Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2

"Must more than what I expected"

Sure, you've seen the DreamCast version, sure, you've played the DreamCast version. But are you very sure that this game is going to end so soon?

Sega decided to give PSO a new look! New places to explore, the game was enhanced and now everything is better than what it was. What can I give but a 10? This game contains everything that I think a 'traditional' RPG should contain. All the action and the graphics. The music are still the same but with better speakers, this game would take away hours of your life.

New dungeons were added in and items too. If you're playing alone, play the Offline mode. But if you own a credit card and am able to afford it, go Online!

If you're tired of playing single player in Offline mode, there's a new Challenge mode as well as a Multi-player Offline mode. So if you got friends who own a GameCube and a copy of Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II, you can gather together and play. All four of you! Even two would be great! This way, you don't need to own a credit card to play Online when you get to play in an Offline Multi-Player mode.

Graphics 10 out of 10

Pros: The game is good, the graphics are better now that its in the GameCube than in the DreamCast. Though everything looks the same, but if you look a little, just a little harder, you can see that the texture are smoother than it is in the DreamCast.

Cons: There's really nothing to complain about, I'm not being unfair, but the graphics are great. Trying to think of a reason and trying to spot 'pixels that gone bad' are truly impossible.

Audio 10 out of 10

Pros: The music are better and a new speaker type is added. You can also adjust the volume of the music just in case you're rather listen to the groan of the dying monsters or just the loud sound of picking up an item.

Cons: Again, there's nothing bad about the Audio, the music are great, though they sure sound the same from the one in the DreamCast.

Control 10 out of 10

Pros: The large DreamCast controller, now minimized into a smaller controller, Z to open up the menu. So you don't need to reach out for the Start Button when you want to change your item or drop an item in your inventory. And you can change the shock function from the main menu just in case you don't like your controller to keep shaking when you start hit slicing your foes.

Cons: Some people are not use to playing in a smaller controller having playing the DreamCast version over and over again. So they will just have to get use to the GameCube controller.

GamePlay 10 out of 10

Pros: There are new mode, Multi-Player mode and a new Challenge mode. New items, new dungeons. Its like an additional episode instead of just 1 and 2, there's like 2 and a half. There's no limit for this game, you can play as long as you like and as long as you want. And with a cable modem for your GameCube, getting disconnected while online is rather impossible.

Cons: The Multi-Player function isn't that much of a fun if you don't get friends to play along with you. But don't worry, there's still an Online mode you can turn to if you can afford it.

Overall 10 out of 10

Pros: I wish I could give this game a higher score, like 11 out of 10. Its one fantastic game. It doesn't really end, and when you completed it, there's a Hard mode, and after the Hard mode, there's a Very Hard and an Ultimate mode for you, so happy hunting!

Cons: I don't think there's anything to complain about. But if you do not like RPG game, but rather action game, do think about buying Phantasy Star Online Episode I and II, its not just an RPG, but its an Action RPG.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/21/03, Updated 03/21/03