EDIT (November 2024):

Hello.
I had returned to this game to find that they have returned old PSO2 cosmetics.
Things like the blue and red swords floating lobby action, or some old outfits people would use to cosplay.

Things to note, they've added cel shading, so your character can look like they're from Genshin Impact. (I was hesitant, but I love it, you can choose how strong the shading is, and in your settings can make it so only if other players made their character have cel shading, that it will show, otherwise it will be off, and then there's a whole section for your own shading to be on or off per outfit/look [iirc you can change it by look, otherwise it might be like hair color where you gotta go back to the salon to edit it]).

They've added the class; "Slayer", it's basically Nero from DMC 5, you got a blade that shoots with a gun at the base. Bouncer is relatively fun, if you combine this with a Force sub you can do a lot of damage and still keep your char's PP (ayo...).

I've noticed you can skip gameplay and buy your way to level 80. I'm both for and against this.
Mostly because new players shouldnt be allowed to be as powerful as the rest of us who've played for years. There needs to be a gap with the playerbase in commitment x power. Not everything needs to be whaled to be end game. I don't like that mentality.

So as a result, PSO2 NGS is certainly p2w to a regard, but at the same time, grinding is also an option. People can just scratch for things and get bonus items like N-Enhance (+100%) items and for augments too, then they can also pay using AC scratch sold items on player shop to buy expensive C\Augments.

Luckily money is not too hard to get, especially if you partake in seasonal events, you can also buy out a bunch of alpha reactors which accumulate to a lot of money if you stack up on them.

Alliances are cool and they've added creative spaces so you can minecraft your own little villa for yourself and your friends or your alliance (guild / faction / clan).

Overall it's a great game just lacking in content for those caught up and I mean that as both the fashion catalogue and the story / modes or creative ways to play in said modes. Like... they could add a motorcycle you could ride on the terrain with, and make it -good- (eyes).

They could let you fly instead of glide. (eyes)

Hopefully they'll do stuff like this but otherwise just enjoy the fact it's a free game where story can ALSO bump you from 1- approx Lv. 80-85 by committing to this alone. Then the seasonal event gives you a free 9* weapon lol so you're bing chilling. Do hte limited time quest as well when you get to 80+. It does great on EXP and drops. Otherwise do combat sectors (neusen plant) at the highest rank you can and grind it out with boosts from your alliance (join 1 if you ain't in one).

That's all I can say. The NA players are good, but a lot of them need to stop crying about the "game's state" just because of financial guesses of how much they'll make or something. Ride the waves and enjoy the game gifted to the western audience, with better graphics and more to do than its original (we're getting there). Au revoir!




---
Original review, Jan 2023:

ngl i see where these old school players come from. i started pso2 in i think either 2013 or 2014? anyways the game was fun af, back then we used something called PSO2 Tweaker by AIDA n SynthSy or w/e his name is, for the English patches which they translated themselves, god bless em. anyways, then Microsoft announced PSO2 EN for Xbox One and PC, then it eventually came to steam, and we referred to it as "PSO2 Global". it was a fun time and the base game was really fun.

they eventually announced NGS and it wasn't that long between Steam ver. that NGS was announced to come, for a fanbase that is used to just AC scratches (scratch = catalog of clothes, dances, hairstyles etc that you use a ticket paid for in AC [Arks Cash] to get one of those items, it's basically gambling lol), it was quite awesome.

But then NGS came and it was about learning the world, it was fun, it was fresh, but then they started pushing us away from PSO2 base game, (the original PSO2), limiting blocks (world instances as you can only have a certain amount in a world instance at a time, irregardless of if they're in the lobby area or a map to fight enemies), and only really showing love to NGS. Obviously NGS is graphically superior that means certain outfits don't work in one but work in the other etc, so fans really feel like they took what was a good concept and kinda ruined it, forcing us to adhere to their new wishes and left their old world behind but "not really".


TLDR they turned PSO2 base game into a skeleton and took everything from it that made it feel alive and just left the remains for direhard fans who refuse to switch to NGS.

But it's STILL a good game. So if you like open world anime combat with others and cool outfits then go play it. I mean the game is free, so you can have a look yourself at others' characters and see if you like this kind of game. TRY IT FOR YOU! Not the old fans who hate on the future.

EDIT (November 2024): Hello. I had returned to this game to find that they have returned old PSO2 cosmetics. Things like the blue and red swords floating lobby action, or some old outfits people would use to cosplay. Things to note, they've added cel shading, so your character can look like they're from Genshin Impact. (I was hesitant, but I love it, you can choose how strong the shading is, and in your settings can make it so only if other players made their character have cel shading, that it will show, otherwise it will be off, and then there's a whole section for your own shading to be on or off per outfit/look [iirc you can change it by look, otherwise it might be like hair color where you gotta go back to the salon to edit it]). They've added the class; "Slayer", it's basically Nero from DMC 5, you got a blade that shoots with a gun at the base. Bouncer is relatively fun, if you combine this with a Force sub you can do a lot of damage and still keep your char's PP (ayo...). I've noticed you can skip gameplay and buy your way to level 80. I'm both for and against this. Mostly because new players shouldnt be allowed to be as powerful as the rest of us who've played for years. There needs to be a gap with the playerbase in commitment x power. Not everything needs to be whaled to be end game. I don't like that mentality. So as a result, PSO2 NGS is certainly p2w to a regard, but at the same time, grinding is also an option. People can just scratch for things and get bonus items like N-Enhance (+100%) items and for augments too, then they can also pay using AC scratch sold items on player shop to buy expensive C\Augments. Luckily money is not too hard to get, especially if you partake in seasonal events, you can also buy out a bunch of alpha reactors which accumulate to a lot of money if you stack up on them. Alliances are cool and they've added creative spaces so you can minecraft your own little villa for yourself and your friends or your alliance (guild / faction / clan). Overall it's a great game just lacking in content for those caught up and I mean that as both the fashion catalogue and the story / modes or creative ways to play in said modes. Like... they could add a motorcycle you could ride on the terrain with, and make it -good- (eyes). They could let you fly instead of glide. (eyes) Hopefully they'll do stuff like this but otherwise just enjoy the fact it's a free game where story can ALSO bump you from 1- approx Lv. 80-85 by committing to this alone. Then the seasonal event gives you a free 9* weapon lol so you're bing chilling. Do hte limited time quest as well when you get to 80+. It does great on EXP and drops. Otherwise do combat sectors (neusen plant) at the highest rank you can and grind it out with boosts from your alliance (join 1 if you ain't in one). That's all I can say. The NA players are good, but a lot of them need to stop crying about the "game's state" just because of financial guesses of how much they'll make or something. Ride the waves and enjoy the game gifted to the western audience, with better graphics and more to do than its original (we're getting there). Au revoir! --- Original review, Jan 2023: ngl i see where these old school players come from. i started pso2 in i think either 2013 or 2014? anyways the game was fun af, back then we used something called PSO2 Tweaker by AIDA n SynthSy or w/e his name is, for the English patches which they translated themselves, god bless em. anyways, then Microsoft announced PSO2 EN for Xbox One and PC, then it eventually came to steam, and we referred to it as "PSO2 Global". it was a fun time and the base game was really fun. they eventually announced NGS and it wasn't that long between Steam ver. that NGS was announced to come, for a fanbase that is used to just AC scratches (scratch = catalog of clothes, dances, hairstyles etc that you use a ticket paid for in AC [Arks Cash] to get one of those items, it's basically gambling lol), it was quite awesome. But then NGS came and it was about learning the world, it was fun, it was fresh, but then they started pushing us away from PSO2 base game, (the original PSO2), limiting blocks (world instances as you can only have a certain amount in a world instance at a time, irregardless of if they're in the lobby area or a map to fight enemies), and only really showing love to NGS. Obviously NGS is graphically superior that means certain outfits don't work in one but work in the other etc, so fans really feel like they took what was a good concept and kinda ruined it, forcing us to adhere to their new wishes and left their old world behind but "not really". TLDR they turned PSO2 base game into a skeleton and took everything from it that made it feel alive and just left the remains for direhard fans who refuse to switch to NGS. But it's STILL a good game. So if you like open world anime combat with others and cool outfits then go play it. I mean the game is free, so you can have a look yourself at others' characters and see if you like this kind of game. TRY IT FOR YOU! Not the old fans who hate on the future.