ThePhantasy Starfranchise has existed for almost four decades, with many great releases on various video gaming platforms over the years.Phantasy Staris a series of predominantly role-playing games set in a sci-fi fantasy world spanning over several planets, initially released for theSega Master Systemin 1987.
In the game, players use a combination of magic, weapons and technology to defeat enemies and complete quests. Many of thePhantasy Stargames are considered classics in the RPG genre, especially the earlier entries released by Sega. These are the bestPhantasy Stargames to date, ranked by their metascore.
Phantasy Star 3was released for theSega Genesis consolein 1990 in Japan, and worldwide in 1991. Unlike the laterPhantasy Stargames, which follow the action role-playing game format,Phantasy Star 3is a turn-based role-playing game like the original.
True to the 1990s, the game uses 2D graphics and random enemy encounters with turn-based combat. What makes this game in the series special, is the fact that it spans different generations of characters, and so the player chooses a new character with each generation. This is a fun feature, as each characters' abilities and techniques differ, influencing the gameplay, as well as the endings of the game, depending on which character is chosen.
As the title of the game suggests,Phantasy Star Portable 2was developed for the PlayStation Portable handheld console. The game was released in Japan in 2009, and worldwide a year later, and is the sequel toPhantasy Star Portable,released only one year before. For a PSP game,Phantasy Star Portable 2has a lot going on, in a good way.
InPhantasy Star Portable 2,the player can either import their character from its predecessor, or create a fully customizable new character. The gameplay is rather addictive, and players even have the option to form a party with other online players at no extra cost.
In contrast to otherPhantasy Stargames in the franchise,Phantasy Star Online Episode 3is a turn-based digital card game. The game was released for theGameCube consolein Japan in 2003, and worldwide in 2004.
Phantasy Star Online Episode 3was playable offline against the CPU or online against friends. Players need to use a deck of thirty cards to defeat the opponent in various game modes, such as story mode or a customizable online game. While it might not have been entirely what fans expected, in and of itself, many consider it a good game even today.
Released for the Nintendo DS console,Phantasy Star 0is a sort of combination ofPhantasy Star OnlineandPhantasy Star Universe.The character creation mechanics fromPhantasy Star Online,as well as its online functionalities, like the hub, shop and bank, all feature inPhantasy Star 0.
The game was released in Japan in 2008, but only made it to America in 2009 and Europe in 2010. While it did not reach the iconic status ofPhantasy Star Online,it’s a decentNintendo DS game.
The first everPhantasy Stargame was released in 1987 for the Sega Master System, and still holds up as one of the best games in the entire franchise. There have been various remakes of the original that enhance the game and make it even better, with improved graphics, music, and dialogue.
The game set a new standard for RPGs at the time, with its3D dungeon crawlingelement, and graphics that surpassed its contemporaries. Many players might find the dungeons in this game especially challenging, which adds to the game’s allure and cult status.
Following much drama and many losses surrounding the Dreamcast console, Sega discontinued it and portedPhantasy Star Onlineto the GameCube - and soPhantasy Star Online Episode 1 and 2was born. In 2003, both episodes were also ported to the Xbox console.
WhileEpisode 1is an improved version of the originalPhantasy Star Onlinegame,Episode 2consists of entirely new content, with new characters, quests, environments, and even a split-screen mode.Episode 2can even be considered a sequel toPhantasy Star Online,and even though it is not quite as good as the original, it is a great entry in thePhantasy Starfranchise.
Phantasy Star 4: The End of the Millennium,which is one of the earlierPhantasy Stargames, turned out to be one of the best, even by today’s gaming standards.Phantasy Star 4was released in 1993 in Japan, and worldwide only two years later, in 1995, for the Sega Genesis console.
Phantasy Star 4is a typicaloffline RPG game, with many avenues for exploration, and turn-based combat, like the game’sPhantasy Starpredecessors. What makes this one special is the fact that it seems to take all the best elements from the first threePhantasy Stargames and combine them into a coherent and addictive finale.
The topPhantasy Stargame to date isPhantasy Star Online,released more than two decades ago in the year 2000.Phantasy Star Onlineis very significant in the sense that it was thefirst online RPG everpublished for consoles, and allowed parties of up to four players to explore and fight together in real-time.
While the game’s single-player mode is lacking, it set the precedent for other onlinePhantasy Stargames to follow, as well as online console RPGs played today. The game’s commercial servers closed in 2010, but it is still playable on private servers for die-hard fans.
MORE:Best RPGs That Blend Magic And Technology
