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26th May 2004:
Phantasy Star Online III: C.A.R.D. Revolution
It is time to return to the planet Ragol and once more decide the fate of those aboard Pioneer 2.
Posted by Chris Snook - GameCube - UK and Europe

There are a few games that can be considered defining for some people. The Final fantasy games, Hal-Life, Doom or Resident Evil to name a few, games that stand up and shake you by the shoulders. For me one of those games was the original Phantasy Star Online for the Dreamcast, though I have never played it online at all. Now after a successful recreation and expansion with the Phantasy Star Online: Episode I&II set, the third and final instalment is about to arrive.

The storyline, which was a subtle thread woven through the first two episodes has been expanded on and made even more integral to what is happening. It is twenty-one years after the events of the first two games. Ragol, the planet that was to be colonised is still off limits to the majority of those on the colony ship Pioneer 2. This is due it seems to governmental inertia as we learn that the original head of Pioneer 2, Principle Tyrell is no longer such and that his successor is facing a sever trouble from the rebel faction known as the Arkz. From here there are two different but entwined storylines that you can follow, that of the Hunters and that of the Arkz themselves.

Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution breaks from the game style of it's predecessors, dispensing with the go into room and beat up monsters in favour of a turn based system, that will be familiar to many people who have played collectable card games before. All the familiar elements are present, the three Hunter classes (Hunters, Rangers and Forces) along with all their equipment, which includes Mags, shields, weapons and the rest of the nice stuff. Also present are the monsters that you have faced before, ready once more to cause you grief. Except that all these are represented by cards which you place into play in order to perform the actions you want to do that round. You are in effect placed in tactical charge of your team and decide how they will act and when.

There are four types of card, item, action, monster and assist. Hunters get item cards, the Mags, weapons and the like, the Arkz (the other 'side') get to summon the monsters of Ragol to aid them. Action and assist cards are common to both sides, the latter allowing for all sorts of helpful effects to take place. They are all placed into a deck and shuffled.

The two sides have different strengths and weaknesses that allow them to play very differently; Hunters are more durable due to the upgrades that they enjoy in terms of shields armour and the like, whilst the Arkz can pile creatures into the path of a Hunter in an effort to slow their advance down. A nice, simple difference that should add to the game.

Play is divided into five different phases. The first determines certain statistics in that round, such as how many actions that can be done or how good your defence is. The second allows you to equip items or summon a gribbley ready to do something in phase three, which is the movement round. Phase four is the action round where you get to attack an opponent or monster and use action cards, all of which depletes your action pool as determined in the first phase. The final phase is a discard phase where you can loose any cards that are unhelpful to you. Then it is time to sit back and watch as your opponent makes their choices and moves.

Graphically, PSO III should improve even on the stunning look of the first two when they came out for the Xbox and GameCube. As play should be more static in nature this almost certainly will allow for a boost in detail and effects. With familiar places acting as the battle arenas, each with that extra bit of polish, visually this should be a treat.

With the announcement that the fabled broadband adapter for the GameCube is also to be reintroduced, to coincide with PSO III's release, the chance to interact with those who are playing the earlier Episodes and the fact that it is just a neat idea make this a possible one to watch.

Chris Snook

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