March 3, 2004 | 10:00 PM PST
by: Ray Almeda
Written by: Matt Saunderson
In 1988 A.D., a series was beginning. Today, that series is still living and breathing. It is one of the most popular series’ of all time, and its latest title has just released in North America.
That series is Phantasy Star. What started out as a single game for the SEGA Master System, turned into a series of a dozen games, spanning more than a decade. Phantasy Star has survived through major changes. Consoles have changed. First SEGA's Master System, then the Genesis, and then the Game Gear. The short-lived SEGA Saturn and Dreamcast would also see Phantasy Star games. The Dreamcast would be the pioneer for a new type of Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star Online. Following the Dreamcast, a greater change happened. SEGA left the hardware and moved the development of Phantasy Star to the PC -- and the GameCube. The GameCube, the console made by Nintendo, the company who was once SEGA's top rival in the gaming industry, would be home to a new Phantasy Star Online game.
Some of you who are reading were gamers back in the old days of Phantasy Star. Yet, there are those who are reading these words who have never played a Phantasy Star game. If you already know everything about Phantasy Star, you will not learn much from this special. For the rest of you, sit back, read on, and learn about the history of Phantasy Star, as we take you through each game in the series, in chronological order by release.
Phantasy Star
Japanese Release: 1987 (SEGA Mark III)
North American Release: 1988 (Sega Master System)
This is the game that started it all. Released in the late 1980s Phantasy Star was one of SEGA's first games in the RPG genre. With its animated attacks, cutscenes, and 3D dungeons (an amazing feat for the time), Phantasy Star was fresh, original, and fun. Taking place in the 342nd Space Century on the lush world of Palma, the technologically advanced population has been forced to face an overrunning by monsters in the countryside. Their problems are worsened by Lassic, a tyrannical leader. Some fight him, and one of those fighters, Nero, will die in his sister Alis' arms, where she will vow to avenge her brother's death and take down Lassic. Alis sets out on a journey, and she is joined by three: Odin, Myau, and Noah. The group eventually makes their move for Lassic and defeats him Lassic is defeated. The group is not done yet, for a voice tells them to go see the Governor on Motava. There they are faced with a hideous monster. Their only choice is to attack. They all fall, except Alis, who overcome by feelings of hope, freedom, and love, raises her sword and destroys the monster. Her friends return and the governor explains that the destruction of the monster reversed all of the world's black magic and brought the fallen hero's back to life. Alis learns from the governor that her father was once King of the Algo system, and that she may claim his throne as Queen. She is unsure what she should do, but she knows that her brother would be proud of what she has accomplished.
Phantasy Star II
Japanese Release: 1989 (SEGA Mega Drive)
North American Release: 1989 (Sega Genesis)
The sequel to the first Phantasy Star. Released a year later, Phantasy Star II took advantage of the 16-bit Genesis hardware to create highly detailed dungeons and smooth graphics. Set in the Algo system's fertile, tropical planet of Mota, Phantasy Star II is a millennium ahead of Phantasy Star, and the legend of Alis is well-known. Mota is in chaos once again. Unknown to the population, a super computer, known as Mother Brain, is the enemy. Mother Brain spreads chaos throughout Mota, and a government agent, Rolf, and his team must determine, and solve the problem that is placing fear into the hears of the inhabitants of Mota.
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Japanese Release: 1990 (SEGA Mega Drive)
North American Release: 1991 (Sega Genesis)
Phantasy Star II played and felt very similar to the original Phantasy Star. Gamers expected Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom to follow. It did not. Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom would pull away from the stories of Phantasy Star and Phantasy Star II. Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom takes place in the middle of civil war, two thousand years after the original Phantasy Star. The game would span three generations of heroes, a dramatic change from the single adventure of the previous two Phantasy Star games. The second and third generations would contain children of the prior generations. Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom would also feature dynamic storylines, with branches and multiple endings. This was new to Phantasy Star as the first two titles featured linear gameplay, with one path, and one ending. Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom starts off with the player set to marry the mysterious woman Maia. But, she is grabbed on the isle by a winged dragon. Seven worlds, filled with danger await. Battles and transformations take place, eventually leading to one of the four endings.
Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure
Japanese Release: 1991 (SEGA Game Library)
Exclusive to Japan, Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure was not one game, but a collection of text-based games featuring individual characters from the three generations in Phantasy Star II. The adventures of Shika, Amia, Huey, Eusis, Nei, Rudger, Kind, and Anne are portrayed individually in Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure. Do not be fooled by the title, though. Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure did feature graphical content, but not as much as other Phantasy Star titles. The focus of this game was on the words.
Phantasy Star Adventure
Japanese Release: 1992 (SEGA Game Gear)
Sadly, Phantasy Star Adventure was never officially translated to English, and never released outside of Japan. Adapted from Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure, Phantasy Star Adventure was never officially translated to English, and never released outside of Japan. Phantasy Star Adventure featured additional graphics not found in Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure. Also, Phantasy Star Adventure mixed elements of board games with its RPG play, allowing the use of a virtual die.
In 1988 A.D., a series was beginning. Today, that series is still living and breathing. It is one of the most popular series’ of all time, and its latest title has just released in North America.
That series is Phantasy Star. What started out as a single game for the SEGA Master System, turned into a series of a dozen games, spanning more than a decade. Phantasy Star has survived through major changes. Consoles have changed. First SEGA's Master System, then the Genesis, and then the Game Gear. The short-lived SEGA Saturn and Dreamcast would also see Phantasy Star games. The Dreamcast would be the pioneer for a new type of Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star Online. Following the Dreamcast, a greater change happened. SEGA left the hardware and moved the development of Phantasy Star to the PC -- and the GameCube. The GameCube, the console made by Nintendo, the company who was once SEGA's top rival in the gaming industry, would be home to a new Phantasy Star Online game.
Some of you who are reading were gamers back in the old days of Phantasy Star. Yet, there are those who are reading these words who have never played a Phantasy Star game. If you already know everything about Phantasy Star, you will not learn much from this special. For the rest of you, sit back, read on, and learn about the history of Phantasy Star, as we take you through each game in the series, in chronological order by release.
Phantasy Star
Japanese Release: 1987 (SEGA Mark III)
North American Release: 1988 (Sega Master System)
This is the game that started it all. Released in the late 1980s Phantasy Star was one of SEGA's first games in the RPG genre. With its animated attacks, cutscenes, and 3D dungeons (an amazing feat for the time), Phantasy Star was fresh, original, and fun. Taking place in the 342nd Space Century on the lush world of Palma, the technologically advanced population has been forced to face an overrunning by monsters in the countryside. Their problems are worsened by Lassic, a tyrannical leader. Some fight him, and one of those fighters, Nero, will die in his sister Alis' arms, where she will vow to avenge her brother's death and take down Lassic. Alis sets out on a journey, and she is joined by three: Odin, Myau, and Noah. The group eventually makes their move for Lassic and defeats him Lassic is defeated. The group is not done yet, for a voice tells them to go see the Governor on Motava. There they are faced with a hideous monster. Their only choice is to attack. They all fall, except Alis, who overcome by feelings of hope, freedom, and love, raises her sword and destroys the monster. Her friends return and the governor explains that the destruction of the monster reversed all of the world's black magic and brought the fallen hero's back to life. Alis learns from the governor that her father was once King of the Algo system, and that she may claim his throne as Queen. She is unsure what she should do, but she knows that her brother would be proud of what she has accomplished.
Phantasy Star II
Japanese Release: 1989 (SEGA Mega Drive)
North American Release: 1989 (Sega Genesis)
The sequel to the first Phantasy Star. Released a year later, Phantasy Star II took advantage of the 16-bit Genesis hardware to create highly detailed dungeons and smooth graphics. Set in the Algo system's fertile, tropical planet of Mota, Phantasy Star II is a millennium ahead of Phantasy Star, and the legend of Alis is well-known. Mota is in chaos once again. Unknown to the population, a super computer, known as Mother Brain, is the enemy. Mother Brain spreads chaos throughout Mota, and a government agent, Rolf, and his team must determine, and solve the problem that is placing fear into the hears of the inhabitants of Mota.
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Japanese Release: 1990 (SEGA Mega Drive)
North American Release: 1991 (Sega Genesis)
Phantasy Star II played and felt very similar to the original Phantasy Star. Gamers expected Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom to follow. It did not. Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom would pull away from the stories of Phantasy Star and Phantasy Star II. Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom takes place in the middle of civil war, two thousand years after the original Phantasy Star. The game would span three generations of heroes, a dramatic change from the single adventure of the previous two Phantasy Star games. The second and third generations would contain children of the prior generations. Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom would also feature dynamic storylines, with branches and multiple endings. This was new to Phantasy Star as the first two titles featured linear gameplay, with one path, and one ending. Phantasy Star III: Generation of Doom starts off with the player set to marry the mysterious woman Maia. But, she is grabbed on the isle by a winged dragon. Seven worlds, filled with danger await. Battles and transformations take place, eventually leading to one of the four endings.
Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure
Japanese Release: 1991 (SEGA Game Library)
Exclusive to Japan, Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure was not one game, but a collection of text-based games featuring individual characters from the three generations in Phantasy Star II. The adventures of Shika, Amia, Huey, Eusis, Nei, Rudger, Kind, and Anne are portrayed individually in Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure. Do not be fooled by the title, though. Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure did feature graphical content, but not as much as other Phantasy Star titles. The focus of this game was on the words.
Phantasy Star Adventure
Japanese Release: 1992 (SEGA Game Gear)
Sadly, Phantasy Star Adventure was never officially translated to English, and never released outside of Japan. Adapted from Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure, Phantasy Star Adventure was never officially translated to English, and never released outside of Japan. Phantasy Star Adventure featured additional graphics not found in Phantasy Star II: Text Adventure. Also, Phantasy Star Adventure mixed elements of board games with its RPG play, allowing the use of a virtual die.
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