"The Greatest 8 Bit RPG"

Often when 8 Bit RPGs are discussed, Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy are typically hailed as the greatest of their generation. Phantasy Star is often forgotten, perhaps because few have played it. But to those of us who did play it, it was unfogettable. Phantasy Star easily surpasses Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. Although those titles are classics in their own right, Phantasy Star was years ahead of its competition at almost every level.

Presentation: 10

Phantasy Star offers the great Sci Fi setting of the Algo Star System. This system consists of three worlds: Palma, Motavia, and Dezoris. Palma is a lush temperate world full of forests, rivers, and oceans. Motavia is an Arrakis-like desert planet filled with caves and sandworms. Dezoris is a frozen wasteland inhabited by green-skinned people.

The story and characterization is top notch and beyond any of its contemporaries'. A young girl named Alis discovers that her brother Nero has been killed by the evil Palman Emperor, Lassic. The strange thing is, Lassic was once a benevolent ruler. Alis sets out on a long journey for vengeance and to bring peace to her home planet. Alis rescues a fellow rebel, Odin, from the clutches of the evil Medusa. Odin, his partner and talking cat Myau, and eventually the esper sorceror Noah. The three of them travel from planet to planet, preparing for their final confrontation. In the end, they face not only Lassic, but a creature born from evil itself.

Gameplay: 9

Phantasy Star offers an almost perfect gaming experience, if it weren't for a couple annoying flaws. Players explore the three extremely vast planets of Algo, interact with NPCs, collect items, explore dungeons, and battle hundreds of enemies. Players can even collect a series of vehicles to explore Algo.

The battle system is one of the biggest flaws. Although manageable, it has a few bizzare quirks. For instance, the animations of the monsters only depict one per monster type. For example, a player could be facing several monsters, but only one animation will appear on screen.

Another flaw is the difficulty. The beginning of Phantasy Star is far too difficult. One wrong step could mean instant annihilation of the player due to rediculously powerful monsters. This could turn off many players.

Graphics: 10

Phantasy Star's graphics are beautiful. Cutscenes are illustrated by nicely drawn still pictures of the characters. Character designs themselves perfectly evoke the Sci Fi feel, as do the city designs and space ships. Monster animations in battles are also suprisingly detailed. In dungeons, players are offered wonderful 3D first person views as they traverse ancient caves and enemy fortresses.

Sound: 10

Phantasy Star offers some great, simple music that is ultimately memorable. SEGA games often had some of the best music around.

Overall: 9.75, rounded to 10

Phantasy Star easily rivals a lot of RPGs today, surprising for game released almost twenty years ago. If you're looking for nostalgia or a new adventure, Phantasy Star is worth your time.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/22/06