

I managed to get a hold of the preview video.

You can download it here.

Caution 4.8 Meg File

[Crushinator]

Rinn, that is my theory as well. Perhaps there will be "card lobbies" that will be added as an extension, just like the soccer lobbies were added to PSOv2...and the PSOv1 players simply couldn't access them. C.A.R.D. battle will just be another mode to PSO, like challenge or battle modes.

As for E3 info...well E3 hasn't even started yet so hold onto your horses! We'll know all we need to know by the end of this week.

Heh, that video is pretty cool. I like the effect of the monsters "loading in" when you select them.

[Sheik]

That video totally rocks. I like the way the enemies spawn in. From what I see it looks like the card game is a side thing. Let's hope so. But, still the idea is cool and I am more then willing to give it a try.

[Bryn]

QUOTE (Layrinn @ May 13 2003, 03:32 PM)

but it might mean that the card game is in fact just an addition to what we already have now.

This would make me very happy, and I would willingly shell out the $50 for the game. I'm really hoping that current characters can just be transferred over, and you will be able to access the new card lobbies (much like the transition from V.1 to V.2), although this may be a tad hopefull.

Either way, after watching the movie, Im definately more interested in the concept than I was before. I just dont want to have to maintain a seperate HL, if I'm still playing EPII.

[Tysie]

[ NO! NO! NO!

No new,i don't want another. Pleeease no.

Maybe...if i had a demo.

But NO!

[HC82]

Looks promising, maybe it is jam packed with strategy so the game has some replay value to it. Hopefully the game isn't 50 bucks, considering most of the models are ripped straight from PSO EP1&2. Heh, It would be pretty funny if FSOD was in this game too.

[Alisha]

that video looks sweet but lol 2 of those hunters had 32k wins :o

[Crushinator]

Well, you gotta play the game a LOT when you beta test. Although they sitll can't find all the bugs....(i.e. any version of PSO)

[Alisha]

this picture makes it seem like characters can be unlocked and that 2 were just unlocked
oh and that pic with the orang fomarl that costume doesnt exisr yet O_o

[Crushinator]

Well if it is like most videogame-format card games, then you will win new cards for you deck by defeating opponents. Maybe you are able to gamble on cards with other players. The "New" indicator probably means that the player just got that card added to their deck from the previous game.

[Ether]

I'm thinking the two sides of each battle can only attack with certain cards. It seems that theres always one side using regular PSO weapons, while the other side (which always seems to have that blue FOmar) attacks by sending out monsters. So maybe its Heroside vs Villian side?

I wonder if theres going to be an offline mode with a storyline...

[Crushinator]

You hit the nail on the head, Ether. The basis of the game is HERO vs. ARK. Hero's use regular PSO weapons and spells and stuff, while the ARK control the PSO monsters.

I'm sure there will be an offline Story mode to explain all this stuff. Sonic Team seems pretty adamant about PSO's "Offline and Online play" theme. Which is why we won't ever get server side saves in an current form of pso

[Dive]

I don't know if this has been mentioned anywhere, and I don't know the validity of the news, but this site claims that beta testing will start in Japan in July and August with the ability to transfer your Ep1&2 registration info to this game.

It will be cool if we are be able to use our existing HL. I really hope that the card lobbies will be available as an extra lobby like Soccer was in v2. If you don't have Ep3, then you just won't be able to get to the card lobbies.

[Crushinator]

Yeah, it would be real cool if all the EP1&2 data is on Ep3, so you don't have to change games if you get the urge to play regular pso or any crap like that.

[Mute]

QUOTE (Dive @ Jun 3 2003, 04:14 PM)

I don't know if this has been mentioned anywhere, and I don't know the validity of the news, but this site claims that beta testing will start in Japan in July and August with the ability to transfer your Ep1&2 registration info to this game. It will be cool if we are be able to use our existing HL. I really hope that the card lobbies will be available as an extra lobby like Soccer was in v2. If you don't have Ep3, then you just won't be able to get to the card lobbies.

Wow, I really dig this idea. I really hope that's how it pans out for North America. I mean, most current players who get this game will likely still be playing Episodes I & II, so a simple one-time registration for both games would be nice. I like the card lobbies idea as well. However, since the disks are seperate, I have a good feeling we won't exactly be seeing too much interaction between the PSO Ep. I&II and PSO Ep. III servers. I suppose only time will tell.

[Bri-N]

Here are some details for the game, don't blame me if the info is wrong since it didn't come from me As for me I'm not too interested in PSO E.3

•Story
-The world after Ep2 is drawn firmly.
-An off-line story has many text-[ EP / 1&2 ] things.
-Touch which there is a map of the planet itself, and directions of if it goes here come out, advances a tale, and goes.

•The card collection method
-It can receive, if the story is advanced off-line.
-Acquisition is possible even if pitched against each other on-line.
-Other players and card exchange are also possible.

•System
-A guild card can be succeeded from Ep 1&2.
-If it will be said that he has connected by EP 1&2, and wants to play Ep3 today, it can be made to carry out only in exchange of ROM a play start.
-It enables it to have said the chat as the blow-off chat and the specific man (ally ?) ordinarily.
-There is also a card which consumes and takes out an ally and an action point.

•Beta test start time
-I want to start in July or August.

•The kind of card
-Only for hero sides
•Alder TAZU card
-The character card for stories with which a player directs at the time of a battle. An item card and an action card are attached to this. Moreover, this card is HP0 and it is defeat.
•Item card
-The card with which the arms with which story KYARA is made to equip, a protector, MAGU, etc. were indicated. The action point required for each equipment is set up. There are "SODO", a "shield", etc.

-Only for dark sides
•AKUZU card
-The DAKUSAIDO story character card belonging to "AKUZU" which is a counterinfluence to a governor-general's office. Like an alder TAZU card, this card is HP0 and it is defeat.
•Enemy card
-The card which can summon an enemy on a map. The action point required for a summons is assigned to the enemy. There are "BUMA", "NARURIRI", etc.

-Common to a hero side / dark side
•Action card
-Action which story KYARA and an enemy start is describing. The effect range is set to action with the required action point. "A two-step murder", "Feuillet", etc.
•Assistant card
-It has auxiliary effects, such as a trap and a dice. A card with an effect broad to what affects all the members from what is effective against an individual. A battle can be advantageously advanced by mastering well.

•The flow of a card battle
-Deck number of sheets
•30 sheets
-Dice -> set -> MUBU -> action -> draw

•Dice
-The eye which shook two dice at the time of a turn start, and came out at it serves as an action point of the turn. How the point obtained here is assigned to 2-4 player-judges.

•Set
-A hero side is equipment of an item card to a hunter. Dark arranges an enemy card on a map. A card set is possible as long as the action point remains.

•MUBU
-Movement of KYARA and an enemy is performed. It is 1 consumption about an action point for every 1 mass. It is important also for a position relation to deliver a penetration attack on the enemy who ranked with an ally, scissors, or the straight line etc.

•Action
-An action card is taken out and attack and defense are performed. I will fight "a two-step murder" in piles to SODO equipped by the set, making full use of various tactics, such as an attack.

•Draw
-It repulls from 山札 so that it may throw away as he likes an unnecessary card out of a hand, and a hand may become five sheets. The card without necessity should improve rotation of the deck.

[Crushinator]

Engage Crushinator Engrish Translation Mode....

QUOTE

•Story  -The world after Ep2 is drawn firmly.  -An off-line story has many text-[ EP / 1&2 ] things.  -Touch which there is a map of the planet itself, and directions of if it goes here come out, advances a tale, and goes. •The card collection method  -It can receive, if the story is advanced off-line.  -Acquisition is possible even if pitched against each other on-line.  -Other players and card exchange are also possible.

So, the story is directly after Ep2 (and Ep1 I suppose, since they are supposed to run concurrently?) Lots of in-game text to flesh out the story, check. And so now we get a map of Ragol to move around on? Cool! Maybe will will get to see more locales, like a tundra, desert, or city.

And you get cards from offline story mode, battling other players, and trading with other players. Makes sense.

QUOTE

•System  -A guild card can be succeeded from Ep 1&2.  -If it will be said that he has connected by EP 1&2, and wants to play Ep3 today, it can be made to carry out only in exchange of ROM a play start.  -It enables it to have said the chat as the blow-off chat and the specific man (ally ?) ordinarily.  -There is also a card which consumes and takes out an ally and an action point.

Same guild card list from v3...thats's good. "Exchange the ROM" must mean changing the disc from the title screen. I guess this means Ep1&2's game content won't be included on Ep3's disc. We can probably only access the lobbies.

QUOTE

•The kind of card -Only for hero sides    •Alder TAZU card      -The character card for stories with which a player directs at the time of a battle. An item card and an action card are attached to this. Moreover, this card is HP0 and it is defeat.    •Item card      -The card with which the arms with which story KYARA is made to equip, a protector, MAGU, etc. were indicated. The action point required for each equipment is set up. There are "SODO", a "shield", etc. -Only for dark sides    •AKUZU card      -The DAKUSAIDO story character card belonging to "AKUZU" which is a counterinfluence to a governor-general's office. Like an alder TAZU card, this card is HP0 and it is defeat.    •Enemy card      -The card which can summon an enemy on a map. The action point required for a summons is assigned to the enemy. There are "BUMA", "NARURIRI", etc.

Looks like you get to have Mag cards after all They use the terms "hero side" and "dark side" story just like in Sonic Adventure 2 hehe. This just confirms what we had suspected earlier. Hero's only get weapons and items, ARKs only get monsters.

QUOTE

-Common to a hero side / dark side    •Action card      -Action which story KYARA and an enemy start is describing. The effect range is set to action with the required action point. "A two-step murder", "Feuillet", etc.    •Assistant card      -It has auxiliary effects, such as a trap and a dice. A card with an effect broad to what affects all the members from what is effective against an individual. A battle can be advantageously advanced by mastering well.

I dunno wtd a Feuillet is, but I guess those are special move cards, combos maybe? Placing traps on the field is a cool feature too.

QUOTE

•The flow of a card battle -Deck number of sheets •30 sheets -Dice -> set -> MUBU -> action -> draw •Dice  -The eye which shook two dice at the time of a turn start, and came out at it serves as an action point of the turn. How the point obtained here is assigned to 2-4 player-judges.

I think 30 sheets means 30 cards in your deck. Seems kinda low...but I guess that makes for quick games. The dice roll at the start to determine action points seems like you might get jipped by a series of bad rolls though X(

Overall the rules look pretty good. Not too complex, but the different weapon, enemy, item, and action cards will add a lot of depth to the game. I hope there will be a very large number of cards to collect, so we can keep busy trying to improve our decks.

[Henge]

thats pretty intresting translation work there, crush. especialy the part about the full story and a more linear map/world, but from what i get from it, it will only be for offline? my engrish isn't so good. hahaha.


anyway each time they release another tidbit it gets more and more intresting, thanks for keeping us posted.

[DarkEpyon]

There's even a trial that's starting in July yet Sega will only sell to Japan residents. However there are said to be sites that get stuff directly from Japan and can get ahold of this sucker.

[Ether]

QUOTE (Claymore @ Jun 6 2003, 04:18 PM)

thats pretty intresting translation work there, crush. especialy the part about the full story and a more linear map/world, but from what i get from it, it will only be for offline? my engrish isn't so good. hahaha.

Yeah, I'm interested in that too. If online mode is only 4 player battles, 2 people playing heroside and 2 playing ark, it might get boring pretty fast. I hope you can battle 4 players vs the computer, since thats what pso is all about really.

[HC82]

Beta testing...
http://www.gamespot.com/gamecube/adventure...ws_6029651.html

*reads crush's posts*

It must be the robot college?

[DivA]

lol, this was a good read ~ lots of useful information here.. hmmm, i'll confess that upon first hearing the news (PsO ep. III as a card game..), i was not in the most pleasant of moods *i know what you're thinking, Mute ~ lol, i wasn't all THAT bad.. =p* ~ a game with cards to take over the original direction of PsO was at first - shocking, even horrific to contemplate.. =. *reflects* i'll admit, these recent screenshots look decent & the artwork is cosmic ~ especially that HUnewearl card image (yes, yes ~ i love art & decent art at that ~ Sonic Team's artisans do a good job..) well, to be fair ~ i'll give both Sonic Team & this successor a fair shake; who knows, i might like it.. ^.-