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Phantasy Star Universe

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7.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 34 critic reviews
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Based on 26 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Sega

Genre(s): Action, Role-Playing Game

Players: 6

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: October 24, 2006

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]

Cheat Codes & Hints: GameSpot Hints & Cheats

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Games Master UK

Action-based online RPG-ing, and nowhere near as intimidating as its PC-based cousins. [Christmas 2006, p.88]

Pelit (Finland)

A decent hack 'n' slash action-RPG. Too bad the multiplayer game is too expensive for what it is. [Jan 2007]

1UP

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)."

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GamingTrend

Personally, I was turned off rather quickly by the ancient game play and dated development decisions.

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Gamer 2.0

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.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

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]

X360 Magazine UK

Online is clearly the main event here, but nevertheless the experience proves as involving and deceptively deep as ever. Minus a few fairly bizarre design issues, it would score more highly. [Issue 14, p.91]

Worth Playing

Phantasy Star Universe was designed to be a console game, even more so than Blue Burst was, and doesn't relent in that position even slightly.

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Games Radar (in-house)

Phantasy Star Universe, in the end, is 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. It ultimately depends on what type of experience you're looking for when you load it up.

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VideoGamer

Even clearly noticeable repetition and developer laziness can't fully erase what is in essence an almightily addictive and emergent base structure.

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Official Xbox Magazine UK

It’s not quite as open-ended as genre titans like World of Warcraft, but there’s a lot to like about PSU; it offers a vast, engaging and personal online and offline experience – plus there’s just something blissful about hitting robot Ewoks with a giant sword.

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360 Gamer Magazine UK

Sure, the online world can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you've got to grips with communicating and finding your way around, you and your friends will be hooked. [Issue 18, p.84]

GameSpot

Phantasy Star Universe almost immediately feels dated, and the monthly fee is way too steep to justify, but at its core, it's still an enjoyable experience.

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Deeko

It's a simplistic and shallow game that by all means should make it one of the worst RPGs ever made. It has a player-base that's virtually non-existent, and will only be decreasing with time. The single-player mode, though improving on the originals, is pretty shameful when compared to others. And yet, just like the original, it's a blast to play and will surely keep some people addicted for a long time.

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Digital Entertainment News

A polished game that just isn’t that exciting. Series fans will appreciate what it has to offer, but those coming in for the first time may find the experience underwhelming.

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Official Xbox Magazine

But as it is, for the sequel to the forefather of online console RPG's--a game we happily sank hundreds of hours into on everything from Dreamcast to original Xbox--Phantasy Star Universe does only due dilligence without pushing the series past, say, 2003. [Jan. 2007, p.83]

Play.tm

It succeeds in tracing classic-but now dated-gameplay structure while offering an instantly accessible social online aspect that may well offer an avenue into MMO not usually accepted by those with more of a penchant for more immediate titles. However, it fails monumentally to accept the next-gen baton handed up hopefully by its Dreamcast predecessor.

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IGN

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.

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Game Chronicles

There is little doubt in my mind that Sega could create a great MMO one day, but truth is, they need a make a fresh start and take the concept in a new direction, take it back to the drawing board.

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Gaming Horizon

Just about the only thing that is going for it is the online play, and even then $9.99 is a pretty steep price to pay for such an underwhelming experience. In the end, the game is a big disappointment due to its lackluster graphics, sound, and gameplay.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

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.

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Edge Magazine

For a game that trades a competitive level of complexity for more instant action-based appeal, it needs to be slicker in its presentation and explanations. [Jan 2007, p.80]

Eurogamer

While the hacks and cheats may be gone, they have simply been replaced by new chaos and a design disorder that does everything in its power to dissuade anyone but the keenest of sentimental subscribers.

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MS Xbox World

A Marmite sort of game – you’ll either love it or hate it!

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Team Xbox

Phantasy Star Universe seems far too content to wallow in its mediocrity. The story kind of lumbers along until its conclusion, and while there’s fun to be had with character progression, the plotline never really grabs hold of you and demands your attention.

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GameDaily

On paper, expanding upon each aspect of the well-received Phantasy Star Online appears attractive, yet a shoddy execution lacks the finely-tuned balance the game was known for.

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Extreme Gamer

Phantasy Star Universe is still holding on to its roots and needs to be dug out and replanted. Online, or offline the Phantasy Star experience will end up feeling a little generic for today's standards of gaming.

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Game Informer

The missions have a shocking lack of variety, mostly just forcing you to do the same handful of things, but with stronger foes.

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GameSpy

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.

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GamingExcellence

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.

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Gaming Age

It's a bargain bin game, for what it's worth plus a monthly fee. Not to mention, you can garner a thorough experience out of it within a couple weeks as a rental.

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Game Revolution

The overall package isn't too little, it's just way too late. The same kind of online content is free in other, better games, so the ten dollar fee is out of the question.

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games(TM)

There are better examples of the genre for sure, it's just a shame they're not on any console. We'll say one thing for it - it's miles better than "Final Fantasy XI." But then, that's not saying much, is it? [Christmas 2006, p.130]

Boomtown

There’s just nothing there to recommend, beyond a reasonably decent plot. Best thing I can suggest, then, is to find a detailed guide somewhere online and read the story there – you’ll have more fun and won’t waste time and money on the game.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Glenn A. gave it a9:
After years of FFXI and WoW I finally found a game that gives me what I want with out such "life stealing" properties! Yay for Sonic Team! (Also the PSU music is AMAZING!)

Aj L. gave it a2:
My biggest Dissapointment of 2006. I was a huge fan of Phantasy Star Online for DreamCast and clocked over 200 hours easily over the span of diffrent characters. This game however strays from the succsess of pso and takes the franchise in an abismall direction.The enviroments are uninspiring and the game play is stiff. The biggest down fall is its story mode. what was sonic team thinking ,the wretched character design, especially of the main character, and the voice acting.....HORRIBLE

Jack S. gave it a10:
The game is amazing and very addictive i cant help but play it i havent tried story mode but it sounds like it is like pso 1&2 which I loved even more and am trying to get but can't.

BruinsFan247 gave it a2:
Why? I repeat, Why, is this game on the 360? The graphics are PS2, the game play is as boring as any game ive ever played. I cant understand why people play co-op online in the first place. These kind of games are simply for gamers who cant get friends in real life.

Double D. gave it a10:
This game is great! Far from perfect but, still a blast and much larger than Ep.1&2. Great game for 2-6 friends to have a great time shooting and exploring and hanging out on voice chat.

Donsimus P. gave it a9:
Give me a break..This game is not ugly in fact it looks fantastic in 1280 on my monitor..Story Mode has well over 50 hours to it..and extra mode and live you can enjoy forever. No.. it isn't FF12. But it doesn't try to be either. its fresh and has a different feel and different setting. If you like leveling up and hate point and click combat.. Definitely give it a shot. I like RPG tht give me freedom to play in that wold..and develop my character and PSU does a great job on that front. The story is actually the best phantasy star story since they went mmo with the series. If you liked fable or sudeki or PSO.. or you have always wanted to try an MMO.. PSU is a great gateway to the whole concept. Not the deepest.but definitley worth the time and money.

J. A. gave it a9:
This is my first taste of Phantasy Star and all I can say is mmm good. This is a fun game to play with friends over Xbox Live. If you like RPGs and even games like animal crossing there is something here to enjoy. Rare items, upgrading weapons and crafting make this a game worthy of anyones collection. Worth the price of admission.

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Phantasy Star Universe

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