With Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, an online role-playing game that continues PSO 2 while also creating a connection between the two games, is set to release in 2021. Now, there has been an hour of gameplay shown.
What exactly is Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis? New Genesis is essentially a sequel to PSO 2, as it takes place 1,000 years later, but also acts as a kind of remake of the online role-playing game. You can switch back and forth between the “old” game and the new one.
- PSO 2: New Genesis features a new engine that also benefits the “old” game.
- This time, you will explore an open world instead of small areas.
- You will encounter other players in the world.
- The class system and abilities are being overhauled.
- Exploration is more in focus. For example, you can swim.
You can watch the video on PSCP. The gameplay from PSO 2: New Genesis starts at around timestamp 18:55.
Gameplay with Open World, Battles, Character Editor, and More
What was shown now? During a 20-hour livestream around the Phantasy Star game series, there was gameplay from Phantasy Star Online 2, Phantasy Star 0, and Phantasy Star Portable 2 to be seen. However, in the end, an hour of PSO 2: New Genesis was also shown.
The footage looks very good – despite the not-so-great image quality of the livestream. The players explore the large city, which acts as a hub and seamlessly enter the wilderness from there. After all, this time you play in an open world.
In the wilderness, the heroes encounter numerous monsters that look really interesting in design. The battles are very fast-paced and action-packed. The effects of the weapons are truly impressive.
Additionally, the fast travel system was shown, in which you need to unlock fast travel points in the world and can teleport back to them whenever you want.
Also interesting is the character editor, through which you create your own, individual hero and have access to more options than in the “old” PSO 2.
You can also see how the characters swim. Exploring the world is now an important aspect of the online game. Therefore, you will sometimes have to swim.
What impression does the game leave? Even though only a handful of testers were present during the livestream, Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis clearly makes a more MMORPG-like impression than the “old” game. The open world and the ability to meet other players is reminiscent more of classic online role-playing games than the hub system and instances of PSO 2.
When does PSO 2: New Genesis release? A closed beta is set to start in late January or early February in Japan. The release of the online role-playing game will occur worldwide sometime later in 2021 on PC and Xbox One as well as Xbox Series X/S.
Are you already diving into new MMORPGs? These 4 have already been released in 2020.
