This is Progress?
Sadly, even
PSO's memorably compelling aesthetics have been compromised in their journey to
PSU.
PSU looks like a candy-coated neon take on its dark and somber predecessor. This is not an innately terrible direction to take, but in this case most aspects end up feeling generic and lesser compared to what came before. (I actually like the new player fashions quite a bit, though.) This lapse in quality is evident everywhere. The planetary scenes barely look better than the levels we explored in 2001, and are less memorable to boot. The new boss encounters are completely unimaginative. Even the soundtrack is a mere shadow of its former majesty.
As the lowest common denominator, the PlayStation 2 version is rough around the edges. The visuals are actually pretty solid for the PS2, although they run at only half the frame rate of the 360 and PC versions. And as in the 360 version, even moderately busy combat situations provoke massive bouts of slowdown. The lack of voice chat is a glaring omission, so be sure to have a USB keyboard if you must play on PS2. I'd really suggest trying another version, if at all possible. This is the worst.
is 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. As a huge admirer of
PSO, I can still find bits of enjoyment in
PSU; however, this is not a good start to our long-term relationship, and just as I grew tired of the grind in
Final Fantasy XI, so will I tire of it in
Phantasy Star Universe.
The only question is how long I'll give it before pulling the plug. At this rate, maybe another month or two. My friends have already tired of the gameplay; lately we just party up to voice chat on the 360 version. That really says it all, doesn't it?
