Phantasy Star Universe PlayStation 2
Phantasy Star Universe Image
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Metascore
68 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Phantasy Star Universe offers two complete RPG experiences - a single-player action adventure spanning multiple planets, and a robust online multi-player component. The game offers long-time fans the epic experience they have been clamoring for. The solo adventure features more than 40 hours of gameplay, an emotionally engaging story, traditional cut scenes, and strong character development. The title's hero is Ethan Waber, a 17-year old cadet intent on saving his sister, who is living on a planet under siege by mysterious life forces called THE SEED. In Online Mode, players are given the opportunity to create their own characters from a range of races, and they get to explore all three planets in the Grarl solar system. Fans can travel with a squad of other adventurers, enter urban sprawls teeming with hundreds of other players, and build their avatars into powerful warriors. [Sega]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 18
  3. Negative: 2 out of 18
  1. GameBrink
    90
    From its huge offline game to its infinite online game, you can spend 100s if not 1000s of hours playing. [JPN Import]
  2. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    80
    Phantasy Star Universe brings the classic lineage to the PS2 for the first time, in both offline and online modes. [Jan. 2007, p.76]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    72
    Sure, I applaud Sega for attempting to transform the single-player experience into something meatier, but poor voice acting and clumsy storytelling lend the proceedings a cheesy B-movie vibe. [Jan. 2007, p.101]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. 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.

See all 18 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. EmilyB.
    10
    I have never gotten to deeply into the offline but my boyfriend loves it and i enjoyed the online story mode tremendously! This game has enough things to level (technics, attacks, type, character) to keep the most hard core gamer busy but can also keep someone who wants to play a little here and a little there coming back when they want a chance to save the universe! I love this game and have created quite a friend base on it, so much so that we started a "clan". With the AoI expansion it just made everything that much more fun and exciting! I recommend this game to casual and hard core gamers both!!!… Expand
  2. UNDERPLAYED
    10
    ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED GAMES!!
    Hands down the most innovative multiplayer action dungeon crawler on ps2 and possibly computer.
    GRAPHICS    =10(considering its made with in the limits of a
    multiplayer game,with alot! of animations,
    on a home console (the ps2)
    The design is AAA Anime scifi
    GAMEPLAY=10 the experience I got from this was
    unlike any other. Heres why.
    Gave me a large amount of controll over
    what my character looks like with out it
    looking like shit model that was made in a
    wrestling game,character generator.
    Higth, width, skin tone,facial structure,
    at the slide of a bar!, at about 1:56 you can
    see what I mean.
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=_tFaa1f4eIM
    and vast great verity even over the voice,
    and yes like every online game you can
    grow tired of it, but sooner or later some
    new
    feature will come in and spark you up
    again.

    The one thing that this games lacks, is Sega's support and lack of good narration. There are a lot of PSO fans who bitch and whine about this being diferent from pso.
    I say shut up, because its more like Phantasy star then pso and it has Pso in it but better, only thing missing is the offline grinding, which the psp version should have. The game is 10 times as big and has deeper way better mechanics system, and a new counter and timed attack system which just adds to the depth.
    Having a verity of themed rooms to choose from and a NPC that you grow that manages your weapons and sells you shop items while your offline is pretty awesome. the shop system is pretty in depth and Sega is always improving on a good shop system that already worked good to begin with,by adding a good depth of features unlike any other game has seen.
    You do not have to be total nerd to pick this up and play!
    sonic team (especially if Yuji naka is behind it) has always been good about making games accessible by anyone.
    ITS NOT THE GREATEST THING 4 EVER, but it has a ton of FUN INNOVATIVE features that have set a bar, that many are not aware of.    … Expand
  3. JohnO.
    10
    An MMO that has exactly the right balance of collectibles and coolness to keep up with the most rabid fan -- without sacraficing fun for the casual player. This game will reward you with style points and lets you get as deep as you want into the nitty-gritty mathematical details (you know, the ones that will make you RICH)!… Expand
  4. FFallen
    7
    Cool game and idea, making a MMORPG style game for Ps2 and with online, I never had the chance to play online, but the story mode was very well done, and I liked the free mode where you could make your own character, made things interesting and gave it a change of pace, the missions can kind of get repetitive at times though.… Expand

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