Phantasy Star Online

Review

by Jon Thompson

Phantasy Star fans everywhere must have been surprised when they learned their favorite role-playing series was being brought to the Dreamcast in a way never before seen on a console. While online multiplayer games are no stranger to the PC, it is big news for the console platform. It was also interesting to learn that such a respected line of games would end up being the testing ground to see if this type of role-playing game had any viability within the console market.

As it turns out, the game is a both a pleasant surprise and a disappointment. The disappointment comes with the fact that it's a Phantasy Star game by theme only, and those hoping to find any semblance of the storyline or characters that have been a hallmark for most of the series will not be happy with the results.

Phantasy Star Online is not a deep game, at least when it comes to offering an engaging storyline, often considered of paramount importance to a console RPG. It is, however, an interesting experience when one delves into the online component, and those willing to do so will more than likely find themselves having a great time playing the game over the Internet.

It isn't called Phantasy Star Online for nothing, so while it gives you the option to play a single-player game, it's probably not something you'll want to spend a whole lot of time with. Some games that are structured like this, most notably Diablo, have a fairly enjoyable single-player experience, but because this game moves at a fairly slow pace, with few enemies and areas that aren't that big or interesting to explore, it isn't much fun.

Moreover, if you aren't the ranger or proficient with ranged weapons, many of the areas in the game become extremely difficult. This is because you can't pick off the lumbering, stupid enemies from a distance, and will likely end up getting killed quite a bit on your own. The quests quickly become tedious when you are alone, which is unfortunate, but since you're buying a game with the word "online" in the title, you shouldn't let that dictate the quality of the game.

The multiplayer aspect is a blast... there's something enjoyable about jumping into a game with three other players and tearing it up in the lush world that Phantasy Star Online has created. This is the heart of the game, putting aside plot for battle tactics and action. Communication in the game is surprisingly versatile; players can communicate simple phrases to each other that will be translated into their native language, allowing gamers the world over to not only play together, but talk to each other.

And while characters don't have to stay together once they join a game, the ramped up difficulty and constant battles make grouping up and fighting it out together a much more palatable prospect. Whether you're playing with a group of friends or with people you've never met, the experience is always enjoyable. Perhaps it's simply interacting with other people that makes it a better experience, and Phantasy Star Online's attention to detail in areas like graphics and character design make it a great backdrop for multiplayer fun.

That does not, of course, imply that the multiplayer component is perfect, as it has its fair share of oddities. First, although the translation feature is nice, it isn't as extensive as it probably could be, which will often result in a breakdown in communication when you least want it to occur. Also, there's no good way to trade items, a major problem in early PC multiplayer games such as this, which can result in unscrupulous players stealing your goods without giving you anything in return.

Multiplayer games also end abruptly. Once you complete a quest and defeat a boss online, the game will dump you back out to the lobby. There's really no need for this, and often enough you probably would have liked to keep on going. Last of all, even with Sega cracking down on them, there are a number of cheaters who seek to ruin the experience, although there is fortunately no player-killing allowed and no one has found a way to do it with the various cheat programs available -- yet.

The graphics in Phantasy Star Online are simply amazing... there's really no other way to put it. Lush visuals enhance a realistic yet fantastic world and really draw you into the gameplay more than you'd think. From the character design to the architecture, the level of detail is astounding, and there isn't any game besides perhaps Shenmue that comes close to comparison. Music, likewise, is an amazing feat that starts out a bit tame but progresses nicely as you get further into the game. All in all, the entire package is easy top-five material for the Dreamcast.

Remember, play it online. If you buy it expecting the same single-player experience as found in previous titles in the series, you aren't playing the game the way it was intended. Those who take the plunge and support this title online will be getting the experience as it truly should be: a great time that you will find yourself coming back to again and again.