Phantasy Star Online
For: Dreamcast
Genre: Online RPG, Action/RPG
Reviewed by: Escee (Brandon)
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Released:01.30.01
 
Phantasy Star Online: one of the most highly-anticipated Dreamcast games there was. It would finally make full use of the Dreamcast's online capabilities.

I'd tell you about the storyline, but there really isn't one. Basically, in a nutshell, Pioneer 2 lost contact with Pioneer 1 on Ragol (the planet), and you have to investigate. If you're going to buy the game for offline, it probably isn't worth it. It's way too repetetive and gets boring fast offline, although if you're buying it for online, the offline is definately a worthwhile bonus.

You start out by choosing a character class, and then you can customize your character. This character customization is very unique and helps give your character a style of its own. You can choose a costume, hair color, hair style, build (tall/short/skinny/fat/broad-shouldered), etc. You then travel through four levels (in three difficulties) on the road to Level 100, and in search of rares.

You play online with up to three others. Having to create characters of multiple classes in order to use all the weapons in the game adds lastability. However, at this point, the game is simply shattered by cheating. Shark/Xploder users can kill your character, even corrupt your character, or freeze your game, as well as duplicate ("dupe") weapons. The game was great when it was fairly new, but now if you want to play, you really have to have friends already. PSO Version 2 will be coming out soon, and hopefully it should hamper cheaters, so if you don't have PSO already, I'd reccomend waiting for Ver.2. If you have friends in PSO, however, the game is still enjoyable.

Version 2, by the way, will include battle mode, challenge mode, new rares (and lots of them), ultimate mode, lobby soccer, and more.
 
Graphics
Definately some nice graphics, as seen from the screenshots to the right. Very nice effects, and nice textures (although the textures are not perfect).
 
Sound
The sound doesn't really add much to the game, and the sound effects are kind of generic, but it doesn't detract from the game either. The background music is nicely done, but it doesn't really add much to the game.
 
Gameplay
Quite repetetive, and now plagued by cheaters, but the online community somehow keeps you playing. You don't play because it's the best gameplay out there... you play because you've made so many friends.

Control
Very nice control. No problems here.
 
Lastability
I've clocked upwards of 400 hours on this game. No other game has had my attention for longer.
 
Ratings

6.20.1

click on the above screenshots for larger versions.
 
images from ign.com and gamespot.com