Is Phantasy Star Online worth it?

[Sumea]

I PROMISE YOU.
IF YOU DECIDE TO PLAY PSO ON GC, I WILL PLAY WITH YOU ON SERVER OF YOUR CHOICE.
IF YOU PLAY EPHINEA, I WILL BE THERE

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 9:52 PM

You can try to play the Gamecube ones, including PSO

ANYONE knows anything about if the project to play Phantasy Star Online as a multiplatform online game get any success? I know some people tried hard to play online using DC, GC and XBOX (maybe even PC) at the same time.

Currently Schthack and other servers offer this option,
Xbox and GC are cross compatible on Schthack and other servers.
If you play GC version on emulator, this extends to very wide multiplatform compatibility
Like seriously, I played with a cool guy who ran PSO on his android phone emulating the GC version while playing on xbox.

 

[Alarond]

Currently Schthack and other servers offer this option,
Xbox and GC are cross compatible on Schthack and other servers.
If you play GC version on emulator, this extends to very wide multiplatform compatibility

Oh my god, Really??? They did it? That's freaking amazing

I use emulation, I never got the broadband adapter for the GC. In fact, I found the emulated version a lot better to play for communication purposes.
So in emulation you can play DC with GC for example? I need to search about that.

 

[Sumea]

So in emulation you can play DC with GC for example? I need to search about that.

No. at max, currently, there is slighty beta feature for GC/xbox to DC as they are so different, but they will see each other in the lobby. I think Schthack did introduce somewhat limited beta crossplay but mainly it is for GC and Xbox that are similar, and emulation/simulation makes GC version work online for Wii, Wii U, and Dolphin emulator. So no, GC is somewhat out of luck and even Blue Burst but yeah.

 

[csanjuro]

I like PSO
playing in Ephinea

 

[Alarond]

No. at max, currently, there is slighty beta feature for GC/xbox to DC as they are so different, but they will see each other in the lobby. I think Schthack did introduce somewhat limited beta crossplay but mainly it is for GC and Xbox that are similar, and emulation/simulation makes GC version work online for Wii, Wii U, and Dolphin emulator. So no, GC is somewhat out of luck and even Blue Burst but yeah.

ok, thank you very much.

I knew the versions are so different (in tech aspects) it takes a lot of effort to make them compatible.
But its amazing when it works in some way.

Phantasy Star Online by Sega and Sonic Team was (well, is) the very first Online RPG in consoles, and deserves to be recognized a lot more.

 

[Ezri_Muldoon]

PSO2? YES
I used to run two SEA accounts back when the region locking was temporarily removed plus my current account on steam.
You won't find a better MMO in terms of fluid, real time action combat & it's near limitless customisability.
10 years of expansions already existed when it (finally) launched in the west. Unlike World of Warcraft PSO2's format is linear, so you get to play through a decade of content with out having any of it gated away.
New Genesis was incredibly controversial when it launched, to the point players just kept with the old content. But four years in it's equally as fun, if you prefer an open world with dynamic events (Think Breath of the Wild) with the option of constructing your own home (That's the only paywalled feature) New Genesis is great.
Sega did have to segregate the original PSO2 content off into a separate download to encourage players to switch. But the original game is still ludicrously popular.
Plus your cosmetics carry over from New Genesis to PSO2. All of them, even the ones Sega claims are locked to NG.
NG cosmetics can't be applied in PS02. But if they're equipped by default, they're present when you log in- you simply can't modify your appearance without losing them (They're still in your inventory they're just not applicable)- unless you log into NG.

PSO Blue Burst? Ephinea/Dreamcast (Yes, the DC original still works.)
Absolutely, but it's not really an MMO. Think of it more as a Diablo style dungeon run where you and your friends run through missions & levels, coming out with loot so you can upgrade your items.
It has some cosmetic options, but that's it. You're not going to jump in and do any roleplay it's what we would now call a raid game.

But it's incredibly fun and if you can get a regular group of people together you can just raid for a few hours all talking on Discord/Steam/Teamspeak.

Ultimately the main difference is the combat.
If you want dynamic action combat where you move like Dante from Devil May Cry dodging attacks? PSO2
If you want a more relaxed, WoW experience where positioning & item management matters more then its PSO

 

[KenaiPhoenix]

Thank you guys for the replies! Im going to give it another run this weekend to, probably PSO2 first. I mean I already had it installed in my PS5, so it is a good start.

I plan to give it PSO1 a try as well, I wanted to give it a go on consoles because of it charm, but the console servers are not that populated from what I saw (sadly). I would have to get a DreamPi for my DC, get the game for my Xbox or stole my brother Wii for the NGC version and get the game (I dont know if he had it hacked, and it is not mine to mess with :/ ). So I guess PC will have to be, kind of like bummer to be honest, I just love old consoles online, it is just so simple it is magic. On the plus side, there is an installer on Lutris to help me get it on Linux.

And yeah, you guys are right, it is not an MMO, I guess I created to topic here beacuse I always knew PSO as an MMO. And it is not a big problem for me that it is more like Diablo. In fact it sounds fantastic, I will get more into Horizon XI soon, so my MMORPG will be filled, and I love the grind of these games.

PSO Blue Burst? Ephinea/Dreamcast (Yes, the DC original still works.)

Really? I thought it was only Sylverant or schthack (from my uneducated investigation tbh)

 

[Sumea]

Thank you guys for the replies! Im going to give it another run this weekend to, probably PSO2 first. I mean I already had it installed in my PS5, so it is a good start.

I plan to give it PSO1 a try as well, I wanted to give it a go on consoles because of it charm, but the console servers are not that populated from what I saw (sadly). I would have to get a DreamPi for my DC, get the game for my Xbox or stole my brother Wii for the NGC version and get the game (I dont know if he had it hacked, and it is not mine to mess with :/ ). So I guess PC will have to be, kind of like bummer to be honest, I just love old consoles online, it is just so simple it is magic. On the plus side, there is an installer on Lutris to help me get it on Linux.

And yeah, you guys are right, it is not an MMO, I guess I created to topic here beacuse I always knew PSO as an MMO. And it is not a big problem for me that it is more like Diablo. In fact it sounds fantastic, I will get more into Horizon XI soon, so my MMORPG will be filled, and I love the grind of these games.



Really? I thought it was only Sylverant or schthack (from my uneducated investigation tbh)

Try out the PSO2 classic game included in NGS, you need additional files and then intro of NGS to access it but... Try it, even if you will be very alone.

 

[Ezri_Muldoon]

Really? I thought it was only Sylverant or schthack (from my uneducated investigation tbh)

It is Sylverant for the Dreamcast, so it wouldn't connect to the same servers as Blue Burst Ephinea for the PC. My apologies for the confusion. But both are still functional and most importantly free if you chose to ever jump

 

[Alarond]

It is Sylverant for the Dreamcast, so it wouldn't connect to the same servers as Blue Burst Ephinea for the PC. My apologies for the confusion. But both are still functional and most importantly free if you chose to ever jump

The thing about private PSO servers is... they are always tempting you, because the game is just what it was, the original game.

Instead, in projects like HorizonXI (as KenaiPhoenix cited) for FFXI, they are totally different. Because FFXI is already in development, is still a commercial product in PC* (I applause SquareEnix for having those giant balls).
During many years FFXI received new content (including various full expansions, new continents, cities, items, and much more) since the Chains of Promathia era from 2006, which HorizonXI pretends to replicate. And from what I undestand, continues to be a level 75 cap... which is laaaaargely surpassed (waaaay way overcomed) in the official FFXI. And don't think, because that, the official game stopped to be a real challenge for the hardcore gamers.

It's a paradoxal situation, were an old game (PSO) feels as new as it was, because you play it as it was by then, until its official support ended...
Instead, a game of the same era, still commercially supported, with a HUGE development along the years, makes you feel the 2006-based private servers of the game as effing archaic (if you played commercial FFXI after that era).
That's the reason I couldn't adapt to HorizonXI. I understand why its creators and their players like to be in that era (basically for nostalgic reasons), and I morally support them, but... to me, as a (sometimes) player of the normal FFXI... I just... I can't. Also, FFXI is too much time demanding... I just prefer to play the official game from time to time if I can, and try to explore all the things it offers.

*(and remember PS2 and X360 versions of FFXI are not supported anymore, because their respective companies just don't support those consoles anymore, don't attack SE: SE even released a version of "Seekers of Adoulin" FFXI expansion for PS2, in Japan, when PS2 was by then a real zombie in the market, in 2013!! One of the last... or maybe, the LAST title of PS2 in Japan.

 

[KenaiPhoenix]

Try out the PSO2 classic game included in NGS, you need additional files and then intro of NGS to access it but... Try it, even if you will be very alone.

From what I have been reading I will probably like PSO1 more than 2, but since I already have it installed, I dont think it will hurt to give it a try.

You play on GC or PC? Im still deciding what to do. Dreamcast will probably be ruled out since I dont have a dreampy or bba, and my economic situation is not ideal to let me spent 100+ bucks on a modem for only one game.

It is Sylverant for the Dreamcast, so it wouldn't connect to the same servers as Blue Burst Ephinea for the PC. My apologies for the confusion. But both are still functional and most importantly free if you chose to ever jump

Oh I see, no worries!

That's the reason I couldn't adapt to HorizonXI. I understand why its creators and their players like to be in that era (basically for nostalgic reasons), and I morally support them, but... to me, as a (sometimes) player of the normal FFXI... I just... I can't. Also, FFXI is too much time demanding... I just prefer to play the official game from time to time if I can, and try to explore all the things it offers.

I would love to have a middle ground, and this is why I will never forgive Yopshi-P for destroying FFXIV 1.0. The formula of FFXI is really good, it sadly got kind of destroyed to push the move to XIV, but then that gor obliterated so it can have a WoW clone.

I like retail, I play from time to time, it is really fun, but I fell I lost a lot of the core gameplay when using trusts. For example: when playing on Horizon I had to learn about my skills, and openings for some mobs with magic, because otherwise I would just die, on retail I just trust and either kill the mob or die because I was incredible underlevel.

Now the issues with Horizon is that they (imho) should probably make a "middle ground", like just adjust the exp gain for a more smooth grind, a more fast movement or at least some TP... I like how it feels more alive and more "adventure" Horizon XI, but sometimes is just too clunky. If only they had refined the system in XIV...

 

[MegaHiro91]

Worth it? What is the "it" factor your are comparing to?

 

[Sumea]

You play on GC or PC? Im still deciding what to do. Dreamcast will probably be ruled out since I dont have a dreampy or bba, and my economic situation is not ideal to let me spent 100+ bucks on a modem for only one game.

Both, Ephinea/PC is more populated but there is a scene around GC/Xbox which I also played. Xbox more than GC but the versions cross up on the three servers supporting both versions.

 

[Alarond]

I would love to have a middle ground, and this is why I will never forgive Yopshi-P for destroying FFXIV 1.0. The formula of FFXI is really good, it sadly got kind of destroyed to push the move to XIV, but then that gor obliterated so it can have a WoW clone.

I like retail, I play from time to time, it is really fun, but I fell I lost a lot of the core gameplay when using trusts. For example: when playing on Horizon I had to learn about my skills, and openings for some mobs with magic, because otherwise I would just die, on retail I just trust and either kill the mob or die because I was incredible underlevel.

Now the issues with Horizon is that they (imho) should probably make a "middle ground", like just adjust the exp gain for a more smooth grind, a more fast movement or at least some TP... I like how it feels more alive and more "adventure" Horizon XI, but sometimes is just too clunky. If only they had refined the system in XIV...

Trusts are necessary in FFXI, because new players would be totally "sold" at the moment they need to make many of the oooold story parts that game have, or get some levels, because if not... you would need some help by level 8-10, and you need to make the old original story... to obtain important items and key-items to advance to new zones of the game. And not many expert players would help you at that early moments, so trusts are very very useful.

But obviously, the old players FFXI normally know much better how the technicalities of the game and how the battle system works in a deep level (good understanding of weapon skills, the skillchains and their levels, how they REALLY work, as well as the magic bursts, and the IMPORTANCE and relation of the elements in that level of mastership in the battle system...because... yeah, they suffered a lot learning them, as well as how to be effective using them, in a system so based in a perfect timing between online players... when that game is thought to be an online game using connections of early 2000s. Is like an oximoron pretending to be that precise between different users, with just a pair of seconds as a window, in an online game that old, with that old connections full of lag).

It is really hard to know WELL the characteristics, traits and skills of a job in FFXI, as well as the battle system in a deeeeep deep way. FFXI gameplay has a lot of deepness, if you want. No need to be a master in that to beat the game and the expansions. Only to do the "post-story" content.

About what happened in XIV when they tried to implement the FFXI system for the new game? well.. it did not go well, we all know. Some people wants a server with the 1.0 version, but... I don't think SE would ever do that. You just have FFXI if you want the old FFXI experience. The "Real Reborn FFXIV" battle system, as I see the game, is just a very nice hack and slash game, with magics. It works, but it is FAAR away from the FFXI one in deepness. It is more like a "waltz" in the boss fights: you need to memorize where to run and stay in any moment XD.

 

[KenaiPhoenix]

Both, Ephinea/PC is more populated but there is a scene around GC/Xbox which I also played. Xbox more than GC but the versions cross up on the three servers supporting both versions.

Oh nice, we might see each other then when i try PSO1

Trusts are necessary in FFXI, because new players would be totally "sold" at the moment they need to make many of the oooold story parts that game have, or get some levels, because if not... you would need some help by level 8-10, and you need to make the old original story... to obtain important items and key-items to advance to new zones of the game. And not many expert players would help you at that early moments, so trusts are very very useful.

I understand that, but it is a win for now, loss for later, because since you can just let the NPC just blow up enemies, the player wont be facing challenge so it will never learn anything that can be used on the end-game.

A good solution would be adjust content or somehow give incentives to older players. I understand the solution, but as an user of trust, I can see the issue.

About what happened in XIV when they tried to implement the FFXI system for the new game? well.. it did not go well, we all know

If you check and remember why it failed it was mostly because of technical issues: bad fps, poor performance of menus (and a bad design, but thats arguable), and people complaining that you couldnt jump like WoW (I personally have read this last one more than once).

Some people like to point out that repeated zones, but anyone that played ARR knows that this one also suffers from it. In fact, I would say that todays FFXIV suffers from the same: in the end all dungeons are now just straight lines to make some wall-to-wall.

It is truly a shame that they just killed a good MMO to gain some quick buck. On the plus side, it is kind of biting their asses right now, while XI is still alive despite the best efforts of SE to kill it. (I will never forgive the anniversary update: "Well, we know updated the system so it is cheaper for us to keep running the game. Thats is, thank you for tuning")

 

[Alarond]

A good solution would be adjust content or somehow give incentives to older players. I understand the solution, but as an user of trust, I can see the issue.

There is some kind of rudimentary Mentor system. Sometimes I see more people with that M, but... not always is the case: being a mentor does not give you anything special in any case. Even being a very good Mentor means basically anything but pure recognition... by someone. So, yeah, mentor program would need to be very revamped in FFXI.

If you check and remember why it failed it was mostly because of technical issues: bad fps, poor performance of menus (and a bad design, but thats arguable), and people complaining that you couldnt jump like WoW (I personally have read this last one more than once).

Some people like to point out that repeated zones, but anyone that played ARR knows that this one also suffers from it. In fact, I would say that todays FFXIV suffers from the same: in the end all dungeons are now just straight lines to make some wall-to-wall.

It is truly a shame that they just killed a good MMO to gain some quick buck. On the plus side, it is kind of biting their asses right now, while XI is still alive despite the best efforts of SE to kill it. (I will never forgive the anniversary update: "Well, we know updated the system so it is cheaper for us to keep running the game. Thats is, thank you for tuning")

Yes, you probably are right and game was full of game problems. But many new players found that system of battle too old. They wanted more action in FFXIV. So they give them that, a full action adventure game. (SE also adapted that FFXI battle system for FFXII, and many people repudiated it, but for the opposite reasons: not being classic enough.

The topic of the jump, I'm SURE it created a huge earthquake in FFXIV 1.0 in 2010.... because it has been a classic topic of discussion in FFXI. And a Very big one. In fact, if you introduce a simple real jump (not that "emote") for the users of FFXI... YOU WILL COMPLETELY BROKE THE GAME. Cause, for example, many maaaaaany maaaaaaaaaaaaany places in FFXI have "entrances" you can normally only use as an exit: You cannot use them "as an enter", they are simply "too high" (1 meter of height, for example, or even less, LOL).
The thing is so absurd, it almost shocks you when you are new.

Many years ago, people even used the magic "tractor" to help new players to use those places as improvised entrances, "cheating" the game. Nobody does that kind of stuff now, but, it is still possible to do:
The player "only needs" to die before, near that "unbeatable" height, and then, another player (black mage), from the other side of that "meter in high"? does a "tractor" on the corpse of the deceased character, to move it near to him/her, before reviving him, bridging the high. That was a "pro tactic" to advance fast in the game with the help of other players. Crazy stuff, because in FFXI you lost exp if you die, and you can even Level Down if you are not alert enough of your stats.

 

[Lena CE]

PSO2, PSO:NG, PSP2/PSU and PSO1 are all very different games. NG is easily the weakest of the series due to having so little content and PSO2 is great but also is a nightmare to get into because of how old it is and just how much content and things there are to see and do (tho reading guides helps explains what to do and when).

If you don't like it, then you don't like it. I think Final Fantasy X is the greatest game ever made but if someone doesn't like the turn based combat or they don't like the characters it'll never be worth it for them. Only you can decide what's worth it to you based on your personal preferences. For what its worth I do not recommend playing PSO1 offline if you have the option. Just play one of the private servers - preferably Ephinea - that are available on any device running Windows. Its free, it runs on a toaster and while getting your controller setup is a little annoying at first you'll have the most people to play with in the most polished version of the game imaginable. You /can/ just play it offline via console and that's still a fine way to just enjoy the main story, but you miss out on the social aspect of course.

Just drop NG, the combat is the only thing that game has and if that didn't click with you nothing about that game's lackluster structure will make it any better. PSO1 is a game I adore but it is a very basic combat system that you'll either be ok with or absolutely hate based on my experience showing the game to others. Portable 2/Universe are also great and feature a more updated and fast paced version of the kind of combat you get in PSO1 so those are also worth checking out if you're able. If you play PSP2 via PPSSPP (PSP emulator) then you can also play it with others. Universe has a private server but it isn't super active unfortunately.

tl:dr only you can decide if its worth it and if you wanna try PSO1 just play a private server. PSO1 and PSP2/PSU are the only ones I'd recommend trying out. If neither of them click, then the series just isn't for you. No game is for everyone, that's totally fine.