Phantasy Star Online 2 es (ファンタシースターオンライン2 es) is a free to play mobile sister title to Phantasy Star Online 2, exclusively released in Japan.
The game can be played solo, or can be connected via a Sega ID to Phantasy Star Online 2 allowing the player to earn extra rewards and items from their time playing Phantasy Star Online 2 es. The player has the option to use the same character they use in Phantasy Star Online 2 or create a brand new one.
Plot[]
The scientific discovery of 'Photons' has revolutionised civilization. Taking space faring exploration to the next level is a space fleet organization known as Oracle, who are travelling across space in search of suitable planets to colonise. However, opposing Oracle are the Darkers(or Falspawn), black and red creatures that travel the universe looking for worlds to corrupt and devour. They have the ability to twist and manipulate space, seemingly able to teleport and cause death and destruction in their wake. To oppose these creatures, an organization known as ARKS (Artificial Relicit to Keep Species) was formed.
The storyline is split into different seasons:
- Classic Season - ARKS Quest Chapter: Seraphy wishes for you, the player, to help her investigate the missing Dr. Cohen, a brilliant scientist who developed the Chip system, but vanished four years ago. His last known whereabouts was the Tundra area.
- Season 1 - Weaponoid Chapter: In order to investigate a recent EMA facility explosion that killed 208,893 ARKS staff members, Seraphy helps set up a new team known as the Dark Busters consisting of the player, an ARKS newcomer Gene and the Claymore weaponoid More. They are tasked with finding out what happened by tracking down the only known survivor, a Deuman called Zaccard who may have important information regarding the death of Gene's parents.
- Season 2 - Trans-Enemy Chapter: During a mission to the Tundra region, the Dark Busters coming across Duna, a Trans-Enemy (Humanoid versions of monsters in PSO) child who they decide to take under their wing with Gene becoming a parental substitute for Duna. The Dark Busters end up on a mission in which they discover the truth behind the Trans-Enemy project.
- Season 3 - Erzimarut Chapter: After a chance encounter with Akhtar and Khorshid the Dark Busters end up discovering the secret history of Planet Lillipa and it's connections with an ancient race called the Erzimaruts.
Gameplay[]
The main story quests are similar to a visual novel or point and click adventure.
When starting a combat quest, players have the option to bring a fellow player in as an ally.
Combat works by tapping the screen in order to attack the target. Chips can be used alongside the player characters weapon in order to unleash powerful attacks to take foes down. Characters can be dodge side to side by swiping across the phone, or forward and backwards by swiping up and down.
To progress to new stages, players will be given the option between different routes on a mini map after combat ends. Picking a path will increase player stats in either attack(red), defence(green), chip point recovery(blue) or friend boost(yellow). Building up the friend boost allows players to summon an ally to help them.
After clearing a boss battle, players will level up and obtain items, such as chips that give new abilities, weapons to upgrade the players basic attacks, armor to allow the player more defence and Rappy Coins which can be used to exchange for gacha pulls, allowing players to obtain rare and limited time chips by selecting one of three Rappy.
Chips can be upgraded via sacrificing other chips, using them as items to boost the overall power of the main chip. Likewise, equipped character chips will naturally upgrade from being equipped during battle.
Playable races[]
- Human: A highly balanced stat race that can adapt to any class or speciality efficiently.
- Numan: A race that is highly efficient at photon processing, allowing them to use powerful techniques, although their bodies are frail.
- CAST: Durable androids that are unable to use techniques or process photons but can self heal and use traps and technology to hinder their enemies.
- Deuman: Mutated humans that have higher attack stats but less HP and defence than humans.
Playable Classes[]
- Hunter: Hunters are a close combat class that boast strong attack power and solid defences. They are equipped with swords, lances, gunslashes and partisans.
- Fighter: Extremely close combat classes that trade off survivability for additional firepower. They attack by unleashing photons from their fists but can also use twin daggers and double sabres. This class must be unlocked by levelling a Hunter and completing a special unlock quest.
- Force: The Phantasy Star equivalent of a mage class, Force classes have high Technique power and Technique defences but low physical attack power, defences and HP.
- Techter: Techters are a clerical subclass, that trades magical power for increased physical power and support techniques. This class must be unlocked by levelling a Force and completing a special unlock quest.
- Ranger: Ranged fighters who use traps and long range weaponry to deal damage. They are able to pinpoint weakpoints, although their power output is quite low.
- Gunner: Like the Fighter, they are a close combat range that trades range and defensive options for extreme burst damage output. This class must be unlocked by levelling a Ranger and completing a special unlock quest.
- Braver: Fast and powerful samurai like class. One of two classes that can duel wield different weaponry.
- Bouncer: A class that focuses on movement options. They weild jet boots and soaring blades and can use hybrid techniques between the two weapons.
Characters[]
- Seraphy: An Operator who acts as the tutorial guide, helping the player throughout the first season.
- Gene: The first partner of the player, Gene is a bubbly young woman who suffers from an extremely high photon consumption rate leaving her out of breath after every battle.
- More: A claymore Weaponoid, More lives inside a chip. He is outspoken and outgoing, but has problems with boundaries. He is equippable.
- Dr. Cohen: A researcher who mysteriously went missing years ago.
- Donovan: Dr. Cohen's servant and veteran hunter HUcaseal. She has been tasked with finding the missing Dr. Cohen.
- Annette: A Numan who works as an ARKS. She joins the player's team in Season 1, Chapter 3.
- Bruno: A laid back second generation member of ARKS, he joins the Dark Busters during the time skip. He eventually becomes the head of the Dark Busters.
- Zaccard: A deuman scientist and the sole surviving researcher at the EMA facility.
- Lord: A Dark Falz who seems obsessed with Gene. He commands a group of Trans-Enemies.
- Dante: A Trans-Enemy who serves Lord whilst openly cheerful and chatty is not to be underestimated.
- Levi: A Trans-Enemy who seems jealous of Gene due to her capitilising Lord's attention.
- Fer: A Trans-Enemy who serves Lord but values Levi and Dante as higher than Lord's orders.
- Duna: A Trans-Enemy who looks like a young girl. She is taken under the Darker Busters wings and forms a bond with Gene.
- Hade: A Trans-Enemy who hates ARKS and antagonist of Season 2.
- Anatis: A mysterious Trans-Enemy who sings alone in the darkness.
- Akhtar: An Erzimarut who is the guardian of a mysterious power known as The Score which could be the key to defeating Dark Falz once and for all.
- Khorshid: An Erizmarut who is willing to stop at nothing to destroy Dark Falz and save her home planet.
- Lien: A Lillipan who is able to communicate with ARKS members providing an Erizmarut is around.
Trivia[]
- The "es" in the title is short for "essence".
- Some Phantasy Star characters appear as chips, including characters from Phantasy Star Online 2, Phantasy Star Online, Phantasy Star Portable, Phantasy Star Nova and Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation.
- Several other SEGA characters are included as character chips: Alicia Melchiott, Selvaria Bles, Ulala, Goro Majima, 7th Dragon's Samurai, Sakamoto Ryoma (Like a Dragon: Ishin), Hatsune Miku (and other VOCALOIDS), Sakuya, Yuma Ilburn, Sonia Blanche, Altina Mel Sylphis, Rage Sheena, Rinna Mayfield, Kirika Towa Alma, Dreamcast, Saturn, Mega Drive.
- Whilst most classes from Phantasy Star Online 2 can be played in Phantasy Star Online 2 es, the Summoner, Hero, Phantom, Étoile and Luster classes are unable to be used in this game, although you can still send them EXP via linked EXP.
- Although Phantasy Star Online 2 es was a Japanese exclusive, Gene made her western debut in a crossover collaboration with Idola: Phantasy Star Saga, where she's named 'Jeanne'. This is technically a mistranslation as her name comes from Genesis.
Gallery[]
| Phantasy Star games | |
|---|---|
| Algol series (Main): Phantasy Star · Phantasy Star II (Shilka's · Amia's · Huey's · Eusis' · Nei's · Rudger's · Kinds' · Anne's) · Phantasy Star III · Phantasy Star Adventure · Phantasy Star Gaiden · Phantasy Star IV | |
| Ragol series (Online): Phantasy Star Online · Phantasy Star Online ver.2 · Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II · Phantasy Star Online: Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution · Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Plus · Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst | |
| Gurhal series (Universe): Phantasy Star Universe · (Ambition of the Illuminus) · Phantasy Star Portable | |
| Oracle series (Online 2): Phantasy Star Online 2 · Phantasy Star Online 2 es · Phantasy Star Nova · Idola: Phantasy Star Saga · Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis | |
| Remakes and compilations: Phantasy Star Collection · Phantasy Star Generation 1 · Phantasy Star Generation 2 · Phantasy Star Complete Collection | |