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PLATFORM: XBOX 360

A FADING STAR

o one can deny that Phantasy Star has an illustrious past. From traditional 2D adventures to card-based grid combat, this series has successfully applied its brand of role-playing to a variety of gameplay styles. This is most evident in the pioneering Phantasy Star Online, the Dreamcast title that introduced console gamers to the MMORPG. Phantasy Star Universe attempts to tap into the same addictive online formula, but has been so far outpaced by its contemporaries that its efforts are almost humiliating. The future is growing dark for this classic franchise.

Phantasy Star may have its roots in single-player RPGs, but if you’re looking for a solid story mode, PSU is a grave disappointment. The plot is boring, and the characters are the same clichéd archetypes you’ve probably seen a hundred times before – especially the doofus protagonist, Ethan Waber. The story mode can’t even distinguish itself in terms of gameplay, since it just recycles elements from the online side and contorts them to fit within the restrictions of single-player framework.

There are several PC games that count the online multiplayer as the main mode, and that is also the case with PSU. Given that, I just can’t understand why it feels so broken at every turn. The movement of other players on-screen is jerky and imprecise – even when you stand still. C’mon, look around! It’s not like the game needs to render any gorgeous graphics

The missions have a shocking lack of variety, mostly just forcing you to do the same handful of things, but with stronger foes. This could be remedied with Sega’s monthly content updates in the future, but it’s a pretty pathetic offering for launch. Oh, don’t forget it will also cost you $10 per month to play what little is there.

Phantasy Star Universe does give players an avenue to kill a bunch of monsters with their friends when it isn’t tripping over its own feet. The combat provides simplistic thrills, and it’s always gratifying to equip a sweet new weapon. On the other hand, those few redeeming qualities are readily available in many other games that are well-executed and enjoyable. I suggest you look into those instead.

-JOE JUBA

MATT MILLER

6.25

Like a tagalong little brother, Phantasy Star Universe barely manages to keep pace with the games it’s trying to emulate. On the single player side, it’s a JRPG with clichéd characters pushed through a galaxy-saving story with all the emotional force of a well-blown sneeze. Huge empty spaces between missions at the central hub headquarters halt any momentum you might build. Once in actual combat, the action is relatively fun, but certainly no different in any real way from earlier games in the franchise. Still, cool weapon effects and bizarre monster designs have their own sort of appeal, even if the muzak playing in the background doesn’t add any excitement. Multiplayer is pretty much the same, but adds a detailed character creator and the ability to play with any gullible friends you manage to reel into the experience. Too bad it has a clumsy and buggy server system. This is a game that offers just a little less than what you’d expect from it – and you have to ask yourself if that’s all you want from a game these days.

CONCEPT:

Create another online Phantasy Star without learning any new tricks in the five years since the last one

GRAPHICS:

Substandard, even for a cross-generational game. Some of the special move effects are cool, though

SOUND:

Generic and repetitive, and the story mode has the added burden of bad voice acting

PLAYABILITY:

Character creation for the online game is cool. Too bad my character lives in a boring world

ENTERTAINMENT:

If you and five other friends were huge PSO fans and want to keep the party together, then (and only then) will this be fun

REPLAY:

Moderately High