Whether online or off, this game is a blast for newcomers and veterans alike.

User Rating: 7.6 | Phantasy Star Universe PC
Phantasy Star Universe had high expectations riding on it. Fans of Phantasy Star Online (PSO) were rabid, numerous, and critical of the development cycle since the game was announced. For the most part, fans can rest easy, and newcomers can find something to like in the game, though there is a great deal of frustration to deal with.

Phantasy Star Universe takes place in the far-flung future, where Beasts, Humans, Newmans, and Robots called Casts find peace on a few different planets that are suspiciously not Earth. Since peace has prevailed for EXACTLY one hundred years, it seems only natural that meteors infested with alien parasites should find their way into the system and threaten all life, leaving salvation up to a mopey teenager and some equally obnoxious character clichés. The story doesn’t have anything to do with the online play, though this isn’t the intended design, but I’ll get to that complain in a moment. The game is essentially an upgraded PSO, with a much-improved camera, better controls, and the expected upgrades such as graphics, sound, and repertoire. If you’re new to the series, prepare to lose countless hours to the addictive blend of action and character progression as your lowly pissant character becomes more powerful than you can possibly imagine, literally. The game features an active combat system that has you moving and firing, not typical of most RPG games, and helps pass the grind and hunt for items by nicely. The grind can wear a bit on the experience however, as there isn’t much variety in monsters, the placement, the level designs, or missions to take. Even the boss monsters, though initially impressive, become ho hum affairs as your character progresses. After the few runs through the game, your playing completely for the joy of punishing monsters with your unbelievable power.

There are three base classes to choose from. Rangers are gunners, Hunters are the melee class, and Forces use magic. As you progress your class, you gain the ability to choose a number of special classes, which are either pure in one skill, or a mix. The special classes also allow you to use specific weapons, such as the grenade launcher or laser rifle. You can switch classes on the fly for a small fee, and make your character the ultimate monster of pain. In addition, you can customize a robot companion by feeding him the numerous items you find in the game. Literally, you can feed this guy anything except money and promises, and I found myself giving him tree roots, pistols, and watching him scarf it down and ask for more. Different items alter his stats which help you synthesize items, and also define the path your creature takes to evolve. As previously mentioned, the story doesn’t intrude in the online gameplay, but this is because the online content isn’t there. A number of features, such as the special classes, assorted weapons, rare items, robot companion upgrades, and even an entire planet aren’t included in the initial content. The plan is apparently to release this content slowly instead of with the initial game, but either way it’s incredibly disappointing for a full price purchase with a 10 dollar monthly fee. In addition, there isn’t any guild support online, making gathering up friends a disappointingly obtuse affair if you don’t have xfire, irc, or teamspeak. You can trade your id card with people you see for quick contact and communication, but you have to be in contact with them. It’s a left over from the old Phantasy Star Online game, and has no place in a professional product today. The graphics are decent, though nothing spectacular, and run well on most PC’s. The textures are low res and don’t distinguish themselves, but the models and animations are all well done and engaging. The sound is pretty good, with the music engaging based on the situation, and the bleeps and bloops all fitting. When all is said and done, the game is addictive and engaging, despite the numerous problems with the design and release. If you were a fan of the original Phantasy Star game, or if you haven’t yet logged your hours on this addictive game, definitely pick this up, though if you’re looking to hit the online mode, you might want to wait a month until they add the content it should have launched with.