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3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
PSO RevolutionMar 28, 2004
By Torin Johansen
I was skeptical of this game at first, how could a cardgame live up to the great PSO standards? A risky change to be sure, especially since most cardgames out there are boring, repedative, and just not much fun. Luckily PSO EP3 is very innovative in its approach. Unlike most cardgames, EP3 actually adds depth to the gameplay by utilizing a grid system, one similar to FF Tactics, where you move your characters around and develop strategies and plans of attack. You use a deck of cards to summon creatures or use items to fight your opponent on this grid, depending on which character type your using. There are two different groups of characters. The Arkz, who use monsters that can move independently on the grid, or Heros, who use items that stay with the character and can be used to deal more damage to an oppenent. The two play very diffierently from each other and are well balanced, which gives you a lot of options for individualized strategy.
The game has two modes, online and offline. The offline mode has two options, story or free battle. The story mode is where you get new characters to build decks around and learn more about what happened after the events of Ep1+2. This is also an excellent place to start playing, collecting cards and learning the intricacies of the game. Free battle is where you are just tossed immediatly into a battle. The only real purpose I can see for this mode is to collect more cards.
Then we have the online mode. I advise you play the single player first, as otherwise your cards will be obsolete and you will be ripped apart by the other players. Online play has a couple very cool features, the best of which are tournaments. There are lots of tournaments and anyone can join, and you get meseta (the games currency) and more cards if you win. You can use meseta to buy more cards in a random drawing, or you can use it on the jukebox in the lobby. There is a list of songs, and whatever you pick is what everone in the lobby is going to hear.
You can also play in teams of two, which is great and adds even more depth to the game. Its also fun to play with your friends.
The games music is excellent and sets the mood.This game is not perfect however, one of my biggest complaints is no voice chat. You will be forced to invest in a keyboard, as the in-game software keyboard just doesnt cut it. Another complaint is that the AI is dumb as rocks. If you get stuck with a computer as your partner online, you will lose. Another downside is that you have to pay about $8 a month to play online, however, you can use your old hunters license from Ep1+2 to play on Ep3. The fights online against more skilled opponents can be long and sometimes boring, but if you are that far in then you probably like the game anyway. There are some other problems if you are new to the online mode in that you are going to be beaten to a pulp at first. You just won't have the cards to compete against other players online, even if you played the single player game for awhile. I love this game, and despite its flaws, it is a solid game and I love playing it. Although this isnt for everyone, if you are a fan of the PSO series, you owe it to yourself to give it a chance.
7 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Not a bad game, but online players bring the experience downApr 05, 2004
Well, after fiddling around with this game for a few days, I can definitely say, it's a mixed bag. To understand the game, you must fist understand the mechanics. The game is divided into 5 rounds (Dice, Set, Move, Action, Draw) which alternate between one player/team or the next. All of this game play is imbedded into a storyline that you must complete to unlock better characters and cards. Destroying cards/creatures earns you experience that levels up your character and give you access to progressively better cards. Players receive new cards at the end of each match, but how many you receive is based on an evaluation of your previous match. I do have a few complaints however. First, each character has their own storyline, but you can follow only one at a time. This means to get the stories from all the characters you will have to play the game over and over from the beginning. Each time you start over, you basically have to start collecting your cards all over again, as your previous progress is whipped out. Given the game's rather redundant nature, this can get old very quickly as there are usually 3-5 battles in-between each story "blurb". Story moments are delivered in a series of still images and scrolling text, much like they were in the heyday of 8-Bit gaming, no voices, no animation. While I can appreciate the retro feel that gives, some people might not like it. Secondly, there is a great power disparity between the "Hero" and the "Dark" characters. Hero characters can equip "equipment" cards for extra attacks and defense. They can only be killed when all their cards are destroyed, meaning that even a 1st level character can easily become a well-neigh indestructible whirling dervish. Dark characters have no such luxury. They attack by summoning creatures that are, on the whole, very weak. A moderately equipped hero can dispatch up to three creatures in a single attack, and well equipped hero is even stronger. Dark characters may not equip items and their creatures do very little damage meaning that unless you can bombard your opponent with a literally never ending stream of monsters, you're toast. Also, since you have to divide your action points among all your creatures, moving any number of summoned beasts is basically impossible. Fundamentally, everything works in favor of "Hero" characters. Anyone who chooses to play the "Dark" side must either have a grasp of subtle strategy that eludes me, or have a taste for defeat. You'll probably find yourself playing the same battle over and over again until you win by random chance or the AI doing something insanely stupid, which thankfully it does with some regularity. The online component is definitely a mixed bag. Matching up with real human players is always more fun than the AI, but you have no control over the level of player that joins your match. Of course, all that means is that they're likely to have better cards than you, but one bad roll will still ruin their day. As a nice twist, if a lower level player defeats a higher level player, they actually loose EXP, meaning that standards are higher as you progress. Also, is a player chooses to drop off mid-match, the AI takes over their character and continues play. It's pretty neat actually. Also, online and offline exp are separate. Meaning you can't play the game endlessly offline and then come online as a high ranking character. Not that your level really has much bearing on anything. You can use the same decks online/offline so your level is little more than a matter of prestige. On the downside, much like PSO I&II, the world is full of immature and juvenile players who have nothing better to do than spam your screen with obscenities. Also, another issue is that you can select from little sound bites to play during the game. These can be fun, until somebody decides that it's cool to endlessly play the same sound over and over though the entire match. And yes, people do this. Much like any game, you will group with some very cool people, and you will group with some real losers. I'd give a lot of money if there was an easy way to report these types of things, but there isn't and most people behave like jerks with no fear of being caught. Also, it's only a matter of time until someone figures out how to "dupe" (aka copy) cards through hacking or some other trick, and then, much like PSO I&II the online game will effectively be ruined pretty much forever. All in all, PSO 3 is a fun game if you enjoy Trading Card games, such as Magic or are a fan of collecting things. Even the pathetic "Dark" characters are generally fun to play even though you're going to loose 4 out of 5 matches, and that's saying something. The majority of complaints I have revolve around the lack of balance between the two sides, and the general immaturity of the people online.
6 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 Don't knock it until you try it.Jan 22, 2004
By Dpertelle
"dpertelle"
First of all I'd like to say that I have played this game in both offline and online modes already.
Now most of the complaints about this game is about it being centered around turnbased cardplay, instead of the hack and slash exploration that made Phantasy Star Online Episode I and II what it was. Change is not always bad. I was skeptikal until Mr. Armion Ovlight, a well known gamer, allowed me to play with him. I was blown away at the complexity of the game. It requires you to think, and adapt. The game was well designed. Actual gameplay takes place on preset battlefields. These battlefields are B-E-A-utiful. Graphics were not spared there. And everything reacts, from grass swaying in the wind, to birds flying over head and sometimes scattering at intense moments. Musically, Card revolution improves on itself by introducing several new tracks. Dolby owners will love the soundtrack. What about the card gimmick? The cards are your items, armors, weapons, extra attacks, mags, and special moves. Of course if you are the darkside, many cards are replaced with Enemy cards. You will summon forth the creatures of Ragol to do your bidding. Your HL from Episode I and II carries over to Episode 3 as well as your guild card data. Now the minuses are; character creation is useless as you will use a preset character in battle and your character will not be seen outside of Lobbies and pioneer 2.
AR cheats are already surfacing, though bans for using them are in progress
Online community, what can be expected Online with any game are a few troublemakers
Unbeatable cards; such as poufully slime, and the extremly rare ???, Flow, and Cell, cards. all in all it's a great game.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
The C.A.R.D. SystemJan 30, 2010
By Matthew Seese
The C.A.R.D. system change the way the Phantasy Star game work and is a nice break to the normal hack-n-slash rpg style. It's a bit overwhelming at first but the game really picks up steam once you get the hang of the C.A.R.D. system.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
This game is simple!!!! but fun.Mar 31, 2005
This game is fun and really easy. it has a tutorial in the game so you don't need a manuel. you can change what the premade charters look like (I think) after you beat the game. It is really fun and has more of a story than pso1&2 the only thing I don't like is that it is turn based. but it is still really fun. i do recomend renting it before you buy it though. also you can choose to be the dark side or the light side. this game is really fun and I give a 5.
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