Phantasy Star Online 2 Alpha Dated, Detailed

For fans of the series, there’s both good and bad news — the good news is Sega has confirmed that closed beta testing phase is set to begin in August. The bad news is it’s for Japan only. Sega has also stated that a playable build will be available at the Tokyo Game Show in September, so gamers who missed the beta will still be able to try the game in advance.

 

Also mentioned are some gameplay details for the much anticipated MMO. According to Andriasang translations of the 4Gamers report, the game will feature 12-player online play, with players forming parties of four, and that the basic gameplay system, ‘Hybrid Custom Action,’ promises a great evolution for the franchise’s action-oriented play, with things like TPS (third-person-shooter) style shooting, jumping, and original combos.”

Players may choose from three character classes:  Hunters (close-combat specialists); Rangers (mid-range fighter), and Force (can hit targets from afar with magic). Character growth is now done through the new class level system, wherein players can gain new skills as their class level rises.

Source: PC News