Welcome To PSO!
- JP release: 27th November 2003
- NA release: 2nd March 2004
- EU release: 11th June 2004
- Developer: Sonic Team
- Publisher: Sega
- NGC Magazine Score: 82%
- Mods Used: Widescreen Code
While I was aware that this replaced the real time combat from Phantasy Star Online Episodes 1 & 2, however, I wasn’t expecting the game to be this different. Half of the elements I enjoyed about it have been replaced with stuff I don’t like, and the rest has just been removed.
The new battle system takes the form of a grid based tactical RPG, you control one of the people under your command (your created character has no part in the action and may as well not exist). On your turn you’ll roll dice to determine your attack and strength, equip cards, move and then attack. When your opponent attacks, you can also play a defence card. Every turn in the game feels like it drags and takes far too long, and the dice roll adds more randomness than is needed. I really didn’t like this system at all.
And these battles are the only thing the game does. These battles don’t take place within missions that let you roam around, every single quest is a single battle. Between each battle you can walk around the tiny hub as your created character, but it may as well just be a menu.
Later ports of Phantasy Star Online have ignored this episode. When the PC version came out, it was Episodes 1 & 2 alongside a new episode 4 with gameplay based on episodes 1 & 2. I feel like the battle system (while not for me) could have worked well for its own game, but nothing this game does seems like a suitable follow up from Episodes 1 & 2.
Poor
Possibly the best all-out strategy game on GC, while online play makes it uniquely rewarding and compelling.
Geraint Evans, NGC Magazine #94
Remake or remaster?
A re-release for fans of the game, although the story being worked into the 1 & 2 gameplay for a full “Phantasy Star Online” game covering episodes 1 to 4 would be great.
Official Ways to get the game
There’s no official way to get Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution.
Europe
Japan
North America
GameCube Games by Date
2002: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2003: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2004: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2005: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
2006: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
