Rawr.

[Junon]

I'm not sure what everyone has against the voice acting... it is perfectly FINE... you've obviously been babied by other games that have EXCEPTIONAL voicec acting. It's AVERAGE voice acting, nothing spectacular, but it fits and gets the job done. There's plenty of other games out there made lately that have sub-par voice acting and you WILL be able to see that PSU is fine just from playing them. Also... Story Mode's interesting in its own right and is at least fun... besides... they crack some pretty good jokes from time to time. XD Those who haven't played offline at all really are missing out in the long run... especially when the story related quests come out online... you'll likely be left out of the loop.

I may not be able to comment on PSU as the entirety, but I can comment on the grand majority of it, and choose to do so. I merely took offense to your wording and even as I glance over it again a couple of times now, I still don't much like it.

I'll be able to judge online fully shortly after Christmas time as I plan to get a heaping dose of the online game while I'm still on Christmas break. XD

As for the random walking people within cities... that's just a visual effect that's actually able to be disabled somewhere in the advanced graphics options. I have no idea which option it is... or if anything else will be disabled with them... I just know it's another interesting eye-candy feature. (It's painfully easy to tell who's real and who's not real anyways.)

But, to my knowledge, Sonic Team don't do "Average"... All the Sonic games, NiGHTS, Burning Rangers, Chu Chu Rocket, Billy Hatcher, Samba De Amigo and of course Phantasy Star Online... All of them quality games. PSU just seems to be lacking that finesse which makes you know you are playing a game made by Sonic Team...

-Why should I have to turn the graphics down just so the game is playable?
The game should come ready, working correctly. 10 Frames Per Seccond in areas is pathetic. They did do Beta Testing, so why wasnt this addressed? And why should I wait for a patch to be relased, just to make the game playable? - Not acceptable.

-Why should I buy a control pad, because the keyboard controls are tricky, and there is no mouse support?
The game should readily support the use of a mouse, or at least the option to use it. Not be forced to spend more cash on a control pad to play the game effectively. Same thing goes for the slow response time when typing in game.

-Why should I play a game with a severe lack of content, which I must wait to be released?
The game should already start with content, then updates to follow. They should not have released it half arsed, with only 2 different mission types to choose from, and all characters looking like they have been interbreeding.

-Why should I put up with, as you phrase it, "Segas Laziness"?
I'd expect Sega, but mostly Sonic Team to want to put forward a quality product that they are recognised for.

-Why the crap voice acting?
Subtitles would've been 100 times better, whilst saving them a few quid.

-Why must I exit the game to change any options?
Again this should have been considered and addressed, I would've thought this would have been brought up through the Beta testing.

-Why the poor, un userfriendly menus, microscopic in size?
Again Beta testing should have addressed this issue. Players new to the Phantasy Star series must've had a nightmare!

I can go on for ages. PSU just isnt a quality product we've come to expect from Sega and Sonic Team. It just can't compare to other Online RPG's on the market - Namely World of Warcraft.

Quoting IGNS 5.5/10 review;

Not enough was done to the Phantasy Star Online formula for this newest title in the series to feel fresh. Simply adding new weapons and techniques, changing the environments and adding a few extras such as the bedroom isn't enough when the online RPG has become a fully blown phenomenon. Online RPGs have groomed us to expect to get a vibrant, ever changing world that is full of things to explore and quests to complete. Instead Phantasy Star Universe offers a few hub cities, cookie cutter environments and pointless missions. Even with the addictive qualities, the lack of variety in gameplay makes this one grow old quickly. All of the problems are exasperated on the PC when you look at the flood of other great online RPG’s available on the platform. Simply put, the PC is an online RPG player’s dream. The lesser cousins on the consoles fall short when they get brought over without any improvements.

I still have quite alot of my subscription remaining, and before it runs out I will try to sample the up and coming patch. However, deep down I know I won't be renewing my subscription for it.

I know everyone is going to hate me for slating the latest addition to the Phantasy Star series that we all love. However, I also think a fair amount of people will share my views.

I'm sorry I so wanted to love this game and I was ready to play it for as long as I did PSO, but... this one (In its current state) just doesn't cut it... Sorry guys.

Here is the link for IGN's review of PSU - http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/746/746037p1.html