Phantasy Star Universe

 PC
Phantasy Star Universe Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

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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 hoursPhantasy 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
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 5 out of 19
  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. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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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See all 19 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. JamesL.
    Nov 12, 2006
    10
    By far one of the best games and mmo's to hit the market. Though with a few issues with content release, there is enough currently By far one of the best games and mmo's to hit the market. Though with a few issues with content release, there is enough currently available plus much room for expansion. The game is streamline and cleaned up from it's predecessor Phantasy Star Online. Anyone who enjoy PSO or wants to pick up a quicker paced style of MMO, this is your chance.… Expand
  2. DanielG.
    Oct 29, 2006
    9
    I've been a fan of the series since the first Phantasy Star on the master system. This one borrows a lot from Phantasy Star Online, but I've been a fan of the series since the first Phantasy Star on the master system. This one borrows a lot from Phantasy Star Online, but brings a lot of surprises from the older four games, like the planet hopping where the camera positions itself behind the spaceship just like in PS4. The story mode is also good, albeit a bit corny though at times. Compared to PSO, it is much faster paced and the system is just awesome. As usual though, it seems like Final Fantasy is stealing the show from a clearly superior, underrated "ph"ranchise.… Expand
  4. BobGnikrul
    Nov 22, 2006
    9
    Does PSU have a complex stat system for you to spend hours carefully maximising? Nope. Does PSU have grandiose worlds for you to spend daysDoes PSU have a complex stat system for you to spend hours carefully maximising? Nope. Does PSU have grandiose worlds for you to spend days exploring and still never see it all? No way. Does PSU have an engrossing backstory or offer rich roleplaying oppourtunities? Still nope. Almost everything that makes an MMO good is missing from PSU. So what DOES it have? The same thing PSO had. An immersive, entertaining, flexible combat system thats almost as fun to watch as it is to use and which has no learning curve whatsoever. You can focus entirely on getting the most out of every hit one moment and lazily coast along, still fufilling your job in a party but holding a conversation or two at the same time the next moment. The game should not be looked at as an MMO, for by MMO standards its terrible, but as a fun, relaxing, and attractive background activity to play with a few friends while socializing it excels, just as it's predeccesor did.… Expand
  5. 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.… Expand
  6. 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.… Expand
  7. 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.… Expand

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Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

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