I finally got Phantasy Star Universe! Shame this game gets no love or respect...

I was lucky to find a Phantasy Star Universe at a Game Rush/Blockbuster for $10, opened but still brand new. This is the type of game where you want to give it a try but don't want to spend $50 on it. But I finally got to play it and I think it's quite good.

It's basically Phantasy Star Online but better, MUCH BETTER. Yet, it kind of stinks that this game isn't getting the attention the first one did, even though it's a better game. But I guess there still is a community because the second expansion is coming out soon.

Anyway, I think this game is cool! Not revolutionary or awesome like FFXII or Rogue Galaxy, but still good.

I tried the demo. Just pointless wandering around some lobbies. I couldn't find where the mission starts, perhaps the top floor Hunter HQ or something? Talked to her and she said no missions available or something.

PSO, I have the game, but I don't play it. In the heart of it, it's simply run around slash at guys, pick up loot and repeat. Of course the thrill is getting items, but you could apply that to say Diablo 2 or many other games.

I was a hardcore PSO addict since it's release in Japan on the Dreamcast. Played ituntil my BBA fried. By that time the GCN and Xboxversions of the game was announced. I ended up migrating to the GCN version for awhile. But ended up losing interest since hacking got to the point of it being everywhere. Then Episode III cameout and I played the hell out of it until people exploited a glitch that kicked your opponentout of a game for easy wins. But the urge to play PSo never goes away.I dabble in PSO Blue Burst from time to time [Episode IV stuff is quite good]. The art style and such give the game an addicting charm. And it's simple gameplay and small pool of depth just made the game easily enjoyable for me.

I had hopes that PSU would live up to what PSO did. The disappointment couldn't be worst. Some of the additions to the gameplay [Mainly lock on and strafing] were very welcomed. But the unbalanced classes and focus on Weapons for skills gutted the experience.Now that I really think about it, the weapons were too focused upon for progression.Also the enviroments ended up being uninteresting and blah. And PSU adopted a more generic art-style that lacked any charm. Awhile PSO's story never had much focus, it was way more interesting then what PSU cooked up.

Honestly I would've been perfectly fine with a remake of PSO with some of PSU's additions.

I guess I'm a noob compared to everyone who were PSO addicts. I do admit, I wasn't really a addict, but more of a casual PSO player, kind of like playing Diablo II by myself once in awhile.

So I guess that's why I like PSU for what it is. Plus, being only $10 is probably another reason why I don't feel disappointed.

If I was a PSO addict, I probably would feel the same and have a ton of negative things to point out about PSU. So I totally understand everyone's points on PSU and its shortcomings.