Score: 6.41/10
Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode Oracle
Synopsis
A TV anime adaptation of episode 1-3 out of 5 the total episodes from the Phantasy Star Online 2 game. Some anime-original content will be created as well. Episode 1: During their qualification exam in planet Naberius, the player and fellow ARKS trainee Afin were attacked by vile organisms known as Darkers. This is followed by the two discovering a mysterious girl who lost most of her memories, and the truth regarding Naberius and the recent spike of Darker activities. Episode 2: The plot follows the player and Matoi as they try to unravel a dark conspiracy regarding the origin and purpose of ARKS. Episode 3: The discovery of the planet Harukotan brought a new quest into the fray, as the peace between the Shironian and Kuronites that dwell in the planet is disturbed by the Kuronites' sudden attack. The newly-reformed ARKS is tasked to investigate the reason behind it all, and it seems like the truth is more complicated and horrifying than expected... (Source: phantasystar.fandom.com)
I’m not at all familiar with the game franchise that this series is connected to, so I looked at the first episode of this series strictly as a standalone project. Taken from that view, the first episode comes off as a mildly entertaining rehash of fantasy and sci-fi concepts which, in some cases, have been around for decades.
That this one has some kind of game connection would be obvious even if you didn’t know about the existence of the rest of the franchise. It bears all of the telltale signs: elaborately-designed characters, impractical battle costumes, lots of colorful personalities to interact with, and classic devices like the girl drifting down from the sky who seems to know the protagonist but faints before she can elaborate. The basic, underdeveloped scenario also smacks of sci-fi RPGs. Elements of numerous older sci-fi titles also creep in; I couldn’t help but think of Aliens when the Felspawn attacked the training team, so much so that I’m convinced that someone in the production team has to be a big fan of that movie. The scenario, meanwhile, shows inspiration for a number of previous sci-fi anime from the 2000s, and hey, it’s even got the protagonist with the mysterious past too!
Yes, the story is every bit as trite as it sounds, but I was actually able to get into it a little. Quickly killing off some characters who looked like they might be regulars was a neat little early shock, and I was a little surprised that Ash opened up as quickly as he did; sullen types like him usually hold out longer. The action scenes aren’t bad and the character, equipment, and monster designs have a certain degree of visual appeal to them. Most importantly, the events have just enough of a narrative sense to them that it doesn’t feel like just watching a game play out (unlike at least one other series I could name which debuted on the same day). Granted, that’s not a very high bar to reach for, but at least it’s something. Overall, the series doesn’t have enough going for it yet to dodge the designation of Generic Sci-Fi RPG Title A, but it can have entertainment value and is more watchable than some other titles that have come out this season. Free anime watch online and free anime download in this site.
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