XPost: alt.games.phantasy-star   
   From: bel@whipassgaming.com   
      
   > PSO on the Xbox has offline multiplayer, and the entire solo quest is   
   > still present.   
      
   True. Up to 4 players too.   
      
   > That's not a complete experience, but there's still way   
   > more game there than a lot of comparable titles offer, IMO.   
      
   I agree. I've played it with another person, on the same Xbox, it was   
   actually pretty good. I can't imagine doing more than one other person   
   though, unless you've got a REALLY large TV...and even then, Sega just   
   couldn't be bothered to make the game widescreen(pisses me off to no end).   
      
   > The original PSU has Episode 1, which is Ethan Waber's story, and Extra   
   > Mode, which is essentially the whole online environment but offline. If   
   > you go online, you get Episode 2, which puts a character of your creation   
   > into the story interacting with all the NPCs you encountered playing as   
   > Ethan.   
   >   
   > Here's where it gets complicated. Illuminus omits Episode 1, but gives you   
   > Episode 2 offline. If you get the PC or the PS2 version, there's extra   
   > content and FMV segments that the 360 version doesn't have. If you take   
   > Illuminus online, you get access to Episode 3, which is the follow-up and   
   > introduces all the new characters.   
   >   
   > In order to play Ambition of the Illuminus on the 360, you do have to own   
   > the original PSU in order to play. It's technically an expansion that   
   > requires the base code to play.   
      
   Hmmmm...so it sounds like the best way to do it would be the PC or PS2   
   version, then, right? I mean, you install PSU, play it, then install   
   PSU:Illuminus and play through it. I wonder if, on the PC version, once   
   you install PSU:I that it considers them both one title and you don't   
   actually have to exit one to start up the other(kind of like installing   
   an expansion pack for say, Doom 3, does)...   
      
   I appreciate this info. I keep seeing PSU on the 360 for around   
   $10...but as I have the PC version(and got it new, for $5) I've just   
   sort of been waiting. Hooking the PC up to the HDTV isn't that tough,   
   and the fact that it'll immediately recognize my 360 controller makes it   
   that much more enticing. Maybe I will just play it through on the PC.   
   Does this mean that I could play online with you?   
      
   > So far they're online only. You see them randomly as bonus levels if you   
   > complete missions on each of the three worlds, and then you also see them   
   > all at once as part of the Maximum Attack G game events.   
      
   I hope they offer them as downloadable content at some point. I mean, I   
   guess that wouldn't help the PS2 owners, but at least the PC owners   
   could get it.   
      
   > It's a God of War clone. I wouldn't have even noticed it if I didn't pick   
   > it up on discount for $10. I think it's already down to $20 at Best Buy.   
   > And yeah, the graphics are low-rent because of the multi-platform   
   > requirement, but you don't need that many polygons to make wireframes for   
   > boobs. :)   
      
   Wow, I may have to hit BB and pick it up then. I've never played GoW,   
   but Conan just has something going for it...be it the extreme violence   
   and blood, or the beefy combat engine, but damn it's good stuff. Just   
   wish it looked better. Quite honestly, it's gotta be the only non-Live   
   Arcade title that I've seen on the 360 that is just, well...ugly.   
      
   Bel   
   --   
   Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com/   
      
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