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** It is incredibly easy to miss out on the various subplots contained within the optional quests. Failed to talk to the different people in town? Forgot to check every area before turning in the quest? The choice of whether or not to tell Sue your name at the end of one of the quests automatically locks you into one of two subplots in this difficulty setting.
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** It is incredibly easy to miss out on the various subplots contained within the optional quests. Failed to talk to the different people in town? Forgot to check every area before turning in the quest? The choice of whether or not to tell Sue your name at the end of one of the quests automatically locks you into one of two subplots in this the current difficulty setting.setting... both of which don't get picked up again until later quests. It's very easy for a new player to assume the choices made in quests don't matter outside them.
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** It is incredibly easy to miss out on the various subplots contained within the optional quests. Failed to talk to the different people in town? Forgot to check every area before turning in the quest? The choice of whether or not to tell Sue your name at the end of one of the quests automatically locks you into one of two subplots in this difficulty setting.
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* CastFromHitPoints: Berserk doubles damage at the cost of burning half your current health per hit.
* CastFromMoney: Charge weapons double damage at the cost of 200 Meseta per hit.
* CastFromMoney: Charge weapons double damage at the cost of 200 Meseta per hit.
to:
* CastFromHitPoints: Berserk doubles damage at the cost of burning half a quarter of your current health per hit.
* CastFromMoney: Charge weapons double damage at the cost of 200 Meseta per hit. A certain rare partisan triples it, with higher accuracy to boot, at the cost of 10,000 meseta '''per swing''', whether you hit or not.
* CastFromMoney: Charge weapons double damage at the cost of 200 Meseta per hit. A certain rare partisan triples it, with higher accuracy to boot, at the cost of 10,000 meseta '''per swing''', whether you hit or not.
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* CastFromHitPoints: Berserk doubles damage at the cost of burning half your current health per hit.
* CastFromMoney: Charge weapons double damage at the cost of 200 Meseta per hit.
*ChainLightning: Gizonde.
* CastFromMoney: Charge weapons double damage at the cost of 200 Meseta per hit.
*ChainLightning: Gizonde.
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* Combos: Almost uniquely for a hack-and-slash RPG, and fairly in-depth at that. Each weapon type has its own specific timing for a three-attack combo, with the addition of having the choice of weak-but-accurate attacks, strong-but-inaccurate attacks, and inaccurate special attacks that could trigger special weapon abilities. In addition to that, each class/race/gender combo had its own variations on the animations that made certain weapon types better for some classes. To cap it all off, some enemies react oddly to combos, and need either a delayed or increased speed combo to be executed safely.
to:
* Combos: Almost uniquely for a hack-and-slash RPG, and fairly in-depth at that. Each weapon type has its own specific timing for a three-attack combo, with the addition of having the choice of weak-but-accurate attacks, strong-but-inaccurate attacks, and inaccurate [[SpecialAttack special attacks attacks]] that could trigger special weapon abilities. In addition to that, each class/race/gender combo had its own variations on the animations that made certain weapon types better for some classes. To cap it all off, some enemies react oddly to combos, and need either a delayed or increased speed combo to be executed safely.
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* FireIceLightning: Most classes will only have access to these types of attack techniques, if they learn them at all. Forces get to add Light and Darkness to the mix.
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* FireIceLightning: Most classes will only have access to these types of attack techniques, if they learn them at all. Forces get to add Light [[LightEmUp Light]] and Darkness [[CastingAShadow Darkness]] to the mix.
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* InterfaceScrew: Confusion randomizes controller input directions. While the affected player can attack and combo normally, it'll be in random directions.
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* AIBreaker: Enemies will not pursue you through doors, and will only ever take a straight line to you. This means that characters with ranged attacks can attack with impunity. This can backfire badly in the Mines, as the basic Gilchic enemies can return fire, and due to a bug the Sinow series can occasionally follow you through doorways.
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* GoodBadBugs: Going back to town via telepipe and returning respawns monsters instead of storing them. This means that each time you telepipe, monsters with a rare variant have a new chance to be spawned as that rare variant. Farming for certain rare items becomes a lot easier and faster.
* MacrossMissileMassacre: The Garanz enemy is a rolling robot tank with a few long-ranged missile launchers. Attacking it breaks off its armor, uncovering a much larger number of missile ports, leading to this.
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* MiniDressOfPower: [=RAcaseals=]
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* MiniDressOfPower: [=RAcaseals=]MiniBoss: The Hildebear and Garanz enemies feature more varied attack patterns, higher health, and often appear singly or in pairs instead of mobs.
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* AsteroidsMonster: Hitting one of the Slime enemies with either the third hit of a combo or an ice-element technique that doesn't successfully freeze it causes it to split into two. Since the Poufilly Slimes have a rare variant, this makes it essential for farming.
* GoodBadBugs: Going back to town via telepipe and returning respawns monsters instead of storing them. This means that each time you telepipe, monsters with a rare variant have a new chance to be spawned as that rare variant. Farming for certain rare items becomes a lot easier and faster.
* PlayingPossum: An alert player will notice a few things about Rappies. First, they don't ever drop anything when killed. Second, their corpses remain on the map. Third, they remain on the minimap radar as enemy dots. When your back is turned, Rappies will wake up and make a run for it. With a ranged weapon, trap, or technique, they can be smacked an extra time for a guaranteed item drop.
* ShieldBearingMook: Delsabers in the ruins fight with sword and shield, and when targeted from the front can throw up their shielded left arm to become invincible.
*ShmuckBait: A dead end room, with a single item crate sitting against the far wall. If you're lucky, it'll simply be booby-trapped. If you're unlucky, it'll spawn a pack of monsters in a ring right around you.
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* ShowgirlSkirt: [=RAcaseals=]
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* ShowgirlSkirt: [=RAcaseals=]SmashMook: Hildebears in Forest 1 are twelve-foot tall gorilla-esque enemies. Trying to snipe them from afar leads to a painful leaping pound attack, and a beatdown with their massive fists. The one oddball trait is that if lead around in circles for too long, it will get frustrated and spit a ball of fire (or a bolt of lightning in Ultimate).
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* FighterMageThief: With a little to a lot of crossover, depending on your race and gender within those classes.
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* LimitBreak: After your [=MAG=] learns a [[SummonMagic Photon Blast]], receiving damage charges up the Photon Gauge. Once it's full, the player can use the Blast. What's more, other players nearby can either donate some energy to increase the power of the Blast, or fire their own Blast, multiplying the power of both. A four-way chained blast will often shred everything in the room and buff the players far beyond the usual level cap for buff techniques.
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* SortingAlgorithmOfWeaponEffectiveness: The standard weapons a character can acquire get progressively stronger as they proceed through the difficulties. The entire algorithm gets made irrelevant, though, should they be lucky enough to acquire a useable rare weapon early. The standard weapons basically aren't worth it any more by the time the most powerful get unlocked, as the player will almost definitely have a stronger rare version of the weapon. The sole exception lies in weapons with powerful special abilities, such as the [OneHitKill Hell] prefix. Rare weapons have fixed special abilities, and often not the most powerful versions of those abilities either.
to:
* SortingAlgorithmOfWeaponEffectiveness: The standard weapons a character can acquire get progressively stronger as they proceed through the difficulties. The entire algorithm gets made irrelevant, though, should they be lucky enough to acquire a useable rare weapon early. The standard weapons basically aren't worth it any more by the time the most powerful get unlocked, as the player will almost definitely have a stronger rare version of the weapon. The sole exception lies in weapons with powerful special abilities, such as the [OneHitKill Hell] [[OneHitKill Hell]] prefix. Rare weapons have fixed special abilities, and often not the most powerful versions of those abilities either.
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* SummonMagic: Upon hitting level 10, 35, and 50, [=MAGs=] learn a Photon Blast, a powerful summon technique that does damage, heals, or buffs you based on your [=MAG's=] IQ.
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* StatSticks: Force weapons aren't exactly effective. Forces use them for the small MST boost, TP-saving or -stealing special attacks, technique power boosts, or for opening crates.
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* LevelLockedLoot: Weaponry is restricted by Attack Power for melee weapons, Accuracy for ranged weapons, and Mental Strength for magic weapons. Each of these stats, however, can be boosted by a specialized MAG or by armor units -both of which have no base requirements. Armor, however, is level locked, meaning that characters being rushed through the lower levels by a gift of overpowered equipment tend to be [[GlassCannon Glass Cannons]].
* MoneyForNothing: The shops rarely sell anything useful, and once a character starts finding rare items, most Meseta is spent on recovery items and item identification. The ultimate lategame usage of money often ends up as ammunition for weapons with the Charge special, which do double damage at the cost of 200 Meseta per '''hit'''.
* SortingAlgorithmOfWeaponEffectiveness: The standard weapons a character can acquire get progressively stronger as they proceed through the difficulties. The entire algorithm gets made irrelevant, though, should they be lucky enough to acquire a useable rare weapon early. The standard weapons basically aren't worth it any more by the time the most powerful get unlocked, as the player will almost definitely have a stronger rare version of the weapon. The sole exception lies in weapons with powerful special abilities, such as the [OneHitKill Hell] prefix. Rare weapons have fixed special abilities, and often not the most powerful versions of those abilities either.
* SoundtrackDissonance: When you enter the mysterious meadow from the ruins and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD0kqNGvjrI The Nearest Place to Heaven Plays]] first sounds rather...Happy. Only to gradually get creepier.
* SoundtrackDissonance: When you enter the mysterious meadow from the ruins and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD0kqNGvjrI The Nearest Place to Heaven Plays]] first sounds rather...Happy. Only to gradually get creepier.
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* SoundtrackDissonance: When you enter the mysterious meadow from the ruins and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD0kqNGvjrI The Nearest Place to Heaven Plays]] first sounds rather...Happy. Only to gradually get creepier.
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* BFG: The Ranger-exclusive Shot and Launcher weapons classes.
* BFS: The reasonably-sized bladed implement is called a Saber. The Sword class of weapons is as long as most characters are tall, and is built for cleaving through multiple enemies per attack.
* BFS: The reasonably-sized bladed implement is called a Saber. The Sword class of weapons is as long as most characters are tall, and is built for cleaving through multiple enemies per attack.
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* GatlingGood: The L&K38 Combat is a man-portable minigun. Uniquely to shot-class weapons, it strikes one target five times in a row.
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* OrganDrops: Occasionally a player will come across a seemingly useless body part item, notable only because it happens to be rare. Late in the Hunter's Guild missions, a certain NPC will remark upon being able to craft powerful weapons out of unusual materials. Taking him up on the offer rewards you with equipment ranging from decent to extremely powerful.
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* ShortRangeShotgun: Thoroughly averted. Shotguns in this game lock onto up to five separate targets at medium range. Short range is actually the worst place for a shotgun user, as only one bullet can strike each target.
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* GangstaStyle: The RAmarl class fires handguns like this. Every other class uses a proper two-handed grip.
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* GangstaStyle: The RAmarl [=RAmarl=] class fires handguns like this. Every other class uses a proper two-handed grip.
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* FireIceLightning: Most classes will only have access to these types of attack techniques, if they learn them at all. Forces get to add Light and Darkness to the mix.
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* GangstaStyle: The RAmarl class fires handguns like this. Every other class uses a proper two-handed grip.
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* OneHitKill: The Megid technique either inflicts instant death or does nothing. The final boss in any difficulty other than the easiest has access to it, as well as a number of normal monsters in the hardest.
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* StandardStatusEffects: Poison, Paralysis (you can move, but can't attack), Confused (inflicts InterfaceScrew), Slow, Frozen, and Instant Death.
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* TakingYouWithMe: Poison Lilies will count down and detonate into a poison spray when they're low on health. The Ultimate Ob Lilies replace this with an instant death spray.
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* UniversalPoison: Averted. The android CASTs are notably immune to the poison status effect.
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* Combos: Almost uniquely for a hack-and-slash RPG, and fairly in-depth at that. Each weapon type has its own specific timing for a three-attack combo, with the addition of having the choice of weak-but-accurate attacks, strong-but-inaccurate attacks, and inaccurate special attacks that could trigger special weapon abilities. In addition to that, each class/race/gender combo had its own variations on the animations that made certain weapon types better for some classes. To cap it all off, some enemies react oddly to combos, and need either a delayed or increased speed combo to be executed safely.
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** Justified by the technology of the time... all items can be compressed into a capsule form. The fact that you have 30 spots for items, no matter the size implies that you can hold 30 fully compressed capsules.
to:
** Justified by the technology of the time... all items can be compressed into a capsule form. The fact that you have 30 spots for items, no matter the size implies that you can hold 30 fully compressed capsules. capsules.
* ImmuneToFlinching: Ultimate Mines holds a nasty surprise, the first time you meet them. The Normal - Very Hard Gilchics are easy to kill because they get knocked down with every hit, allowing even an underleveled player to scratch them to death. In Ultimate, they've been replaced with the Gilchich, which, unlike virtually every other monster in the game, only flinches roughly 20% of the time. The other 80% is often spent pummeling the player through their ineffectual sword strikes.
* ImmuneToFlinching: Ultimate Mines holds a nasty surprise, the first time you meet them. The Normal - Very Hard Gilchics are easy to kill because they get knocked down with every hit, allowing even an underleveled player to scratch them to death. In Ultimate, they've been replaced with the Gilchich, which, unlike virtually every other monster in the game, only flinches roughly 20% of the time. The other 80% is often spent pummeling the player through their ineffectual sword strikes.
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* SniperRifle: Rangers, the sole users of Rifle-class weapons (with the exception of certain rare ones) can pick off enemies beyond their AI range.
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* CoresAndTurretsBoss: Vol Opt, the Mines boss of Episode I, is nothing more than a room with a core hanging on the ceiling, six floor-mounted turrets, and a computer image scrolling across the monitors covering the walls. That is, until you wreck everything inside and force his second form to descend from the ceiling.
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* VideoGameFlamethrowersSuck: The Flame Visit and the Burning Visit. On paper, they're fairly strong Ranger weapons of one of the most useful class. However, they lack the trait that makes that class useful (hitting multiple enemies) but retain most of its weaknesses (slow as death firing animation) making them essentially worthless. The upgraded Burning Visit does have a few very, very specific uses, but they're both essentially worthless.
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* KillSat: Heaven Punisher. You can achieve the same effect with a Heaven Striker + Striker mag.
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Added URL to private server where PSO can still be played.
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All versions of ''Phantasy Star Online'', including the most recent incarnation (''Blue Burst''), have had their online mode servers shut down. Sega had initially set up international servers for ''Blue Burst,'' but these were shut down on March 31st, 2008. The Japanese servers went down on December 27, 2010. However, in celebration the series' tenth anniversary, Sega is releasing an actual sequel. ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' is set to release in 2012 on the PC, and 2013 on PSVita.
to:
All versions of ''Phantasy Star Online'', including the most recent incarnation (''Blue Burst''), have had their online mode servers shut down. Sega had initially set up international servers for ''Blue Burst,'' but these were shut down on March 31st, 2008. The Japanese servers went down on December 27, 2010. However, in celebration the series' tenth anniversary, Sega is releasing an actual sequel. ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' is set to release in 2012 on the PC, and 2013 on PSVita.PSVita.
You can play PSO on a private server, located [[http://www.schtserv.com/ here]].
You can play PSO on a private server, located [[http://www.schtserv.com/ here]].
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See ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' for the original tetralogy. ''PhantasyStarUniverse'' is the SpiritualSuccessor to ''Phantasy Star Online''. You may also be interested in ''PhantasyStarZero.''
to:
See ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' for the original tetralogy. ''PhantasyStarUniverse'' is the SpiritualSuccessor to ''Phantasy Star Online''. You may also be interested in ''PhantasyStarZero.''
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* [[ThereIsAnother ... and possibly one other:]] PhantasyStarZero.
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* [[ThereIsAnother ... and possibly one other:]] PhantasyStarZero.''VideoGame/PhantasyStarZero''.
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* TheEuropeanCarryAll: Try telling a western [[{{Bishonen}} FO]][[SquishyWizard mar]] that they're wearing a dress. Then sit back and watch the flames rise.
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* LessEmbarrassingTerm: Try telling a western [[{{Bishonen}} FO]][[SquishyWizard mar]] that they're wearing a dress. Then sit back and watch the flames rise.
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* TheEuropeanCarryAll: Try telling a western [[Bishonen FO]][[SqishyWizard mar]] that they're wearing a dress. Then sit back and watch the flames rise.
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* TheEuropeanCarryAll: Try telling a western [[Bishonen FO]][[SqishyWizard [[{{Bishonen}} FO]][[SquishyWizard mar]] that they're wearing a dress. Then sit back and watch the flames rise.
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* TheEuropeanCarryAll: Try telling a western [[Bishonen FO]][[SqishyWizard mar]] that they're wearing a dress. Then sit back and watch the flames rise.
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a minor edit.
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** [[spoiler:Heath Cliff in Episode II]].
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** [[spoiler:Heath Cliff [[spoiler:Heathcliff Flowen in Episode II]].
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* WombLevel: Later half of The Ruins in Episode I.
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* WombLevel: Later half of The third section of the Ruins in Episode I.
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Christ, man.
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''PhantasyStarOnline'' is a [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame Massively Multiplayer Online]] {{Action RPG}} released for the Sega Dreamcast, then for the PC, Xbox and Gamecube that carries on the legacy of the PhantasyStar franchise.
This story seems to take place a very long time after the [[PhantasyStar original tetralogy]]. The story begins with a planet called Coral, whose environment has been destroyed due to a prolonged period of warfare. Seeing no other hope for survival, the nations of Coral band together and plan a mass-exodus to a new homeworld in space.
Their first colony ship (Pioneer 1) discovers an ideal planet called Ragol, and begins preparations for the colonisation. One year later, the second colony ship (Pioneer 2) arrives in orbit around Ragol. However, just as they establish contact, a mysterious explosion on the planet's surface engulfs Pioneer 1. The player, a government-approved mercenary known as a Hunter, is sent down to the surface by Pioneer 2 to piece together what happened.
''PhantasyStarOnline'' comes in four episodes. '''Episode I''' is concerned with the efforts of Pioneer 2 in discovering the truth behind the mysterious explosion. To do this, the player must follow in the footsteps of Red Ring Rico, a famous Pioneer 1 Hunter who is also looking for answers. It soon becomes apparent that Ragol is not as safe as Pioneer 2 was led to believe, and that the people of Pioneer 1 were involved in some very questionable activities.
This story seems to take place a very long time after the [[PhantasyStar original tetralogy]]. The story begins with a planet called Coral, whose environment has been destroyed due to a prolonged period of warfare. Seeing no other hope for survival, the nations of Coral band together and plan a mass-exodus to a new homeworld in space.
Their first colony ship (Pioneer 1) discovers an ideal planet called Ragol, and begins preparations for the colonisation. One year later, the second colony ship (Pioneer 2) arrives in orbit around Ragol. However, just as they establish contact, a mysterious explosion on the planet's surface engulfs Pioneer 1. The player, a government-approved mercenary known as a Hunter, is sent down to the surface by Pioneer 2 to piece together what happened.
''PhantasyStarOnline'' comes in four episodes. '''Episode I''' is concerned with the efforts of Pioneer 2 in discovering the truth behind the mysterious explosion. To do this, the player must follow in the footsteps of Red Ring Rico, a famous Pioneer 1 Hunter who is also looking for answers. It soon becomes apparent that Ragol is not as safe as Pioneer 2 was led to believe, and that the people of Pioneer 1 were involved in some very questionable activities.
to:
This story seems to take place a very long time after the
Their first colony ship (Pioneer 1) discovers an ideal planet called Ragol, and begins preparations for the
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
See PhantasyStar for the original tetralogy. ''PhantasyStarUniverse'' is the SpiritualSuccessor to ''Phantasy Star Online''. You may also be interested in ''PhantasyStarZero.''
to:
See PhantasyStar ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' for the original tetralogy. ''PhantasyStarUniverse'' is the SpiritualSuccessor to ''Phantasy Star Online''. You may also be interested in ''PhantasyStarZero.''
Changed line(s) 24,30 (click to see context) from:
* ''PhantasyStarOnline''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Ver. 2''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode I & II''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode I & II Plus''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Blue Burst''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode IV''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Ver. 2''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode I & II''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode I & II Plus''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Blue Burst''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode IV''
to:
* ''PhantasyStarOnline''
''Phantasy Star Online''
*''PhantasyStarOnline ''Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2''
*''PhantasyStarOnline ''Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II''
*''PhantasyStarOnline ''Phantasy Star Online Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution''
*''PhantasyStarOnline ''Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Plus''
*''PhantasyStarOnline ''Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst''
*''PhantasyStarOnline ''Phantasy Star Online Episode IV''
*
*
*
*
*
*
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trope renamed at TRS, but this was simply misuse
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''PhantasyStarOnline'' comes in four episodes. '''Episode I''' is concerned with the efforts of Pioneer 2 in discovering the truth behind the mysterious explosion. To do this, the player must [[LateToTheParty follow in the footsteps]] of Red Ring Rico, a famous Pioneer 1 Hunter who is also looking for answers. It soon becomes apparent that Ragol is not as safe as Pioneer 2 was led to believe, and that the people of Pioneer 1 were involved in some very questionable activities.
to:
''PhantasyStarOnline'' comes in four episodes. '''Episode I''' is concerned with the efforts of Pioneer 2 in discovering the truth behind the mysterious explosion. To do this, the player must [[LateToTheParty follow in the footsteps]] footsteps of Red Ring Rico, a famous Pioneer 1 Hunter who is also looking for answers. It soon becomes apparent that Ragol is not as safe as Pioneer 2 was led to believe, and that the people of Pioneer 1 were involved in some very questionable activities.
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* LateToTheParty: ''Episodes I and II.''
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* MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame: Yes, despite having a single player mode, ''PSO'' counts as one. The "massively multiplayer online" aspect of the game was ''strongly'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyEnJCgTZds hyped by Sega in its advertisements]]. In fact, ''PSO'' is credited as one of the inspirations used for the DotHack series.
to:
* MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame: Yes, despite having a single player mode, ''PSO'' counts as one. The "massively multiplayer online" aspect of the game was ''strongly'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyEnJCgTZds hyped by Sega in its advertisements]]. In fact, ''PSO'' is credited as one of the inspirations used for the DotHack series.series and is the first console MMORPG.
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** RareRandomDrop: The consequences of said art style. Enjoy your chances of getting objects easily getting lower than 1/1000.
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** RareRandomDrop: The consequences of said art style. Enjoy your chances of getting objects easily getting lower than 1/1000.
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* MechaMooks: The enemies in the Mines are all robots.
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[[quoteright:330:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/phantasy_star_online.jpg]]
[-[[caption-width-right:330:[[{{Tagline}} You are not the only hero.]]]]-]
''PhantasyStarOnline'' is a [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame Massively Multiplayer Online]] {{Action RPG}} released for the Sega Dreamcast, then for the PC, Xbox and Gamecube that carries on the legacy of the PhantasyStar franchise.
This story seems to take place a very long time after the [[PhantasyStar original tetralogy]]. The story begins with a planet called Coral, whose environment has been destroyed due to a prolonged period of warfare. Seeing no other hope for survival, the nations of Coral band together and plan a mass-exodus to a new homeworld in space.
Their first colony ship (Pioneer 1) discovers an ideal planet called Ragol, and begins preparations for the colonisation. One year later, the second colony ship (Pioneer 2) arrives in orbit around Ragol. However, just as they establish contact, a mysterious explosion on the planet's surface engulfs Pioneer 1. The player, a government-approved mercenary known as a Hunter, is sent down to the surface by Pioneer 2 to piece together what happened.
''PhantasyStarOnline'' comes in four episodes. '''Episode I''' is concerned with the efforts of Pioneer 2 in discovering the truth behind the mysterious explosion. To do this, the player must [[LateToTheParty follow in the footsteps]] of Red Ring Rico, a famous Pioneer 1 Hunter who is also looking for answers. It soon becomes apparent that Ragol is not as safe as Pioneer 2 was led to believe, and that the people of Pioneer 1 were involved in some very questionable activities.
'''Episode II''' has the player work for the Lab, a scientific arm of the Pioneer 2 government. After passing some virtual-reality evaluation, the Lab tasks the player with investigating a secret laboratory that was recently discovered on Ragol's surface. This episode deals further with the dark activities of Pioneer 1, and involves a veteran Hunter called Heathcliff Flowen who fought alongside Rico.
'''Episode III''' is a CardBattleGame sequel about two rival groups- the government-approved Hunters and the rebellious Arkz faction- and their battle for control over the revolutionary C.A.R.D. (Compressed Alternate Reality Data) technology.
'''Episode IV''', featured in the PC-only version ''Blue Burst,'' is set in-between ''Episodes II'' and ''III''. It concerns the efforts of the Hunters to discover the secrets behind a mysterious meteor which suddenly changed course in space to crash on the surface of Ragol.
All versions of ''Phantasy Star Online'', including the most recent incarnation (''Blue Burst''), have had their online mode servers shut down. Sega had initially set up international servers for ''Blue Burst,'' but these were shut down on March 31st, 2008. The Japanese servers went down on December 27, 2010. However, in celebration the series' tenth anniversary, Sega is releasing an actual sequel. ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' is set to release in 2012 on the PC, and 2013 on PSVita.
See PhantasyStar for the original tetralogy. ''PhantasyStarUniverse'' is the SpiritualSuccessor to ''Phantasy Star Online''. You may also be interested in ''PhantasyStarZero.''
----
[[AC: The PhantasyStarOnline sub-series includes:]]
* ''PhantasyStarOnline''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Ver. 2''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode I & II''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode I & II Plus''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Blue Burst''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode IV''
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' (sequel to the original not to be confused with Episode II)
* [[ThereIsAnother ... and possibly one other:]] PhantasyStarZero.
-----
!!''Phantasy Star Online'' provides examples of:
* AbandonedLaboratory: The Underwater Base and the Gal Da Val Lab[[hottip:*:(In the Plus Edition)]] in Episode II.
* ActionGirl: Red Ring Rico.
** The player themselves can make action girls by creating a female character.
* ApocalypticLog: In ''Phantasy Star Online'', Red Ring Rico's log goes from helpful tutorial to an increasingly depressing ApocalypticLog as the game progresses. Heathcliff Flowen pens his own in ''Episode II''.
* ArcWords: Sort of- several boss themes (usually FinalBoss themes) have names beginning with "IDOLA", for some reason. This has led some to believe that an ''Episode IV'' boss, Shambertin, is the TrueFinalBoss; His theme is "IDOLA-The Fanatic Viper".
* ArtEvolution: ''PSO'' brought with it a major shift in the art style for the PhantasyStar series; the games of the tetralogy tended more toward a generic anime style evocative of [[TheEighties the late Eighties]] and [[TheNineties early Nineties]], not counting the ''Generations'' remakes.
* TheAtoner: [[spoiler:Ino'lis]] in ''Episode III'' after she inadvertently [[spoiler:causes the death of her crush]].
* BlackSheepHit: ''PSO'', according to producer Takao Miyoshi, was originally only meant to run for two to three months, but its success in Japan (and somewhat in the rest of the world) led to its continuation for years after.
* BloodKnight: Kireek, the iconic "default" [=HUcast=].
* CameraCentering
* CameraLockOn
* CardBattleGame: ''Episode III''.
* ChainsawGood: "Chain Sawd", a BFS ''[[LaserBlade laser]]'' chainsaw.
* ColorCodedMultiplayer: ''PSO'' color-codes the speech bubbles of the party with a corresponding similarly colored icon next to their name.
* CopyAndPasteEnvironments: A common feature of all post-millennial Phantasy Star games, but ''PSO'' was ''really'' bad about it. The first episode of ''PSO'' contained only '''four''' mission environments, and told an entire story (complete with side stories and quests) within these maps.
* DeathMountain: The mountain area in Episode II.
* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:Rico's ultimate fate at the hands of Dark Falz]].
** [[spoiler:Heath Cliff in Episode II]].
* EnigmaticMinion: Endu in ''Episode III''.
* FightLikeACardPlayer: The third game.
* ForcedTutorial: Kind of. The tutorial is an optional mission, so you're not forced to do it to beat the game. However, you ARE forced to do that mission to unlock more missions, which can make it really annoying if you've already beaten the game before doing the missions only to have your partner say he doesn't want you to be a liability (even if you're 13 levels higher than him and have better weapons). Even worse, the mission is on ALL difficulties, so even on the hardest difficulty you still have to listen to a lecture on how to attack (even though you need to beat the game or be at a certain level to unlock higher difficulties, which kinda requires you to know how to attack).
* ForScience: What is, presumably, Dr. Osto's motivations for doing many of the things that he did in ''Episode II''.
* GiantWaistRibbon: [=RAcaseals=]
* GenreShift: ''Phantasy Star Online'' itself is a shift from the {{Eastern RPG}}s of the [[PhantasyStar tetralogy]]; ''Episodes I, II, and IV'' were straight-up [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame Massively Multiplayer Online]] {{Action RPG}}s. ''Episode III'' was a MMOCCG ([[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame Massively Multiplayer Online]] CollectibleCardGame), using cards that had powers of many of the previous two games' monsters and weapons.
* TheGoomba: Rappies.
* GreenHillZone: Forest 1 in Episode I.
* GuideDangIt: The Tails chao. It requires you to go back the forest after you complete "The Fake In Yellow" quest but before you talk to the receptionist. Then you stand where the rappies are staring at and a chao appears (with SambaDeAmigo music playing). You then go back to Pionner 2 and put the chao on your GBA.
* GunsAkimbo: Every mechgun.
* HailfirePeaks: The Caves area changes as the player travels through it from a LethalLavaLand to a soaking wet tropical cavern to a grassy cavern full of machines. The Ruins area changes from a not-very-ruined TempleOfDoom to a mixture of a TempleOfDoom and a ''WombLevel.'' Central Control of Episode II is a borderline case, putting a jungle, a beach, and a highland (as well as two 10-story-tall towers made for a pair of specific missions) into one collective mission environment, albeit on different parts of Gal de Val Island.
* HarderThanHard: "Ultimate" difficulty, in which enemy speed and spell resistance drastically increases, and several bosses and some {{mooks}} gain nasty new tricks.
* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: [[spoiler:Red Ring Rico and Heathcliff Flowen]]. They turn up in the end credits in single player PSO Episode I & II if you complete episode II on Ultimate difficulty. [[spoiler:Flowen]] could be seen through a [[GuideDangIt convoluted method]] online involving [[spoiler: possession of Rico's Red Weapons while fighting Olga Flow, then returning to the site of the battle after winning]]. The inverse of this [[spoiler: using Flowen's weapons to beat Dark Falz]] apparently let you see [[spoiler: Rico]].
* HyperspaceArsenal: As with most [=RPGs=]' inventory systems, but more obvious in ''Phantasy Star Online'' and not readily explained.
** Justified by the technology of the time... all items can be compressed into a capsule form. The fact that you have 30 spots for items, no matter the size implies that you can hold 30 fully compressed capsules.
* InstantAIJustAddWater: Olga Flow. [[spoiler:Actually a D-Cell-infected Heathcliff Flowen merged with the computer system of the secret laboratory]].
* InformedAbility: The four blades used by one of the legendary Hunters you meet [[spoiler: before they die]], Zoke "the Great Sword" Miyama, possesses three of four [[KatanasAreJustBetter legendary katanas]]. These swords were said to have brought ruin to a tyrannical king, and have the power to destroy an entire planet if all four were used together. Of course, you'll never find out if that's true, as [[spoiler: you find two of the swords broken]] and the fourth katana has tons of fake replicas.
* JokeItem: Frying pans, parasols, syringes, coins, guitars, magazines... [[LethalJokeItem some of which are lethal.]] Most of the joke items of the ''Online'' series mostly referenced other Sega franchises or companies that sponsored events in the game.
* JungleJapes: The Jungle area in Episode II.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: On paper, Katanas in ''PSO'' can outdo many other melee weapons. Also a RockBeatsLaser, as it outdamages ''laser'' weapons. However, they are slower and [[AwesomeButImpractical outclassed by weapons that have five or six hit combos]], though there is one [[AwesomeButPractical paired set of katanas that not only has a five hit combo, a health refill special, and is relatively easy to ensure that its Percents are very good. ]]
* KillItWithIce: Against an opponent that can't be hit repeatedly (such as opposing players or the gelatenous enemies in ''1&2'''s Caves), freezing them will allow you to do just that, making taking them out much faster. As the final dungeon of part 2 proves, however, the enemy can do this to you as well. One enemy is capable of using an attack that, while not hitting very hard, hits about 50 times in a row. Normally, you keep blocking these until one hits, then the rest get grazed over by MercyInvincibility. However, they are usually accompanied by an enemy capable of freezing you. End result? A level 200 character getting ''[[ChainsawGood buzzsawed to death in a single blow]]'' by a puny Mook on Normal Mode.
* LateToTheParty: ''Episodes I and II.''
* TheLostWoods: Forest 2 in Episode 1.
* MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame: Yes, despite having a single player mode, ''PSO'' counts as one. The "massively multiplayer online" aspect of the game was ''strongly'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyEnJCgTZds hyped by Sega in its advertisements]]. In fact, ''PSO'' is credited as one of the inspirations used for the DotHack series.
* MiniDressOfPower: [=RAcaseals=]
* MoreDakka: Mechguns in ''Phantasy Star Online''. They even became some of the strongest weapons you could use.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Red Ring Rico]] accidentally unleashes Dark Falz, and dies for it. The ''players'' would have caused an even worse case: [[spoiler:by defeating Dark Falz over and over again, they only caused him to grow stronger and stronger. Eventually he would have had enough power to completely break free from his bondage in the Ruins and destroy the universe]].
* PalmTreePanic: The beach stretch in Episode II.
* PaperFanOfDoom: The Harisen Battle Fan and the Huge Battle Fan.
* PimpedOutDress: One of the dresses in ''Online'' has [[AntiGravityClothing an anti gravity overskirt]] that just floats right next to the wearer's waist.
* PowerGlows: [[http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/601/601465/phantasy-star-online-blue-burst-20050404025221007.jpg And]] [[http://www.pso-world.com/images/guides/ep4mags/BB-LIBERTA_MAG-ACTION-FULL-1.jpg does]] [[http://www.rpgamer.com/games/ps/pso/screens/pso010.jpg it]] [[http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/D1gTkJgsF4c/0.jpg ever]].
* PurelyAestheticGender: Averted. Classes in I and II are tied to a gender.
* RandomDrop: Taken to an ''art style'' in this game.
** RareRandomDrop: The consequences of said art style. Enjoy your chances of getting objects easily getting lower than 1/1000.
* {{Reincarnation}}: Kinda in ''Episode III''. [[spoiler:Endu is the reincarnation/"son" of both Red Ring Rico and Heathcliff Flowen, created when they forced the essences of Dark Falz and Olga Flow to resonate. They did this to prevent their respective {{Superpowered Evil Side}}s from reincarnating over and over and eventually growing beyond all control]].
* RobotGirl: [=HUcaseals=] and [=RAcaseals=].
* RockBeatsLaser: The most powerful weapons in ''Phantasy Star Online'' are old fashioned katanas and ordinary bullet-firing guns. [[PublicDomainArtifact And]] {{Excalibur}}.
* ScienceIsBad: [[spoiler:De Rol Le]] is a result of this, and is also the reason the A.Beast species exists.
* [[ScrewedByTheNetwork Screwed By The Company]]: Overlaps with BadExportForYou, but that trope doesn't go far enough. Ever since Sonic Team's policy change that called for a segregation of American and European players from the Japanese player base, Sega of Japan has often done little to ensure the success of localized versions of ''Phantasy Star'' [=MMOs=]. Sega of America's [[GameMaster GMs]] were given little to no authority or management over the localized servers, and Sega of Japan did little to ''nothing'' to stop or fix problems occurring on them. As a result, ''PSO'' lived on in Japan, but nowhere else.
* ScunthorpeProblem: The swear filter used in ''Blue Burst'' was a very good example of why swear filters should ''always'' be optional in games.
* SealedEvilInACan: [[spoiler: Dark Falz. The "can" is his ship.]]
* SeriesMascot: Rappies, [[PhantasyStar continuing their role from the tetralogy]].
* ShiftingSandLand: Subterranean Desert.
* ShoutOut: A number of weapons and items reference the original games; the ''Neiclaw,'' the ''Falclaw''/''Rika's Claw'', the ''Elsydeon,'' and the ''Prophets of Motav''. There's also weapons and items that reference other Sega series; the [[FantasyZone Opa Opa]] makes another appearance, for example, this time as a Mag.
* ShowgirlSkirt: [=RAcaseals=]
* SoundtrackDissonance: When you enter the mysterious meadow from the ruins and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD0kqNGvjrI The Nearest Place to Heaven Plays]] first sounds rather...Happy. Only to gradually get creepier.
* {{Stripperiffic}}: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], as the primary form of armor in the setting is mounted in a unit on the wearer's wrist. It projects a protective field significantly more effective than any physical armour could be against most threats, and while some do still wear conventional armor as well, many more prefer to wear normal clothing. Indeed, it seems very much as if the cultural reaction to having armour that functions fine with any clothing, and can be worn by anyone without getting in the way of everyday tasks, was for acceptable fashion to grow ever skimpier.
* {{Tagline}}: "You are not the only hero."
* TearsFromAStone: If you played as Lura, the [=RAcaseal=] who wishes she were more human so she could be closer to Break, for the majority of the Arkz story missions in Episode 3, you'll get a cut scene before the final boss fights where she discovers that [[spoiler:she's housing the soul of Break's former lover and Sil'fer's sister inside her body]], and she sheds tears. Lura herself is surprised that she's crying tears, despite being a machine.
* TempleOfDoom: The Caves and The Ruins in Episode I.
* TookALevelInBadass: Remember Ash, the Hunter you rescue in the very first mission of Ep. 1? The one who apparently got the silly smacked out of him by Rag Rappies? In the very ''last'' mission, he turns up in the Ruins, tearing the place up with a ''[[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon double-saber.]]'' Good to see he kept his promise.
* UndergroundMonkey: A number enemies have more than one variant of themselves, distinguishable only by slight physical differences and a PaletteSwap; there are also [[NintendoHard Ultimate]] versions of most enemies, which look substantially different. Certain enemies from one location will also have the same behavior as those from another areas; Boomas, Evil Sharks, and Dimenians all act very similarly (and have similar body shapes).
* UpdatedRerelease: Several of them. ''Ver.2'', ''Episode I & II Plus'' and ''Blue Burst'' are the ones that are on the same platform as a previous version, while the original ''Episode I & II'' was the first version released on consoles besides the Dreamcast.
* UselessUsefulSpell: Megid, an extremely high-costed single hit spell that ''might'' kill the enemy. However, either get the right items or play a [[BlackMagicianGirl FOnewearl]], and [[AwesomeYetPractical it'll penetrate.]]
* VariableMix: Done ''very'' well, but notably absent in its sequel, Universe.
* ViciousCycle: [[FridgeBrilliance In an interesting take]] on the fact that multiple parties will fight and defeat the "final boss" over and over again, [[spoiler:''Episode III'' reveals that Dark Falz and Olga Flow really ''are'' being defeated over and over again, and each time they die they reincarnate stronger than ever, ready for the next party to come along. This would have continued until they became unstoppable and broke free of their respective bonds; that is, until the combined efforts of Red Ring Rico and Heathcliff Flowen break the cycle sometime between Episodes 2 & 3.]].
* {{Video Game 3D Leap}}: Prior to ''PSO,'' every game in the PhantasyStar franchise was 2D.
* TheVirus: D-cell infection.
* WasOnceAMan: Part of [[spoiler: Rico's]] human body can still be seen as fused into [[spoiler: Dark Falz's]] first two forms, [[PainfulTransformation horribly mutated and writhing in pain]]. You can still see [[spoiler: Rico's red ring]] on one of the arms if you look closely. As for [[spoiler: Flowen]], we get an idea of what happened to him thanks to ''Episode 2's'' [[ApocalypticLog Apocalyptic Logs]]. One tidbit of NightmareFuel: We learn that the mutation begins as the wounds inflicted on [[spoiler: Flowen]] by [[spoiler: Dark Falz's infant form]] shift and change shape ...
* WombLevel: Later half of The Ruins in Episode I.
* {{Wutai}}: Not visitable in any game of the series, but there is at least one country on Coral that is this, as evidenced by Zoke Miyama, his servant Shino, and [[KatanasAreJustBetter the legendary katana]] rare weapons.
* YouGetKnockedDownYouGetBackUpAgain: One reason why higher defense is seen as ''bad'' for many players, until it hits "reduce damage to zero" status. If you happen to have just enough defense to not get knocked down, but still take major damage from attacks, enemy mobs can easily rip your character to shreds if you get surrounded.
* ZettaiRyouiki: [=HUnewearl=] characters can come equipped with this in most of their outfits.
----
[-[[caption-width-right:330:[[{{Tagline}} You are not the only hero.]]]]-]
''PhantasyStarOnline'' is a [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame Massively Multiplayer Online]] {{Action RPG}} released for the Sega Dreamcast, then for the PC, Xbox and Gamecube that carries on the legacy of the PhantasyStar franchise.
This story seems to take place a very long time after the [[PhantasyStar original tetralogy]]. The story begins with a planet called Coral, whose environment has been destroyed due to a prolonged period of warfare. Seeing no other hope for survival, the nations of Coral band together and plan a mass-exodus to a new homeworld in space.
Their first colony ship (Pioneer 1) discovers an ideal planet called Ragol, and begins preparations for the colonisation. One year later, the second colony ship (Pioneer 2) arrives in orbit around Ragol. However, just as they establish contact, a mysterious explosion on the planet's surface engulfs Pioneer 1. The player, a government-approved mercenary known as a Hunter, is sent down to the surface by Pioneer 2 to piece together what happened.
''PhantasyStarOnline'' comes in four episodes. '''Episode I''' is concerned with the efforts of Pioneer 2 in discovering the truth behind the mysterious explosion. To do this, the player must [[LateToTheParty follow in the footsteps]] of Red Ring Rico, a famous Pioneer 1 Hunter who is also looking for answers. It soon becomes apparent that Ragol is not as safe as Pioneer 2 was led to believe, and that the people of Pioneer 1 were involved in some very questionable activities.
'''Episode II''' has the player work for the Lab, a scientific arm of the Pioneer 2 government. After passing some virtual-reality evaluation, the Lab tasks the player with investigating a secret laboratory that was recently discovered on Ragol's surface. This episode deals further with the dark activities of Pioneer 1, and involves a veteran Hunter called Heathcliff Flowen who fought alongside Rico.
'''Episode III''' is a CardBattleGame sequel about two rival groups- the government-approved Hunters and the rebellious Arkz faction- and their battle for control over the revolutionary C.A.R.D. (Compressed Alternate Reality Data) technology.
'''Episode IV''', featured in the PC-only version ''Blue Burst,'' is set in-between ''Episodes II'' and ''III''. It concerns the efforts of the Hunters to discover the secrets behind a mysterious meteor which suddenly changed course in space to crash on the surface of Ragol.
All versions of ''Phantasy Star Online'', including the most recent incarnation (''Blue Burst''), have had their online mode servers shut down. Sega had initially set up international servers for ''Blue Burst,'' but these were shut down on March 31st, 2008. The Japanese servers went down on December 27, 2010. However, in celebration the series' tenth anniversary, Sega is releasing an actual sequel. ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' is set to release in 2012 on the PC, and 2013 on PSVita.
See PhantasyStar for the original tetralogy. ''PhantasyStarUniverse'' is the SpiritualSuccessor to ''Phantasy Star Online''. You may also be interested in ''PhantasyStarZero.''
----
[[AC: The PhantasyStarOnline sub-series includes:]]
* ''PhantasyStarOnline''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Ver. 2''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode I & II''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode I & II Plus''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Blue Burst''
* ''PhantasyStarOnline Episode IV''
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' (sequel to the original not to be confused with Episode II)
* [[ThereIsAnother ... and possibly one other:]] PhantasyStarZero.
-----
!!''Phantasy Star Online'' provides examples of:
* AbandonedLaboratory: The Underwater Base and the Gal Da Val Lab[[hottip:*:(In the Plus Edition)]] in Episode II.
* ActionGirl: Red Ring Rico.
** The player themselves can make action girls by creating a female character.
* ApocalypticLog: In ''Phantasy Star Online'', Red Ring Rico's log goes from helpful tutorial to an increasingly depressing ApocalypticLog as the game progresses. Heathcliff Flowen pens his own in ''Episode II''.
* ArcWords: Sort of- several boss themes (usually FinalBoss themes) have names beginning with "IDOLA", for some reason. This has led some to believe that an ''Episode IV'' boss, Shambertin, is the TrueFinalBoss; His theme is "IDOLA-The Fanatic Viper".
* ArtEvolution: ''PSO'' brought with it a major shift in the art style for the PhantasyStar series; the games of the tetralogy tended more toward a generic anime style evocative of [[TheEighties the late Eighties]] and [[TheNineties early Nineties]], not counting the ''Generations'' remakes.
* TheAtoner: [[spoiler:Ino'lis]] in ''Episode III'' after she inadvertently [[spoiler:causes the death of her crush]].
* BlackSheepHit: ''PSO'', according to producer Takao Miyoshi, was originally only meant to run for two to three months, but its success in Japan (and somewhat in the rest of the world) led to its continuation for years after.
* BloodKnight: Kireek, the iconic "default" [=HUcast=].
* CameraCentering
* CameraLockOn
* CardBattleGame: ''Episode III''.
* ChainsawGood: "Chain Sawd", a BFS ''[[LaserBlade laser]]'' chainsaw.
* ColorCodedMultiplayer: ''PSO'' color-codes the speech bubbles of the party with a corresponding similarly colored icon next to their name.
* CopyAndPasteEnvironments: A common feature of all post-millennial Phantasy Star games, but ''PSO'' was ''really'' bad about it. The first episode of ''PSO'' contained only '''four''' mission environments, and told an entire story (complete with side stories and quests) within these maps.
* DeathMountain: The mountain area in Episode II.
* DemonicPossession: [[spoiler:Rico's ultimate fate at the hands of Dark Falz]].
** [[spoiler:Heath Cliff in Episode II]].
* EnigmaticMinion: Endu in ''Episode III''.
* FightLikeACardPlayer: The third game.
* ForcedTutorial: Kind of. The tutorial is an optional mission, so you're not forced to do it to beat the game. However, you ARE forced to do that mission to unlock more missions, which can make it really annoying if you've already beaten the game before doing the missions only to have your partner say he doesn't want you to be a liability (even if you're 13 levels higher than him and have better weapons). Even worse, the mission is on ALL difficulties, so even on the hardest difficulty you still have to listen to a lecture on how to attack (even though you need to beat the game or be at a certain level to unlock higher difficulties, which kinda requires you to know how to attack).
* ForScience: What is, presumably, Dr. Osto's motivations for doing many of the things that he did in ''Episode II''.
* GiantWaistRibbon: [=RAcaseals=]
* GenreShift: ''Phantasy Star Online'' itself is a shift from the {{Eastern RPG}}s of the [[PhantasyStar tetralogy]]; ''Episodes I, II, and IV'' were straight-up [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame Massively Multiplayer Online]] {{Action RPG}}s. ''Episode III'' was a MMOCCG ([[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame Massively Multiplayer Online]] CollectibleCardGame), using cards that had powers of many of the previous two games' monsters and weapons.
* TheGoomba: Rappies.
* GreenHillZone: Forest 1 in Episode I.
* GuideDangIt: The Tails chao. It requires you to go back the forest after you complete "The Fake In Yellow" quest but before you talk to the receptionist. Then you stand where the rappies are staring at and a chao appears (with SambaDeAmigo music playing). You then go back to Pionner 2 and put the chao on your GBA.
* GunsAkimbo: Every mechgun.
* HailfirePeaks: The Caves area changes as the player travels through it from a LethalLavaLand to a soaking wet tropical cavern to a grassy cavern full of machines. The Ruins area changes from a not-very-ruined TempleOfDoom to a mixture of a TempleOfDoom and a ''WombLevel.'' Central Control of Episode II is a borderline case, putting a jungle, a beach, and a highland (as well as two 10-story-tall towers made for a pair of specific missions) into one collective mission environment, albeit on different parts of Gal de Val Island.
* HarderThanHard: "Ultimate" difficulty, in which enemy speed and spell resistance drastically increases, and several bosses and some {{mooks}} gain nasty new tricks.
* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: [[spoiler:Red Ring Rico and Heathcliff Flowen]]. They turn up in the end credits in single player PSO Episode I & II if you complete episode II on Ultimate difficulty. [[spoiler:Flowen]] could be seen through a [[GuideDangIt convoluted method]] online involving [[spoiler: possession of Rico's Red Weapons while fighting Olga Flow, then returning to the site of the battle after winning]]. The inverse of this [[spoiler: using Flowen's weapons to beat Dark Falz]] apparently let you see [[spoiler: Rico]].
* HyperspaceArsenal: As with most [=RPGs=]' inventory systems, but more obvious in ''Phantasy Star Online'' and not readily explained.
** Justified by the technology of the time... all items can be compressed into a capsule form. The fact that you have 30 spots for items, no matter the size implies that you can hold 30 fully compressed capsules.
* InstantAIJustAddWater: Olga Flow. [[spoiler:Actually a D-Cell-infected Heathcliff Flowen merged with the computer system of the secret laboratory]].
* InformedAbility: The four blades used by one of the legendary Hunters you meet [[spoiler: before they die]], Zoke "the Great Sword" Miyama, possesses three of four [[KatanasAreJustBetter legendary katanas]]. These swords were said to have brought ruin to a tyrannical king, and have the power to destroy an entire planet if all four were used together. Of course, you'll never find out if that's true, as [[spoiler: you find two of the swords broken]] and the fourth katana has tons of fake replicas.
* JokeItem: Frying pans, parasols, syringes, coins, guitars, magazines... [[LethalJokeItem some of which are lethal.]] Most of the joke items of the ''Online'' series mostly referenced other Sega franchises or companies that sponsored events in the game.
* JungleJapes: The Jungle area in Episode II.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: On paper, Katanas in ''PSO'' can outdo many other melee weapons. Also a RockBeatsLaser, as it outdamages ''laser'' weapons. However, they are slower and [[AwesomeButImpractical outclassed by weapons that have five or six hit combos]], though there is one [[AwesomeButPractical paired set of katanas that not only has a five hit combo, a health refill special, and is relatively easy to ensure that its Percents are very good. ]]
* KillItWithIce: Against an opponent that can't be hit repeatedly (such as opposing players or the gelatenous enemies in ''1&2'''s Caves), freezing them will allow you to do just that, making taking them out much faster. As the final dungeon of part 2 proves, however, the enemy can do this to you as well. One enemy is capable of using an attack that, while not hitting very hard, hits about 50 times in a row. Normally, you keep blocking these until one hits, then the rest get grazed over by MercyInvincibility. However, they are usually accompanied by an enemy capable of freezing you. End result? A level 200 character getting ''[[ChainsawGood buzzsawed to death in a single blow]]'' by a puny Mook on Normal Mode.
* LateToTheParty: ''Episodes I and II.''
* TheLostWoods: Forest 2 in Episode 1.
* MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame: Yes, despite having a single player mode, ''PSO'' counts as one. The "massively multiplayer online" aspect of the game was ''strongly'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyEnJCgTZds hyped by Sega in its advertisements]]. In fact, ''PSO'' is credited as one of the inspirations used for the DotHack series.
* MiniDressOfPower: [=RAcaseals=]
* MoreDakka: Mechguns in ''Phantasy Star Online''. They even became some of the strongest weapons you could use.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Red Ring Rico]] accidentally unleashes Dark Falz, and dies for it. The ''players'' would have caused an even worse case: [[spoiler:by defeating Dark Falz over and over again, they only caused him to grow stronger and stronger. Eventually he would have had enough power to completely break free from his bondage in the Ruins and destroy the universe]].
* PalmTreePanic: The beach stretch in Episode II.
* PaperFanOfDoom: The Harisen Battle Fan and the Huge Battle Fan.
* PimpedOutDress: One of the dresses in ''Online'' has [[AntiGravityClothing an anti gravity overskirt]] that just floats right next to the wearer's waist.
* PowerGlows: [[http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/601/601465/phantasy-star-online-blue-burst-20050404025221007.jpg And]] [[http://www.pso-world.com/images/guides/ep4mags/BB-LIBERTA_MAG-ACTION-FULL-1.jpg does]] [[http://www.rpgamer.com/games/ps/pso/screens/pso010.jpg it]] [[http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/D1gTkJgsF4c/0.jpg ever]].
* PurelyAestheticGender: Averted. Classes in I and II are tied to a gender.
* RandomDrop: Taken to an ''art style'' in this game.
** RareRandomDrop: The consequences of said art style. Enjoy your chances of getting objects easily getting lower than 1/1000.
* {{Reincarnation}}: Kinda in ''Episode III''. [[spoiler:Endu is the reincarnation/"son" of both Red Ring Rico and Heathcliff Flowen, created when they forced the essences of Dark Falz and Olga Flow to resonate. They did this to prevent their respective {{Superpowered Evil Side}}s from reincarnating over and over and eventually growing beyond all control]].
* RobotGirl: [=HUcaseals=] and [=RAcaseals=].
* RockBeatsLaser: The most powerful weapons in ''Phantasy Star Online'' are old fashioned katanas and ordinary bullet-firing guns. [[PublicDomainArtifact And]] {{Excalibur}}.
* ScienceIsBad: [[spoiler:De Rol Le]] is a result of this, and is also the reason the A.Beast species exists.
* [[ScrewedByTheNetwork Screwed By The Company]]: Overlaps with BadExportForYou, but that trope doesn't go far enough. Ever since Sonic Team's policy change that called for a segregation of American and European players from the Japanese player base, Sega of Japan has often done little to ensure the success of localized versions of ''Phantasy Star'' [=MMOs=]. Sega of America's [[GameMaster GMs]] were given little to no authority or management over the localized servers, and Sega of Japan did little to ''nothing'' to stop or fix problems occurring on them. As a result, ''PSO'' lived on in Japan, but nowhere else.
* ScunthorpeProblem: The swear filter used in ''Blue Burst'' was a very good example of why swear filters should ''always'' be optional in games.
* SealedEvilInACan: [[spoiler: Dark Falz. The "can" is his ship.]]
* SeriesMascot: Rappies, [[PhantasyStar continuing their role from the tetralogy]].
* ShiftingSandLand: Subterranean Desert.
* ShoutOut: A number of weapons and items reference the original games; the ''Neiclaw,'' the ''Falclaw''/''Rika's Claw'', the ''Elsydeon,'' and the ''Prophets of Motav''. There's also weapons and items that reference other Sega series; the [[FantasyZone Opa Opa]] makes another appearance, for example, this time as a Mag.
* ShowgirlSkirt: [=RAcaseals=]
* SoundtrackDissonance: When you enter the mysterious meadow from the ruins and [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD0kqNGvjrI The Nearest Place to Heaven Plays]] first sounds rather...Happy. Only to gradually get creepier.
* {{Stripperiffic}}: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]], as the primary form of armor in the setting is mounted in a unit on the wearer's wrist. It projects a protective field significantly more effective than any physical armour could be against most threats, and while some do still wear conventional armor as well, many more prefer to wear normal clothing. Indeed, it seems very much as if the cultural reaction to having armour that functions fine with any clothing, and can be worn by anyone without getting in the way of everyday tasks, was for acceptable fashion to grow ever skimpier.
* {{Tagline}}: "You are not the only hero."
* TearsFromAStone: If you played as Lura, the [=RAcaseal=] who wishes she were more human so she could be closer to Break, for the majority of the Arkz story missions in Episode 3, you'll get a cut scene before the final boss fights where she discovers that [[spoiler:she's housing the soul of Break's former lover and Sil'fer's sister inside her body]], and she sheds tears. Lura herself is surprised that she's crying tears, despite being a machine.
* TempleOfDoom: The Caves and The Ruins in Episode I.
* TookALevelInBadass: Remember Ash, the Hunter you rescue in the very first mission of Ep. 1? The one who apparently got the silly smacked out of him by Rag Rappies? In the very ''last'' mission, he turns up in the Ruins, tearing the place up with a ''[[ImpossiblyCoolWeapon double-saber.]]'' Good to see he kept his promise.
* UndergroundMonkey: A number enemies have more than one variant of themselves, distinguishable only by slight physical differences and a PaletteSwap; there are also [[NintendoHard Ultimate]] versions of most enemies, which look substantially different. Certain enemies from one location will also have the same behavior as those from another areas; Boomas, Evil Sharks, and Dimenians all act very similarly (and have similar body shapes).
* UpdatedRerelease: Several of them. ''Ver.2'', ''Episode I & II Plus'' and ''Blue Burst'' are the ones that are on the same platform as a previous version, while the original ''Episode I & II'' was the first version released on consoles besides the Dreamcast.
* UselessUsefulSpell: Megid, an extremely high-costed single hit spell that ''might'' kill the enemy. However, either get the right items or play a [[BlackMagicianGirl FOnewearl]], and [[AwesomeYetPractical it'll penetrate.]]
* VariableMix: Done ''very'' well, but notably absent in its sequel, Universe.
* ViciousCycle: [[FridgeBrilliance In an interesting take]] on the fact that multiple parties will fight and defeat the "final boss" over and over again, [[spoiler:''Episode III'' reveals that Dark Falz and Olga Flow really ''are'' being defeated over and over again, and each time they die they reincarnate stronger than ever, ready for the next party to come along. This would have continued until they became unstoppable and broke free of their respective bonds; that is, until the combined efforts of Red Ring Rico and Heathcliff Flowen break the cycle sometime between Episodes 2 & 3.]].
* {{Video Game 3D Leap}}: Prior to ''PSO,'' every game in the PhantasyStar franchise was 2D.
* TheVirus: D-cell infection.
* WasOnceAMan: Part of [[spoiler: Rico's]] human body can still be seen as fused into [[spoiler: Dark Falz's]] first two forms, [[PainfulTransformation horribly mutated and writhing in pain]]. You can still see [[spoiler: Rico's red ring]] on one of the arms if you look closely. As for [[spoiler: Flowen]], we get an idea of what happened to him thanks to ''Episode 2's'' [[ApocalypticLog Apocalyptic Logs]]. One tidbit of NightmareFuel: We learn that the mutation begins as the wounds inflicted on [[spoiler: Flowen]] by [[spoiler: Dark Falz's infant form]] shift and change shape ...
* WombLevel: Later half of The Ruins in Episode I.
* {{Wutai}}: Not visitable in any game of the series, but there is at least one country on Coral that is this, as evidenced by Zoke Miyama, his servant Shino, and [[KatanasAreJustBetter the legendary katana]] rare weapons.
* YouGetKnockedDownYouGetBackUpAgain: One reason why higher defense is seen as ''bad'' for many players, until it hits "reduce damage to zero" status. If you happen to have just enough defense to not get knocked down, but still take major damage from attacks, enemy mobs can easily rip your character to shreds if you get surrounded.
* ZettaiRyouiki: [=HUnewearl=] characters can come equipped with this in most of their outfits.
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