Phantasy Star Online 2

An Action-Packed MMORPG Classic

Updated: 8 Dec 2020 7:52 PM PST

Phantasy Star Online 2

If you love action-oriented games like Diablo, check out Phantasy Star Online 2. It's a JRPG-flavored ARPG with plenty of fun to be had.[read more below]

GameQik.com is not an official representative or the developer of Phantasy Star Online 2. Copyrighted materials belong to their respective parties. Users can get this game from the official links listed below. GameQik.com does not provide downloads or game files for this game.

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Phantasy Star Online 2

An Action-Packed MMORPG Classic

Updated: 8 Dec 2020 7:52 PM PST
Posted: 8 Dec 2020 7:51 PM PST

Phantasy Star Online 2 – An MMORPG Classic Journeys to the West

SEGA's new-found success with PC ports means Phantasy Star Online 2 is finally getting localized. The Western PC launch will bring plenty of familiarity to Phantasy Star fans, but don't expect the traditional MMORPG experience.


The Best of the Phantasy Star Universe

While Phantasy Star Online 2 is technically an MMORPG, it has much more in common with action RPGs. Games like Diablo and Path of Exile, where you meet at hubs and dungeon crawl in mostly randomized dungeons is the core concept here.

Players start life in PSO2 on a ship that serves as the game's central hub for activities. The main hub is instanced, much like Guild Wars 2, which makes dealing with congestion easier. Most communication through the game between players comes through emojis called symbols.

PhantasyStarOnline2 Phantasy Star Online 2 | Credit: pso2.com

The Symbols system is incredibly detailed, giving players the ability to create just about anything. Just be aware that the degree of freedom in Symbol creation leads to problematic Symbols occasionally appearing. Auto-chat with pre-defined messages also helps with communication while in dungeons. You can call out specific targets or when you need a heal with a short macro command.

Players also have the option of exploring the Casino, which features tons of mini-games. Slots, blackjack, roulette, and other Dave and Buster's style mini-games feature in this area. If you hit the jackpot, you can earn lots of coins to buy rewards for your quest.

There are live concerts just about every weekend for players to enjoy.

Community events also play a big part in enjoying Phantasy Star Online 2. There are live concerts just about every weekend for players to enjoy. Players who attend shows receive a 10% buff to their rewards rate afterward.


Dated, But Charming

Phantasy Star Online 2 is a sequel to a Dreamcast game, and it shows. That's not to say the developers haven't worked on updating the game for modern HD sensibilities. But compared to something like FFXIV, it's clear the source material is older.

PhantasyStarOnline2 Phantasy Star Online 2 | Credit: pso2.com

The music tracks in the game are top-notch and enjoyable, but that's where the audio praise ends. Combat sounds are annoying and repetitive, so it's best to turn them off quickly. You'll probably want to listen to your favorite Spotify playlist while playing because even the music gets repetitive after a while.


The Best Action JRPG You Can Play Online

Phantasy Star Online 2 continues down the path of action JRPG that the original games set out for the series. Players must dodge and use their abilities based on rapidly changing fights. The game has a reasonably robust class system, with each class playing slightly differently.

PhantasyStarOnline2 Phantasy Star Online 2 | Credit: pso2.com

Classes are roughly divided into melee and ranged classes for multiple play styles. Classes can use a variety of weapons and skills. Skills have two trees, Photon Arts for weapon mastery and Tech – which functions like spells in other games. Each class can slot six primary abilities and several additional abilities on the sub-bar.

... the real meat of the game is the action-oriented gameplay.

The biggest complaint about gameplay is how the game's UI presents information. It's a confusing mess of menus and systems, but that's not surprising for a dated JRPG. Questing in PSO2 is straightforward, but you quickly run into information overload as you progress through the game.

The game's story happens in short cut-scenes that breakaway into encounters. It's nonsensical and not very good – the real meat of the game is the action-oriented gameplay.


A Breath of Fresh Air

Phantasy Star Online 2 is one of the better action-oriented JRPGs you can play with an online component. Western gamers had to connect to Japanese servers for years, but now the game is finally available on PC. It's worth checking out if you love the Phantasy Star series from the Sega Genesis days.

Despite being released in Japan over eight years ago, Phantasy Star Online 2 is a breath of fresh air.


TL/DR

If you love action-oriented games like Diablo, check out Phantasy Star Online 2. It's a JRPG-flavored ARPG with plenty of fun to be had.


How to Play

Use the official link below to get Phantasy Star Online 2:


What do you love about Phantasy Star Online 2?

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