Phantom Dust

by Majesco

Product Features

• 100 single player missions
• Face strange, glowing opponents in weird, post-apocalypse setting that are as dangerous as your enemy
• Earn points by winning battles, then spend them on new skills -- over 300 in all
• Amazing graphics and control combine the look & feel of classic sci-fi and the best anime
• 2-player head-to-head offline play & 4-person offline multiplayer

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007PIEA6
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: March 16, 2005
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,684 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com

Developed by Microsoft's Japanese division and published in the U.S. by Majesco, Phantom Dust was fated to be an odd duck. Corporate nonsense aside, this game is one that shows a huge amount of potential and delivers only superficially. It seems to shoot itself in the foot whenever it's poised to really take off and achieve something, but there's still some enjoyment to be had here.

Single-player suffers from this syndrome far more than the online modes. Crippled by a marginal localization and dreadful structure, the original and interesting story never has a chance to take hold, while laughable AI makes the battles one-dimensional. It's admittedly fun for a while to laugh at the character designs that look like Queen starring in a remake of Blade Runner, but in the end, the offline offering serves merely as a training session for the hectic online matches.

Phantom Dust takes place in bite-sized servings of explosive combat for up to four players (or AI opponents), with the object being to obliterate your foes with psychic powers acquired on the battlefield. There are plenty of nuances to pick up on, like which defensive skills work against which offensive powers, and this multifaceted gameplay introduced in single-player mode seems amazing at first, but ultimately fails to provide enough strategy meat to really sink your teeth into. Unparalleled environmental destruction will make your jaw drop, only to frustrate and annoy when you figure out that there's no reliable way to turn it to your advantage in a fight. Customizing your skill set would seem to add a level of needed depth to the combat, but the randomness in which you gain access to them recalls blackjack more than Diablo. And with no mini map, cycling through targets (which you don't need a line of sight to lock on to) is your only resort to keeping tabs on the situation. The final nail in the coffin is that there is absolutely no way to possibly defend yourself if more than one player decides to gun for you – expect to die in a matter of seconds, without exception.

Unleashing beautiful hell on your opponents is certainly fun for a while, as this is one of the more visually pleasing games in recent memory. The combat provides some thrills that you won't find in other games, given the unique nature of Phantom Dust's premise. And if the soundtrack were available commercially, I'd buy it without a second thought. However, I can't believe that anyone is going to stick with this rather than go back to Halo 2 or Rainbow Six 3 for their online needs once the new game glow wears off.

Concept:
Trade civilization and your memories for psionic powers and post-apocalyptic ruin! Valid at participating stores only

Graphics:
Any way you slice it, this is a treat for the eyes

Sound:
One of the coolest soundtracks ever. Orchestral instrumentation with a twist

Playability:
The lack of a minimap severely hampers battle awareness

Entertainment:
The thrills end up being short-lived, as combat proves too shallow to hold interest for long

Replay:
Moderate

Rated: 7 out of 10
Editor: Adam Biessener
Issue: March 2005

2nd Opinion:
I'm happy to see this game finally get a U.S. release, because it really does bring something different to the world of Xbox Live. I do quite enjoy the core psychic combat at the heart of this game, but it does grow a little stale after all strategic options have been explored. The story mode is pretty unimpressive (most worthless map system ever!), but multiplayer should offer some thrills for those looking for a different way to get an online fix.

Rated: 7.5 out of 10
Editor: Jeremy Zoss


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Product Description

Phantom Dust mixes action and strategy in a new kind of fighting game. After the apocalypse, a small group of humans survived underground. When they finally emerged, they found a world where everyone and everything is covered in something called "Phantom Dust". This dust gives people supernatural powers they use for survival. When the undergrounders come to the surface, they're covered in the Phantom Dust and their deadly adventure begins. Xbox Live offers incredible multiplayer games with multiple mission modes

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another alternative to online fighting, March 21, 2005

By 

Karaleus Shadtow White (Bumville, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Phantom Dust (Video Game)

First of this game is only 20 bucks, which is a steal considering what it offers. The premise is that of a fighting game were four players can take thier collected skills and go online and battle each other via royal rumble or 2 man teams. For each player you will have 30 slots to save your skills, and each skill requires a certain number of aura points. You start each match with 0 aura points and your aura points take up your skill list. So for instance I have 15 skills saved and 15 aura points saved and that will take up my skills list. This was something that I didn't like, as soon as you start the battle you have to stand next to your aura/skill pool (which only lets out three skills at a time) and hope that you get enough skills and aura to go fight other wise you will have to wait until your aura/skills respawn. This really slows down the game. The cool thing is that you can get skills such as levitate, flying, dashing, warping you name it you can pretty much do it. These skills are not given you have to find them in the scenario mode, which gives you a great incentive to play it, because there are so many skills that are really difficult to find and other online players may have never seen them. The one player mode is a complete game which is rare unlike the sorry Mortal Kombat conquest and Tekken 5 Devil Within yeech! You really have to get lucky with your skill selection, so in this aspect it is like card collection like Yugi O. You can buy the skills in a pact of 5 (sound familiar) and they are randomly issued or you can buy one skill at a time at a higher price. The premise to this game is pretty cool, I just wish when you start the round that you can just go and immediately fight instead of building up then going to fight, but it is minor gripe for a new online fighting game that cost 20 bucks.

*warning spoilers*
Some of my favorite skills:

Skywalk = let's you float in the air 15 feet for 15 seconds, it is like being storm because you can still use certain attack skills while floating like lighting or fire, it is just cool.

reflect mirror = when an opponent tries to hit you with any non piercing attack the attack is reflected back to them and you can fire your own skill right behind it, the perfect defense (well almost unless some one drops rocks on your head, and yes that skill is in the game).

Any erase skill = these skills are dirty because they can erase a skill that is in the opponents inventory, not only will you have to go back to your pool and get more skills but you can receive damage too depending on which erase skill is used, just dirty.

Mind reading = this skill let's you listen to the other teams conversation, now that aint right.

Thor's Hammer = Electrical bolt that goes through walls and buildings, enough said.

Devil Wings = you float in the air and disappear for 15 seconds, and did I mention you can still attack.

There are so many skills that it is kinda difficult to have a favorite one, like I said anything that you can think of is probably a skill, from draining life, confusing a players button configuration, speed up, slow down, immoblizing, ice, fire,lighting, wind, swords, regenerate skills and health, I mean there are just a lot of skills, so go get the game and meet me online.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An addicting game and an even better price., May 10, 2005

By 

Craig T. Wilkie "lostaholic" (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Phantom Dust (Video Game)

I've put about 25hrs into this game so far, that's how much fun it is. And for twenty bucks you can't beat it!

The game itself takes the age old card game mantra that made games like magic the gathering and pokemon popular and puts a new twist on it.

YOu get 4 "skills" to use at a time that randomly appear out of an arsenal of 30 that you preset to use. THis means the game involves a lot of strategy as you only get new skills when you've binded the ones that pop up to either the a,b,x, or Y button, but once the new skills pop up you may have to get rid of one you have already to use it. Trust me this game is excellent and a lot of fun, and for twenty bucks you can't beat it. Worth the purchase by far.!!!! Excellent game. Also it's sooo much fun on xbox live and the team behind the game is constantly updating the online game to add new skills and new game modes!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars !!Awesome Game!!, July 10, 2005

By 

Peter K. Peers "Jeckel" (Janesville, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Phantom Dust (Video Game)

If you payed $20 for this game. It is a good investment. I just completed it. About 108 Missions cleared, about 42 Hours of my time. The graficx are great. Also you have to use your noodle for developing a stradegy for beating a wide range of opponents. The last mission at the Ruins was probably the tuffest part of the game. Took me 2 nights to develop a stadegy to overcome the various forms of the the Dememted Feia. Just don't do like I did and use every last skill in your arsenal. Once you run past the last skill of your arsenal, or use them all up. Your life starts to run out until you die. Kinda unfair, but just a reminder.
Well I hope you enjoy this game. I sure did.:)