With only a few outdated speed-bumps along the way, Phantasy Star IV is a surprisingly innovative game with simple presentation and execution. RPG fans looking for an escape from complicated customization, overly-involved battle systems, and nonsensical yet clichéd plotlines should take a break with Phantasy Star IV. The game finds a happy balance between the soulless grind of text and numbers and the confusing blur of melodramatic plot-twists.
Pros:
* Slick, well-paced battle system
* Nice manga panel cutscenes
* Macro and combo systems make battles quicker yet more strategic
* Party members come and go when they should
Cons:
* Significant increase in difficulty halfway through
* Poor menus and item descriptions
* Lots of HP maintenance required in dungeons
* Later dungeons can be frustrating
In the 16-bit era, game devs and composers could finally change the type of tones used in the music, simulating a wider array of instruments and creating a whole lot of great soundtracks in the process.
It wasn’t easy picking out the best of the best because there were so many great ones. Even middle-of-the-road soundtracks seemed to deserve a bump if the game was just that damn good, and so many from that era are that damn good!
Here's the Ghetto Gamer list of top 20 soundtracks from the 16-bit era.
The Sega Genesis is a tad underappreciated. This site has already posted about how this console was great for the RPG genre despite the SNES getting more glory. However, that was not the only genre that flourished on the Genesis/Mega Drive.
Shining Force is on my long list of game series should be revived. Same with console Phantasy Star
Shining Force 1, 2 and 3 were awesome, the third one can only be played with emulation along with the translation project because of Episode 2 and 3 that were only released in JP. But I agree, I don't know why SEGA don't revive this franchise, tactics games are very well accepted these days.
I didn't know that about the third one. After the success of the last Fire Emblem, I can't imagine why we don't get more tactics RPGs out there. I'd even take a tactics ogre at this point
YES
i love shining force. i need a bundle with all the games in it.
but the mobile game is coming soon anyways :)
I'm sorry but I feel the list has been made by a person checking his own backlog catalog.
Mortal Kombat 2? missing half of the sounds and animation from the arcade.
And can we say Super dark soul difficulty when we say Earthworm Jim 2
Here's my pick for still holding up and fun
- Shinobi Shadow Dancer, not too tough nor too easy with a good arcade challenge 1 hour long to complete.
- Gunstar Heroes
- Nhl 94
- Thunder Force 3
Great lost with lots of memories. A reboot of the Shadowrun game and Shining Force would keep me entertained and busy for a long time.
-Soleil
-Sonic 2, 3 and knuckles, pinball
-that one x-men game i always forget its name
-that one fighting game that has different characters (a fishmen, an assassin lady, a private detective from the 70s etc)
-shining force 2
-dynamite heady (probably the best looking genesis game, imo)
-wonderboy in monster world
those are the ones that come to mind ha.
Sega CD version is so much better though.. I had both versions back in the 90's
Phantasy Star 4 was a quiet turning point for its genre, making it a uniquely compelling experience even to this day.
I would really like a remake or reboot of the original Phantasy Star RPG on Master System and Genesis. The story was a fantasic Sci-Fi RPG, I remember thinking how cool it was when I was a kid, it was the first mix of Sci-Fi and fantasy I had seen.
This was a really good read, I also wish a re-imagining of Phantasy Star as a JRPG again and not the online offshoot (wish can continue on it's own right), this and Skies of Arcadia are wasted opportunities from Sega to have "new" franchises
If I could I'd make a PS type title styled along the lines of Diablo Lost Ark or MU as an explorable world(s) with vehicle sections. Add the dialog mechanics of Mass Effect.
Not exactly the same but Xenoblade X kinda felt like an offline PSO and Xenoblade 2 kinda feels like SOA. Not so much in gameplay but atmosphere and tone.
Loved Phantasy Star 2, despite its grindy nature and unforgiving mechanics. It was my first JRPG and I was completely immersed in its sci-fi, star spanning worlds.
I mostly enjoyed PS 3, but something was missing...possibly the repeated change of characters prevented me being fully engaged, that and the strange futuristic and yet still medieval feel that didn't grab me.
When I got around to PS 4, I wasn't expecting much but I loved it. Less grinding, good writing, likable characters, creative environments and worlds, some new ease of use features, along with an engaging story with emotional moments.
So yeah, I agree with this piece, it was a great game.
Best in the series and would love a new real entry. As it is Xenoblade series in many ways feels like it's the successor.
Great game.One of my all time favorites.