What is Phantasy Star Online 2?Phantasy Star Online 2 is a massively multiplayer online action rpg. It is the long awaited successor to Phantasy Star Online, the first console mmo and one of the most influential, and best online games of all time.
CombatPso2 is an action rpg, with real time, skill based combat. All enemy attacks can be evaded or blocked, and any enemy or boss can be defeated by any player of any level, provided the player has the skill to consistently dodge or block enemy attacks. All classes and races can move fast and jump, with unique mobility and evasive options for each class (Hunters can block and dash both on the ground and in mid air, Rangers can move and shoot at the same time as well as combat roll, spellcasters teleport, ect). There is a great deal of potential for unique combos and play styles as well. The game is also not dominated by "the holy trinity" or any other such set up. Any character or party can win, regardless of class or set up, some will just have an easier time of it.
GameplayPso2 does not have an overworld like other mmo's. Instead, players enter fields, dungeons, and other events through the main lobby. Unlike it's predecessor, the stages of Pso2 (with a few exceptions) are randomly generated, and thus are never the same twice. In addition, there are a great variety of random events that can occur during a stage. Multiple events can trigger at once, and these can range from having to rescue captured players, avoid unstoppable juggernaut like creatures, diffuse bombs, fight bosses (sometimes more then one at a time) and more.
Beyond the usual quests, there are also time attack missions, story quests, npc requests, ect.
Character creation, customization, and buildingPSO2's character creator offers quite a bit of freedom and allows you to mold every aspect of your character. There are 8-9 grids for the face alone, and numerous more for the rest of the body. Your characters clothes do not effect stats in any way, and are purely aesthetic. Armor barely appears on your character, usually depicted as small units attached to the arms or legs, and even these can be made to not show.
There are 3 races in Pso2 at the moment (though additional ones have been strongly hinted at). They are as follows:
Humans, who focus on balanced stats
Newmans (SPACE ELVES), who focus on techniques and magic
Casts (BEEP BOOP I AM A ROBOT), who have strong offense and defense but lower technique/magic
Gender also plays a small role in your characters stats. Males have slightly higher health points, while females have higher magic points. This doesn't mean that men shouldn't be spell casters, or that woman shouldn't be melee fighters. Magic is used heavily by all classes to utilize their unique abilities, whether it be melee fighters throwing sonic booms or doing rising uppercuts, or gunners transforming their rifles into snipers or shotguns. Also the stat difference in between genders is small, and players can build their characters however they like.
As for classes, there are 3 (for the moment. 3 more coming in september) and you can change them at will in the lobby. They are:
Hunter, the melee fighter.
Ranger, the gunner.
Force, the wizard.
While 3 character classes might seem small to those used to rpg's with huge laundry lists of potential jobs, it should be noted that your class does not pigeon hole you into one role or play style. Pso2's combat is vastly more focused on putting the action in action-rpg, and so the 3 classes correspond more to game genre, allowing you to play it as a fighter, a shooter, or whatever the hell genre nuking the **** out of everything as a wizard is. Your role on the battlefield is decided by your actions on it, not by your choices beforehand.
Beyond your choices at the beginning of the game, you have a vast amount of options in building your character afterwards. Besides just the weapon types you adopt and the unique abilities and spells you choose to use for them, players can build their characters stats how they see fit and assign stats and abilities to their weapons. Any desired stat set up should be achievable, from glass cannon or tank, to balanced guy or support.
PVPThough the original PSO had Pvp, PSO2 has none at the moment.
MusicPso2's soundtrack is being handled by Hideaki Kobayashi, who composed the absolutely beloved soundtrack for the original PSO series. The stage themes are mostly atmospheric, but boss themes take a turn for the more intense.
The game also utilizes a new system, dubbed SYMPATHY, in which the music is mixed heavily based on what is taking place in game.
a more detailed explanation can be found here.Signing up, language, and moneyPso2, unlike it's predecessor, is free to play online.
The game is only in Japanese at the moment. However there are two options for western players. One can either use the
excellent guide at bumped.org, which translates basically the entire game, or use the fan made
english patch.
The game does have payed for content, but it is all
aesthetic only and does not boost gameplay in any way.
Testimony from other playersThis is everything a Sega game should be
This... is the ****ING BEST GAME EVER! I have never played such a great MMO! SQUIRE, LET'S HAVE BABIES!
And, Psycho, you better play this or I'll cut your head off!
This game is beautiful
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Friends I know who are playing this game
[spoiler]
-Squire Grooktook
Yelpagurp
HUmarl (Human/Female/Hunter)
-Zero254
Naomi
FOnewearl (Newman/Female/Force)
-Miniova
Miniova
RAcaseal (Cast/Female/Ranger)
-Rulep
Raziel
HUmar (Human/Male/Hunter)
-A Ghost
Indrick Boreale
RAmar (Human/Male/Ranger)
-Seru17
Seru
RAmarl (Human/Female/Ranger)
-Garilu
Grasshopper
HUcast (Cast/Male/Hunter)
-PsychoRipper
MegaPsycho
RAcast (Cast/Male/Ranger)
-F5in
F5in
RAnewearl (Newman/Female/Ranger)
-Endoss
Endoss
HUmarl (Human/Female/Hunter)
-Alceris
Alceris
FOmarl (Human/Female/Force)
-ForsakenM
Jazzalli
FOnewearl (Newman/Female/Force)
-LitEnvy
LitEnvy
HUcast (Cast/Male/Hunter)
[/spoiler]