Phantasy Star Thread

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I only ever did it a handful of times 20+ years ago but I really remember the camera being extra finicky in 4-player mode. But the hud is in each player's portion of the screen, no overlap:
View attachment 118241


It's been a few years since I went through it, the last time was on the version for the Switch. But I don't remember doing any special tricks aside from getting all the items I possibly could. But it's fuzzy, Myau casting help on Odin, Odin attacks normally, maybe thunder with Lutz, and Alis heals? I do know that I did grind a lot so maybe I was overleveled, not sure. But you can do it.

I realized that I somehow skipped Medusa, so I plan to go back and do that. Odin doing consistent damage is nice, but with Myau being the designated healer (cure is so much better than any of Alis’ healing magic) Odin should really be hitting harder. I’ve never needed it before, since Myau was always able to be a primary attacker while also healing in a pinch, but he’s locked down on healing in this fight since DarkFalz can hit for an average of 80!

 

[bjork]

I don't remember exact number differences, but I know Myau as support for Odin until the Myau's MP is gone, is a real difference maker. At least, that's how I recall getting through. But if you're adventuring elsewhere, the added levels you'll get should make a difference too. I remember grinding by a beach, some kind of shellfish enemy but I don't remember which color. I did that while watching a movie or something and got easy levels that way. Depending on where you're at now though, that might not be necessary.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I don't remember exact number differences, but I know Myau as support for Odin until the Myau's MP is gone, is a real difference maker. At least, that's how I recall getting through. But if you're adventuring elsewhere, the added levels you'll get should make a difference too. I remember grinding by a beach, some kind of shellfish enemy but I don't remember which color. I did that while watching a movie or something and got easy levels that way. Depending on where you're at now though, that might not be necessary.

Most of my team is around level 23-25, with both Alis and Myau having more than 200 hp. I’ve heard of a great grinding spot on Motavia, the sand planet, to the western side of the map. I chose to grind in the final dungeon, using my flute to escape, and save scumming as much as possible to prevent lost progress to a bad encounter (you can get caught up by FOUR Mammoths, each with 180 HP. Yikes!). Going off and doing Medusa at least gives me something to do that’s fun aside from bang my head into a wall forever. I really do love this game, and the dungeon exploration aspect of it! What I don’t like is being trapped in RNG hell, with no way to escape.


I will say, we are getting to the point where characters often require 6000 or so EXP per level up, so I don’t know how much stronger I’m expected to be before the DarkFalz fight. I don’t think I ran away from enemies much for a majority of the game until Bala Malay since I needed to conserve HP and MP lol

 

[bjork]

I don't have my switch any more so I can't check, but I really want to say I maxed everyone just to say I did it? Falz was still no pushover, heh. Are you planning to play the others in the series?

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I don't have my switch any more so I can't check, but I really want to say I maxed everyone just to say I did it? Falz was still no pushover, heh. Are you planning to play the others in the series?

I’m hoping to play 4 sometime, as well as figure out the Online games, as I know they’ve been kept alive by fans. Even loving the early days of the NA Genesis as I do, I’m wary of 2, as I hear it repeats a lot of what 1 does while also being the most grindy of all the games (I’m not opposed to grinding at all, but PS1 has a good grinding balance for me and I’m worried to stretch myself much further). That said, I have other RPG priorities before those, and on the SEGA front I’m planning to commit myself to a full playthrough of Panzer Dragoon Saga before anything else from Phantasy Star.

 

[bjork]

2 is my personal favorite, but I've gone through it a couple of times so I can get where you're coming from. You don't HAVE to grind, but it definitely helps, and there are a few items you can only get by chance that becomes super tiresome if you want more than one, which you likely would. Even with maps, I'd guess like 40, maybe? Maybe more, it's another one where I'd grind for hours while watching something else so I'm not sure. But it is worth seeing at some point, even if not as a priority.

You can't ever go wrong with PDS whenever you play it, though. What a game.

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I have to ask, what’s the deal with Phantasy Star 3, and why do people never talk about it kindly? It’s rarely been re-released, so it always felt like the one that slipped by.

 

[PhaseJump]

I have to ask, what’s the deal with Phantasy Star 3, and why do people never talk about it kindly? It’s rarely been re-released, so it always felt like the one that slipped by.

It's a slog.

It was created by a different team at Sega. It's pacing is slow, the generational choices through it don't matter much and were just more of a gimmick, it's characters and the translation is shallow like every other JRPG released in North America at the time.

It is a more traditional medieval fantasy JRPG with the Phantasy Star sci-fi setting being like a lost history to what's going on in much of the game.


4 was the first game in the series that has real character development or memorable banter between party members, as you progress through events.

 

[Leon]

So, to all those whom have beaten Phantasy Star 1 on Master System (or emulation) I have a few questions about this guy:
View attachment 118215
I’m already grinding, but aside from that, are there any strategies AT ALL that I should implement to beat him? Odin is using the RayGun, doing a consistent 20 damage, but would it be worth it to go get the Lacotian Axe and use that?

It's generally a good idea to go full power against dark falz, especially with odin since he's got the hardest time damaging him if i remember right if you don't go full power.
Outside of obviously damage differences, the same strategy you used on lassic should apply here, if your having trouble, grind some levels, when i faced it i actually found it easier than lassic.

I have to ask, what’s the deal with Phantasy Star 3, and why do people never talk about it kindly? It’s rarely been re-released, so it always felt like the one that slipped by.

Combining onto what PhaseJump said (though i disagree with him about generational choices not mattering much, at least when it comes to the second generation since you have a entirely differentpath you take) the game's soundtrack, even for a early to mid gen genesis game is underwhelming with only a few good tracks and the only average to good battle theme being the final boss theme, which is still underwhelming in comparison to most games in the series.

The enemy variety is terrible and most magic that isn't healing based is borderline useless, attack magic has "some" use but is really underpowered for a jrpg.

Probably the biggest problem is, simply put, it's not a phantasy star game, it's a fantasy rpg named phantasy star 3, the game would be fine as "colony ark, phantasy star gaiden" or something like that, but the game has almost nothing to do with the main series, i actually find 3 easier to get into than genesis's 2, but it's not a phantasy star game, at best ps3 feels like a techno primitivist phantasy star game and even that is pushing it.

As for the overall game, the game can be hard if you don't grind any levels, but overall is probably the second easiest of the original 4 games, that said it's second biggest problem is that it's average to a bit above average as a game, in a series known for it's stellar entries (at least, in atmosphere, since space opera is rare even now, but especially back then), basically ps3 is good, but it's not "great" and as the saying goes it's better to be so bad you can make fun of it than to be average, since average is boring.

I don't find 3 boring, but it's also not particularly enticing either, i enjoy the game but it's just...there.
Basically, so average it's boring.

 

[bjork]

I have to ask, what’s the deal with Phantasy Star 3, and why do people never talk about it kindly? It’s rarely been re-released, so it always felt like the one that slipped by.

I'm on board with everything they said above this post. The presentation is such a shift that you can kind of see what they're going for, but it just doesn't get there and feels weird as a result. The battle music is the only video game music that's ever given me a headache, though it's kind of a cool idea how it changes throughout the fight. I don't mind it for what it is, but I agree that it should've been marketed as a side story or an ancient history tale in the same universe or something.

That said, I think the intro is one of the best on the system, and when you gain the ability to freely move around the world later on, the music there rules. It's not one I would skip outright, but I don't know that I'd recommend taking the time to see all of the different endings.

 

[Ikagura]

I only ever did it a handful of times 20+ years ago but I really remember the camera being extra finicky in 4-player mode. But the hud is in each player's portion of the screen, no overlap:
View attachment 118241

It's fine for its time and how you could transfer stuff from one character to another without requiring online play but nowadays you should play it via Blue Burst.

 

[bjork]

It's fine for its time and how you could transfer stuff from one character to another without requiring online play but nowadays you should play it via Blue Burst.

I still play Plus on GC via Dolphin. I know I'm a specific case because I don't care about the multiplayer part, I just like unwinding with it every so often. Means I miss out on episode 4 but I never knew it anyway, so that's okay.

 

[Leon]

I still play Plus on GC via Dolphin. I know I'm a specific case because I don't care about the multiplayer part, I just like unwinding with it every so often. Means I miss out on episode 4 but I never knew it anyway, so that's okay.

Episode 4 isn't bad, area wise, some of the rare drops however utterly change the game, the V101 i think it's called significantly increases your combat capability for example, and the lame d' argent/excalibur is a saber that hits 3 enemies that can be equipped by anyone but FONEWRL, meaning it gives forces a melee ranged multi-target weapon.

story wise 4 has little to none of it, so your not missing out there.

 

[Ikagura]

I still play Plus on GC via Dolphin. I know I'm a specific case because I don't care about the multiplayer part, I just like unwinding with it every so often. Means I miss out on episode 4 but I never knew it anyway, so that's okay.

I think the biggest thing about Episode 1&2 is that you can do multiplayer or have a single player without the need of a server.

Blue Burst is more complete but your stuff is depending on the host (so if they stop or have a crash you are done). Shame Sega has never done a proper ultimate version with p2p multiplayer to be able to do the online quests in solo/local co-op...

Episode 4 isn't bad, area wise, some of the rare drops however utterly change the game, the V101 i think it's called significantly increases your combat capability for example, and the lame d' argent/excalibur is a saber that hits 3 enemies that can be equipped by anyone but FONEWRL, meaning it gives forces a melee ranged multi-target weapon.

story wise 4 has little to none of it, so your not missing out there.

Episode 4 can be hell for beginners. That's why it was locked to a higher level from the usual first two episodes for Hard Mode and above.

It has story but most is in Japanese or from derivative material...

 

[FateLanegod]

I only ever did it a handful of times 20+ years ago but I really remember the camera being extra finicky in 4-player mode. But the hud is in each player's portion of the screen, no overlap:

It looks okayish. Is it divided in 4 parts for 3 players as well?

 

[Ikagura]

It looks okayish. Is it divided in 4 parts for 3 players as well?

Yeah

Wish they used the last quarter of the screen for the map or something like that.

I think two is ideal

The draw distance as 4 is kinda weird

 

[Vardalis]

I hadn't seen this posted in the past two pages of the thread so figured I'd drop it in. Might be of interest for any fans (even if you don't intend to play it just to flip through).

DriveThru RPG Link

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I hadn't seen this posted in the past two pages of the thread so figured I'd drop it in. Might be of interest for any fans (even if you don't intend to play it just to flip through).

DriveThru RPG Link

Yep! I mentioned it like three or four pages back lmao.
It seems neat! I'd love to play a campaign, but the price tag of $70 is rough.

Like, I know the original game retailed for that much, but I don't think that's why it costs that much. It's just the horror of licensed tabletop games.

 

[Leon]

Yep! I mentioned it like three or four pages back lmao.
It seems neat! I'd love to play a campaign, but the price tag of $70 is rough.

Like, I know the original game retailed for that much, but I don't think that's why it costs that much. It's just the horror of licensed tabletop games.

Quality and the like matter alot in the tabletop sector, add to that the likelihood that this will be a niche tabletop game and that's what's driving up the price.

Might suck but it doesn't change the fact that basic economics means that if they charged say, 20$ and only a thousand people bought it and it costed, with licensing, 25k to make, that they wouldn't even make their money back, that's capitalism for you, great for bulk mainstream stuff at lower costs, bad for niche as they need to charge more to break even.

 

[aquova]

For your viewing pleasure, the Japanese PSIV commercial

 

[FateLanegod]

Yeah
Wish they used the last quarter of the screen for the map or something like that.

I think two is ideal

Is it possible to hop-on/drop-off for other players while in adventure?

 

[Ikagura]

Is it possible to hop-on/drop-off for other players while in adventure?

What do you mean?

When you start a local multiplayer game they should all be prepared because if someone quits the game it's everyone doing so.

Same with how every players need to be ready to go into levels (yeah, one cannot be in Pioneer 2 to buy items when others are in Forest).

 

[Nickakyoin]

I started the SEGA AGES version on Switch of the og Phantasy Star (originally for Master System).

So, uuuuuuuuh.........any tips?

 

[TamagotchiTamaHero24's icon TamagotchiTamaHero24 TamagotchiTamaHero24]

I started the SEGA AGES version on Switch of the og Phantasy Star (originally for Master System).

So, uuuuuuuuh.........any tips?

So, I love the game once the adventure gets going! The beginning however is a grind. Take your time raising Alis’ level up by battling Swarm (the weakest enemy in the game). There’s a patch of forest to train just outside the first city. Beware of Winged Eye enemies this early on, as they’ll wipe you out at low levels. This early grind is something I would consider to be a major turn away for newer, modern players, but it’s not uncommon for games of the era to start this way. And it’s worth it to make your way through, as it gives you time to become comfortable with items, running, resets out of unwinnable scenarios, and picking your battles wisely.


Your first party member, Myau, will be traded to you. The game starts with you being told about Odin, a powerful warrior, but he’s been frozen in a dungeon by Medusa (a powerful boss who you will face near the end game). To unfreeze him, you’ll need the assistance of this little fella, and you’ll need to get a Lacotian Pot, given to you by an NPC in the first town. You’ll need to be strong enough to travel to Scion, the rightmost town from your starting area, in order to talk to a shopkeeper for a “secret” item. In an “old ass game” type of way, you’ll need to speak to them multiple times in order for them to even sell it to you, which may be a strategy for a few NPC’s later into the adventure whom may not be so cooperative. With both the pot and the secret item, a RoadPass, in hand, you can board the starships left to your starting town and make your way to another planet! In that town you come to, trade the pot for the cat, and now your adventure will really get started! You’ll have to continue to grind a little longer, of course, but having multiple characters will help a TON, and Myau can do good damage fairly early on if you get the right tools for him, before he eventually becomes the team’s healer far later in the game (after he learns the “Cure” spell. Best heal in the game, heals 80.)

Post automatically merged: Oct 14, 2025

This early guide to your first two characters is but a small sample of the adventure that awaits. And don’t be afraid to get some help! This game is very fun, but esoteric, so I HIGHLY recommend the fantastic resource that is Phantasy Star Cave!

Here’s their walkthrough, and there’s tons of other resources they have in their Phantasy Star 1 section (descriptions of items, enemies, dungeon maps, etc.)

Keep your wits about you, enjoy exploring the world once you’re strong enough, and make sure to sell your old equipment for easy cash! If you play smart, you’ll have a fantastic time in the one-of-a-kind world that is the original Phantasy Star.

 

[bjork]

I started the SEGA AGES version on Switch of the og Phantasy Star (originally for Master System).

So, uuuuuuuuh.........any tips?

Don't be afraid to use all of the quality of life stuff. Having the option for an automap is great for a game of this age, unless you REALLY like drawing maps (I do not), and the options to tweak battles so you can reduce the grinding is also pretty great. It's a great game that I enjoy in its original form, but I would say that the switch version is now the best way to play it, so have fun!