Description Phantasy Star Online makes it's debut on the Microsoft Xbox! Enter the fantastic multiplayer RPG world that is PSO, and explore distant lands populated with real players like you. Chat, exchange items and information, and go into battle with players from all over the world -- all in real-time. With Phantasy Star Online, RPG gaming has no boundaries.
Summary: Yeah this game is showing it's age but you can't get pass the fact this game is still the most fun you'll have online. Sure the $8.95 a month is a killer and on top of that you have to purchase a Hunter's license to play it offline but it's still the most fun you'll have online. Sure it sucks you need broadband to play it on the Xbox when it works just fine with 56K on the Dreamcast and Gamecube but it's the most fun you'll have on Xbox Live.
Rating Reviewed by: Michael Paul(Unregistered User)
Review Date August 26, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Visitors rate this review 5.00 of 5,
1 votes
Review NaN of 6
, from Illinois
Price Paid:
$40.00
from ebgames.com
Summary: I’ve played every version of PSO and I can definitely say that the Xbox version is the best one yet, thanks to Xbox Live and its headset. For the unfamiliar, Phantasy Star Online (PSO) is an online four-player hack-and-slash RPG. Although not truly an MMORPG like Everquest, it’s addictive enough to feel like one. Despite having played for close to 500 hours on the Dreamcast, I’m hooked again on Xbox. (All those rehabilitation classes for nothing . . . .)
Phantasy Star Online Episode I and II combines everything from the Dreamcast versions (Episode I) with a new second story (Episode II). Episode II includes the Spaceship and Temple areas that were originally only available in Battle Mode, as well as four new areas. The areas in Episode II are much more interesting than the Episode I areas – players of the original PSO should find Episode II’s new areas and enemies a refreshing addition. Unfortunately the Temple and Spaceship areas, as much as I like the fact that they can now be played in the normal game, are pretty tedious and usually make me decide to play Episode I instead. PSO1&2 sports several other, mainly minor changes in addition to Episode II, including new characters and items.
It is still disappointingly similar to the Dreamcast version even with everything that’s been added. It is basically the same game as the PSO that was released close to three years ago, so if you are completely sick of PSO, this version won’t do much for you. However, it’s a worthy purchase for those who are still interested, or those who haven’t played before.
PSO1&2 is available on both Xbox and GameCube, but if you have the choice, I would go with the Xbox version. The headset makes for a more enjoyable experience – not only can you talk without having to take your hands off the controller, but you feel like you know people better when you can hear their voice. Voice chat does have a few minor disadvantages, such as the 1-2 second lag, which can sometimes make conversations difficult. If you’re not a fan of talking, there is a USB keyboard adapter available. PSO gives you five customizable voice masks. Like the voice masks in other Live games, they’re all annoying, but if you like to use them, they’re there.
I can’t say I’m a fan of the $9 monthly fee that’s required to play online in addition to the Xbox Live fee. The price is pretty high for a game that’s not an MMORPG, especially because new content is added infrequently. Also, an Xbox Live account is required to play even offline (yes, it’s stupid), so if you were hoping to play offline and don’t have Live, you’re out of luck – it’s not worth getting just for offline play anyway. Despite the fee, the game is still quite a deal with a retail price of $40 and two free months of online play. If you and your family don’t mind you getting addicted, you should get this game.
Summary: This is a game that has been around for a long time in various incarnations and is really starting to show its age. Having never played it before on the previous incarnations, it sounded like my type of game, so I decided to give it a try. While it does have some value certainly, and I suppose that I can see something of the addictive quality that so many people claim, in the end, it was a chore to play this game and not one that I can really recommend. Essentially, the game is a hack and slash action RPG, but the game has so little variety and so much repetition (and what is repeated is generally so uninteresting), that it really does wear you down. Playing with friends or on LIVE greatly help, but ultimately, the experience is a shallow, treasure-hunting experience that was done much better in something like Diablo.
Summary: This game is so addictive it's crazy. Once you play it on Xbox live you'll forgot everything around you. I don't understand where people say this game has no story when it does. You first create what you want to be out of the 3 classes (Hunter, Ranger and Force) then (Human or Android). I advise you to go through all the hunter guild quests for each area first before you fight the final boss for that area. You should have enough experience and have no real problem beating them if you do it that way. Back to the story. Pioneer1 was sent out to find a suitable planet and pretty much found one and it is the palnet Ragol. Pioneer1 contacts Pioneer2 and tells them they found a suitable planet. Pioneer2 takes 7 years to reach the orbit of planet Ragol upon Pioneer2's arrival an explosion happens causing Pioneer2 to loose communication with Pioneer1 that is on the surface of the Planet Ragol. It's your job to find out what cause the explosion. You also have to find out are there any survivors from Pioneer1 and the Planet Ragol and is Ragol still a safe place to live. That's as much as I can tell you w/o giving the plot away. I've logged in hundreds of hours on the Dreamcast and Gamecube versions and having voice chat in Xbox live just makes it 100 times better. There is nothing like teaming up w/ 3 other people online and blasting your way through the game watching each others back using Voice Chat. Like I said this game has a good story but you won't pay too much attention to it because you'll be too busy leveling up and collecting rare weapons.
Summary: Xbox live has just updated its live library in such a good way. Finally an online RPG that was well worth the wait. Phantasy Star Online 1 & 2 is the most addiciting game I have ever played. Its all about you designing your own character from scratch and you leveling him up. Sounds boring but you also get a buch load of weapons and items that help you. THere are over 100 rare weapons that you could find, thus making you the envy of all players on the internet. There are 3 classes, Hunters, Rangers and Forces and each class has 4 breeds of those classes. Each class is good at something, like Hunters, they are all around, they can use all weapons that are blades or swords, they can use some guns and they can learn most of the spells. Rangers can use all guns, learn most spells and some blades. Forces use all spells and are better at them, use some guns and some blades. If your an Android you are a robot, and they can't use any spells (Note:Androids have no brain) but they excel in combat, plus they can see traps when humans cant. Also, being able to now talk instead of typing is pure Nirvana, you dont even have to press a button, you just talk. I strongly recommend you buy this only if you have xbox live, if you dont then you will be very dissapointed, these game has no story whatsoever say be ready to lose your hours into a very unhealthy addiction of PSO.
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