Phantasy Star Universe

 PC
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 5 out of 19
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  1. Game Chronicles
    85
    What the original Phantasy Star Online lacked in terms of a solid single player story mode, Phantasy Star Universe makes up for it in spades. With its well written story, good voice acting, frequent cut-scenes, and addicting, yet simple gameplay, there’s no denying that this game is a full fledged action RPG that doesn’t have to be taken online this time to fully appreciate.
  2. 1UP
    80
    A throwback to the good ol' days of "Diablo 2"-style dungeon exploring, PSU is a value-packed, worthwhile action-RPG that finds its biggest challenge not in its modern-day peers, but in escaping the shadow of its predecessor: "Phantasy Star Online (PSO)."
  3. Gamer 2.0
    78
    Universe is a strong and worthy sequel to the 2000 Dreamcast classic, but key absences – specifically the offline multiplayer – make a very good case for waiting.
  5. GamingTrend
    76
    At the end of the day, PSU is probably destined to be in the same niche as Phantasy Star Online was to begin with.
  6. Worth Playing
    75
    Gameplay is paramount, and I would say that PSU is a better game than the original, but not necessarily up to the same level of quality.
  7. GamesRadar+
    70
    Just more of the same thing: simple dungeon crawling. It's fun online; it's not fun offline. This is a hard one to rate, as it's pretty convoluted.
  8. VideoGamer
    70
    Even clearly noticeable repetition and developer laziness can't fully erase what is in essence an almightily addictive and emergent base structure.
  9. GameZone
    68
    The single-player game is not that deep or compelling and the network portion is repetitive without a lot of variation in either missions or environments.
  10. PALGN
    65
    Phantasy Star fans will adore the new title, but after Phantasy Star Online the development of the series isn’t as groundbreaking as the aforementioned title, and often leaves you questioning whether the time and money is worth spending when other titles provide much more.
  11. PC Format
    63
    If you want an RPG or an MMO, you can do better. Greater focus might have saved this shambles from total mediocrity. [Feb 2007, p.62]
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  12. Game Informer
    60
    The missions have a shocking lack of variety, mostly just forcing you to do the same handful of things, but with stronger foes.
  13. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    60
    The single-player is a fun new addition but is plagued by frustrating design choices and idiotic AI, while the multiplayer is very hard to justify paying £6.99 a month for, especially as the game doesn't even come with a free trial period.
  14. IGN
    55
    Not enough was done to the Phantasy Star Online formula for this newest title in the series to feel fresh. Simply adding new weapons and techniques, changing the environments and adding a few extras such as the bedroom isn't enough when the online RPG has become a fully blown phenomenon.
  15. GameSpy
    50
    A disappointment of near-epic proportions. Sega ripped out the very heart of PSO's legendary addictiveness, replacing it with a repetitive, tedious grind that shows no signs of ending.
  16. GamingExcellence
    49
    Nothing has been improved in the six years since PSO. Worse still, PSU actually managed to take steps backwards (level design, story, online play, mission counters, equipment, mags, etc) and ruin the memory of the Phantasy Star legacy.
  17. PC Gamer UK
    49
    Spoiled by repetition and muddle. [Jan 2007, p.100]
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  18. PC Gamer
    48
    With about 5 more updates, PSU might be capable of holding one's attention. [Feb. 2007, p.72]
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  19. Computer Games Magazine
    40
    Put aside the dated mechanics and grossly clumsy interface, and you're still left with a fairly half-assed port of a Playstation 2 game, barely gussied up for the big show. [Mar 2007, p.66]
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  20. PC Zone UK
    37
    Phantasy Star Universe is nothing more than the laggy, repetitive tranvestite cousin of "Zelda." Avoid this like a Paris-Hilton-borne strain of bird flu. [Feb 2007, p.78]
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Awards & Rankings

69
#69 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 4 out of 14
  1. NikitaK
    Feb 7, 2009
    3
    This game is very, very bad. It's incredibly repetitive, the combat system is even worse than the original dreamcast PSO's, which This game is very, very bad. It's incredibly repetitive, the combat system is even worse than the original dreamcast PSO's, which is a good game to compare it with seeing as even graphically they're nigh identical. I'm a huge fan of Phantasy Star but until Sonic Team gets their heads out of their asses just steer clear of this pile of feces. Oh, and the voice acting in the even more poorly made single player is like nails on a chalkboard in hell.… Full Review »
  2. KalebM.
    Feb 9, 2007
    3
    The horrendous voice acting, pitiful graphics, and bland storyline did not appeal to me here. First the voices: What were they thinking here? The horrendous voice acting, pitiful graphics, and bland storyline did not appeal to me here. First the voices: What were they thinking here? It seems like they tried to use good actors, but their voices kept cracking during production. Then theres the graphics. I played and owned the NGC version of PSO, and I have a had time distinguishing any differences; the poor textures, fuzz monsters, stiff animations, and muy mucho clipping really seemed to hearken back to the Dreamcast days. But not in a good way. In a bad way. The plot, like the graphics, is bland and flavorless as well. I mean seriously, it's 85% cliche. And the sounds are pretty bad too, as they often cut out, are repetitive, or low grade. This game wants to be good, but whenever it tries to say, get an A+, it spends all night studying the wrong material, doesn't get any sleep, falls on it's head in the morning, vomits up its breakfast, poops its pants, misses it's bus, and blames it all on the family puppy, which it promptly kicks.… Full Review »
  3. AdamD.
    Dec 18, 2006
    9
    This is the best Phantasy star I have played, and tops ep's 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the combat system has some fun new features, it could This is the best Phantasy star I have played, and tops ep's 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the combat system has some fun new features, it could use some better graphics, but it is overall a fun and entertaining game.… Full Review »
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