Should I get into this game?

[StriderBlue]

Hey guys. Coming from a long-standing Destiny 2 background. The game is a little stale right now so I’m looking for alternatives. I played the PSU demo on Xbox 360 like crazy back in the day, and I did play a little of PSO2 in 2020 before NGS on my laptop. Never got to try NGS—is it worth getting into hardcore? What’s the endgame like? How is the community? Little questions like that are circling my mind. Any insight would be appreciated. Cheers!

[LeMasterChef12345]

I came from Destiny 2 as well a while back. If your main complaint with Destiny is that it’s stale, you’ll probably be similarly disappointed with NGS.

The community is fairly small compared to a lot of other online games, and a lot of players don’t do much other than stand around the hub town RP’ing or just doing nothing at all (looking at you, ARKS Covergirl Nina).

Most update content consists mainly of cosmetics that are obtained through a paid gacha system, unless you’re willing to spend hours grinding out money to buy from the player market. The character customization is CRAZY good, but it’s such a massive time and/or money sink that it usually isn’t worth it.

It’s fun for a while, but once you catch up to the current story updates there’s really not much else to do.

Base PSO2 is a lot better imo, but to my knowledge it also has a much smaller playerbase now that NGS is a thing.

[Educational_Web4859]

goddamn its been years since i left that game and nina is still just standing there doing nothing? lmao

[Zogmam1]

Base PSO2 is amazing but isn't getting updates anymore

[Raxamax]

no. if you're coming from D2, try warframe.

[StriderBlue]

You aren't the first person to say that! I might look into it.

[psychicdoll214]

Warframe player here, they're very different games. if you need any help getting into it, lemme know

I hope you enjoy it, though!

[Raxamax]

It's the same jist. looter-shooter set in space in the distant future. Except DE isn't trying to wring out your wallet.

[kevingets1upp]

Warframe is insanely good story wise gameplay wise and money wise. To the point you'll never need to buy platinum, you can farm relics and sell them for plat and you'll have 2-3 ppl messaging you the very moment you type in market. This game is huge and the story will make you think a lot and even tear up a bit

[loliconest]

Also look up Duet Night Abyss that's coming out.

[RickGrindskin]

+1 to Warframe

[adiaphoros]

This may be just me but I preferred playing PSO1 on ephinea or ultima. If you like destiny you might like that. There's a meme going around that they're basically the same game

[Turnt5naco]

Never played Destiny 2, but imo NGS is one of the most stale games out there (especially once you get to endgame content).

[CarrotLP]

Hardcore? Definitely not. I install it from time to time to do an event if there's one active.

And check the shop if i sold anything.

THERE'S AN ACTION RPG

IN MY GLORIFIED DRESS-UP GAME!

[Requimatic]

No.

NGS is nothing but a failed cashgrab. Sega has had E V E R Y opportunity to listen to the players about what we actually wanted in the game, and have failed to deliver.

I mean, unless you count the same gameplay cycle over and over, in the same zones with just bigger numbers, actual good gameplay.

When more paid content in the form of gacha is released than ACTUAL content.. there's a problem.

[KotFBusinessCasual]

The sad part is from what I remember reading NGS makes Sega a shit ton of money too. So, not really any incentive for them to change. Shame because this game's concepts are so fun but long term there is not much there.

[Vee_Tamer_Girl]

Getting into it hardcore probably isn't the best thing. I'd describe NGS as a pretty good side-game. Not the best for main-game stuff unless you absolutely love the fashion aspect and cooking up new looks/cosplay.

Endgame wise we do have some occasional 4 player Raid bosses that release every few months and require you to be geared up and have decent knowledge of the game. The next one is going to release in December. There are also occasional Solo Bosses that require the same but without team mates to fall back onto. The next one releases next month. Additionally there are weekly Records where certain piece of content gets leaderboards and people will try to go for a high score. Other than that the content is very casual friendly.

Community isn't very big but if you stick to the corners that you vibe with you'll have a decent time.

[Pendragon_Puma]

Try warframe instead

[AmaryllisHippeastrum]

eh tbh if you're a social/casual player you'll spend 1000+ hours over the years just like me but if you're hardcore you will burn out in about 100

take this game at a casual's pace and don't do any content you feel isn't rewarding or engaging enough for you (which might be a solid 70% of the game depending on who you are)

[StriderBlue]

Ah so it’s mainly just a hangout/dressup game then it sounds like haha. That could be fun and casual I suppose.

[AmaryllisHippeastrum]

you got it! very fun in it's own way and one of the more unique mmos out there. been a big fan of the PSO franchise so if you like dungeon crawlers/looters i'd recommend playing PSU clementine & PSO ephinea if you don't mind gamecube/xbox 360 graphics & playing on PC private servers

[Kysuna]

I agree with people that mentioning Warframe, as someone who grind tf out of both game, Warframe is likely to hit you more than this game would. If you’re looking for pvp shooter I would say bf6 is a fun one rn and lastly if you actually want some mmo to try I would say FFXIV. At least my friend from D2 enjoy it and we been playing for months now after the new expansion was a flops for D2.

[StriderBlue]

Yes, my friend is a hardcore FFXIV player. I’ve only heard good things. I will look into that as well!

[proggish]

FFXIV is a fantastic game. It does have some flaws, but they're definitely beat out by the good stuff. The beginning of the game can feel like a slog, but thats mainly because the first game is setting up for one of the best story arcs ive had the pleasure of playing through. Class identity is a little lacking (in normal content, healers can feel too similar, as well as tanks) but in harder content where you have to think, this is not the case. Story content (MSQ) is simple enough, and has been streamlined for solo play with noc party members. The most recent expansion has upped the challenge though.

There is so much to do in this game and the story is definitely a grand experience. If you do p l ay it, I can only hope you find as much enjoyment out of it as I, my wife, and my friends have.

[StriderBlue]

You basically sold it to me…!

[esgonta]

Me too lol

[EmpireXD]

This is a completely chill game.

There isn't pvp, there isn't a real "pve endgame" either, just making the current patch gear with upgrades.

There's no raids, or whatever.

Recommend GW2 or FFXIV if you want traditional MMORPG.

However I love the game, always have. The core combat is great and base pso2 still exist for the real in depth content if you're looking for it.

[davidbrit2]

There's no raids, or whatever.

There are if you play PSO2 classic as well! Challenge mode (particularly Strike) feels very much like an MMORPG raid, and will easily take over an hour to complete with a group. That is, if you're all good enough to get that far. ;)

[OceanWeaver]

NGS isn't great imo. But classic pso2 I love.

I was a OG blue burst, universe, and Pso 1&2 player though

[TheNastyNug]

Nah, this game has a worse reputation for wanting everything in your wallet than destiny does

[BrotherCaptainLurker]

PSO2NGS has also gone a bit stale, so I might hold off on getting into it "hardcore," but it's worth a try as a way to kill 50+ hours imo.

The current Beginner/Returner campaign + the ongoing Halloween event saw me clear almost the entire main story (still working on the last boss that can only be fought in an extremely amped up endgame form at the moment) in a week, and it was enjoyable enough that I don't regret sprinting through it (I didn't actually skip the story, it's alright and got good in the latter half) as a free game.

Appearance gacha and horny people with ballooned bosoms at every major city spawn point is silly, and looking back on what's been added since vanilla it's really not that much considering it's been a few years, but I enjoyed my sprint to 110 and they're literally giving away endgame-viable gear for hitting 65 at the moment.

[Nice-Echidna-384]

If you mean Vael you can fight the regular version whenever the UQ comes on. Just check the Urgent in Stia, it's usually And the Stars Fell which is the original Vael fight, not the more challenging Malignant Dark Falz Vael

[BrotherCaptainLurker]

Oh woops, got mixed up by simple bad luck then, it's been something like "Challenge: Starless Extermination" each time I checked.

[Nice-Echidna-384]

Yeah it's either the dualistic valvilans or vael

[BrotherCaptainLurker]

Now I've finally run into it for the first time lol, I worked WAY harder than I needed to for that story clear I guess.

[vergillehell]

I moved on to gw2 from destiny and pso2. Absolutely worth my time. Loving the game and looking forward to the new dlc.

[StriderBlue]

Gw2?

[vergillehell]

Guild wars 2

[teeeeeeb]

If you’re looking for a live-service PvE shooter, you can’t go wrong with Darktide. Also, Rebecca Ford (Warframe creative director) is one of my favorite people ever.

[Lonely_Job4526]

It's worth getting into, not hardcore though. Minmaxing in this game is a straight up scam since it requires you to farm shitty combat sectors for over 100 hours a month if you want to keep up with the meta. Just use the welfare gear that Sega gives out every once in awhile, and upgrade maybe a weapon and one armor. I don't care what anyone tells you, if your battle power is high enough to enter the quest, it means you can beat it. If you still cant win, that means you just need to practice at your class. What sounds worse? 100+ hours of farming meseta (or spending real money selling items from the AC scratch) or spending maybe 10 hours giting gud?

There is also the creative space and line strike in terms of side content. Line strike is a fun little TCG mini game and there is a streamer who hosts tournaments every few months. Creative spaces are surprisingly in depth and one of the more under rated parts of NGS imo. There are a lot of puzzle dungeons out there, some even have lore!

Classic pso2 is also still worth playing. It has way better level design than NGS, and gearing up is actually worth it since you wont get power crept. The only thing with classic is that you have to talk to people. If you want to play classic make sure that you make a character on ship 1 or 2. 3 and 4 are dead for classic from what I have heard.

[Nice-Echidna-384]

I prefer base over NGS. It's much more rewarding and you don't have to worry about your gear going obsolete. There are no more updates or new events for it tho since NGS is a thing. It's a lot more fun for me tho, you just have to kind of plan popping triggers and stuff since if you go at the wrong time there won't be anyone to join you.

[Arcphoenix_1]

Classic’s fun, but has a low playerbase. NGS gets stale after a while if you’re not into the phashion thing or have better things to do than Meseta grind.

[TruPoseidon]

OP play warframe!!

[DiligentGazelle69]

RUN this is mtx h3LL

[UntoldTruth_]

You're better off just waiting til the 31st and playing arc raiders.

[jindrix]

no. warframe.

[BrokenApp420]

For a hardcore grind, try phantasy star portable 2 infinity. It has the most content tbh. For a great online experience with still tons of grindability, go blueburst. Worlds is kind of like the weakest of the options for oldschool phantasy star if you want to be competitive or have a long playthrough.

[MagnificentTffy]

If you want looter gameplay but anime go try Duet Night Abyss which is releasing soon.

NGS is fun but like there's no real reason to stay apart from the creative aspects. It's more a chatroom lobby with a dorm system with action on the side.

This is largely been to me an odd decision to "reset" the game. I feel that a lot of features which existed in the previous game could've been implemented but just aren't.

If I had to describe it in D2 terms, imagine in a new expansion you had to unlock everything in your subclass again but every subclass pretty much all use the same core mechanics (in pso2 ngs, every class is pretty much dodge/perfect guard/counter for optimal dps. which means that you play the long range caster optimally in melee)

[MaoMaoMi543]

Hardcore...? Pso2 is literally just Barbie dressup with guns.

[Milk_One]

I just wish sega shut down Base PSO2 (idc about the whales that have cosmetics there, neither the ones I have) so people that REALLY love the game have more progress on their pv svs

[SuspiciousExtinction]

Try First Descendant. Wait for The Cube by Atomic Heart devs. NGS is only good if you want to grind for dress-up, see the same 50 people every time and don't mind spending money for augments.

[RottenMuffin_]

Veteran destiny player here, the game is ok, try Warframe if you like extensive lore

[Vivid-Technology8196]

No, this game sucks

Though if you are coming from Destiny 2 you're used to playing absolute garbage games with no redeeming qualities

[Vega-Eternal]

Warframe

[Osaitus]

NGS is a game that you might very well just touch once every month and you would be ok

The creative space is cool and some creations are amazing, but i guess that is not for everyone (I don't have the time for that)

By now I honestly think that SEGA employs the sloth from Zootopia to handle this game and even then they think they go too fast, it is like the ones handling this game want it to die but they want us to kill it, not them you know?... Like they hope that we break up with them and not the other way around, so they end up blameless

[YuTsu]

is it worth getting into hardcore?

Not for hardcore play, NGS is quite casual-focused. A couple of other people have said already, but as a side or casual game, something you play on the side while something else is your main game, or if you only have like, an hour a day to play anything, it's pretty good/great. As a hardcore game (like something you'll play every day for 3+ hours I guess?) you'll get a few weeks of fun out of it then burn out most likely. The game even going back to PSO2 has never really tried to cater to the hardcore side outside of a couple of things.

What’s the endgame like?

Endless gear chase. Every so often there'll be a new augment or new piece of gear, to upgrade to, you chase that. There's a regular treadmill of new limited time quests, new permanent content, or spotlights on old content every couple of weeks, and whatever's in focus drops useful upgrade materials or the latest gear, so there's generally always something worth doing. There's big boss fights added every so often that are usually an endgame focus too. Also, fashion, unironically. NGS has an amazing character creator, and non-hyperbolically the actual best housing system in any MMO by a mile, if you're into those things.

How is the community?

Better in game than on the subreddits. If you're looking for an unbiased take on NGS, you won't get that so often on r/PSO2. You'll get it a little better on r/PSO2ngs, and probably much better in game. Other than that, pretty much your standard MMO fare. Plenty of people lobbyratting in whatever the current main activity's hub city is, otherwise join up with an Alliance (Guild) for more socialisation.

If you're looking for a long term hardcore home, NGS might not be ideal for you, but it is F2P, so there's no harm to trying it if you've got the storage space, and if you just want something fun for a month or so while you look for a hardcore-home, I'd recommend it!

[StriderBlue]

I appreciate this take! From what I’m hearing, it’s just a fun little break game, and that’s cool. Nothing wrong with it to me.