Phantasy Star
From Sega Retro
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Phantasy Star | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Sega R&D 2 M2[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peripherals supported: FM Sound Unit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: RPG[2][3][4][5], Adventure Role-Playing[6] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Official in-game languages: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Phantasy Star (ファンタシースター) is a Sega Master System role-playing game developed by Sega R&D 2 and published by Sega. First released in Japan in December 1987, the game is the first in the long-running Phantasy Star series, and was released to critical and commercial success. It is regarded as a landmark RPG as well as one of the greatest Master System games. It is notable for its "science fantasy" setting, a fusion between medieval fantasy and science fiction, and for being an early example of a game with a female protagonist.
Contents
Story
The game is set in the Algol star system, which consists of three planets: the lush and green Palma, the arid and barren Motavia, and the icy and desolate Dezoris. Algol is ruled by King Lassic, who, while originally benevolent, becomes a cruel tyrant. After a string of harsh political changes, small pockets of rebellion emerge but are mostly ineffective against Lassic's iron rule. One such rebel named Nero is killed by Lassic's forces, and his sister Alis swears revenge.
Gameplay
Phantasy Star is a role-playing game. It changes between a top-down perspective when the player is exploring the overworld and a first-person view when exploring dungeons or engaged in battle. The dungeons are long and twisted and require the player to map most of them on paper. When exploring the overworld, the player can venture into a town to buy items and weapons. Outside the towns, monsters may randomly engage the player in battle. The player controls the main character Alis, and as the game progresses, other characters are recruited to her party: a wizard named Noah, a warrior Odin, and a talking cat-like creature named Myau. Each character has different strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. The party has a shared inventory of items and equipment.
When encountering enemies, all party members enter into battle. Battles are handled using a menu system that allows the player to fight or attempt to talk and negotiate with an enemy. When an enemy is defeated, party members gain experience points and are rewarded with a treasure chest that may contain money and sometimes a booby trap. As the characters gain experience points, they increase in level, gaining access to new magic spells and raising their offensive and defensive statistics.
Characters
Alis (アリサ) | |
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Myau (ミャウ) | |
Odin (タイロン) | |
Noah (ルツ) | |
History
Sequels and re-releases
In 1994, Sega released a version for the Sega Mega Drive, Phantasy Star Fukkokuban (ファンタシースター 復刻版). This version is merely the Master System version on a Mega Drive cartridge PCB with the appropriate connector pin to signal Master System mode changed accordingly (which is how passthrough devices like the Power Base Converter work.)[17] The situation behind this release is unknown, but it is generally believed that it was a contest giveaway.[18]
The game has been re-released many times. It was included in Sega Ages Phantasy Star Collection for the Sega Saturn in 1998. This version of the game includes both hiragana and katakana alphabets, an improvement from the original, which had only katakana due to memory constraints. It was released as part of Phantasy Star Collection for the Game Boy Advance in 2003. This version modifies the game slightly to fit the Game Boy Advance's screen aspect ratio and fixes some errors in the English translation. It was released as part of Phantasy Star Complete Collection for the PlayStation 2 in 2008, with some minor enhancements such as the ability to speed up the walking speed. It is available as an unlockable in Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection, released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2009. It was made available on the Wii's Virtual Console service in 2009. More recently, it was ported to the Nintendo Switch by M2 as Sega Ages Phantasy Star in 2018. This version of the game includes enhancements such as options to make the game easier and faster, guides for items, spells, and monsters, the FM soundtrack, hiragana support, and a dungeon auto-mapping feature.
The game was remade as Phantasy Star Generation: 1 for the PlayStation 2. This version has new graphics, real-time 3D dungeons, new music, more cutscenes with extended dialogue, and overhauled gameplay mechanics, including an updated battle system.
Versions
Localised names
Language | Localised Name | English Translation |
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English | Phantasy Star | Phantasy Star |
English (US) | Phantasy Star | Phantasy Star |
Japanese | ファンタシースター | Phantasy Star |
Portuguese (Brazil) | Phantasy Star | Phantasy Star |
Korean | 환타지스타 | Phantasy Star |
Production credits
Master System version
- Total Planning: Ossale Kohta
- Story by: April Fool
- Scenario Writer: Ossale Kohta
- Assistant Coordinators: Finos Pata, Otegami Chie, Gamer Miki
- Total Design: Phoehix Rie
- Monster Design: Chaotic Kaz
- Design: Rockhy Nao, Sadamorian, Myau Choko, G Chie, Yonesan
- Sound: Bo
- Soft Check: Works Nishi
- Assistant Programmers: Com Blue, M Waka, Asi
- Main Program: Muuuu Yuji
- Presented by: Sega
Note: Finos Pata is not credited in the original Japanese release.
Hints
Magazine articles
- Main article: Phantasy Star/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #1: "May 1989" (1989-0x-xx)[20]
- Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #2: "July/August 1989" (1989-04-22)[21]
- Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #3: "September/October 1989" (1989-0x-xx)[22]
Artwork
Physical scans
Master System version
Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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86 | |
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Based on 14 reviews |
Master System, DE |
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Mega Drive version
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||
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70 | |
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Based on 3 reviews |
Virtual Console version
Technical information
ROM dump status
System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
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? |
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512kB | Cartridge (BR) | 8kB backup | ||||||||||
? |
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512kB | Cartridge (EU/US) | 8kB backup | ||||||||||
? |
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512kB | Cartridge (EU/US) | 8kB backup | ||||||||||
? |
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512kB | Cartridge (JP) | 8kB backup | ||||||||||
? |
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512kB | Cartridge (KR) | 8kB backup |
External links
- Phantasy Star section at Phantasy Star Cave
- Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Master System
- Nintendo catalogue pages: US, AU
References
- ↑ https://www.mtwo.co.jp/development/retrogame-2/#tab-2
- ↑ File:Phantasy Star MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segamark3/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-11-14 21:32)
- ↑ File:PhantasyStar SMS KR cover.jpg
- ↑ File:PhantasyStar SMS EU cover.jpg
- ↑ Computer Entertainer, "December 1988" (US; 1988-12-17), page 13
- ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "August 1989" (US; 1989-0x-xx), page 30
- ↑ ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 166
- ↑ Supergame, "Setembro 1991" (BR; 1991-09-xx), page 29
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/liCGd--387PDpgcfX7CfYK4-c94D4wf6 (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 22:48)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/mastersystem/phantasy_star (Wayback Machine: 2017-06-25 02:43)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.fr/Jeux/Console-virtuelle-Wii-/Phantasy-Star--278491.html (archive.today)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/10.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-05 23:33)
- ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_ms_ps1 (Wayback Machine: 2009-04-29 04:03)
- ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=42&prod_id=19899&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 03:28)
- ↑ https://nicole.express/2021/composite-conflict-completed.html
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 65
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmocWQ46JCQ
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1989" (US; 1989-0x-xx), page 47
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July/August 1989" (US; 1989-04-22), page 68
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September/October 1989" (US; 1989-0x-xx), page 55
- ↑ Supergame, "Novembro 1991" (BR; 1999-11-xx), page 14
- ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 63
- ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 103
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 143
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1989" (UK; 1989-02-xx), page 93
- ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Abril 1990" (ES; 1990-0x-xx), page 54
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 135
- ↑ Power Play, "12/88" (DE; 1988-11-07), page 68
- ↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "June 1990" (UK; 1990-05-03), page 11
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 58
- ↑ Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 46
- ↑ Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 21
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
- ↑ Tilt, "Mars 1989" (FR; 1989-0x-xx), page 110
- ↑ Zzap!, "Luglio 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 68
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 233
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1994" (JP; 1994-03-08), page 20
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
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Music: Phantasy Star (Q3 2) |
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