Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesisis the new update coming toPSO2in 2021, bringing with it a graphics update and a renewal of the game’s systems. The update celebrates the 20th anniversary ofPhantasy Star Online.
Sega first revealedNew Genesisduring Microsoft’s Xbox Series X games showcase on July 23. Seeing it’s an update, not a brand-new game,PSO3, or anything like that, it’ll obviously be coming to the same platformsPSO2is on, meaning Windows 10 and Xbox One, with an Xbox Series X version coming. This also means that in Japan though,New Genesiswill be on PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch via Cloud gaming. Note that the Japanese version ofPSO2on PC is very easily accessible in English thanks to fans.
I always wondered why Sega finally decided to officially releasePSO2outside Japan in 2020; nine years after the game’s first Closed Alpha Test in Japan. Now we all know why.PSO2 New Genesisdefinitely makes the game more beautiful, all while keeping certain visual elements for whichPSO2wouldn’t bePSO2, like the uncanny valley character faces. Players who unlike me, care about graphics, will definitely be appealed. However, I’m worried as to whether they will stick with the game once the initial sense of discovery and hype dies down, and I’m skeptical as to what this update will bring toPSO2besides better visuals.
PSO2 New GenesisReveal Trailer
If you already playPSO2, the Japanese version at least, you know the game is currently inEpisode 6. Well,New Genesisseems pretty much to beEpisode 7except with a fancy name rather than the usual numbering. The Japanese press release also sells it as a “new game”, but it’s ultimately an update. An update which seems voluminous and promising.
Besides the graphical update, new content and game systems changes will be coming. The video hints that new classes will be added. Though rather than brand new classes, it looks like at least the three original classes ofPSO2, Hunter, Ranger, and Force, are all getting newer versions with fancier movements. Most notably the jet-boots like things all characters seem to possess now, which allows for quick bursts of movement. Most enemies seems more imposing than before too, with a focus on fighting a single monster instead of a swarm. The originalPhantasy Star Onlineon Dreamcast was one of the inspirations for Capcom’sMonster Hunter, which itself became an inspiration for many others. It seems like Sega is again throwing the ball back. Thorough the trailer, the combat actually doesn’t feel that much different from currentPSO2though.
Phantasy Star Online, Phantasy Star Universe, Phantasy Star Online 2, Phantasy Star Nova,and nowPSO2 New Genesis.
I’ve entered thePhantasy Star Onlineseries with its first entry in 2000, played every version barringUniverse, and ultimately kept playingPSO Blue Burston PC private servers till 2011. As such, I was pretty eager to get intoPSO2when it was announced, and started the game with the first Closed Alpha Test in August 2011. While I quickly noticed how different it is fromPSO1, I still greatly enjoyed it. Overall,PSO2greatly improved over the years. You wouldn’t believe how slow the characters' running speed initially was. The game is a much better and pleasant experience now compared to its beginnings. And yet my excitement and enjoyment died down over the years, only playing to hangout with online friends, but ultimately taking an indefinite hiatus from the game since late 2018.
In my opinion,PSO2has multiple problems, and they’re quite hard to explain as they only hit you once you’ve spent a considerable amount of time with the game. But one way to sum it up well is how it ultimately feels like the game controls your play schedule. Mainly because of the scheduled Emergency Quests every week, which are the most interesting and the most rewarding content. PSO2ultimately decides for you when do you play, what do you play, and when do you stop playing. Overall, in my last months of playingPSO2, it often felt like a chore rather than a game, even without min-maxing or when trying to enjoy the game as a “casual” player.
Min-maxing inPSO2is also not worth it as it’s incredibly costly, in time, money, and most possibly real money. The act of “Affixing” equipment inPSO2feels like a gacha game inside the game, and can easily screw you over.PSO2definitely changed as I’m talking from experiences from 2011 to 2018, but at the very least back then, I couldn’t think of any content that was worth min-maxing. As long as you and all the players you play with don’t get hit much and have good, up-to-date equipment, which isn’t too hard to get, you could clear any endgame content. Which in turn made the grind of repeating the same Emergency Quests and endgame content over and over all the more pointless. It’s ultimately not worth it unless you wish to brag by uploading videos on YouTube where you solo bosses planned for 12 players. (Technically you could do that even without min-maxing, but those are always timed battles, so even if you’re skilled enough to never get hit, you won’t beat the bosses without enough DPS.)
Another issue is howPSO2often fails to keep older content relevant, and always keep adding more and more on top instead of improving preexisting elements. This also makes it hard for beginner players lacking knowledge, who could spend hours and hours running certain quests for rewards that aren’t actually “worth” anything. With better equipment available through easier means. I’m worriedNew Genesismight turn out to this same pattern all over again.
It’s worth notingPSO2also has a pretty good story mode. With the addition ofNew Genesis,what will happen to all the previousPSO2main story content? Will it be rendered unplayable, only reduced to a compilation of cutscenes? This already happened in the past, and I fear it might happen again.
If there’s one thingPSO2excels at however, and whatNew Genesiswill be improving, it’s being one of the best cosplay games there is.
One particular aspectPSO2is very good for is being a cosplay and fashion customization game, and that’s definitely one of the pointsNew Genesiswill focus on.PSO2already has very extensive character customization options, especially when it comes to female characters and mecha, seeing we’re talking about a Japanese otaku game here. Most hardcore players onPSO2I knew weren’t spending hours and hours for the rare drops and weps, but to get enough money to buy the newest clothes for their 765 years old youkai loli character.
PSO2also had numerous collabs in eight years, adding costumes and customization options from Sega franchises likeSakura Taisenbut also dozens of iconic Japanese popculture elements fromEvato costumes designed by Suzuhito Yasuda. Again though, most of these are only obtainable through real-money gacha with abyssal drop rates, or by spending gigantic amounts of in-game money, buying from other players.
In any case, I strongly hopePSO2 New Genesiswill try and bring some new solutions, instead of simply painting over mold. I have high hopes for the “system redesigning” it will bring. In Japan,PSO2regularly has live streams detailing upcoming content, so we’ll learn more soon. While we’re moving to next-gen in the middle of a pandemic,with the world being in the weirdest place we’ve ever experienced,PSO2will stay relevantin the world of free-to-play online JRPGs with gacha-like elements. It’ll definitely be a serious competitor toGenshin ImpactandBlue Protocol.
