I have some issues with the execution (mainly dealing with subpalletes as a controller-user, and the camera being sexy garbage), but it is generally fun and many people tend to favor it. The combat is an development of PSU's in how Photon Arts can be Phantasy Star Online 2 Meseta used while it maintains the Just-Attacks out of PSO so that it does still feel attached. Weapon specials are normally pretty irrelevant now though, but a few weapons have potentials that attempt to provide a flavour that is similar. Basically, if you enjoyed deliberate and slow the battle in PSO felt, you're gonna have a bad moment. Otherwise, you'll probably find it much more fun.

While PSO would give you an example of an incident and let you run through the whole thing in a linear manner, PSO2 is based on individual assignments. You start a mission, finish it, then return back to the camp-ship/lobby and kick off another one. Free-exploration is the closest to what you would get in a heart PSO run, but there you're stuck in one zone with amounts that are randomly-generated, feature respawning enemies, and absence the set-pieces that created the zones in PSO feel as distinct areas. So the final result is things have a tendency to feel a whole lot more generic and samey in my eyes. but YMMV.

The assignments you will likely spend most of your time tend to be a"Run in circles and slaughter everything" type of affair or large-scale boss-fights. It's actually the combat being so fluid that makes them range from tolerable to pleasurable. There is more I could talk, but I believe this gives you a general idea. If you take Phantasy Star Online 2 on its own merits, then it's fun. I only feel it is no substitute for your PSO. And if you would like the gold-standard in waifu simulators that were dress-up, you've got your game.

I would have killed for a PSO1/blue burst remake (or, hell, even PSU), but at least the people who enjoy Phantasy Star Online 2 will be able to play it without localization difficulties or having to face the katakana captcha boss. Among my favorite things is the way that every single weapon type is different. My character of selection was I feel that the robot hunter who had a high precision so they could viably use firearms alongside melee. Having something like 6 usable weapons felt amazing. Meanwhile PSO2 you simply jumped with a single weapon and nothing ever felt to be an upgrade. Phantasy Star Online 2 is kinda fun, but it might be a standalone IP.

I have so many fond memories of enjoying PSO Episode I II with my brother. We raked in one of our neighbors down the road and played with just about every day after school. They soon picked up their own copy, and after weeks of looking for pso2 buying meseta rare weapons, they arrived home one day and discovered that their younger sibling inadvertently spilled their memory card. They moved shortly after that and we've lost touch since. Wherever they are, I expect they're just as excited for PSO2 as we are.