Phantasy Star Portable

Plot

Phantasy Star Portable begins a few months after the conclusion of Phantasy Star Universe (2006) and its expansion, Ambition of the Illuminus (2007), in which an alliance of humans, newmans, beasts, and CASTs of the Gurhal star system drove off alien invaders known as SEED. The peace is short-lived, however. Vivienne, a newly constructed CAST android, and her partner (the player), discover that some SEED remain, and are causing trouble. Vivienne and her partner work to save the Gurhal system—and, in the process, learn more about humanity.

Gameplay

The player begins by choosing one of four races and three character class. The character design is adjustable through several variables: face model, eye color, eyebrows, eyelashes, ears, head type, body color, proportion, jacket, pants, shoes, voice type, and voice pitch.

Players are assigned missions in which they must kill all opponents in the area; many of the levels conclude with a boss battle. Along the way, players, collect weapons, armour, money, and other helpful items.

Characters

Player character

The player character is a newly trained member of the GUARDIANS, a security force that protects the Gurhal star system. S/He lives in a GUARDIAN space colony, and is a shy person who rarely speaks in the game.

Vivienne

Vivienne is a newly constructed CAST (an android created by the humans of Gurhal). Like the player, she has just completed basic training, and is now a hunter assigned to be the player's partner.

Laia Martinez

Laia is a hunter-class beast with the GUARDIANS. She is also the instructor who trained the player character. She accompanies the player on some missions.

Mina

Mina works at the mission counter at the headquarters of the GUARDIAN space colony. She gives the player and other GUARDIANS their mission assignments.

Helga Neumann

A woman who works with the Illuminus. Although she appears to be in her mid-twenties, she is actually 43 years old. She says that she died and was revived by the SEED. She caused the spread of the Remnant SEED and the creation of another HIVE.

Reception

In its first week on sale in Japan, the game sold more than 342,000 units. Phantasy Star Portable was the 14th best-selling game of Japan in 2008. Reviewer James Mielke of 1UP.com praised the game's replay value, and gave a score of A-.