History VideoGame / PhantasyStarOnline2NewGenesis

** One of the possible puzzle rooms in Leciel Exploration is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonogram nonogram puzzle]] played with floor switches. Naturally, if you've never seen a nonogram (such as the kind in Nintendo's ''{{VideoGame/Picross}}'' franchise), figuring out what exactly the game wants you to do can be aggravatingly confusing without being told the solution.

''Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis'' (officially shortened to ''"[=PSO2:NGS=]"'' or simply ''"NGS"'') is a "title" in {{Creator/SEGA}}'s ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' series and a sequel to ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2''. Despite having the appearance of a new game, ''New Genesis'' released in the form of a large-scale update to the original ''[=PSO2=]'' and co-exists alongside the original game. The update released on June 9th, 2021 in Japan on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and PC (with Cloud versions for UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch and PC), while it released elsewhere at the same time on the UsefulNotes/XboxOne, UsefulNotes/XboxSeriesXAndS, and PC. The Global version received its [=PlayStation 4=] port on August 31, 2022. Japanese beta tests were held between January and February 2021 and during April 2021, and an English version beta was held in May. A character creator/benchmark program for the game was released globally on May 25th, 2021.

** Atlas Ex weapons have the ability to protect their user from a lethal hit once every 10 minutes.

* SoftReboot: Contextually there is very little directly linking the plot of ''New Genesis'' to ''[=PSO2=]'' besides the fact that ARKS is still present in the future. For all intents and purposes you could strip out any references to ARKS in the game and it may as well be a brand-new ''Phantasy Star'' game that has no ties to ''[=PSO2=]'' whatsoever.

* SignificantWardrobeShift: Chapter 6 has Manon changing from her sleek black bodysuit to a more expressive and colorful custom design ARKS uniform, along with a hairstyle update to a ponytail. The plot justification is that Crawford wanted to give her a fresh look so as to [[spoiler:dissociate her from the Resurgent ARKS, whose uniform she was wearing]].
* SlidingScaleOfPlotVersusCharacters: Contrasting ''[=PSO2=]'', which was mainly plot-focused and spent a lot of time on world-building while the majority of cast members save for the most critical were essentially stock anime characters, this game reverses the scale. The story's first act is mainly spent on Aina's CharacterDevelopment, focusing on overcoming her trauma related to the DOLLS and her desire to become strong, while also introducing the main villain (Dark Falz) and some tertiary plot elements.

** In Trinitas Quest, you can knock or otherwise lure enemies into pits. Doing so causes them to die instantly.

** Ruine Ragne is a Starless enhanced counterpart of the Falspawn boss Dark Ragne. Ruino Ragne retains most of Dark Ragne's abilities, but unlike the original its weak point is hidden by default and can only be exposed by breaking its legs.

** Ruino Ragne is a Starless enhanced counterpart of the Falspawn boss Dark Ragne. Ruino Ragne retains most of Dark Ragne's abilities, but unlike the original its weak point is hidden by default and can only be exposed by breaking its legs.

* PurpleIsPowerful: Due to ColorCodedElements, Gigantix enemies are covered in a purple lightning aura, and they are far stronger than any other enemy.

** Boss Starless glow red by default when aggravated and turn [[PurpleIsPowerful purple]] when sufficiently low on health.

** FORMERS by definition are ''[=PSO2=]'' enemies with a PaletteSwap and new moves. Cragbears are Rockbears with some Vangabear moves, and Ard Banser/Banshee and Thunder Banser/Banshee incorporate Falke Leone and Valima Leopod moves into their sets, just to name a few.

** The Retem Region has desert-themed variations of existing NGS enemies. Even some of the FORMERS were recycled.
** [[spoiler:Some of the Starless enemies are significantly enhanced versions of DOLLS. Justified in this case since the DOLLS were patterned after the Starless in terms of design and combat ability.]]

* WarpWhistle: Players can freely teleport to any Ryuker Device or Trainia they have found.

* WeaponizedTeleportation: Kvaris has Proctoss DOLLS, in Proctoss Ael and Proctoss Retena flavors. They are essentially people-sized boxes with arms and legs that generate wormholes from their "faces". Proctoss DOLLS attack by spitting attacks out of their wormholes, each of which is used by a DOLL in other regions. For example, Proctoss Ael can teleport the arm of a Pedas Sword to attack, while Proctoss Retena can fire explosive orbs that Sandoron uses.

* TurnsRed: Quite literally, especially for the boss DOLLS. Not only do their limbs shift from blue to bright red when hurt enough, they become more aggressive, break out new moves, and morph into more menacing forms. The Nogleth bulks up its body, the Nex Vera sprouts two more heads, the Pettas Vera grows crystal armor, to name some examples.

* VillainExitStageLeft: [[spoiler:Upon Dark Falz's defeat, Crawford fires the Central Cannon at it, prompting it to summon DeflectorShields to block the attack. After it survives the onslaught, it teleports away to fight again another day.]]

Most notably, since ''New Genesis'' is not actually a "new" release but rather an update, the game features backwards compatibility with ''Phantasy Star Online 2''. Players are able to move characters between the original game and ''New Genesis'', and along with it access to all unlocked storage boxes, all unlocked character cosmetics such as costumes, Layered outfits and Accessories, and most equipment (scaled accordingly), with the ability to inherit your Mag's appearance planned for a future update. Players can also bring forward any ARKS Cash and Star Gems in their possession as well as an active Premium Set and its benefits.

[[AC: ''Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis'' spin-offs:]]

* Popona, a VirtualYouTuber promoting ''NGS'' (migrated over from ''VideoGame/IDOLAPhantasyStarSaga''), although she has branched out to other SEGA games. Official channel can be found [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ0OAOD2dyHsvr71gMxKsFg here]].