Phantasy Star Portable 2: Grinding and Trading Weapons, Communication

Ricardo Leave a comment

A new Famitsu magazine scan popped on the internet. This time it details the Grinding system, Trading, and a large communication section. So again here's a quick rundown of what's been shown. Later on this post will be written in a formal blog format, but everyone loves bullet points anyway.

new boss

  • Matching Counter
    • Displays the Party List (20 or less at a time)
    • Party Create, Party Search, Simple Mail
    • If you blacklist a person you can not enter their party and vice versa.
  • Partner Card
    • Up to 100 people you can exchange your partner card.
    • You can view data and information of up to 8 characters on that player's account.
    • You can only trade items with people on your partner card.
    • You can exchange mail with people you partner carded with.
    • You can send the same message to up to 3 people at a time.
  • Item Trader
    • Located in the Cafe, players can trade items with each other.
    • However, you can not exchange items of A and S Rank.
    • You can only exchange items with someone in your partner card.
  • Grinding System
    • You can no longer grind weapons with Grinders
    • You can grind weapons with meseta.
    • The amount of meseta you spend depends on grade and the phase of grinding.
    • A weapon can grind 10 phases.
    • The weapon's power is randomly increased each phase
    • When you reach the last grind a "Final Grind" is possible.
    • The "Final Grind" can be done through use of a "extend code" item.
    • The method of obtaining the "extend code" item was not revealed at the time of this publication.
    • The weapon can evolve once this is done.
  • Final Grinding Evolution
    • When you reach this point several changes occur.
    • A weapon may change appearance. (For example those meat weapons in psp1)
    • Weapons with lower grades can evolve to S grade.
    • The weapons performance improves dramatically.
    • You can change the special effect of the weapon. (for ex. apply confusion)
  • Extra Mission
    • Bruce Dungeon
    • Egg Thieves
    • Shred the Darkness Mission: The Big Push
  • Fazuntal and Seguntal
    • A new Boss. They fight together.
  • Communication
    • Players can chat with a Software Keyboard
    • Add emoticons and tiny pictures as well.
    • When players say the same phrase, the chat bubble increases
    • There are 12 Chat shortcuts 
  • Auto Word
    • Auto Word is a feature where your character will say different things based on the situation.
    • The phrase appears automatically and is setup by the player.
    • (In other words your character will say phrases in situations an NPC would)
  • Auto Word List
    • Mission Start Time
    • Mission Clear Time
    • Level up!
    • My Friend Leveled up!
    • I am unable to battle.
    • I Revived!
    • My Remaining HP is less than 30%
    • My Remaining HP is less than 10%
    • Recovered you from a status effect
    • Healed you
    • Using a recovery item
    • Rare item get
    • Minor damage received
    • Moderate damage received
    • Large Damage Received
    • Battle Cry
    • Performed a photon art
    • Released a charge shot
    • Performed a Just Gaurd
    • During Urgent Evasion
    • I picked up a key
    • I unlocked the door/gate
    • Caught in a trap
    • Saved from a trap
    • Saved a friend from a trap
    • Open Personal Belongings (Open Item Menu)
    • Awaiting Orders

[view scan]

Meet Tonnio and Liina

Tonio

Tonnio Rhima a free agent mercenary…

Linna Sukaya

This is Liina Rhima… oh wait a minute..

  • Phantasy Star Portable 2 and mixi social networking.
  • I won't be covering this because mixi is Japan Only.

[via pspo2 blog + shougai pso]

PSPo2: Touring Japan!

Ricardo Leave a comment

Rappy Kid and Terada updated today! This is more propaganda news than gameplay features so..

 

Touring Shops across the country

It's the Phantasy Star Portable 2: Early Experience Party, across Japan in 7 different cities, you'll be able to meet up in one of 14 different locales and shops to play the game early! It's a pretty long list of locations which you can check out here. Of note you'll be able to receive these limited edition cards. These cards have item passwords on them that you can input in your vision phone.

emilia and yuto

They will give out these item password cards based on certain requirements. Just by playing the game on that day, you'll receive the "Special Item Password Card: Emilia" . In addition to this, they will also give you the "Special item Password Card: Yuto" if you reserved the game in the shop they are attending.

spearforce

Yuto's Weapon: Toop Nasul
Emilia's Weapon: Klarita Visus

You can input these item codes within the demo version of the game too! To do this, access story mode and enter your room, head to the vision phone and insert the item codes.  You'll receive the items based on which card you have in the screenshot above. Make sure to attend early because these password cards are in limited supply!

 

lensflare

Sakai doesn't need lens flare to make him cool!

At a later date, the passwords for these items will be released on the official site, so don't worry if you can't attend, you'll just miss out in meeting Sakai or Senior Director Terada if they make a surprise visit that day.

 

Blog Updates

pdf version

Also Rappy Child will be releasing a PDF version of the guide book that was given out at the Tokyo Game Show!

rainbowcolorshiningbox

Ain't she a beauty! ULTRA ULTRA RARE!

  • Terada mentions a Valkyrie Chronicles 1 and 2 collab…

[via pspo2 blog + inside games]

Special Cards

Well I finally got some minor information about those suggestive telephone cards.

 

Phantasy Star Portable 2 Japanese Demo Details

Ricardo 2 Comments

Sakai released a long blog post covering the Demo. Here are the details.

English Demo HERE!

Instructions on how to Download the Demo

Internet Multi Mode Lottery

Internet multi mode

Before even thinking about applying for the Internet Multimode lottery, you need a JP PSN account. Aside from that let's start the whole process…

Sakai will be testing out the server, and will only allow a limited amount of players. Each week he will add more and more players to assess server load. Even though 200,000 people sounds like a low number, this amount is subject to change if he feels the server can handle the stress of more players.

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  • Applying for Internet Multimode
    • Registration Begins October 28th until 1PM November 20th.
    • You can register on PC, PS3, or PSP.
    • Access the Playstation Store and sign in.
    • PC users can Access the Playstation Store through the Media Go application.
    • Access the Phantasy Star Portable 2 category to register your application.
    • You will receive a limited edition Emilia Version custom theme for your PSP.
  • Internet Multi Mode Lottery
    • Internet Multimode will run from November 9th, 2009 to November 30th, 2009
    • Players will be selected Nov 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th
    • 50,000 people will be selected each week.
    • A total of 200,000 people will be able to play!
    • These numbers may change based on the server load.
    • You will be notified by email with a trial "product code" if you have been selected.
  • Obtaining Trial License
    • Access the Playstation Store
    • At the top right corner of the screen, access the password code section.
    • Select "Playstation Network Account Management" and input your product code.

psn access

Once you're in you can access the party list or even your simple mail!

 

emilia version

Don't miss out! This Emilia theme is in limited supply!
As long as you sign up for Internet Multimode you will get it.

 

  • Rules and Information
    • One application per person
    • You may not transfer your right to play to a third party.
    • The Product code in the trial version may not be used in the retail.

 

[via pspo2 blog]

 

Demo Release Date and Details

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The Phantasy Star Portable 2 Demo will be released in Japan among various places. Here are the official dates with where you can obtain them.

November 1st, 2009, you can download the demo  for free at the official website! November 2nd, 2009, you can download the demo for free at the Playstation Store! The demo needs more than 370MB of space in order to play.

November 9th, 2009, you can obtain the UMD version of the demo with the purchase of any items related to Playstation Portable. I really suggest downloading it on the official website if you want to avoid this hassle. The only major difference between the UMD demo, is that it can distribute a digital copy of the game to your friend's PSP. Sakai wants you to use this feature with your classmates so you can play cooperation and battle missions.

In order to play this demo, you will need Playstation Firmware 6.00. I am not well versed in Playstation Firmware usage so please consult Playstation Network for details on how you can upgrade your firmware. For those using custom firmware, I do not have any information on if you can play this game. As for Internet Multimode, Sakai requires you use the Latest Playstation Firmware.  He says that it's best to use the latest firmware available to play games online.

 

Character And Shop Details

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The demo will allow you 2 characters to play with. The retail version will allow 8 characters to play with. You can either create your own from scratch or transfer them from Phantasy Star Portable 1 and Phantasy Star Portable "The Best" and Phantasy Star Universe Ambition of Illuminus!

The level cap is 15, and the type level cap is 5. Sakai says it will take a longer time to achieve type level 5 than it did in PSP1's demo. As with customization, you will be restricted from using the following locations and options:

  • Restricted Areas and features in the Demo.***
    • Shrine Maiden Sayo Yuhki
    • Makeup Counter's Proportion Sizes option.
    • Costume Shop
    • My Room Shop
    • A Cafe (10/28/2009: Item Trader is located here)
    • Multi Mode And Internet Multi Mode's My Room.
    • Changing your Type at the Type Counter.

It appears story mode's my room will be available to customize. Extend points and ability customize would also be possible. Accessing the common storage box is possible in all shops.
*(It's weird because of how his post is formatted and that he switches from what you can't do to what you can do under the same bullet point.. Even though his header says you can't do any of the following. Yes, confuse me more!  If the JP wiki changes this, I'll change this part of the post too.)

Story Mode

awakening

You are allowed to play Chapter 1: Awakening of an Angel, in the demo. This mission will take place in Seabed Relics. At the end you will meet Mika who will reveal a shocking detail. After you complete story mode, Emilia and your Partner Machinery can be invited to Free Missions. You can also talk to NPCs in the city who will reveal gossip and information (tutorial) to you in speaking voices.

Sakai talks about the previous demo, if you were to play Multi Mode first and level up too high, the story mode mission would have been too easy. This time he has implemented a new "system" which he will not reveal at this time. (I'm speculating that story mode's monster will become harder based on your level, this should improve game balancing…)

 

Multi Mode

reol

You can play with up to 4 players in a party. There will be 3 types of missions available to you, Free Mission, Battle  Mission, and Extra Mission (Co-op) Time Attack.

  • Free Missions Available
    • Seabed Relics
    • Sleeping Warriors?
    • Plains Overlord
    • Destroy the Multi Legged Weapon!
  • Battle Mission
    • Catapult Jump ( Both multi modes only.)
  • Extra Mission Time Attack
    • Bruce's Dungeon (Both multi modes only.)

There will be some changes to old missions in the game. This may include new monsters that were not previously there like the Svaltas in the relics mission. Yes, this is a jam packed demo, should keep you busy until the retail version comes out. Speaking of which, the retail version and the demo version can play together. In order for this to happen, a trial version player must be a party leader. A retail version player can then join their party and play with them. However, a trial version player will not be able to play any mission that was not included in their demo.

ss_06

The challenge mission will not be included in the PSP2 demo. Now you may be wondering what's the difference between a co-op mission and a challenge mission. In this case, a Challenge mission will restrict your level and equipment whereas an Extra Co-Op mission does not.  Sakai says it's pretty fun writing on the gravesite.

 

Bruce's Dungeon Extra Mode Mission

bruces dungeon 1

If you have played Phantasy Star Universe, you'll easily remember this mission! In PSU, Bruce's Dungeon was a mission where 4 players and Bruce himself have to solve simple puzzles and avoid traps as they make their way through the end. If anyone died (including Bruce mind you..) the mission was automatically over.

bruce 2

In PSp2, the mission is back but with some changes. First major one is that Bruce is now gone, and the focus is more towards time attacking it. (Although in PSU JP they now have a leader board for those who beat this mission quickly…) There are also changes in regards to the monsters who appear.

 

So in addition to this you'll be able to input your Pizza Hut and Fanta item codes. See you next time!

 

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[via pspo2 blog]