Phantasy Star Online 2

 PC
User Score
5.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 59 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 59
  3. Negative: 26 out of 59

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  1. Aristeede
    May 28, 2020
    0
    Full disaster lunch,.... its totylly horrible download and installation is totally broken!
  2. haider13
    May 30, 2020
    0
    Good luck getting this to work what a waste of space.
    I was really looking forward to the NA launch but the game is completely broken.
    It won't even uninstall normally giving me my disk space back.
  3. Juliannb4
    May 28, 2020
    0
    As unfair as it is to review a game I can't play in its current state because Microsoft Store is Godawful, I can guarantee Phantasy Star Online 2 is amazing... the JP release is at least.
    The NA release on PC however, I simply cannot get it to work, no matter how hard I try.
  4. Zethin
    May 28, 2020
    0
    Leave it to Microsoft to ruin a long-standing game by shoehorning their awful store into the mix. This game, or more specifically, the store you download it from, is plagued with bugs. The first of many trials is actually downloading the game, something many users find takes several times longer than the average game. As someone that can normally download 50GB games in about an hour or twoLeave it to Microsoft to ruin a long-standing game by shoehorning their awful store into the mix. This game, or more specifically, the store you download it from, is plagued with bugs. The first of many trials is actually downloading the game, something many users find takes several times longer than the average game. As someone that can normally download 50GB games in about an hour or two tops, I've been downloading this one for about 6 hours and I'm only 2/3 of the way done.

    Once it's downloaded, there's a strong chance that any time you launch it the game will delete itself without warning, so fingers crossed you're not one of the unlucky ones.

    Oh, and if you decide you want to uninstall the game, it will spite you by creating folders and blocking administrator accounts on the computer from accessing them. These folders are upwards of 50 GB of space. Hope you're tech savvy enough to fix this in the event it happens to you. And if you decide you want to reinstall, many users have run into the same issue of Microsoft's Store re-downloading yet another set of 50 GB inaccessible data.

    Assuming you're lucky enough to get into the game (which I haven't been), more problems await you. The servers are plagued with latency and limited slots, meaning you might not even be able to play. Microsoft refuses to add more servers, so buckle up and wait in line.

    Frankly this is one of the worst MMO launches possibly ever. Kudos, Microsoft, you outdid yourselves in the worst way possible.    … Expand
  5. rara0122
    May 30, 2020
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a nightmare.
    This is similar to PSO and shouldn't be played. If you do, you'll despair.    … Expand
  6. darxiv
    Jun 15, 2020
    0
    EDIT 2: After attempting to play multiple times, the game continues to delete itself and I am unable to play pretty much everyday. I am done trying to get this game working on my system. It doesn't deserve your time.

    EDIT: After playing for a week and many hours, this game is a frustrating buggy mess. There has been no official fix and it hasn't improved in any way. I'll keep my    EDIT 2: After attempting to play multiple times, the game continues to delete itself and I am unable to play pretty much everyday. I am done trying to get this game working on my system. It doesn't deserve your time.

    EDIT: After playing for a week and many hours, this game is a frustrating buggy mess. There has been no official fix and it hasn't improved in any way. I'll keep my original comment up but my score has changed.

    Enjoyable game when you get on properly. I have been unable to play with any friends due to the limitation of Blocks. Quite a bit of stuttering in game when in the Lobby that makes it very difficult to access menus and missions.

    Hopefully things improve soon.    … Expand
  7. Scarlet_Evans
    Jun 5, 2020
    0
    Broken game that is just not working... How can you give positive rating to something that isn't even playable?
  8. Roleplayer21312
    Jun 9, 2021
    0
    Terrible game, doesn't run well on the best systems. Is basically a gambling game with a terribly low quality multiplayer around it. Avoid like the plague.
  9. VendonJura
    Aug 9, 2020
    0
    Do not even try to play this game. It is infected with micro transactions like all these mobile games. 3 Character you can play and if you want to play more of them then you have to pay cash for it. You need to buy a premium status to almost everything in this infected micro transactions game. Not even trading items are possible with friends. Even for that you have to buy that premiumDo not even try to play this game. It is infected with micro transactions like all these mobile games. 3 Character you can play and if you want to play more of them then you have to pay cash for it. You need to buy a premium status to almost everything in this infected micro transactions game. Not even trading items are possible with friends. Even for that you have to buy that premium status. Also the graphics are like PS 2 - 3. Not to forget the chat is infected with gold spammer / seller.… Expand
  10. Peanutbutta
    Jun 3, 2020
    0
    Barely able to play due to lobby lag. Doubt score will change even if they fix it.
  11. DrGoku
    May 27, 2020
    0
    Welcome to Operation Progress screen forever.

    Change to US region on windows settings, else you will get not available on windows store. Download 11.14 GB and install without issues, run game as ADM, now u can play... but wait there is an operation progress screen, only a minute to end no problem, but it will keep adding time since someone decided to make u download all the 7 years    Welcome to Operation Progress screen forever.

    Change to US region on windows settings, else you will get not available on windows store. Download 11.14 GB and install without issues, run game as ADM, now u can play... but wait there is an operation progress screen, only a minute to end no problem, but it will keep adding time since someone decided to make u download all the 7 years content that is not available at moment, cancel it and ah **** here go again, what a turn off from such a big game.    … Expand
  12. Swol
    Jun 1, 2020
    0
    The game may be good...if you manage to make it work because thanks to the "wonderful" Microsoft Store even installing the game is a huge challenge filled loads of permission errors and progress screens making it not worth anyone's time unless all this crap is solved.

    Devs don't be idiots and release it on a real platform like Steam
  13. pikelet
    Jun 22, 2020
    0
    flaming pile of turd. Would rather read edmons cookbook, absolute donkey sheeeeeeeeeittttttt. Still better than The last of us Part 2
  14. humanbait76
    May 27, 2020
    0
    This is an absolutely horrible game. It looks like a mobile microtransaction game ported to PC. Because it's also on consoles, it has similar limitations like Elder Scrolls Online where you literally have 2 attacks. I was looking for something like an MMORPG but this game is more like Dauntless, and it's just as boring. It's free on PC so you can try it out, but you'll still wish youThis is an absolutely horrible game. It looks like a mobile microtransaction game ported to PC. Because it's also on consoles, it has similar limitations like Elder Scrolls Online where you literally have 2 attacks. I was looking for something like an MMORPG but this game is more like Dauntless, and it's just as boring. It's free on PC so you can try it out, but you'll still wish you could get that hour of your life back.… Expand
  15. Agonistes
    Jun 10, 2020
    0
    Been playing since launch on PC. I did not really have any of the launch problems most people had, but I know it impacted several people leading to the worst MMORPG launch in history.

    The combat is fun, but it shows it's age significantly. The UI is awful and clunky, the story is subpar and translated terribly. The localization team thought it was okay to translate items like "Slave    Been playing since launch on PC. I did not really have any of the launch problems most people had, but I know it impacted several people leading to the worst MMORPG launch in history.

    The combat is fun, but it shows it's age significantly. The UI is awful and clunky, the story is subpar and translated terribly. The localization team thought it was okay to translate items like "Slave Shooter" and "Illegal Negro".

    Graphics have held up for the age of the game, but so other games its age are significantly better.

    Cash shop is not intrusive and I never felt like I had to buy anything.

    The biggest problem with the game is that it does not take long at all to get to the level cap and then you run the same three quests over and over and over again and hope RNG praises you with an item that you're just going to "merge" with your current item in order to make it stronger so you can do the same three quests over and over etc... It's the worst endgame I have seen in an MMO and I have played most of them to endgame. It's not even hard, it is just annoying and unfun.

    The crazy part is I did not really rush through anything, there just is not a lot to do for an MMO. It throws you into a world with tons of content and very little explanation for anything. A lot of the localization is confusing or bad so it makes it even worse.

    I expected more from the music since PSU had some amazing scores, but PSO2 let me down in that aspect. It is really just the same few songs played on a loop. Very disappointing for a Japanese-made game, they usually have banger music.

    The community is fairly accepting and nice. I had a few elitist issues with Xbox players, it seems to be a big divide since the game came to Xbox first.

    All PSO2 made me want to do was play FFXIV.    … Expand
  16. TsukasaHiiragi
    Dec 27, 2020
    4
    I originally played on the Japanese server for several years until the IP bans, then finally hearing the news for the NA servers I was excited, however the big problems is its windows store only, and that isn't the most reliable platform, so after spending $100 on the starter packs I was able to play for about 5 days then came the first wave of errors being error 630* making itI originally played on the Japanese server for several years until the IP bans, then finally hearing the news for the NA servers I was excited, however the big problems is its windows store only, and that isn't the most reliable platform, so after spending $100 on the starter packs I was able to play for about 5 days then came the first wave of errors being error 630* making it frustrating or downright impossible to play the end-game content, after soldiering through the morass of constant disconnections during urgent quests and severe lobby lag, Arks layer comes forward with NA server support and the lobby lag is fixed with the tweaks but the error 630 is made much worse because of it

    Fast forward to today, the issue has evolved into constant black screen of death which again, is another notorious issue that also happened on the japanese server, often either due to files getting corrupted, arks layer tweaker breaking game files or gameguard issues and was often a nightmare to fix.

    I'm currently hoping that using the tweaker to install the game bypassing the windows store entirely will fix the problem, but I'm honestly not hopeful and for all intent and purposes, usually only a complete format and reinstall used to fix this issue on the JP server, so I very well could be out $100 as I doubt Microsoft will refund purchases.

    Case and point, PSO 2 is a grindy but ultimately fun game *IF* you can get it to run without running into a million issues, the NA windows 10 version is basically an alpha level and expect to have issues, ideally I'd honestly recommend either trying to access the JP server or play on xbox one if thats available, the PC version will no doubt be a rocky road.

    Update: 9/2/2020 after finally moving over to steam the service is now stable for the majority but that doesn't mean it is still without issues, PvP hackers continue to ruin the experience with Sega banning approx 2000+ accounts in the past few weeks, the drop rate on certain items especially Rappy Eggs is downright evil and because the content is being rushed out without changing the drop rate, it is making a massive gear vacuum as content is not rewarding players with drops, and those few lucky players that do gets drops are facing them being obsolete within the space of 6 weeks or even less as new content comes out.

    Updated 12/28/2020

    With the sheer speed of the updated content, has brought nothing but mixed issues with a constant battle to upgrade with the latest drops from the latest content, which hardly ever drop by the way so your still chasing the proverbial carrot almost always, and as per the exact same issues as the JP server did, in EP6 they gave everyone some of the best gear EP5 available for pretty much free however, that now becomes the minimum starting gear for the final gear grind onwards.

    I'll be honest here, the game has never been balanced and playing though 8 years worth of content in less than a year clearly shows how dreadfully unbalanced the game is, perhaps the worst MOG for balance I've ever played, heading into EP6 you have essentially 3 dead classes (Fighter/Summoner/Techer) who fair extremely poorly with absolutely no love from the developers and as such, the classes are doomed in UH difficulty due to either low DPS or low survivability, whilst the summoner is dead class and for all intent and purposes, Sega had abandoned the class on JP server long ago and that is why no 15* pets exist, and due to the fact other classes get full access to SSA upgrades, the summoner class whilst strong in earlier episodes, gets left behind in the dust of all other classes.

    Content wise, its been heavily recycled and after a while just gets extremely tedious repeating the same content, Luther, PD etc are recycled multiple times with slightly more annoying attack patterns and higher HP, the worst is yet to come though in EP6 where the content becomes more annoying than fun with the gameplay becoming more annoying and very much gear-centric especially in ultra hard modes where you can quite often be one-shotted unless you have more than 2000HP.

    All in all, the game is very much pay to win. Your not going to have 300+ attack power weapons, fully decked out guardian soul units with mana reverie etc unless you have seriously billions of meseta to burn, and the average player will be lucky to have 20 million. Future content gets even worse, fishing league anyone?

    In a nutshell, the global version is just a cash grab to help fund the NGS expansion and is likely will not even reach the global version as the playerbase is rapidly dying now and Sega are releasing new scratches every week now in efforts to suck up the last scraps of money from the remaining whales, if Sega actually cared about balancing the classes, balancing the gear/PAs etc then perhaps the game would have faired much better.    … Expand
  17. LightByte
    Oct 11, 2022
    2
    Content
    Think Hack 'n' Slash, not much to do other than attack enemies in new areas when they release them roughly twice a year. Events in the game are collected points earned from defeating enemies by staying in a combat zone for hours. Urgent quests, or "raids" in other games, are time-based and happen sporadically throughout the day. High level content is challenging but very repetitive    Content
    Think Hack 'n' Slash, not much to do other than attack enemies in new areas when they release them roughly twice a year. Events in the game are collected points earned from defeating enemies by staying in a combat zone for hours. Urgent quests, or "raids" in other games, are time-based and happen sporadically throughout the day. High level content is challenging but very repetitive as it's the only content available to you aside from non-stop grinding combat zones once your level is maxed.

    Free to play?
    The core hack 'n' slash part is free. They have many cosmetic gachas and sometimes pay to win gachas with special weapon and armor enhancements. There is a player market, but most players will scalp you instead with high prices. You can also not sell without paying for a premium pack (monthly). One of the main aspects of the games' monetization is wanting you to "bandwagon buy." For example, a player in your group gets a new outfit. Let's say you wanted it and now see them with it. Wow! I really want that more now. The player market has the same outfit but at six million or more meseta. You either have enough meseta (awesome!) or you are paying for the gacha. Be warned, most items in the gacha will not profit you much more than 500k-700k.

    Rewarding?
    No, the chances of a rare drop are slim to none. You are not going to make enough money (meseta) to buy most of the items players sell in the market by grinding your life away. End of quest rewards are awful most of the time, making Urgent Quests and high-level trigger quests feel like a waste of time.

    Community
    It's an online anime-style game that's rated M, so it's mostly full of perverted and immature guys. You'll see a fair share of chat topics ranging from generally fun topics to mostly immature high school type topics. In terms of player characters, I'd say about 95% of them are guys playing the most cookie-cutter unoriginal female characters, wearing the same lewd outfits that all the other male players are wearing on their female characters. Overall, the community is one of the worst due to this. It gets annoying to see the same horny chats almost every day. Sega just enables it since they make money the more they put lewd outfits in gacha.

    My advice play the game solo you'll be less inclined to spend your money on a chance to get a fake outfit that will cost more then a brand new game with hours of content or even gas and a nice dinner in less then 5 minutes. You can always find people to play with in matchmaking and if not try to find a populated block of "AFK" players and maybe someone is advertising a quest you'd like.    … Expand
  18. Triblue
    May 25, 2023
    4
    Je me suis fais chier le jeu vide et le gameplay et le meme pendant 20h de jeu

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
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No score yet - based on 2 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Attack of the Fanboy
    Jun 22, 2020
    70
    If you live for long-term loot grinds, visceral combat, and everything anime then Phantasy Star Online 2 will amuse you with hundreds of hours of entertainment.
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  2. PC Invasion
    Jun 5, 2020
    60
    Extremely dated and worsened by a clunky interface and missing content, Phantasy Star Online 2 probably won't have much to offer to modern players who aren't already invested in its world.
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