If you would, why would you say PSO is better?
Sorry I'm a bit late on responding to this. I've been playing PSO since DC version 1 (which came out around 2000 IIRC). I've played most every version of PSO since (including both PC versions and that CARD game...I've never actually played PSO Ep 1&2 Plus, though I think all the extra missions on it were on PSOBB...I know Central Dome Fire Swirl aka Burning Rangers was). So I am very biased when it comes to that game, which is partly why I like it better.
When making a sequel, it's a good idea to take steps forward, not back. The PM's are basically like mags, except that it takes forever to get them combat ready (a LOT worse then mags, especially when money is a LOT harder to come by in online mode). Grinders are almost completely useless now. If you fail a grind, you LOOSE the weapon. It's completely gone. And now while every class get's special attacks, they linked the special attacks to an energy on the weapon itself called PP. When you run out of PP, you can't use the weapon anymore. While this isn't such an issue for hunters, for rangers it is. You will go through PP very quickly as a ranger and while it recharges slowly when you have the item equipped, it stops recharging if you equip something else. It either forces you to blow your hard earned money on expensive items to replace the PP, hope you can find a special cube that refills the PP in all of your items for a price, or bring a bunch of weapons with you on a mission and hope you don't run out. Very badly done.
I've not noticed the problem as bad with forces, but you're still going to need multiple weapons, because for one, you can only equip up to four spells on a weapon (and this is for a staff...the only rods I've found so far take only two spells...you can change it while on a mission, but it's easier to just have more then one weapon). Hunters also should really bring multiple weapons as well.
One good thing as that everyone can use traps now and Resta, at lvl 1, can heal people around you already (has a very very short range). The skills, bullets, and spells level up through usage (the more you use it, the higher level it will end up versus someone who doesn't use it much). Which also doesn't help with the PP issue to some extent (they could have done the PP stuff a lot better).
The story mode is so far okay. I'm not much into the story and I hope it gets better (am at the start of chapter 5). The main character is a mix between an egotistical idiot and a hero (depending on the situation). I was happy with the humor they added in, because that was really fun (there's a particularly funny item that goes into one of your slots on your armor that you find on Parum that is a reference to something that happens earlier in the game).
Now I did say that PSU was worth playing. Here's why: for one, in off-line mode, you can pick NPC's to be in your party. There is no multiplayer off-line mode, but the NPC's make up for that (you also can't use your off-line character in online mode, by the way). You can have up to three in your party IIRC. They're not half bad at taking care of themselves and very rarely will they get stuck on terrain (when they did, I'd run off and they'd just appear next to me later on). The only thing I've never seen any of them do is heal themselves in any way (either with Resta or a mate). Not sure why they don't, but I usually keep a rod with me that has Resta on it, so it's no problem.
Also, you can now finally have a FOcast. They can cast spells, though nowhere near as good as the other races. They also added in a new race called Beasts which are pretty sweet. They are pretty good at being a hunter and they get a special ability at 20 called a nanoblast, which is where they go into an animal form to do more damage. And casts get SUV's, which are these huge cannon-looking things that are for extra damage.
You can also, if this is your thing, buy different clothing for your character (I've seen glasses and a beret, just for an example). You can also make weapons and armor using your PM (you get a board, which is like schematics for the item, put it into your PM, then gather the right materials and try to make the item...you can fail, but you loose the materials and you can make your PM better at making certain items depending on what you feed it).
Also, for the most part, the controls for combat are better in PSU. There is a lock on, but you either have to hold a button down or hit a button to use it (depending what you have set in options menu). Melee is more fluid and you can change the direction of your attack instead of keep attack in the same direction. The bullets and skills (Ranger and Hunter) can imobilize or knock an enemy down or up, giving you an easier time attacking it (the hunter ones can also hit multiple monsters...have not seen a ranger one that does yet and forces still have the ra-type spells that hit multiples). It's a little bit hard to aim, I think, but not only does lock on help, but it lets you strafe, too (looks cool when you strafe, hehe).
So you should at least give PSU a try. I know I don't speak for everyone and I always just try to give people my opinion, but tell them to play it anyway, so they can make up their own minds, hehe. When I do play it, I have fun, but I just end up going back to PSO (though my three year old nephew sure liked it...I gave him the controller during a battle and he used my hunter's special ability and killed two monthers...then later I let him have the controller again and he ran my hunter around for ten minutes, just having a blast moving him around...my nephew still wants to see the dragon, though, hehe). So I will keep it and beat story mode, then keep the game back for my nephew to play whenever.
I have it. Got it for PC and PS2. My comp can't handle the PC version, so I have the PS2 one. My brother's making use of the PC one. Once I get a better PC, I'll upgrade to that.
Should be noted that offline mode is no where close to as fun as online mode, and I'm a complete PSO vet that started with the first Dreamcast version.
Unfortunately online is not an option for me at this time. Which is another good reason for me to tell people to play it anyway, but if you could, if you've been playing online, could you weight in with your opinion from an online point of view? Always good at have all the opinions ya' can
Oh and my PC does play it fine, just no DVD drive. A comp on the network has a DVD drive, so I could probably figure out how to install it that way, but for now, I'm happy with my PS2 version.