So, full disclosure, I played this on release in 2008, having been uncontrollably hyped for a new PS something-or-other. That I didn't even come close to matching my absurd PSO game time says little to nothing about Zero's quality, though -- PSZ is an impressive entry in the modern Phantasy Star lineup, even before taking into consideration the size and limitations of the platform on which it was released.
Zero stands as sort of a soft reboot for the "Online" era, not that it really needed one; the three playable races (Humans, Newmans, and CASTs) all have slightly different perspectives on the main tale, concerning a massive apocalyptic event that rocked the planet Coral some 200 years before the game's start. I wouldn't expect too much of its decidedly Saturday morning beats, but it pulls together a decent framework for an engaging looter-RPG, with some enjoyable NPCs and a couple neat (if predictable) twists and turns.
Rocking character designs by Toshiyuki Kubooka of Lunar series fame, PSZ is a little bit of a visual departure from the hi-fi sci-fi look of Online and Universe, opting for a striking Future Western aesthetic that sets Zero apart from its relatives. The game's 7-plus biomes (if you count the post-game gauntlet) are all quite varied and don't stale quickly, but music can be a mixed bag; dynamic zone themes (much akin to PSO) are often okay blending into the background and downplay their own impact. That said, Zero's a wonderfully vivid and clean 3D game, especially considering this is probably pushing the original DS to its visual limits.
It's not just visuals, though; the general limits of the DS just don't really seem at all like a factor for gameplay or scope either. At times, Zero plays like a wonderfully handheld Phantasy Star Online, and at others, it adds to an already-solid base experience. Zero introduces dodge rolls and Universe's Photon Arts to the core PSO style, turning it into an interesting blend of old and new. Toss in some new weapon types and tons of sweet, sweet loot and you've got yourself one hell of a good time packed with a bunch of stuff to discover.
I know a lot of this can be chalked up to how strong the nostalgia goggles can be, but if you're looking for something similar to the old PSO style and Universe just didn't do it for you, you could do much worse than trying out Zero one way or another -- it's a brilliant take on the formula and one of my personal favorite looter RPGs.
Zero stands as sort of a soft reboot for the "Online" era, not that it really needed one; the three playable races (Humans, Newmans, and CASTs) all have slightly different perspectives on the main tale, concerning a massive apocalyptic event that rocked the planet Coral some 200 years before the game's start. I wouldn't expect too much of its decidedly Saturday morning beats, but it pulls together a decent framework for an engaging looter-RPG, with some enjoyable NPCs and a couple neat (if predictable) twists and turns.
Rocking character designs by Toshiyuki Kubooka of Lunar series fame, PSZ is a little bit of a visual departure from the hi-fi sci-fi look of Online and Universe, opting for a striking Future Western aesthetic that sets Zero apart from its relatives. The game's 7-plus biomes (if you count the post-game gauntlet) are all quite varied and don't stale quickly, but music can be a mixed bag; dynamic zone themes (much akin to PSO) are often okay blending into the background and downplay their own impact. That said, Zero's a wonderfully vivid and clean 3D game, especially considering this is probably pushing the original DS to its visual limits.
It's not just visuals, though; the general limits of the DS just don't really seem at all like a factor for gameplay or scope either. At times, Zero plays like a wonderfully handheld Phantasy Star Online, and at others, it adds to an already-solid base experience. Zero introduces dodge rolls and Universe's Photon Arts to the core PSO style, turning it into an interesting blend of old and new. Toss in some new weapon types and tons of sweet, sweet loot and you've got yourself one hell of a good time packed with a bunch of stuff to discover.
I know a lot of this can be chalked up to how strong the nostalgia goggles can be, but if you're looking for something similar to the old PSO style and Universe just didn't do it for you, you could do much worse than trying out Zero one way or another -- it's a brilliant take on the formula and one of my personal favorite looter RPGs.