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Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis Game Cover
69%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, monetization
69% User Score Based on 17,657 reviews

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Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis Game Cover

About

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis is a multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by SEGA and was released on August 5, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis, the latest chapter in the Phantasy Star Online 2 series, is here at last! It's time to jump into adventures beyond imagination! This new adventure takes place on a vast open field! Up to 32 people can enjoy the adventure in a new world with beautifully evolved graphics! The simple and intuitive controls developed in the series up to now have also evolved! A n…

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Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis screenshot
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69%
Audience ScoreBased on 17,657 reviews
story746 positive mentions
grinding1.3k negative mentions
  • The combat mechanics are fast-paced and engaging, providing a fun gameplay experience.
  • Character customization options are extensive and allow for creative expression.
  • The graphics are vibrant and visually appealing, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The story is shallow and poorly paced, leading to a lack of emotional investment and engagement.
  • The game suffers from severe performance issues, including stuttering and crashes, making it frustrating to play.
  • The monetization model is seen as aggressive and predatory, overshadowing the gameplay experience.
  • story
    4,735 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lackluster and poorly paced compared to its predecessor, "Phantasy Star Online 2." While some appreciate the character customization and combat mechanics, they criticize the narrative for being shallow, predictable, and often feeling like a series of fetch quests with minimal character development. The main storyline is described as short, with many players completing it in just a few hours, leading to a sense of emptiness once the story concludes, as there is little engaging content to pursue afterward. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable gameplay, the story fails to captivate or provide a meaningful experience for many players.

    • “The story felt compelling, and the progression didn't feel super grindy, despite the gacha style in-game store. There's actually plenty of opportunity to unlock cosmetics and get things for free, so I wouldn't say it's forced pay-to-win.”
    • “The story isn't anything special, but some cutscenes can be visually stunning with grand kaiju-level fights.”
    • “The story is short and sweet, and you will want to play through PSO2's storyline.”
    • “At this point, the story is kinda boring and feels like it's going nowhere... all it is now is just a grindy game.”
    • “The story sucks, but the combat is fun, the music is nice, and the graphics are really good.”
    • “The story is non-existent and the endgame is shallower than a puddle.”
  • gameplay
    2,136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Phantasy Star Online 2 (PSO2) and its New Genesis (NGS) iteration has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the fast-paced, action-oriented combat mechanics and extensive character customization options. However, criticisms highlight a repetitive gameplay loop, lack of meaningful content, and an overwhelming focus on cosmetics and microtransactions, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players enjoy the engaging combat and cooperative gameplay, others find the game lacking depth and variety, leading to a sense of monotony over time.

    • “Gear retains long-term value, character growth feels earned rather than temporary, and many mechanics reward active play, discovery, and cooperation rather than simply handing everything to the player.”
    • “New abilities and upgrades are often tied to gameplay and exploration, creating a stronger sense of ownership over one’s character.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, interactive, and many times chaotic, but you'll find friends who will make the game experience good for you.”
    • “The gameplay is terrible, the story is lackluster at best, and most people in the community are more focused on dressing up their virtual barbie doll than anything else in the game.”
    • “The gameplay loop is just boring, there is very little variety in the content to do.”
    • “New Genesis was supposed to be this exciting new update from the base Phantasy Star Online 2 game adding new gameplay mechanics in a more open world type setting, but it has largely been squandered by a snail-paced update schedule, an overt lack of content, and no sustainable gameplay loop to keep players engaged.”
  • graphics
    1,566 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis" have received mixed feedback from players. While many praise the game for its vibrant visuals and improved character models compared to its predecessor, others criticize the graphics as outdated and lacking in detail, especially given the game's large file size. Overall, the aesthetic is appreciated for its anime style, but concerns about performance issues and graphical optimization persist, with players looking forward to future updates that promise further enhancements.

    • “The graphics are beautiful in their own unique way.”
    • “The stunning graphics and immersive gameplay have kept me hooked for hours.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the open world is beautiful and the mobility is very fun.”
    • “The graphics themselves are a bit cheap.”
    • “The visuals and art direction are dull and uninspired.”
    • “The graphics look like they were designed by a sleep-deprived intern armed with a box of crayons.”
  • grinding
    1,269 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis" has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the engaging combat and character customization, they often find the grind for gear and resources to be tedious and repetitive, especially at higher levels. Some players enjoy the grind as part of the experience, while others criticize it for feeling excessive and unfulfilling, particularly when compared to the more rewarding systems of the original PSO2. Overall, the game is seen as heavily reliant on grinding, which can be both a draw and a deterrent depending on individual player preferences.

    • “Not too grindy for leveling.”
    • “Leveling is not too grindy, but endgame gearing can be.”
    • “I'm not grinding yet but I know I will be (for my equipment).”
    • “This game has gone way downhill from the first PSO that was on Dreamcast. I wish they kept the exact same format; this game is honestly an abomination, like every other game, grindy, boring, repetitive. At least with the other game they provided different zones (forest 1, 2, 3, boss, etc.).”
    • “New Genesis feels empty, grindy, and stripped-down compared to what fans expected.”
    • “The grinding of New Genesis is incredibly tedious and feels unrewarding. You can grind for days and get nothing, and when you do get something, it often feels like a waste of time.”
  • monetization
    449 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model in "Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis" has drawn significant criticism for being overly aggressive and predatory, with many players describing it as a blatant cash grab. The game heavily relies on gacha mechanics for cosmetics and quality-of-life features, often locking essential gameplay elements behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the free-to-play aspect and the ability to earn in-game currency, the pervasive focus on microtransactions and the lack of substantial content have left many feeling frustrated and disillusioned.

    • “All games monetize in some way or another, and considering how much here is just given away and how the gacha has workarounds, this is probably the least predatory monetization I've ever seen in an MMO.”
    • “The monetization is relatively fair; it's a free-to-play game, and they have to pay for the servers, dev, and support team somehow, right?”
    • “Microtransactions are mostly cosmetic and quality of life, and the game provides opportunities to obtain rare items without spending real money.”
    • “The aggressive monetization and gacha mechanics, along with the constant bombardment of ads, overshadow any enjoyment I could have had with the game.”
    • “This game has become an absolute cash grab over the years, with a focus on microtransactions that detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The monetization is frankly disgusting, constant, and encourages dangerous whale behavior, making it hard to enjoy the game as a free-to-play player.”
  • music
    384 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its quality and variety, particularly in comparison to previous titles in the series. While some find the soundtrack to be immersive and enjoyable, others criticize it for being repetitive or lacking the charm of earlier games. Overall, the music enhances the gaming experience, especially during events and boss fights, but opinions vary on its memorability and impact.

    • “The vibes are absolutely immaculate, the world is beautiful and the music is totally gorgeous (why I love PSO more than anything else).”
    • “The music is truly fantastic, some of the best songs I've heard in a game.”
    • “The attention to detail in the visuals, combined with a lively and dynamic soundtrack, creates an immersive experience that draws players deeper into the game's universe.”
    • “The music in New Genesis is nothing compared to base PSO2, where you can truly feel the fantasy from the music, whether it's futuristic or medieval themed.”
    • “The soundtrack also falls short, failing to create an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The music is monotonous and droning, like it's just a couple of MIDI files set to repeat.”
  • optimization
    309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of "New Genesis" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as constant stuttering, long loading times, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users note improvements over time, the game is still considered poorly optimized compared to its predecessor, "PSO2," leading to frustration among players who find it unplayable or significantly hindered by technical problems. Overall, the game's optimization remains a major concern, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “New Genesis, by contrast, is smoother, more optimized, and easier to approach.”
    • “It's been optimized as well, so my system doesn't vent like a jet engine.”
    • “Optimization: very optimized, rarely ever drop any frames even in major boss fights with max effects active.”
    • “Literally unoptimized garbage, unplayable. I wouldn't recommend it to the worst person in the world. Get this virus off Steam.”
    • “It's a bloody unoptimized mess.”
    • “The game is still unplayable due to its stutter and performance issues.”
  • stability
    143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users note that the game can run well on lower settings and has improved in certain areas, the overall experience remains marred by persistent technical issues, including long loading times and server instability. Many recommend waiting for further updates and fixes before fully engaging with the game.

    • “That all said, if you don't have the best machine, it still runs great on lower settings while not sacrificing the spirit of the higher-end visuals.”
    • “Runs great on PC with modest specs.”
    • “Much more smooth, not buggy at all.”
    • “Game still gets stuck in loading screens, still glitches out and gets you stuck.”
    • “Not only PSO2 NGS is very unstable and can easily give players a dozen crashes, freezes, or disconnections a day, but you cannot enjoy the true beauty of the game in such poor conditions.”
    • “The game launched in such a buggy state that it was unplayable for the first week, and while it's playable now, it's because the player base dropped off so fast they didn't need to fix the servers.”
  • humor
    108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often described as both unintentional and intentional, with players finding amusement in the absurdity of character designs, voice acting, and game mechanics. Many reviews highlight the community's creativity, particularly in character customization and symbol arts, which can lead to hilarious interactions. However, the humor can wear thin over time, especially as players encounter repetitive content and baffling design choices from the developers.

    • “Oh also, there's a really funny official comic that comes out weekly and it's great.”
    • “The voice acting is awful, like hilariously bad.”
    • “The community is hilarious with plenty of great community-created content in the form of symbol arts, also everyone is quite helpful and easy to chat with.”
    • “I meet some people saying that I'm overdoing my character and it's not funny anymore using my catchphrase.”
    • “They are pretty much hammering AC scratch tickets (cost real money) at you so hard it's not funny.”
    • “The devs say they listen to the community about what they want, but really they don't. The prices for the marketplace are so gouged it's not funny, and they keep giving us really bad collaborations that aren't even the ones we want.”
  • emotional
    65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional responses to the game reveal a deep sense of disappointment among longtime fans, who feel that the latest iterations have strayed from the magic of earlier versions, leading to heartbreak over missed potential. While some players find joy in community interactions and nostalgic connections, many criticize the lack of emotional depth in the storyline and character development, resulting in a disconnection from the game's narrative. Overall, the emotional landscape is marked by a mix of nostalgia, frustration, and a longing for a more engaging and heartfelt experience.

    • “For longtime fans, it’s a heartbreaking regression — a game that feels disconnected from the magic of its predecessors.”
    • “Episode 1 made me cry at the end, which I wasn't expecting at all.”
    • “When the expansion was first announced, I cried tears of joy, no stretch of the truth.”
    • “This game really had great potential, and it was slaughtered by a boring storyline, big anime tiddies, and excessive microtransactions.”
    • “Ngs sucks, it has a very boring storyline, tone-deaf characters, the gameplay offers very little skill customization or nuance, and is boiled down to bare bones with little extra to it.”
    • “But the new updated version of the game is visually pretty, but feels awkward for keyboard and just kinda boring story-wise so far.”
  • character development
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a stark contrast between the depth of character arcs in PSO2 Classic and the more superficial, sanitized portrayal in NGS. While some appreciate the extensive options for character design and customization, others criticize the lack of meaningful character growth and engaging storylines, leading to a sense of apathy towards the characters. Overall, the character design is often praised for its creativity, but the narrative and emotional investment in characters are seen as lacking.

    • “The character development is a standout, with each character becoming more fleshed out as the plot progresses.”
    • “I enjoy this game, from the fun combat and awesome exploration, to the gorgeous character design and build customization.”
    • “The fashion is lit and you can really get creative; I would say it's one of the best character design interfaces I've seen in a game in a really long time.”
    • “This lack of character development makes the experience frustrating and, at times, dull.”
    • “Story lacks depth and character development.”
    • “None of the characters so far have had much in the way of character development except for Manon.”
  • atmosphere
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its vibrant, sci-fi charm and immersive world design, while others feel it lacks the unique depth and cohesion of earlier titles in the series. Many reviews highlight the haunting soundtrack and visual appeal, but criticize the disconnection from the original's atmosphere due to over-the-top elements and a lack of engaging content. Overall, while the game offers a colorful and atmospheric experience, it struggles to fully capture the essence that made its predecessors memorable.

    • “The world is open, vibrant, and has that dreamy sci-fi atmosphere that’s perfect for just walking around and zoning out.”
    • “I loved the sci-fi atmosphere, music, dungeon crawling, weaponry, costumes, and boss fights.”
    • “The atmosphere of the setting had a strange allure, both foreign and cozy at the same time.”
    • “Every corner of the game became infected with over-the-top cringe, and the atmosphere that once set this series apart was drowned out by loud, flashy nonsense and tone-deaf character spam.”
    • “The game's world lacks the cohesive and immersive atmosphere that made the original memorable.”
    • “Graphics just make it so hard to play, gameplay seems okay but could be better and the atmosphere just feels so stiff and old.”
  • replayability
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate features like buffing challenges and the potential for grinding levels, many criticize the lack of meaningful content and repetitive events that diminish long-term engagement. The absence of robust replayable quests, especially compared to the original PSO2, leaves players feeling that the game falls short in providing a compelling replay experience. Overall, while there are elements that can enhance replayability, many users express disappointment with the current state of content and community engagement.

    • “The constant influx of new challenges and rewards ensures that there is always something to strive for, providing long-term replayability and a sense of progression.”
    • “Boss fights at the end of exploration quests are brutally difficult at times, and the exploration quests in general leave a lot of replayability for grinding levels as well as getting useless weapons and items to trade in for meseta.”
    • “There's so much to love about NGS—such as the more fluid combat, open world, and better graphical fidelity—but unfortunately it's just not quite as polished and endlessly replayable.”
    • “Ngs eqs (emergency quests) are half-baked and hardly replayable when compared to what the original PSO2 had to offer.”
    • “The game lacks content to this very day, and feels incredibly short and lacking in replay value.”
    • “If I do, I'm immediately met with 'why did I even open this?' and close the game to go play something with more content and replayability.”
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75h Median play time
508h Average play time
17-500h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 129 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis is a role playing game.

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 508 hours playing Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis.

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis was released on August 5, 2020.

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis was developed by SEGA.

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis is a multiplayer game with local co-op support.

Similar games include Dungeon Defenders II, KurtzPel, AdventureQuest 3D, Vindictus, The Elder Scrolls Online and others.