New Phantasy Star game in the works?

[08.24.99] » Enigmatic Sonic Team logo hints at possible extension of RPG franchise

   Note: The following story is purely speculation and is not to be interpreted as fact. Nevertheless, we felt it was a theory worth sharing with our readers.

   Sonic Team's recent announcement of four new titles for the Dreamcast thrilled gamers. Starting this September 3rd, one game would be revealed each week, through the 10th, 17th, and 24th. One of these titles has been confirmed to be NiGHTS 2, and another is widely believed to be Sonic Adventure 2. That still left at least two titles up in the air - what else would Sonic Team be bringing to the world?

   The recent revelation of the four "Sonic Team" logos to be used with each title has been caused much speculation at the GIA headquarters. One of these logos, for a project codenamed "PSO" (that's Oh, not Zero), has a futuristic bent. And the letters "PS" on a Sega system mean only one thing to an RPG fan: Phantasy Star.

   Sonic Team has had experience with RPGs in the past, working in some capacity on the venerable Shining Force series. Additionally, the head of Sonic Team, Yuji Naka, was main programmer on Phantasy Star I and II, and apparently considers the series to be his best work. In an interview for the Phantasy Star Collection, Naka says, "If I ever get another chance to make an RPG, I think I'd gladly accept, and I look forward to the challenge of [creating] 3D dungeons on the Saturn." While this Saturn RPG never surfaced, a Dreamcast RPG would more than give him a chance to test his 3D dungeon mettle. It has also been suggested that the shape of the Sonic Team logo can be interpreted as the Algol star system: three main planets (Parma, Motavia, and Dezolis) in orbit around a central star.

   Of course, it's also possible that "PSO" is totally unrelated to Phantasy Star at all. But as wistful fans who'd like to see the series ressurected -- hey, we can dream, can't we?

   Thanks to Nick Rox for some theorizing and IGN DC for the "PSO" logo.