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Phantasy Star Online Episode III - Impressions

It's a C.A.R.D. Revolution, baby! Like many, I ignored this card-battling game when it was first announced for GameCube back at E3. Yet here I sit, with the game in my possession. Even stranger, I actually like this tactics based game.

I've had the game less than a week so it's hard to do a real review. So sit back and enjoy the story of my initial experience of, and thoughts on, Sonic Team's Phantasy Star Online Episode III - C.A.R.D. Revolution.

I have never really played a card game like Magic before so it's hard for me to compare this to games like those. However, Sega's Phantasy Star Online Episode III seems to fall somewhere between card games like that, and turn-based tactic RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics, which I do enjoy. I also enjoyed PSO Episode I & II, and while this game is NOTHING like it, it's set in the same universe so you will see all the items, weapons, spells, and creatures you fondly remember.

Learning to play PSO Ep. 3 - C.A.R.D. Revolution is no small task. There is a tutorial, but it only covers the broad basics. It's a 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 matche. You can play as Hero Side (Hunter) or as Dark Side (Arkz) with a 30 card deck. You first roll the dice to see how many attack points you have for that turn. You then equip items (if you're a Hero) or summon creatures (if you're an Arkz). You move. And then you attack (if you're an Arkz, you can have the creatures you create attack, or you yourself can). Simple enough. But underneath that, it gets more interesting.

So much is left to you to figure out. Even some very basic concepts, and I'm not talking about basic strategy concepts. For example, you can't attack a Hero until you destroy all of their equipped items (weapons, shields, mags, ect), but each item of their's you destroy does one hit point of damage to that player. If a player has a barrier equipped, you must destroy it first before you can attack items beneath it. And that's still pretty basic, the game is quite deep.

I know you're thinking, well duh! But for those of us who have never played a card-battle game before, it can be confusing. PSO Ep. 3 seems to assume that you have played a game like this before. However, given some time, you will pick it up. It's not hard, it's just at first there is so much to look it, it's tough to know where to start. That said, I still haven't figured out what those colored bars on the sides of some cards mean...

On screen there is a LOT of information to look over to decide on your course of action. So much so that often things overlap. When people talk online, bubbles can overlap bubbles. Worst of all is when time is running out on your turn, the countdown clock covers up your opponent's weapons, the same ones that you are trying to target for attack. Grr.

Before I head online, let me back up. When you first start you create your character just like you did in PSO Ep. 1&2. The difference here is that it's basically cosmetic. You create the guy you run around as in lobbies, but in the actual matches, you play as one of 24 pre-set characters. So it doesn't matter if you pick to play as a FOnewm or a HUcast, or even Hero or Arkz, you can switch who you play as in battles any time you wish.

After every match, win or lose, you will be awarded a few cards at random to add to your collection. The better the ranking, the rarer the cards. There is no penalty for losing, so don't be afraid to play! I should also point out levels don't mean as much anymore. Supposedly the higher the level, the better chance you will get a rare card after a match, but that's all it does. Also, you have a separate level for offline and online. Maybe to help prevent people from using a GameShark and getting level 200 their first day...

Since this isn't a repetitive "hack & slash" like the original PSO, the game has a much more interesting offline game (1-4 players in Battle Mode). The story is even better, complete with a few cool storyboard cut-scenes. It's a good way to learn how to play (and earn more characters and cards).

Protip: After every battle, talk to all of your team members... three times.

Okay, even though offline can be fun, online is what it's all about. The game clearly is meant to be a nice companion piece to Ep. 1&2, and not just because you can use the same Hunter's License ($9/month) for both games (if you have Ep. 1&2, make sure to use the serial number from that game!). If you have both game saves on the same card (together they use 54 blocks), the game will import all of your Guild Cards. Online you can search for a player even if they are playing Ep. 1&2, and even go to the Ep. 1&2 lobbies! (Ep. 1&2 players can search in Ep. 3, but can't go to Ep. 3 lobbies.) The Ep. 3 lobbies look somewhat similar to 1&2's, but it now has a jukebox you can play tunes on (including songs from Jet Set Radio). Don't worry, all of your favorite chat features are back, plus sound effects that you can play for the room (don't abuse them people!). To play a game, you can go to the counter and create a game as usual, or sit at a 'table' (at tables you can organize 4 players easier than everyone trying to join the same game). From there you go to the "Morgue" (I have NO clue why it's called that). There you can trade doubles or organize your deck before actually starting the game (you can save multiple deck setups). When you start a game, you can pick from various boards and even set rules (like time limits, allowed cards, or to keep the deck unshuffled so über-geeks can put their's in the order they like). You can also just view a battle, or you could always join a tournament.

Tournaments are always going on (usually 2 starting every 20 minutes). At the counter you can see a list of scheduled tournaments. They vary in the number of players (4-32) and whether you play solo or as a team. You sign-up in a slot and then wait for it to begin (you will be notified so you don't forget). If you win a round, you get Meseta, and it's the ONLY way to do so (it can be used to buy cards or to play a song on the jukebox). The problem is when not enough people sign-up or your opponent bails (they either canceled, are no longer online, or weren't in the right block at the right time). Then you get to play the COM, and I can do that offline! (Though I don't get meseta offline, he-he.)

Be warned: a single match can take over 45 minutes to play! Usually they take about 25 minutes, but it varies greatly. That's the game's biggest fault since it does take dedication to play. I was worried I'd get bored waiting my turn, but that's not the case. Time flies (hmm, is that a good thing?). You can either chat and goof-off between turns, or I find myself often anxiously awaiting to see what the other player does so I can plan what I should do next.

When you first start I just suggest you take some time offline to figure it out. Read not only what your cards do, but make sure you understand what the cards your opponent has played can do (hit z). You would also be wise to start as a Hero since Arkz are harder to learn to play well. The game really is more of a strategy/tactics game, almost like a virtual game of chess, so it will make you think and plan your moves. How you organize your decks and play the matches matters more than the cards you have in your collection. Having a few nice rare cards sure helps, but the game is nicely balanced to keep it from being a huge advantage. And if you tire of all that, you can always head back to Ep. 1&2 for some mindless monster mashing.

I'm still not sure how I ended up getting Phantasy Star Online Episode III - C.A.R.D. Revolution, but so far I'm glad I did. It won't win any awards, and it's not for everyone, but if you give it a chance, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Get this game and soon you will be thinking, hmm should I spend my ATK points this turn on a Dragon Slayer, or should I spend it on this Mechgun and Barrier? Should I defend this attack, or wait? Should I move and take out the GoBooma, or take the Hildebear head on and get rid of that first? Should I add another Foie to my deck, or another Mag? Maybe if I play one more match I'll finally get an Assist card or another rare...

Wow... I have become such a N.E.R.D... (March 23rd, baby!)

If you don't already have PSO Ep. 1&2 and a GC online adapter (and a keyboard!), Ep. 3 doesn't come cheap, but it sure is fun. So head over to Vega 2, or Altair 8, and challenge my Ignignokt! Or some Bot...

(Update: Deneb and Antares have been turned into "/B" (battle) servers. Which means while you can gain more EXP per match, you can also lose more EXP.)