Yeah, I'd say avoid the PSP port -- in addition to the load times, it's also got an absolutely awful framerate, terribly lo-res texturing and tinny sound. The PS2 version is a MUCH better option in all cases, and also features full voice-acting.
As for ordering from Falcom... here's all the information you could possibly need to know. Apologies for the length -- this is copied from a text file I wrote up a couple years back.
** How to order products directly from Nihon Falcom (yes, they ship overseas!): **
The trickiest part of this is the fact that international Falcom orders must be placed via email, which means you'll be
sending your credit card info and such directly to Falcom's international support department. This tends to turn a lot of
people off to the idea of ordering from Falcom at all, but every single one of the people mentioned in these credits, as
well as every single regular member of the Ancient Land of Ys web forum, has done this multiple times (dozens, in my case),
and never once has there been a problem.
For starters, you're going to want to check out Falcom's special of the week. As its name implies, this is a featured sale
package that Falcom changes every week (usually on Fridays), and it's far and away THE best way to get Falcom goods for a
dirt-cheap price. Around Christmas and New Year's, especially, Falcom will come up with some pretty spectacular deals
(as I recall, around Christmas 2007, Falcom offered basically the entire Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky trilogy,
complete with soundtracks, for an insanely low price that was over $100 cheaper than the norm!).
The special of the week may be found at this website:
-
www.falcom.co.jp/mailorder/special/special.htmlTake special note of the "item number," which is listed at the bottom of the page after the kanji combination 商品番号,
alongside the platform (i.e. Windows VISTA/XP/2000) and the medium (i.e. DVD-ROM).
If you're having any difficulty figuring out what all is offered in this special, I recommend downloading and installing
the Firefox plugin called "Rikaichan," which will allow you to mouse over any Japanese word and get a small but detailed
tooltip that translates it to English for you. Rikaichan can be acquired at the following website:
-
www.polarcloud.com/rikaichan/The special of the week is also often translated and discussed on the Ancient Land of Ys web forum, under the following
topic:
-
seldane.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=falcom&action=display&thread=1163Once you've determined whether or not the special of the week is to your liking, you may continue shopping for other items
from Falcom's web store, which can be accessed here:
-
www.falcom.co.jp/mailorder/index.htmlThe tabs on the blue bar at the top of the page translate to "top," "games," "music CDs," "books and goods," "weekly
special," and "full item listing." Click on one of these to get started, then take down some item numbers for products
you want to buy. Use Rikaichan for translation whenever necessary, and compile yourself a nice listing of games, CDs,
books, etc. that you'd like to buy.
Once you have this taken care of, drop an email to "support_h19@falcom.co.jp" that reads something along these lines:
---
TO: support_h19@falcom.co.jp
SUBJECT: International order request
Hello! I would like to order these items:
* 0823 - Weekly special: Zwei!! + Zwei!! soundtrack + Xanadu Next soundtrack + jdk Band Live DVD
* 860 - Ys: The Oath in Felghana Special Edition
* 888 - Xanadu Next
* M047 - jdk Band 2008 Spring
* M008 - Falcom jdk Band 1
* M041 - Eiyuu Densetsu FC & SC Super Arrange Version
I will pay with credit card:
Card type: VISA
Card name: John Q Example
Card number: 1234 5678 9012 3456
Expiration: 06/12
Billing address:
John Q Example
Apt. 42
123 Fake St.
Feenaville, RI 90210
U.S.A.
Shipping address:
John Example
c/o Exampleco Industries
9292 Mexican Hat Dance Blvd.
Lilia Springs, RI 90211
U.S.A.
Thank you very much!
---
Falcom sometimes takes a few days (possibly a week or more) to respond to international order requests - and oftentimes,
their emails get filtered to one's spam or bulk mail folder, so keep an eye on your email for the next little while. You
should eventually get a response like this:
---
Thank you for an inquiry of Falcom mail order service.
The total price is as follows.
Price (Japanese-yen)
3,800 yen :0823 Zwei soundtrack CD Set
7,960 yen :860 Ys Felghana Premium DVD
3,960 yen :888 Xanadu Next Vista
1,980 yen :M008 JDK BAND 1
2,980 yen :M041 Sora no Kiseki FC&SC SAV
2,800 yen :M047 jdk Band 2008 Spring
5,400 yen :shipping and handling
-----------------------------------
28,880 yen :total
*This game is only for Japanese edition Windows.
A game may not work if you don't have Japanese Windows.
Approve it in advance.
If you are ok, we think we would like to accept your order.
We are waiting for your reply.
Thank you
---
When you receive this response, you will want to reply again to confirm your order - but do remember that this is a
Japanese company, and its employees do NOT speak perfect English, so make certain your reply is written in unambiguous,
simplistic English. I usually send something like this:
---
This sounds good. Please send these items. Thank you very much!
---
Finally, within the next few days after sending this, you should receive one last response from support_h19@falcom.co.jp,
with the subject "From Falcom Mailorder":
---
Thank you for your reply.
We accepted your order.
The total price is as follows.
Price (Japanese-yen)
3,800 yen :0823 Zwei soundtrack CD Set
7,960 yen :860 Ys Felghana Premium DVD
3,960 yen :888 Xanadu Next Vista
1,980 yen :M008 JDK BAND 1
2,980 yen :M041 Sora no Kiseki FC&SC SAV
2,800 yen :M047 jdk Band 2008 Spring
5,400 yen :shipping and handling
-----------------------------------
28,880 yen :total
NAME:
(shipping)John Example
(card)John Q Example
ADDRESS:
(shipping)John Example c/o Exampleco Industries 9292 Mexican Hat Dance Blvd. Lilia Springs, RI 90211 U.S.A.
(card)John Q Example Apt. 42 123 Fake St. Feenaville, RI 90210 U.S.A.
It is your receipt number[ 01234-012345 ].
Please write the number of receipts, and send an E-mail if there is a question.
We will send a product on August XXth by EMS (International Express Mail).
Be waiting, please.
Thank you.
---
Double-check the info and make sure there are no mistakes (as there occasionally will be). If there are, send another
response, and explain the errors in the simplest, most basic English you can (imagine you're talking to a child: use small
words and unambiguous sentences as often as possible). They should correct the errors quickly and email you back with a
revised version of the above email. As long as everything looks right, there's no need to do anything else: your order will
be shipped via EMS on the date listed, and arrive at your doorstep within 3 or 4 business days afterward. The only downside
is that EMS requires that the addressee or his/her agent sign for the package, so if you can get it sent to your workplace,
that's probably a better option than having it sent to your home. Worst case scenario, though, is that you'll be forced to
drive to your local post office and pick it up.
-Tom
