I sit here in envy at people with Alienware or other such like-minded high-end PCs capable of running all the top end games out there. Given that, I've never been a MMORPG fan, because my computer has never been able to run them. However, back in the days of the Dreamcast, I did find myself getting addicted to Phantasy Star Online, and losing myself for hours leveling up my warrior named Scythe. I thought my addiction was cured, but now with Phantasy Star Universe now available, goodbye work, hello monster hunting.

THE STORY SO FAR
Unlike the past Phantasy Star games, Phantasy Star Universe (PSU from here on out) actually has a full pledged single player game. Don't go expecting your typical RPG flavor given that news, what with the turned based battles of most, as PSU is all real-time. Instead of planning your moves, you are too busy swinging that sword or shooting your gun. Sadly, however, the story is pretty lacking. If you are unable to get online with PSU, the single player might get you fulfilled, but I stress the might highly, as the multi is why you are really buying this game.

But say you don't play the multi, instead you'll play as Ethan Weber, a young kid who after one fateful days, has the thought of becoming a GUARDIAN, and so heads off for training. What follows is young Ethan's endeavors as he runs up across the SEED, meteorites that fall from the sky, scorching the land, and infecting lifeforms to become hostile by spreading little pollinating particles across the world. As the newest GUARDIAN, will Ethan and his crew be able to learn the secrets of the SEED and stop them.

Told as both cutscenes (many of them at that since the beginning features a lot of run to this place just to watch a cutscene) and more static scenes with thought bubbles instead of spoken word, the story unfolds as if you are watching an anime series instead of playing a game. I say this because, before every chapter, you'll see an honest to goodness opening title and theme song set to images of the game. After each chapter is finished, you'll get a next time on Phantasy Star Universe, complete with hints about what is to come. It is a little hokey at first, but once you know it is coming, it gives the game a nice storytelling edge in that respect.

GAMEPLAY
I'll just focus on multiplayer over Xbox Live here, since the gameplay talked about here is the same as that of the single player when it comes to combat.

When you start out multiplayer, you'll first determine what type of character you want be in regards to sex and race (human, newman, cast, or beast). Humans are your average all-around player, newman is best for casting spells, cast is best for rangers, and beasts are your tanks meant for hand to hand combat. After you pick those first two bits of info, you'll head on over to better customize your character, letting you choose from pre-select features as faces, hair styles, eyes, eyebrows, clothes, height and weight, etc.

After you select your name, you are thrown into the colony, where you'll find your room, which contains your little robot helper, who'll be able to store money, items, and even later help you make your room your own shop where players can come to buy your goods. Much like the MAGs of Phantasy Star Online, you can feed your robot buddy goods you find, and he'll upgrade in abilities, and after a certain level, they'll even be able to join you in combat as your helper.

Scattered about the colony you start in (as well as other planets as well) you'll find shops for weapons, armor, items, places to makeover yourself, buy new clothes, weapon parts, and synthesis shops so you can craft goods yourself. It can be a bit daunting once you first start, but you'll get a lay of the land in no time.

You'll now want to decide what type of specialty you want to be, as you must really focus on how you want to play the game. If the idea of wielding two swords and other massive hand to hand weapons, then a hunter life is made for you. If you are a hunter, be prepared to receive as much damage as you dish out, as you are always the first line of offense. If you prefer guns, then a ranger is your profession you shall be. Specializing in high tech guns and double wielding pistols, you'll be able to be the next line in offense after the hunter, and yet be able to keep yourself far away enough from the enemies so you don't take too much damage. And finally you have the forces, who specialize in wands and wielding devastating spells and life saving heals. If you fancy yourself a Harry Potter or Gandalf fan, odds are you'll be a force.

Now it is time to actually get to fighting. Worlds are split into two sections, with each section containing different quests you can do, though not all of them are available to you from the beginning. Instead, you'll have to relegate yourself to non-restriction quests, as you won't be able to access the harder and more rewarding challenges until you are a higher level. You can choose to play any quest by yourself, but you'll be having a pretty hard time, plus, you'll miss out on a lot of the fun.

It is really easy to meet up with players, meaning you should never have to play alone unless that is your way of life. You can join games already present, and instantly meet with a party that way. You can start a game by yourself and keep it open so other players can join as they like. You can wait outside in the cities and chat with people looking to start up a quest. Or, if you've already met and traded cards with players (your personal ID info so you can find people you played with previously that you liked) you can look at their cards in your collection, see where they are at, and head over there; you can also email them to line up a meeting later.

There are several ways to communicate in this game, as you have both pre-determined messages for those suit all situations, plus there are expressions for your character, like laughing, dancing, and crying to give a visual representation of what you'd usually want to say. Of course, these are for the people who don't have a USB keyboard, which I highly suggest getting if you plan on losing yourself in PSU. With a keyboard, it is really easy to simply type in whatever you want to say. Besides those methods, once you've joined up with a party, you can actually use your Xbox Live headset to talk with your members.

As for combat, I've got one word for you – X-button. Yes, mostly all the combat is performed by railing on the X-button over and over and over. However, if you choose to upgrade your weapon and add a photon art, you can activate it with the Y-button, though you have to be careful since your weapons only feature so much photon energy and it must be charged up over time. The lock-on of your characters works pretty well, though you'll also spend a lot of time wildly swinging at air. One thing PSU does very well is opening up the B-button to be an easily accessible item choice system, letting you scroll through choices you've actually put on the wheel, letting you have instant access to any weapons you placed on there and any items you think you might need during combat. The only problem with the scroll system I found, is that you can waste much needed healing items by moving too fast, as sometimes in the heat of battle, I found myself relying a great deal on my monomates, and noticed though I'd lose it from my item count, it failed to heal me.

Otherwise, PSU is like all your other MMORPGs – fight, level up, find items, sell them, buy them, equip, continue kicking butt. Given that, I'm hooked, and I simply can't get enough time and am always thinking about what comes next, as I cant wait to turn my beast into a raging monster once he reaches level 20.

GRAPHICS
Though in many cases it seems like the game is just a small upgrade over the Phantasy Star Online versions of the game, there are tweaks, and the game is really beautiful in some cases. Mixing fantasy with sci-fi, you'll be swinging neon lighted weapons, fighting some really interesting looking monsters, and the cities and environments are really nice. There is one planet, which looks like a futuristic feudal Japan, and the first quest you'll play in the game, there are these absolutely beautiful scarlet colored trees, with swirling leaves, and it is simply touching to behold.

SOUND
You'll get tired of hearing the same grunts and slashing sounds over and over, but the music is so top-notched, you'd be dishonoring the game if you didn't spend your time listening to these beautiful songs, which do things like mingle traditional feudal Japan sounds with new age techno to create a mesmerizing blend of wonder. The only place where the sound work really fails is in the voiceovers of the single player game, as they are literally some of the most atrocious line readings I've ever heard. It sounds as if these people were picked off the street, especially Ethan's voice actor, as I just wanted to kill him myself so he'd shutup.

IN CONCLUSION
Beware of losing yourself in this game. If you choose not to focus on the online multiplayer, PSU is a game that should go rather low on your totem pole of must buys. However, if you are looking for an action MMORPG to play on your Xbox 360, I'd highly recommend picking up Phantasy Star Universe, and be sure to buy a cheap USB keyboard too (trust me, you'll want one). Meanwhile, I'll be online playing, so if you see a beast hunter named Seppuku, come up and say hi, maybe I'll give you a treat if I have anything on hand, and if not, at least we can trade cards and get some fighting in. Hope to see you there!

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