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/vr/ - Retro Games

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File: 40 KB, 360x450, Phantasystar4-cover.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6558038 No.6558038 [Reply] [Original]

So I started playing PS 4 and I gotta say I love it. It feels like a dated game even for its time but its definitely one those games that should be talked about more when 16-bit console JRPGs come up. Is this really the pinnacle of the series though? I feel like hopped on the ride at the best part and any chances of me enjoying the other games will be greatly diminished.

>> No.6558049

>>6558038
>It feels like a dated game even for its time
What the actual fuck? Tell me a better looking JRPG around when Phantasy Star IV was released.

>> No.6558054

>>6558049
In terms of quality of life things like the menus and mainly the inventory. The game itself really surprised me with how well everything looks though.

>> No.6558064

>>6558049
It doesn't tell you what any of the spells or items do which is kind of a pain. I can't remember if shops showed you the damage/armor of the equipment you were buying and if it was better than what you were currently wearing. I also can't remember if it gave you a means to sell items in bulk or if you had to do it one at a time.

>> No.6558076

>>6558064
>It doesn't tell you what any of the spells or items do which is kind of a pain.
Did any JRPGs do that back then? You usually had to read the manual, right?

>> No.6558091

>>6558076
Final Fantasy games did, among others. I don't think it's a big deal, but I admit I didn't know what a lot of spells did in PSIV during my first playthrough.

>> No.6558094
File: 264 KB, 416x800, Rika.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6558094

It's one of my favorite games of all time, glad you're enjoying it, OP

>> No.6558132
File: 101 KB, 785x731, k0IGUXx.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6558132

>>6558038
>Dated

>> No.6558182

>>6558049
i don't think OP is talking about visual presentation, but quality of life stuff

it's been a while and maybe i'm wrong, but IIRC you can only buy items by a single unit (if you want 10 antidotes, you need to click 10 times). do you want to buy an armor or weapon? the game informs the characters who are compatible, but [doesn't inform the stat changes nor if they're already equiped with it

>> No.6558342

It's the only Phantasy Star game I like... but it's a 9/10 game. Really really good. I wish the Genesis had more good RPGs

>> No.6559146

>>6558038
>feels like a dated game for it's time
Lol. What a fag.

>> No.6559241

I remember giving the student guy 2 shields and casting heals all the time.
Also the music was good iirc.

>> No.6559257
File: 107 KB, 640x895, 31270_front.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6559257

>>6558038
>I feel like hopped on the ride at the best part and any chances of me enjoying the other games will be greatly diminished.
yes, but PS1 feels unique because of the faux-3D dungeons

>> No.6559378
File: 110 KB, 640x480, 35232-Secret_of_Mana_(USA)-13.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6559378

>>6558049
>What the actual fuck? Tell me a better looking JRPG around when Phantasy Star IV was released.
This for one

>> No.6559387
File: 257 KB, 800x1131, phantasy star 4 iv -genesis-front-cover.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6559387

Does the original work used for the Japanese box art exist without the logos and other clutter anywhere, or is it lost forever? I've never been able to find it

>> No.6559618
File: 253 KB, 765x1200, DMR3g7MXkAcqA6a.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6559618

>>6559387
The key is usually to feed search results from different engines into each other. Found some other interesting stuff in the process so it was worth it.

>> No.6559625

>>6559618
Wow, thanks, great strategy as well

>> No.6560824

The best sega game ever made. Really sad it didn’t get more attention, seems like one of those games that most people would find overwhelming. The bigass price tag didn’t help much either.
The cutscenes were amazing for their time, i thought they were awesome because it really felt like a cinematic game.

Coming soon: Phantasy Star V. The legendary series returns to Algol on your mobile device.

>> No.6560971

>>6559257
barring the switch port, how the fuck did people navigate these dungeons? Did people actually map every square of each dungeon on paper?

>> No.6560978

>>6560971
Yes.

>> No.6561041

>>6560971
Graph paper.

>> No.6561058

>>6558094
I always hated how the PSO games never let you have colored ear tips

>> No.6561208

>>6560971
No. Each dungeon floor is pretty small, it's quite easy to navigate without resorting to maps.

>> No.6561219

>>6558038
>dated for its time
the actual fuck

>> No.6561257

>>6561208
Maybe but what about when there's pitfalls and eight stairways on each floor like in Medusa's Tower?

>> No.6561448
File: 321 KB, 1024x1606, DYMiT5zU8AYdCrH.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6561448

>>6559618
>>6559387
slightly bigger version, what I used for some box art mock-ups

>> No.6561461
File: 127 KB, 256x192, you are now hearing Dungeon 1 in your head.gif [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6561461

>>6561257
>pitfalls
>stairs

if you're mapping correctly you won't lose track of your position if you're traveling upwards or downwards, simply start a new sheet and continue on from the same square as the previous sheet.

>> No.6562995

>>6560971
yes

>> No.6563621

>>6561448
Much appreciated!

>> No.6563805

>>6561257
Fall down until I learn where they are, of course. Honestly, a map guy is going to fall down the holes at least once as well. I might make the same mistake more than once sometimes, but I still get through quicker overall. I enjoy playing the way that I do.

>> No.6563839

>>6558076
It came out in 1993, which also saw releases of games like Secret of Mana and Illusion of Gaia which were definitely more intuitive in their item names, menus and descriptions. Even when comparing it to older Final Fantasy games, FF had more intuitive spell names like "cure" and "fire"

Compare this to Phantasy Star's gibberish technique names with zero descriptions outside the physical manual. There's no way of knowing what Gifoi does compared to Nazan compared to Ryuka compared to Rimpa, Gisar, Rimit, Gelun, etc, etc.

>> No.6563850

>>6563839
I liked that, it helps convey that you're in an alien world. Lots of fantasy and science fiction books have invented terminology, it's nice to see developers get a bit creative. Yeah it asks a bit more of the player but I think it's worth it.

>> No.6563863

>>6563839
Gibberish spell names were a holdover from Wizardry, right? Having to memorize the magic words is supposed to be immersive.

>> No.6565606
File: 2.25 MB, 540x405, 1567202730645.gif [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6565606

>>6563839
>There's no way of knowing what Gifoi does compared to Nazan compared to Ryuka compared to Rimpa, Gisar, Rimit, Gelun, etc, etc.
half of those can be figured out by just using them
who hasn't saved their game and just went down their spell list casting everything to see what they do?

And figuring out what the Gi- and Na- prefixes meant was half the fun. Though all of this and more is covered in the manual.

https://manuals.sega.com/genesismini/pdf/PHANTASY_STAR_IV.pdf

>> No.6565621

I still prefer Phantasy Star 1/2 personally, but 4 is cool too. It feels more like a modern JRPG than the older entries. I love how the earlier games were dungeon crawling JRPG hybrids. 4's story is fantastic, but gameplay feels a bit more basic.

>> No.6565781

>>6560971
I just kept playing and dying. eventually knew the game like the back of my hand