Phantasy Star Online Episode I and II Crashlands Onto Shelves

**Tommy Tallarico** · 16 Apr 2003, 11:13 PM

Xbox owners can finally get their Rappy on, as Phantasy Star Online: Episode I and II has finally hit store shelves after several delays. With an MSRP of 39.99, PSO is about as much fun as you can have online without pretending to be a 13 year old girl. It isn't all that easy, though, since you still have to have an Xbox Live account (even to play the offline game), a Hunter's License (8.95 per month, but the first 2 months are free), and a pint of blood (used to feed Sonic Team's Yuji Naka. I'm on to you, Yuji - look out). The game also comes with an offer for a free adapter that'll let you plug any USB keyboard into your Xbox, and thus eliminating the need to have to hear 13 year olds call you gay.

Episode I and II contains the same Episode I that 400,000 Dreamcast owners loved way back when, plus a new episode that most players will probably play through once before they go back to playing the Ruins over and over again. Also included are a ton of new weapons, which you no longer drop when you die, and all of the other extra items, and Ultimate difficulty that was featured in PSO Version 2 on Dreamcast. Xbox Live is looking better every day.

See you on Ragol.