Characters:6
Animation: 6
Music:8
Overall:7
One might think because I played Phantasy Star, PSII, & PSIII, Phantasy Star Online on the Dreamcast and Gamecube, PSO episode 1&2 on the Gamecube and Xbox, PSO portable 1 & 2 on the PSP, and PSO Zero on the NDS that I might have a bias for this anime. How could I? Because I never played PSO 2! Just not core enough to make that happen. In reality I only allowed my love of this series to add a point to my final score. PSO2 the Animation is at best a 6, but 7 to me as an enormous fan of the video game series. Just for reference I also play a ton of Monster Hunter, Freedom Wars, Ragnarok Odyssey, Soul Sacrifice, God Eater, Toukiden, and all the Dark/Demon Souls games - so clearly I’m a well rounded gamer… It is worth mentioning that every hunting game/action RPG has it’s roots in PSO, and the influence this game has had on the world of video games is no small matter.
What I like. If someone had never played a video game, let alone an action massively multiplayer online game, the first few episodes of this anime are like an instruction manual teaching the viewer what these games are, including a smattering of etiquette within the online multiplayer realm. I loved this, and thought PSO2tA mixed these qualities in admirably into the introduction of characters and story. To any gamer of merit, this may of come off as obvious and redundant, but I’m sure i’m not alone in my appreciation, and suspect more than a handful of people gained something while watching the lighthearted presentation. I considered the animation quality to be slightly above average, except in isolated “in-game” sequences that I found astonishing. There is an appealing hand drawn/CG video game quality. The visual mix of black backgrounds with neon outlines from the video game is captured perfectly. Sadly these sequences are infrequent, and not always consistent in quality. The sound and music are (in my mind) the best qualities in the show, with strong opening and closing credits. The background soundtrack music does a good job setting the tone, and VG sound effects are used just enough to keep the PSO connection. This anime may have attempted to present online gaming as mainstream and desirable, but this community is still niche. While not a fan of advertisement, I still liked the homage payed to interactive online experiences. Anyone who has spent 1000’s of hours online may question the value of time spent, but there are true moments of fleeting greatness that can be shared in this unique environment.
What was adequate. Character and Story. An academy setting, female dominated cast with a dorky/naive/overachieving/ultimately cool male student protagonist… wow, I loved this character mix in Martian Successor Nadesco, however this anime is 20 years old - and *it* used this mix in an intentionally stereotypical manner to make fun of itself and the entire anime medium.
What I didn’t like. It took too long for the story to kick into gear, and the important events to unfold. Even when it does, there is a lot of filler for a short run anime. This does not have the spare density of say, a FLCL. Like so many video games of this type, all PSO incarnations rely heavily on style, atmosphere, and music for overall addictive success. The soundtracks from PSO and PSO episode 1&2 are hauntingly epic, with an electro clarity that made these game experiences unforgettable. While the music in this series is very good, it isn’t good enough to live up to the standard from many of the games. The same might be said of the visuals, which gamers hold in such high regard.
Ultimately I rate this anime as a 7 because of my bias, being after all Phantasy Star trash, and I enjoyed watching every episode.
