1UP’s 20 years of Phantasy Star
Posted by Ryan. Filed under News, Ryan.
1up has written a great article on the original Phantasy Star series, explaining how awesome Phantasy Star really was back in the day. If only Sega continued the series, it would be as big as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, if not bigger.
Although released in Japan a mere two days after Final Fantasy, the original Phantasy Star had a two-year head start over the game in North America (as well as a one-year advantage over Dragon Quest), making it the first true JRPG to be released outside of Japan. Where the other two games took three years to eventually be released in North America, Phantasy Star took only one.
Isn’t it about time Sega of Japan got its arse back into gear and got Rieko Kodama aka Phoenix Rie, the first lady of RPGs, making the Phantasy Star 5 that we have all been waiting for instead of more awful online Phantasy Star games from Sonic Team that have none of the charm or appeal of the originals.
[Thanks to Nuckles87]
Comments on this article
There have been 11 responses to this article.
I have to disagree, the original Phantasy Star Online was utterly fantastic, and my personal favourite game OF ALL TIME. I enjoyed it as much as Phantasy Star 1, 2 and 4 - and for a lot longer, too. PSO had phenomenal replay value. (Although this is just my opinion, so whatever!)
Universe, on the other hand…
Saphion
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 12:45 pm.
Dude I agree 100% and PSO, i put over 100 hours into that game easy… But these games really don’t have the awesome vide of the originals… Sega could easily have both series running at the same time.
Phantasy Star at the mo is a hollow shell of its former self, as is the Shining series and it’s a total shame.
BRING BACK RIEKO KODAMA!!
The first lady of RPGs shouldnt be working on shovel ware for the DS thats for sure!
Ryan
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 12:54 pm.
Over all the PSO’s, I spent about 4000 hours total! One character alone on the GC PSO had 2000 hours to itself. Man, I loved that game so hard. In the face.
I miss the Dreamcast. :(
I didn’t care for Phantasy Star 3:GoD much, though. Although the original Phantasy Star was my very first SEGA game. 2 and especially 4 were equally awesome.
Good times.
Saphion
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 1:03 pm.
They left out a ton of games. There’s another GG game, like 8 downloadable Mega Modem games(I fairly sure there are fan translations so anyone can play them), PSO games, and PSU games.
Shitty article. And why is it “The little brother” to Square games? And why is the GG “ilfated”? Again, 1UP should fuck off being so bias about everything. Don’t even post their crappy articles - I’m sure someone here could do a better job.
Kogen
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 1:10 pm.
Maybe they called it “ill-fated” because it failed? What are you, stupid?
Nathan
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 1:16 pm.
Interestingly enough, PSU corrects the vast majority of issues and adds a tons of changes from the original Phantasy Star Online game, yet people stand by PSO.
I recall PSU was once listed here as one of the top games of 2006…
I’m never touching PSO again after playing Phantasy Star Universe… and it’s not a song by some japanese singer that’s gonna make PSU into a bad game.
To each, it’s own.
yusaku
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 1:35 pm.
Exactly, it’s all down to personal opinion. I agree that PSU fixes most of PSO’s problems - but I just didn’t find it fun. Inexplicably, I could quite happily do PSO’s Forest again for the eighty millionth time, but Linear Line bores me to tears on the second run. I can’t explain why, either.
Bah. I really, really wanted to like PSU as well. :(
Saphion
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 2:39 pm.
I wish Sega would actually try to change online gaming with Phantasy Star Universe instead of ripping us off. In PSO they let us play for free and with anyone around the world! How awesome!
In PSU they let us play with USA/EU (PC VER) and charge us 9.99 a month. Sega should have looked into advertising as a means to getting there monthly payments. I wouldn’t mind more ‘advertised’ events, some billboard of a company, and some ad bar on the sign in screen. As long as its not like in the missions and everywhere on your screen.
Oh, the originals > Sonic Team games.
George
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 4:26 pm.
Yeah, bring Rieko Kodama back on big games, Phantasy Star V and Skies of Arcadia 2, both on the REAL next gen of course (no shovel-ware Wii)
City Hunter
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 5:36 pm.
Greatest rpg series of all time if ya ask me. And PSIV was the best conclusion to any series of any genre IMO. That article was ok, but they should’ve mentioned how to bring Nei back to life.
F-Unit
Posted February 15th, 2008 at 6:04 pm.
Their most important aspect was their story, which unfortunately for the first three titles in the series was constrained by technical limitations and inconsistent localization throughout all of them.
The remakes Phantasy Star Generation 1 and 2 might have alleviated some of this, I don’t know. Hard to tell when it’s all in Japanese, you know?
The originals were great titles, in spite of their flaws. The modern additions to the series, as I see it, simply have continued that general trend.
Still, I too would like to see Rieko Kodama make a comeback to the series as much as the next guy, but what’s she been doing? She’s been MIA for years now, hasn’t she?
George: Only the original PSO was free, and only in the US (and perhaps Europe). Japanese players have been paying a fee since the beginning, if anyone was ripped off at the time…
In-game advertising is a slippery slope, although there are definite gains to be made. Perhaps a tier system of some sort where paying customers don’t have to see them…
Angelo
Posted February 16th, 2008 at 9:42 am.