"The most enjoyable RPGs on the GBA."

I have played numerous role-playing games. One may hold my attention for as much as a month, then I will tire of it and move on to a new game. Phantasy Star Collection changes that. Instead of offering one measly quest that you will likely finish in two weeks, it offers three great adventures that take as long as one month each!
For anyone who is particularly stupid, Phantasy Star Collection contains Phantasy Star 1, 2 and 3 (Phantasy Star 4 is strangely absent). The emulation from the Genesis versions worked quite well, with the only perk being the slightly different music (it’s nothing notable, really).

Phantasy Star 1:
This is a great RPG, but it is no cakewalk. Oh no, expect to level-up ever time you change towns. But that’s not this game’s strong point any ways, the real seller here is the 3D dungeons, which, back in it’s days, were quite spectacular. Any ways, this is the most notable game in the collection, and it is also the hardest.

Phantasy Star 2:
This RPG loses the cool feature of 3D dungeons, but in exchange you get a much more involving story line and cooler characters. This is probably the best game in the collection, however, it’s high-difficulty will turn most off. My best advice is to stick with it, this game is excellent.
Unfortunately, Phantasy Star 2 aged horribly. In comparison to the other two games, Phantasy Star 2 will most likely be overlooked by RPG newcomers due to its exceptionally bad menu system and lack of 3D dungeons.

Phantasy Star 3:
This is the worst game in the collection, but it is still not too bad. The big feature here is your genes, because during your quest you will change to the next-generation of warriors, passing on your skills and abilities to the next group. It is an interesting system that keeps you from looking at the same dopey character the entire quest.
The biggest problem with Phantasy Star 3, though, is that it is oddly boring. You will never feel compelled to finish the next dungeon, which is why most will stop playing within a week. If you can play it longer, though, you will be rewarded with an exceptionally long game offering tons of characters, weapons and spells.

Overall, this is one of the finest Game Boy Advance games available. Most RPG fanatics shouldn’t even hesitate, because of the three games.
If nothing else, it makes a great game to play in the car or on the bus.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/15/03, Updated 03/29/03