****Only For The Hardcore Phantasy Star Fan-DC**** If one has friends and plays MMO's, It's addictingly and socia
If anyone reading this review has played the DREAMCAST version of Phantasy Star Online, one will not heavily appreciate PSU. Ihas the same exact gameplay as the dreamcast version with simplified dungeons.
If one is a die-hard Phantasy Star one, one will appreciate the game for what it is. Online - a social gathering of friends upon an MMORPG. Offline - a complete different story to bring into the Phantasy Star saga.
The story itself is like no other. Completely different from previous Phantasy Star titles that take place many years after the initial "impact" ( reference to Dreamcast story line). It's a solid story line with the epitome of watching any anime. The story itself is like sitting through twelve episodes of an anime. The good thing about this title is that it has a solid ending, compared to what PSO brought. Nothing amaszingly special with the offline mode other than the exploration of all planets and the Extra Mode.
Online has the same exact gameplay as offline. Only difference is that it's online. Create a shop, go through dungeons, meet some friends, dance, and etc. Currently, the servers have not seen new content released for the game itself, nor has mission opened up. This makes the game bare online. SEGA / Sonic Team needs to give its American players new content just as the Japanese Servers get (i.e. Halloween special that USA was out of). With the monthly fee that people pay to play online, Sega needs to release missions. That's the only aspect it is missing.
The online mode can get addicting, but sometimes tedious. With a few friends, it doesn't get any worse. Everything runs just as it's suppose to (with the exception of a buggy log in and an occasional lag out). It isn't complete ****. It isn't marvelous either. Its bottom line average. What's mostly hurting this title is the absence of any new content and Guardian's missions that Sega / Sonic Team has yet to produce for it's American Players.
Recommended: For now, if one is a die-hard PSO fan or just wants an easy MMORPG to jump right in and have fun with five random party members from God knows where. True to heart, it is quite an addictingly fun game.
Not Recommended: To the MMORPG connoisseur. And for those who expect the experience they had with the PSO series for Dreamcast. I do not recommend it to those YET. Once new content comes out. Everything will change.
***Currently, the Beta version that was released for the PSU is exactly just as what it was with the PSU release version online. Bare. Two planets have not been released and only 30-40% of the online game is actually there. SEGA / Sonic Team has yet to unlock the dungeons, missions, weapons, features, and vehicles for the game that are already present but embedded somewhere; dormant until one decides it's time for a makeover.