In an earlier article we talked about the new opening for Phantasy Star Online 2, with a link to a low quality version of the opening, taken from a niconico live stream. SEGA have now uploaded a much higher quality 720P version of the opening to their Youtube Channel. You can watch it below!
SEGA is currently holding a closed beta test for Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode 4 on the PlayStation 4 in Japan. Unfortunately there’s still no news regarding the release of the PC version in the West, which was announced almost four years ago but has yet to materialize. You can read SEGA’s latest official statement on the matter here.
The modified crest for the Yamato in Phantasy Star Online 2.
EDIT: in the comments below, one of readers (landman) pointed out that the Japanese imperial crest was removed from the bow of the battleship in this new version of the trailer. In a recent blog update, Phantasy Star Online 2’s Producer, Satoshi Sakai, explained that they made the change to address concerns from people who felt uncomfortable with the idea of fighting the actual Battleship Yamato in-game. Sakai went on to explain that in the game, the “Phantom Battleship Yamato” doesn’t have a crew and isn’t meant to be represent the actual historical battleship. Rather, it’s an embodiment of people’s fears and imaginations, like the other enemies in PSO2’s Earth setting (such as tanks, helicopters and even dinosaurs).
There is a little detail changed in the opening too, Sakai posted in the blog (http://pso2.jp/players/news/?id=8274) that apparently some players didn’t like the idea of fighting a symbol like the Yamato, and others posted concerns about it having the imperial family crest, and while Sakai confirms they have not done anything illegal, they have changed the crest to avoid the discomfort of those players. Meanwhile, Japanese don’t care about the Yamato being represented as a half nude chick with canons in Kancolle lol
Interesting, thanks for pointing that out! I hadn’t noticed that the crest was indeed removed in the new version. As for KanColle: I guess that people are less comfortable with the fact that this is a realistic in-game rendition of the actual battleship, rather than a moe anthropomorphism.