Phantasy Star II

"A classic, despite a few flaws."

Phantasy Star II is the first game in the series to hit the Virtual Console, but is it worth your hard earned Wii Points?

Yes, it is. Phantasy Star II is a classic, and back when it was first released a game of this size was pretty damn impressive. The game should last you about 30 hours of RPG goodness, and for the most part the 30 hours is great fun.

The game is set in the Algol Star System, a unique setting back then and even now. Your character Rolf is on the planet Mota, and wakes up in a cold sweat from a nightmare. The planet has transformed from a baron wasteland into a paradise thanks to Mother Brain, a giant computer that helps regulate the planet. Lately monsters have been appearing, and it's up to Rolf and friends to investigate what is causing all these problems. There are a few very surprising plot twists along the way, which was pretty rare for a game at this point in time.

Gameplay

Scattered across Mota are several towns, and several more dungeons. Your party will spend most of the time on the world map, fighting enemies and exploring. The battle system is fun, but nothing really deep. Combat is turn-based, but the annoying thing is it takes a long time trying to select which party member does what before each round, as the menu system isn't very good. Also, if there is more than 1 type of the same enemy in a battle, you can't select which one of them you want to attack. This can lead to the battle being a bit random. You have the normal options available here, attack, magic, defend or use an item. Luckily your party will all have different strengths and weaknesses, so there is a bit of variety in how you approach a fight.

This is also helped by a good variety of weapons and magic to use. The unique sci-fi setting means you can equip lasers cannons and laser swords to name just a few. The bad news is these often cost so much money you will have to battle monsters over and over again just to afford them. You will then have to repeat this every time you get to a new town. On top of this, fighting for money might not even be enough to raise your character stats. Be warned, because this game is hard. If you don't level up, prepare to get completely destroyed.

Why is it hard? Each time you enter a new area, the enemies will be bigger and better. This is actually impressive,. Again, there is a great variety of enemies to fight which all suit the unique setting of the game. The dungeons also add to the difficulty. The layouts are often confusing and large, meaning to get through to the end you will have to replay it, finding the right path each time. The good thing for you is that this is really fun, and gives you a great sense of joy when you actually finish one.

If this sounds negative, don't worry. If you like your RPG games long and challenging then the gameplay is almost perfect. The setting of the game is just brilliant, and gives it a whole lot of charm.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics aren't anything special, but not bad either. The music is actually really good, and has some great tunes to get stuck in your head.

Score - 8/10

If you don't mind a hard game, bump it up to 9. However, for those new to the series , the game is going to feel like a bit of a pain. If you can get past the difficulty, get ready to play one of the best games on the Genesis.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/20/08

Game Release: Phantasy Star II (US, 02/18/08)