Review NaN of 1
Price Paid:
$50.00
from Gamespot Summary:
With Phantasy Star Online Episode 3, the decade and a half long saga built around the Phantasy Star universe comes to an end. At least, that is the official word from Sega and Sonic Team.
To be truthful, however, it is very doubtful that most PSO gamers really cared about the story line, and it is very questionable if there was every any semblance of continuity from the earliest (mid 80s) Phantasy Star games at all.
But of one item there can be no doubt: PSO Episode 3 is such a departure from anything else ever presented in the series that it has to be considered a totally new and separate game. It's true that a casual glance at Episode 3 screenshots seem to be almost identical to Dreamcast screenshots of the original Phantasy Star Online from almost four years ago. But trust me on this. Though the games look similar graphically, there is no similarity in gameplay at all. Nada. Zip.
PSO3 is a card game in the same vein as Culdcept, Magic the Gathering, or any one of several other series of games. And because of this, the pace of gameplay is way slower than PSO1&2 by a factor of 10. If you are looking for anything like the action and treasure hunting that were the hallmarks of Episodes 1 and 2, forget it. PSO Episode 3 is a turn based card game, with very strong and deep strategic elements and a gameplay structure that borrows a little from the earlier games, but not much.
Sega has wisely decided to include online play with Episode 3 with the Episode 1 & 2 Hunter's License. So, for $8.95 a month, you essentially get to play two very different games online. However, Episode 3, unlike the earlier versions, has an offline mode that is also well worth playing. And, thankfully, the offline multiplayer game is NOT split screen.
But, PSO3 suffers from the same problem that all of these card games do, and that is, chance is a major factor. In fact, in this game, it is the biggest factor. And, if you are a real strategic gamer, that fact will upset you greatly. Because, in the final analysis, no matter how well you play, no matter how much you perfect your deck, and no matter how many rare cards you aquire, the sad truth is, you are a slave to a pair of dice. But, the law of independant events being what it is, if you keep going back, your skill will prevail eventually, with enough patience.
If you can handle that, then it must be stated that PSO3 is a lot of fun for strategy gamers. The online game is especially sweet because the cheating/hacking that plagues Episodes 1 & 2 is useless even if it may be possible. The same randomness that is built into the dice roll also serves to negate cheating. Not only that, the only cheating that would make any difference in online gameplay is duplicating cards. But, since trading cards with other players has to be done through the server when playing online, and since you are limited to just 3 cards of any one type per deck, and since Sega/Sonic Team has put very severe warnings about cheaters being permanently banned all through the printed documentation and when you sign up for online play, so far I've seen no attempts to cheat.
PSO3 has a very real storyline, and it's one that is intricately intertwined with the gameplay. The setting is about 20 years after Ep.1&2, and there are now two factions battling for the control of Ragol, the Government and the Arkz. The Government side is represented by Hunters who are familiar to veterans of Eps.1&2. The rebellion is represented by the Arkz, and they have the ability to control the monsters of Ragol.
Instead of fighting through dungeons, battle is now done via cards on a grid superimposed on a Ragolian playfield. Although I'll explain this better in the gameplay section below, for now, know that Hunters use weapon cards that have direct counterparts to the weapons used in Eps1&2, but the Arkz use monsters for offense. This means that you'll need to learn two completely different methods and strategies of gameplay to experience all that PSO3 has to offer.
Online, you have the option to socialize with Ep1&2 players in their lobbies. But another option, for those who like to play dangerously, is the ability to play on special Episode 3 servers that pay extra in experience points when you win, and deduct exp when you lose!
PSO3 also differs in that two separate sets of stats are kept for your character, one for offline and one for online use. Up to four humans can play directly online, and, in a real twist, you can play 1, 2, or 3 humans with 3, 2, or 1 CPU controlled AI characters. Again, a better explanation will follow in the gameplay section.
Overall, PSO3 is a very creative, strange and well polished game, but it isn't for everyone. The pace is so slow it will turn off many of the traditional action gamers that are the mainstay of PSO1&2. But, if you are a strategy hound, and think you would like the challenge of online tournaments with up to 32 players, and the option of having many different playstyles, and, most importantly, don't get spitting mad when a few bad rolls of the dice cause you to lose, then you will probably enjoy PSO3. Report this review >>
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