Phantasy Star Portable 2 review

Phantasy Star Portable 2 is a portable version of Japanese action RPG based off of Phantasy Star Universe from the main series on consoles. The game follows up on the first PSP title Phantasy Star Portable and brings a very similar experience to the PlayStation Portable, along with some updates which will freshen things up. Find the full review after the break.

Phantasy Star Portable 2 takes place three years after the events of Phantasy Star Universe where the SEED has been sealed off. But a new threat emerges when the resources in Gurhal are quickly diminishing. The game opens up where your character is thrusted in as the newest recruit of Little Wing, a mercenary group that assigns you with a young girl companion in a bid to save the universe. The story sounds good enough but it's when you actually start playing the game you see its flaws. Repetitive missions and enemies destroy what hope you have to enjoy the games adventurous side. As you start playing you marred with missions telling you to pick up keys and go back to open the gate with the occasional enemy thrown in there to test your character out. I found enjoyment in the other mission types which were more compelling that test your skill by applying time limits and restricting equipment. The most enjoyment you'll find out of PSP2 is the battle system, the intense real-time battle system satisfies by providing sufficient combat depth to keep you wanting enemies blood. You're limited to only four classes which consists of two melee classes, a mage class, and a magical warrior class. Gameplay is also livened up thanks to the chain system that's in the game, it keeps gameplay flowing by restoring your ability bar each time you strike so you'll hardly run out of energy for special skills and attacks. Every now and then the game will throw up elemental enemy types which challenge you to change tactics and defeat them using different means and strategy. This is helped by the quick-select menu which provides a platform for you to change your weapon in an instant. Another one of the games great features is character customisation. It has an impressive palate of customization options to adhere to your character creating needs. You can design a character from scratch, being able to tweak everything from hairstyles to head accessories, or you can import a character from the previous instalment of the Phantasy Star series. The customisation in the game allows you to also change the look of your character between missions which is really great as throughout the game you unlock a shed load of stuff from the clothes to kit out your character to weapons in which you can defeat the plague your confronted with. The games graphics are hit and miss, while the games characters look great, and the cut scenes are wonderfully presented, it seems lets itself down with the lacklustre environments which crop up a lot and dire enemy design. Thankfully this doesn't effect the action though, which would be the main concern from our point of view. Online consists of your usual multiplayer modes such as capturing enemy flags, collecting money, or slaying opponents for points. These modes liven things up from the story campaign but wasn't compelling enough to make me come back for more. However if competitive multiplayer doesn't tickle you fancy you can do story missions in the co-op mode. Phantasy Star Portable 2 has many great features, such as the customisation and cut scenes as well as addictive gameplay, but is in turn let down by the lack of mission variety with the game recycling objectives.

Rating : 7/10

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