It is quite a compelling game wit ha compelling story and great gameplay mechanics like the 3D dungeons and the addition of flying to three different planets with equally different atmospheres. My nitpick would be that even in the remake, not much had changed besides the graphical update. The dungeons while innovative, are quite plain looking and you would go on drawing maps just to make it through. If there would be yet another remake on the series I would like if it had a choice to make it into a top down view instead, but this is just wishful fulfillment from my part.
JoeTheDestroyer's Phantasy Star review
I had a very good friend who swore by the Phantasy Star series - the third and fourth entries to the series, specifically - but when I introduced him to Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest, was enthralled. Admittedly the strangely named skills, magic and abilities threw me for a loop.
Of course at the time he owned a Sega Genesis and I the Super Nintendo, so we weren't about to trade games. I do recall rather liking the artistic style of the series, though it didn't have the story to draw me in... just as you mention. I come from the opposite end of that spectrum: Story first, mechanics second.
A clear, concise read as always, Joe. Thank you.
Of course at the time he owned a Sega Genesis and I the Super Nintendo, so we weren't about to trade games. I do recall rather liking the artistic style of the series, though it didn't have the story to draw me in... just as you mention. I come from the opposite end of that spectrum: Story first, mechanics second.
A clear, concise read as always, Joe. Thank you.
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A very well-written review, Joe!
I liked your overview of how games get outdated. I can appreciate old graphics and sound, but when the game design itself is too "rustic" as you put it, for me that's when a retro game loses interest.
That's why I didn't get far with Phantasy Star 2 and 3, when I tried them years after they came out. (And those were made *after* the one you just reviewed, and for a superior system!)
I liked your overview of how games get outdated. I can appreciate old graphics and sound, but when the game design itself is too "rustic" as you put it, for me that's when a retro game loses interest.
That's why I didn't get far with Phantasy Star 2 and 3, when I tried them years after they came out. (And those were made *after* the one you just reviewed, and for a superior system!)
==LeVar Ravel
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Cpt:
I wounldn't mind a remake of this game, but maybe with improved balancing. They don't need to make it easier, necessarily, but make some of the tougher battles worth fighting. I do like the dungeon designs, so hopefully they keep those, if spirit if nothing else.
hasty:
I could go either way with story or mechanics. The earliest RPGs tend not to have much in regards to story, so I mainly hope that the non-narrative aspects of their campaigns click. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find a much older RPG that still completely holds up.
Levar:
I tried to play Phantasy Star 2 and rage quit. I'll probably pick it back up eventually, because so many people swear by it. I did play the fourth entry and enjoyed that one quite a bit, though.
I wounldn't mind a remake of this game, but maybe with improved balancing. They don't need to make it easier, necessarily, but make some of the tougher battles worth fighting. I do like the dungeon designs, so hopefully they keep those, if spirit if nothing else.
hasty:
I could go either way with story or mechanics. The earliest RPGs tend not to have much in regards to story, so I mainly hope that the non-narrative aspects of their campaigns click. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find a much older RPG that still completely holds up.
Levar:
I tried to play Phantasy Star 2 and rage quit. I'll probably pick it back up eventually, because so many people swear by it. I did play the fourth entry and enjoyed that one quite a bit, though.
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