/vr/ - Retro Games

[Anonymous No.4100758]

>grew up in the 80s and 90s
>saw it sitting in the video store for years on end
>never rented it

Lately I have this nagging feeling to go back and play all the greatest games I never played. Should this be on the list?

[Anonymous No.4100764]

>>4100758
No. It is the worst Phantasy Star game. 1 and 4 are worth playing though.

[Anonymous No.4100767]

>>4100764
it's the most universally critically acclaimed one i can't see it being the worst one...it's literally what people are talking about when they mention phantasy star. this has always been my perception since the 90s

[Anonymous No.4100769]

>>4100758
4 and Online are the only good Phantasy Stars. Don't listen to the Masterfags trying to tell you the first game was good.

[Anonymous No.4100770]

>>4100767
The dungeons are very bad and it is the grindiest JRPG of all time. It is a big step down from the first one.

[Anonymous No.4100776]

>>4100770
it ain't grindier than modern shit like disgaea

[babbage's gramps !RATGzMALLY No.4100793]

It's my favorite - but it's definitely a bitch sometimes

[Anonymous No.4100921]

Start it on Sega Forever, I already tried on my pc with the steam collection but I just can't get into. Hope this time will be the one.
>>4100769
How the first one wasn't good ?

[Anonymous No.4100923]

>>4100921
Dull combat, garbage characters, confusing dungeons (2 is also guilty of this), and generic plot. All it has going for it are great graphics and music.

[Anonymous No.4100926]

>>4100764
I agree with this but if OP is going to play, like these faggots do as always, I suggest a money cheat and encounterless cheat on. The game had couple of things it did right still, but dungeon layout and combat were not them.

[Anonymous No.4100928]

>>4100767
The most universally claimed one would be the fourth one.

[Anonymous No.4100931]

>>4100923
The combat and the plot was just as good as most rpg of its time. Of course you can compare it with later game, but that'd make Chrono Trigger, Super Mario Bros or Virtua Racing because better game was released later.
I didn't have much problem in the dungeon, I can only remember one being really annoying.
And the characters...it's kinda hard to tell since there wasn't this much interaction, and the few one failed to trigger my quality sense.

[Anonymous No.4100932]

Once you're done with the Phantasy Stars, try out Skies of Arcadia, its spiritual successor.

[Anonymous No.4100975]

>>4100758
It has a high random encounter rate and some mandatory grinding at the beginning. The dungeons are great, but they would be more fun to explore if you weren't getting interrupted by random encounters constantly.

I enjoyed it, but there aren't many people I would recommend it to.

[Anonymous No.4101070]

>>4100767
You are severly misinformed. PS2 gets a lot of praise for doing new things but the game in the franchise that is most beloved is PS4 and it's quite easy to see why. PS2 is easily the most monotonous in the series, playing it will make you go bald, m8. Don't think I'm joking. Play it only if you're a bad enough dude AND you've already played the best Phantasy Stars. It is absolutley not a game I would recommend over 4 or 1, the two real gems of the series.

[Anonymous No.4101215]

>>4101070
> It is absolutley not a game I would recommend over 4 or 1
2 is literally 1 with 2D dungeons tho. Everything good you can say about 1 also applies to 2, everything bad you can say about 2 also applies to 1.

People only like 4 because it's the most dumbed down, being the closest to a 4th gen traditional jrpg stock Megadrive ever got. People can't deal with jrpgs from the 80s for some reason.

[Anonymous No.4101225]

>>4101215
>2 is literally 1 with 2D dungeons tho. Everything good you can say about 1 also applies to 2, everything bad you can say about 2 also applies to 1.
That's an awfully daft thing to say. The two play nothing alike. Very different mechanics and very different dungeon design, by neccessity even. It wouldn't even be possible to make the clusterfucks that are PS2 dungeon layouts in the PS1 engine, so your claim that they're pretty much the same thing is truly absurd. And I have not touched on all the other radical differences like a different art style and very different musical style. You're nuts. m8. Bonkers. You're like a Dezolian that lives on the lying side of town.

[Anonymous No.4101263]

>>4100767
It's the most well known one because it is the first JRPG on the Mega Drive, and JRPGs on the Mega Drive were pretty scarce for most of its life.

I really like the music and overall "early Mega Drive" charm of the game, and what little story there is in the game isn't bad, but overall, I wouldn't recommend it. The dungeon designs are just ridiculous. Every single dungeon is like one of those "teleporter dungeons" from a Pokemon or Final Fantasy game, but 10x longer and more complicated.

[Anonymous No.4101270]

>>4101225
Dezolians never lie.

[Anonymous No.4101319]

>>4100926
>The game had couple of things it did right still, but dungeon layout and combat were not them.
Then what the fuck are you going to play it for? The portraits??

[Anonymous No.4101386]

>>4101270
>I put on my Mogic Cap and Nei Sword

[Anonymous No.4101391]

>>4100758
Yeah. Great game. Shit gets real at Climatrol so plan accordingly.

[Anonymous No.4101558]

>>4101263
Aren't there three JRPGs on Mega Drive in total?

[Anonymous No.4101624]

>>4101263
It's because it came out in 1989.

[Anonymous No.4101634]

>>4100758
Never saw the appeal of old Phantasy Star. It lacks the awesome character-customisation of proper RPGs like Final Fantasy.

[Anonymous No.4101857]

>>4101624
There are plenty of JRPGs from before 1989 with far less irritating dungeon layouts than PSII.

[Anonymous No.4101938]

>>4101319
wew

[Anonymous No.4101990]

>>4101634
>It lacks the awesome character-customisation of proper RPGs like Final Fantasy.

A role playing game is a game in which you take on a role. Those roles are not always ones crafted by the player. To suggest that you must always create your own character for it to be a proper RPG is incorrect.

Love, /tg/.

[Anonymous No.4102004]

>>4101990
I disagree. Games like Dragon Quest 3 are real RPGs, while games like Breath of Fire are VN/RPGs.

[Anonymous No.4102436]

>>4100764
>It is the worst Phantasy Star game.
That's not PS3

[Anonymous No.4102483]

Not OP but I've only played PS4. Should I play the fantranslated 1&2 remakes or the sega ages collection on PS2.

[Anonymous No.4102505]

>>4101990
>some berk cites Final Fantasy as being a proper RPG
>some other twat brings up character creation
How do you get from A to B?

[Anonymous No.4102572]

>>4101263
>JRPGs on the Mega Drive were pretty scarce for most of its life.

>>4101558
>Aren't there three JRPGs on Mega Drive in total?

whut?

shining force
shining force 2
phantasy star 2
phantasy star 3
phantasy star 4
story of thor
landstalker
shining in the darkness
langrisser
langrisser 2
master of monsters
crusader of centy
sorcerian
sword of vermilion
exile
fatal labyrinth
sorcerers kingdom
traysia
light crusader
super hydlide
Ys III
surging aura
blue almanac
arcus odyssey
Dragon Slayer: Eiyuu Densetsu
Dragon Slayer: Eiyuu Densetsu II
Lord Monarch: Tokoton Sentou Densetsu
Madou Monogatari I
Maten no Soumetsu
Tougi Ou King Colossus

[Anonymous No.4102585]

>>4102572
I can let Shining Force pass as RPG, but Langrisser is just strategy. Having levels doesn't make the game a RPG.

[Anonymous No.4102846]

>>4102572
That list of JRPGs is pretty fucking scarce compared to the SNES, Famicom, or any of the PlayStations. I don't really consider games like Story of Thor to be JRPGS, either, they're zelda-likes. And half of that list are "literally who" games. Nobody likes Sword of Vermilion.

Phantasy Star II was so popular because not only did it come before any game in that list, but because mega drive RPGs were pretty fucking subpar (shining force being a notable exception), so PSII legitimately was one of the best ones on the console, despite being pretty shit.

[Anonymous No.4102905]

>>4102846
KYS

[Anonymous No.4102928]

>>4100758
I thoroughly enjoyed PSII and I hope you do as well. Preping and fighting your way through those merciless dungeons was a rush. It also had a great story at a time when rpgs lacked a more involved narrative.

[Anonymous No.4103335]

Elder God Tier:
Phantasy Star IV

High Tier:
Phantasy Star

Mid Tier:
Phantasy Star III

Low Tier:
Phantasy Star II

Shit Tier:
PSO/PSU/PSO2

[Anonymous No.4103419]

the whole mood of Phantasy Star II just has to be experienced.
It's literally "Shit happens : the game".

[Anonymous No.4103427]

who PTSD here

[Anonymous No.4103553]

>>4100776
But grinding in Disgaea is actually fun

[Anonymous No.4103556]

>>4103335
Are you a fucking tard

[Anonymous No.4103665]

>>4100758
I love PS2. Probably one of my favorite games ever, honestly. Some of that's from nostalgia, sure, but there's just something about the world it creates. The domed farms. The AI-managed planetary environmental systems. The clean, shiny futurism. The pulsing circuits in the dungeons. The biomonsters. The robot designs. The music. The mood. The character art. The weapons, armor, and vehicles. It's just all so great.

[Anonymous No.4103781]

>>4100767
It was great at the time, and still is great. But it's just dated. Buying items, grinding, fucking hellishly tedious dungeons.

[Anonymous No.4103792]

>>4102436
What a shame. PS 3 had some great ideas. It should be remade. Cool characters, worlds, all types of shit. It's like a 60% completed game.

[Anonymous No.4103819]

>>4100758
Just FYI - free on google play/app store, remaster.

Haven't played it yet though, so I don't know if they injected it with horseshit or if it's a faithful reproduction. Not like it'd be hard to find a ROM or anything.

[Anonymous No.4103842]

>>4103335
But you're wrong, of course.

PSO=4>1=2>3

Also, fuck PSU and PSO2.

[Anonymous No.4103869]

How was this?

[Anonymous No.4103883]

>>4103869

[Anonymous No.4103890]

I plan on playing 2 after I finish 4, which is becoming one of my favourite games right now. Got it on the ps3 mega drive collection which I would highly recommend

[Anonymous No.4104146]

>>4103665
You nailed it. This is why I love it too.

[Anonymous No.4104158]

>>4103665
This
It's the kind of world you want to get lost in.

[Anonymous No.4104203]

>>4103890
or you can emulate pic related
It has english text option and stuff like more money and easy mode to cut back the grind.

[Anonymous No.4104472]

>>4102846
>Nobody likes Sword of Vermilion.
I do. It's fun. So, fuck you.

[Anonymous No.4104473]

>>4104203
>Emulate an emulator with roms
I don't see why anyone would do this.
>and stuff like more money and easy mode
I don't see why anyone would do this.

[Anonymous No.4105502]

>>4100758
No. Play IV instead.

[Anonymous No.4105721]

>>4104472

I do too, that other anon is retarded

[Anonymous No.4105975]

>>4100932
Underrated post

SoA is top tier

[Anonymous No.4106463]

>>4100758

Yes, it should be on the list because:

- It's what they call "A E S T H E T I C".

- The storyline, such as it is, is groundbreaking and the setting is very interesting. The unspoiled ending is a real gut punch.

- Unlike all the other Phantasy Star games, you can choose your party from a pool of available characters, and there is a degree of meaningful customisation of their equipment (two knives or one sword, or gun and shield, etc). This means prepping for a dungeon raid is a real part of the gameplay (as opposed to just buying 10 heal potions and charging right back in).

- It's difficult. You are permanently short of money until the late endgame and (without emulator save states) every dungeon poses a real risk that you'll die. Many times you'll only make it back into town with one critically injured character carrying 3 dead bodies. There's no unfairness to the level of challenge, you just need to take calculated risks - do you think you can make it to the centre of the maze, AND BACK, with your remaining resources or do you need to cut your losses, restock, grind a bit and try again another time?

[Anonymous No.4106490]

>>4103335
What do people see in Phantasy Star IV? The game has no depth at all, completely linear character progression, encounters and dungeons can be a little challenging but where they could be fun to tackle they always turn out to be a dull grind because the game has nothing to offer in the way of options. It's insanely straightforward and underwhelming compared to the other greats from the same period, it's mind bogling that people will rank alongside actual gems like FF6 just because Sega's RPG library wasn't worth shit.

[Anonymous No.4106787]

>>4106463
This, absolutely this.
Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Anonymous No.4109103]

>>4100758
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqPuN9n-lw0

[Anonymous No.4109106]

>>4106463
Spot on, mate.

[Anonymous No.4109201]

>>4101634
What, like FFIV?

>>4102572
I'll add D&D: Warriors of the Eternal Sun and Rings of Power to that list.

>>4103427
>ohgodwhy.jpg
You only have one on the screen, so it's not too bad. Getting ambushed by 2 of them is a different story, though.

>>4103792
As long as they don't do a shitty job of it like they did with the other PS remakes - I'd definitely be willing to throw money at that.

PSIII probably has the most replayability out of the whole series even in the state it was released in, and the fact that you have meaningful choices to make in weapon selection for most of the game is one of my favorite parts.

>>4106490
>What do people see in Phantasy Star IV?
It's very polished; you don't have that "unfinished' sense that a lot of other games from that time period (and within the series, for that matter) had. The game really doesn't require any grinding, and there's a whole lot of optional and hidden contents scattered throughout - most of which either gives you cool stuff or expands on the main plot.

The division of magic into TP-based "techniques" and use-based "skills" added a bit of depth to the magic system (and also made using instant-death skills a viable strategy (most of them hit multiple enemies and succeeded >70% of the time), because they didn't suck up your TP for healing). The boss battles are reasonably difficult unless you purposefully under- or over-level yourself. The macro system was new (and useful), and it made setting up combos much easier.

The graphics and music are both amazing - the devs really knew what they were doing with the Mega Drive when PSIV came out. The plot, while a little cliche, is well-executed, and the callbacks to the previous games in the series fit very neatly into the plot. Almost all of the characters are fleshed out, and no one really feels like dead weight.

>compared to the other greats from the same period
I mean, PSII and PSIII had mechanical depth and nonlinear character progression.

[Anonymous No.4109484]

>>4109201
>What, like FFIV?
Never said I liked FF4 either.

FF3 and FF5 are both superior.

[Anonymous No.4109763]

>>4106490

I appreciate what you're saying about linearity and lack of challenge but PS4 is *perfectly* paced, a very decent story told in a good way (cartoon panels) a shitload of what people these days call "content" - vehicles, side quests, three planets, diverse environments. MOTAVIANS. Zio is a fuck-awesome boss, made my hands shake the first time I fought him. DEZOLIANS. Techniques. Skills. Magic. Hidden combos. And best of all, is all the callbacks to the previous games. It may not be the best RPG of its day but to me it is definitely the most "lovable", full of cool shit to reward long time Sega fans.

[Anonymous No.4109865]

>>4100767
> Most universally critically acclaimed...

At the time it did a lot of new things, but not all of them are good. Great storyline, scope of world, graphics, and sound. Good challenge in terms of enemy difficulty. However, the game moves at a snail's pace and there is a LOT of grinding to be done, particularly in the first 1/3 of the game. As the game progresses, the dungeons become so complex that they are just a test of patience more than anything else unless you use the included hint book. Speaking of dungeons, it's pretty annoying having to see everything through pipes/clouds.

The game is clearly designed in such a way that you use the included "hint book" to map your path through dungeons prior to entering them instead of exploring yourself.

When I find myself revisiting PS2, I find myself having turbo permanently on just to make the game go at a playable speed.

[Anonymous No.4110150]

Any way to get Hordes of Nei to work with the FM music and in english?

[Anonymous No.4110226]

>>4106463
>do you think you can make it to the centre of the maze, AND BACK
dude, escapipe

[Anonymous No.4110231]

>>4109201
>You only have one on the screen, so it's not too bad. Getting ambushed by 2 of them is a different story, though.
Just the first shot I googled. They always come in pairs.

[Anonymous No.4110235]

>>4109865

>The game is clearly designed in such a way that you use the included "hint book" to map your path through dungeons prior to entering them instead of exploring yourself.
I bought the game 2nd hand, with manual and map, but without the hintbook.
I made it fine.

[Anonymous No.4110394]

>>4109763
It's like you took my feelings for the game and expressed them with far better words than I could have chosen. It is a good game, indeed. Not a whole lot of depth but there is a place for simple games too, and this is easily one of the best simplistic RPGs.

[Anonymous No.4110413]

>>4109865
>The game is clearly designed in such a way that you use the included "hint book" to map your path through dungeons prior to entering them instead of exploring yourself.
Yeah, nah. That's just another one of those 'Americans are too dumb for RPGs' crutches that were so common back then. The game was absolutley not designed for something that only a small part of the audience would ever have. As with most 20'th century games it was designed around trial and error & making the player earn their victories.

[Anonymous No.4110431]

>>4110394
Comic/Manga panels are seriously underused

[Anonymous No.4110432]

Phantasy Star games are fucking boring. Give me Dragon Quest or Romancing Sega over them any day.

[Anonymous No.4110529]

>>4103665
perfect anon

[Anonymous No.4110605]

>>4110432
>Calls any other JRPG boring
>Calls romancing saga not boring

Romancing Saga is the epitome of boring RPGS, dude.

[Anonymous No.4110715]

>>4110432
>Romancing Sega
I'd play it

[Anonymous No.4110721]

>>4110605
Maybe if you want shitty story-driven JRPGs, but SaGa is all about ludo, questing, exploring massive, open worlds, and recruiting many comrades.

[Anonymous No.4112020]

>>4110394
Zio always reminded me of Trent Reznor, back when he was coked up out of his fuggin' mind and thus still a good musician.

[Anonymous No.4112537]

are there any exp booster hacks for the first phantasy star? the grind is torture

[Anonymous No.4112570]

>>4112537
What grind? It's been said before and will be again no doubt, unless you're constantly running from fights or following a walkthrough to make sure you always get places in the fewest steps possible you'll hit the level cap way before the final dungeon. There is no exp grind at all beyond the first half hour of the game.

Keep in mind all those 'level ups' you're getting in the final parts of the game are not actually increasing your level. If you are grinding for exp, you are literally wasting your time.

[Anonymous No.4112579]

>>4109201
>I'll add D&D: Warriors of the Eternal Sun and Rings of Power to that list.

Both of those are western developed games. They dont count.

One game that should be included is Breath of Fire 3, It was ported by a Chinese developer for the Megadrive but its still a JRPG.

[Anonymous No.4112614]

>>4106463
>- It's what they call "A E S T H E T I C".

KYS.

[Anonymous No.4112909]

>>4112570
>Keep in mind all those 'level ups' you're getting in the final parts of the game are not actually increasing your level. If you are grinding for exp, you are literally wasting your time.
What do you mean? Level ups stop giving you extra stats or something?

[Anonymous No.4113270]

>>4112579
They're both garbage as well.

[Anonymous No.4115271]

>>4112909
The game has a very low level cap but not an experience cap. When you get enough exp to get to level 31 you 'level up' to level 30 again and your exp to next level just resets. The player may think they've gained something because they see the level up message but nothing changes. You're still level 30.

[Anonymous No.4115308]

>>4102572
Wut? Do you know what a fucking JRPG is?
Fuck this I'm going back to play some great WRPGs like Doom.

[Anonymous No.4115313]

>>4102846
>. I don't really consider games like Story of Thor to be JRPGS, either, they're zelda-likes.
The term is action adventure. And of course just as you wouldn't consider NBA 93 a JRPG because it's a different genre, yeah you shouldn't consider non JRPGs in a completely different genre as JRPGs.

>>4104472
>>4105721
I've been playing it again recently. It's pretty terrible. Grindy as all fuck, slow as fuck, broken collision, bad writing. Though that other guy is wrong if you actually like it, but it ain't because it's a good game and it's understandable why he'd say it.

[Anonymous No.4117283]

>>4100758
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StCBMaVWgHY

[Anonymous No.4117728]

>>4106463
Honestly, this is the best assessment so far.

[Anonymous No.4118494]

>>4117283
>dat patrician taste in music

I really do feel that the OST for PSII was the best of the series overall.

[Anonymous No.4118507]

>>4106490
You just described every Phantasy Star game, mate.

If you want non-linearity go play a Dragon Warrior or a Romancing SaGa game.

[Anonymous No.4119463]

>>4118494
Agreed. It struck the perfect balance between minimalism and creating an excellent atmosphere for the game.

[Anonymous No.4119501]

I spent so much time on Uzo island listening to this music while searching for the marijuana plant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWHzlfPHFdU

I even fully mapped the place (pic) back in a 2003 playthrough. Ah, memories.

[Anonymous No.4119572]

>>4119501
Man, that place was such a pain in the ass with those decoy plants.

[Anonymous No.4119608]

>>4103665
This, this is exactly how i feel about ps2. I really liked 4 but 2 will always be one of my all time favorite games.
>dat feel when you enter a town after surviving a long dungeon
https://youtu.be/xU6_tlO_-iM