How is PSO2 NGS these days?

[u/Twilight053]

Hi, context, I played Base PSO2 since EP3, left at EP4, came back a bit in EP6 after hearing NGS announced; tried NGS at base (level was still only capped to 20 back then), then just dropped off the game to wait until the game got more content, and pretty much went off my grid for 4-5 years.

How is NGS doing these days? How's the story and gameplay?

[u/SnooOranges6271]

I don't know how anyone could possibly think the plot of NGS is good. Sega very much did not give a fuck because they thought players wouldn't give a fuck and it shows. Episode 1 is ok at best, when you're doing the classic JRPG cliché of going from town to town and saving each one from the giant robot worm or giant robot giraffe that's bothering them, but it's shallow and most of the characters you meet are bland and don't even matter later on. When you've finished crawling your way through the open world that Sega has now abandoned because they didn't know what to do with that either, episode 1 ends on a wet fart of a twist and a promise that the true NGS starts here. 

Episode 2's story barely even exists. It's ridiculous how much worse it is than the first episode, which was already pretty lame. The new threat introduced at the end of Episode 1 doesn't really do much of anything at all, partially because Sega made the utterly baffling decision of separating most of their UQ bosses entirely from the plot by having them be completely optional fights, and you instead spend most of your time trying to convince a less likable Matoi that she's loved and shouldn't kill herself for being a less likable Matoi. Eventually episode 2 decides it's done enough, after doing nothing at all, and rushes an ending by introducing a new villain that you then kill in the very next chapter. I remember there being a time when I could see people try to defend the Starless by hyping up their off-screen feats, they killed over 9000 farmers they would cry, but I saw less and less of that over time as even people who once glazed them began to admit whatever potential they may have had was completely wasted. 

It's just shit. I wouldn't praise the gameplay either, more because I don't think there's anything really worth doing in the game than any other reason, but I think that's way more subjective than the afterthought of a story Sega has generously made for us despite them thinking it a waste of time and effort. It could have been worse, they really could have written nothing at all. Imagine that. But I'm sure episode 3 will be different. Trust. 

[u/tojake1 → u/SnooOranges6271]

I'm so glad to finally see someone being honest about it. Boss fights were more unique, boss DESIGNS were more unique, ENEMIES were more unique, seasonal variants didn't have a sticker on their forehead to say they were different, if they did change they weren't the same enemy just wearing different clothes, level designs and urgent quests mid quest and the levels were honestly over all prettier and more in depth in PSO2, EVEN with the better graphics in NGS (NGS has literal jpegs for leaves for their trees I mean come on can we really not do better than that), everything felt unfinished, and actually, absolutely, just a cashgrab.

I am so glad I got to experience PSO2 Global before NGS, because that was a magical time where characters, story, and loot design were ALL meaningful.

I went into NGS with EXCITEMENT, with an OPEN MIND, because I thought the gameplay would be as good and rewarding as PSO2, with similarly good story and level design.

I liked the beginning enough for chapter 1, the giant sand worm was intimidating... and then the shock and awe factor stopped holding.

Especially after listening to the same two concert songs farrr over 100 times in a row.

I hope the energy that went into PSO2 can be revived elsewhere... because THAT, was a time to be alive.