Ten years ago today I posted my first review ever as I kicked off the blog that would become this site. It was of “Last Battle” one of my least favourite games ever (which you can still look at by clicking here!) So I thought to celebrate ten years I’d do the opposite and review one of my favourite games ever, which given I’ve reviewed a lot of those already it was initially hard until me and my friend started replaying Phantasy Star Online Episodes I & II for the GameCube and I remembered why I’d sunk well over 100 hours into it back in the day. Sadly I can’t capture original hardware so I can’t show you my Level 60+ Hunter character but oh well, this new run via an emulator has been plenty fun as well. So let’s take a look at what will probably be the only online multiplayer RPG to appear on this site (as I played it exclusively offline single player/split-screen multiplayer…)
Background:
Kicking the review off with the only single player screenshot!
Phantasy Star Online debuted on the Dreamcast on December 21st 2000 in Japan, followed by January 30th 2001 in the US and February 15th 2001 in Europe, with a “Ver.2” re-release following on June 7th 2001 in Japan, September 25th 2001 in the US and March 1st 2002 in Europe. I never actually played the original, ChuChu Rocket was the only Dreamcast game I ever played online, and that was only once (as I had to get my TV and console into a room near a telephone port and ask permission to use the phoneline for an hour…) This original game was also ported to Windows PC in 2001 for Japan only…
Thankfully for me an entirely offline version was ported to the GameCube with added split-screen co-op, a set of sequel levels and an upgrade to the graphics. “Phantasy Star Online: Episodes I & II” was released in Japan September 12th 2002, then in the US October 30th that same year and in Europe March 7th 2003. Finally, this version was then ported across to the original XBOX on January 16th 2003 in Japan, April 15th 2003 in the US and May 23rd 2003 in Europe. Despite its massive popularity the game has yet to see any kind of HD re-release, which is odd and really quite frustrating!
Gameplay:
In case you’re wondering “Cheddie” came about when my GTA Online character, who was made to look like Eddie from the TV series Bottom, was made into an Asian man when I transferred it from XBOX 360 to PS4, thus “Chinese Eddie” which then became “Cheddie”, and I used that again here for a laugh. “Glombert” was made up on the spot randomly…
The gameplay loop is pretty similar to other Online RPGs, you go to a level, either do a mission or just get to the boss, see what loot you have, either re-do the same level because you’re not strong enough to do the next or move onto the next in hope of getting even better gear. Simple, but always effective! There are three main types of character you can create that basically comes down to melee weapon focused, gun focused and magic focused, with four varieties of each that is basically human male, human female, android male, android female, with the androids not able to use magic but can use traps instead. This is with the exception of the magic class which instead has two varieties of male and females to choose from with varying stats like low health but high magic, etc. Having put many, many hours into this game I can say that the magic classes are completely overpowered, I originally played a male Hunter (melee type) while my friend was a male magic class and it soon got to the point where I was fighting one-on-one with an enemy while he was clearing a whole group out with a singe spell, therefore he starting levelling up quicker than me. This time round I’m a female Ranger (gun type) and he… chose a different kind of male magic type and the exact same thing is happening again, only I’m not dying as often because I can keep my distance from the enemies this time. So yeah, if you want an easier time with the game, go magic-class. The only downside is having to constantly buy magic-refilling items.
The actual combat is simple but at least it’s not automated like a lot of MMORPGs. You have a light string and a heavy string (of either attack, shoot or bash with magic staff) that has a little bit of timing to it to get right, then you have magic spells revolving around fire, ice and lighting each with three levels (plus a holy and dark spell) along with healing spells, defence and attack up, that kind of thing. Each enemy in the game is weak to one of the three elements as well, further benefitting magic users (android characters are really screwed here as explosive traps and confusion traps just don’t cut it!) That’s it really, you can use “telepipes” or a spell that does the same to return to PIONEER II, the main hub, to sell your useless pick ups and/or buy new gear and get a full heal before heading back down for another round, although if you can’t do a boss yet the only way to reset the level to do another run is to back all the way out to the main menu and then go back in again, which is a bit annoying. You level up with Exp as I’ve mentioned already, with the obvious benefit in stat raising, and you can also find or buy new armour, shields and extra bits that attach to armour if you’re lucky enough to get armour with Slots on.
The only screenshot I took of Episode II, when we briefly gave it a go on Hard…
The other and more unique part to the game are MAGs. Each player has a MAG, a little floating robot buddy that as you feed it different potions or items it levels up and gains stats that help you. Attack, Defence, magic attack, magic defence, and… something else. The higher your mag is with those stats the more it benefits your version of those stats, and the MAG evolves depending on how you “raise it”. Feed it health items and it ups attack and defence and takes a form that looks more attack-orientated, give it magic refilling items and it focuses on magic and takes on another shape. They also have special super attacks you can use once you’ve taken enough damage, including a screen-wipe, with up to three unlocking if you level it up high enough. You can collect blank MAGs in crates as well, if you want to reset. It’s a fun little side-bit, and it can even help you out during boss fights by automatically upping your attack and defence or even reviving you from death if your “syncro” level with it is high.
There are main missions and side quests but sadly they’re absent from split-screen multiplayer, so I’ve only ever seen them once way back in 2003, so I can’t say I remember many of them! Episode II is billed as a full sequel and while you do get a different Hub world and new environments the first two levels use repeat enemies from Episode I and generally the story is even less interesting than the bare-bones Episode I. Plus it has this weird set up where if you play through Episode I and then start II then II is too easy, if you complete Ep. I on Normal and then start II on Hard then it’s way too Hard. This set up has meant me and my friends have basically hardly ever played II, where as we’ve done runs through I on Normal, Hard and very nearly all the way to the end of Very Hard on many occasions (the fact you need long-range attacks for the final boss really screwed my Hunter run, and you get all new versions of the map enemies on Ultimate difficulty as well! I was really looking forward to seeing them… oh well, maybe this time?)
Graphics and Sound:
It’s safe to say “Glombert” is in a spot of trouble here…
The graphics were fine for the time. Again, it was an online RPG in the early 2000s, it was never going to blow you away. I still really enjoy the sci-fi aesthetic, especially the designs of the androids and some of the swords and guns, especially the lightsabres (come on, that’s all they are, be honest!)
Sound is top-tier in my eyes, no voice work but the sound effects are satisfying and oh-man the OST! So many catchy tunes or atmospheric background pieces. I mean, it could just be nostalgia, but I’m pretty sure it’s great. Each of the four boss fights have different themes and each are really good, the tune when facing the Caves boss (“De Rol Le”) has been stuck in my head for the past 20 years…
Story:
Two shots of Dark Falz for the price of one!
Humans have found a new paradise planet called Ragol so a large colony ship called PIONEER headed to the planet, but contact was lost. PIONEER II headed to the planet only to see a massive explosion rock the surface, so to make sure things are safe they send some experienced hunters, rangers and mages down to the surface to find out what happened, with the Head of PIONEER II’s daughter Red Ring Rico being the central focus as you find her reports scattered about the place.
Basically they dug into the planet with mining equipment and there they found an ancient evil that began to influence the wildlife and turn them hostile. A scientist then Altered the Beasts of the Caves and set all the Mining robots to kill on site to boot before dying himself (or herself, I can’t remember). Eventually Rico made her way into the ancient ruins and was possessed by the evil entity known as Dark Falz. Your party fights through the surface, caves, mines and ruins to eventually kill Dark Falz, seeing Rico’s Red Ring (that’s a bracelet you dirty boy!) falling to the ground… um, over and over again as you level up and look for loot. Okay, maybe that last bit didn’t happen “in canon”.
Episode II has you enter a VR simulation of a temple and a spaceship where you fight VR recreations of Ragol enemies before tackling another ancient evil deep underwater. Believe it or not, the boss of Episode II also requires long-range attacks to damage one of its forms… Playing as Hunter wasn’t the best choice 18-year-old me could’ve made, even if all the different swords were cool as hell.
Thoughts Then:
I’m about to be double Delsaber’d while my friend fiddles about with adding magic to his menu… half a good screenshot, at least!
I hadn’t really paid attention to Phantasy Star Online when it was on the Dreamcast, I guess the whole Online thing put me off, but when two of my closest friends started talking about it and the three of us each picked up a copy I was hooked, we all were. The fact you could temporarily transfer your character to one memory card to have split-screen fun and then we could go back to our respective homes and continue grinding solo meant it was all we could do for MONTHS. It’s one of the reasons I’ve always been so reluctant to try other MMORPGs, I know how easily I can get addicted, and I do like some variety in my gaming if I can… Still, as of 2003 (and into 2004 on and off) there was nothing quite like a PSO session!
Thoughts Now:
November 2025 update: We finally made it to Ultimate difficulty!
I’ll admit, the simple combat and uneven character classes are a bit naff in 2025, but you know what? 40-year-old me is still having a blast playing it every Sunday with one of the same friends as I played with all those years ago (the other lives far away now… if only this had a modern port with actual online…) The locations and soundtrack are soothing, the simplicity is freeing and the loot loop is addictive. I don’t know if we’ll get to Ultimate difficulty this time but either way I’m going to enjoy every second of this second go-round!
Hogan Reviews 