Phantasy Star II

Phantasy Star II
North American boxart
Developer(s)	Sega
Publisher(s)	Sega
Designer(s)	Akinori Nishiyama (writer / director) Yuji Naka (producer / programmer)
Composer(s)	Tokuhiko Uwabo
Platform(s)	Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Virtual Console, Xbox 360 (XBLA), iOS
Release date(s)	Mega Drive/Genesis JP March 21, 1989 NA February, 1990 EU November 30, 1990 Virtual Console JP January 29, 2008 EU February 15, 2008 NA February 18, 2008 iOS August 26, 2010
Genre(s)	RPG
Mode(s)	Single-player
Media/distribution	6-megabit cartridge, DVD, Download

Phantasy Star II (known as Phantasy Star II: The End of the Lost Age in Japan) is a console role-playing video game developed by Sega AM7 and released for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan in 1989. It was also released for the Mega Drive in Europe and the Genesis in America in 1990. It is the second entry in Sega's Phantasy Star series that began in 1987 on the Master System.

Since its release, Phantasy Star II has gained a cult following and is regarded by many critics to be one of the greatest and most influential console role-playing games of all time.^{[citation needed]}

Gameplay

Gameplay is similar to the original Phantasy Star, the first game in the series. The battle system is turn-based, allowing the player to choose commands for up to four characters. Each of the eight characters has a different set of preferred weapons and armor, as well as techniques, suited to the character's job. The player must defeat enemies in the overworld and in dungeons to advance in the game. However, the game lacked the first person dungeon view that the first game included.

Plot

Story

Somewhere deep within the Andromeda Galaxy lies the Algol Star System. The parent star, Algol (referred to as "Algo" by this point in the timeline), has three planets orbiting about it. First is Palm (formerly "Palma" in the original Phantasy Star), the home of the government. Governors, treasurers, and great thinkers dwell here in great ivory towers, away from the hubbub of everyday life. Next is Mota (formerly "Motavia"), the shining jewel. Once a dry desert planet infested with ant lions, Mota has been transformed into a blue and green tropical paradise. Domed farms grow crops, and the water is regulated into dammed rivers. Life on Mota is sweet, peaceful, and easy. The people have everything they want and do not need to work. Farthest out is Dezo (formerly "Dezoris"), the ice planet. Little is known about this mysterious and dark planet.

One thousand years have passed since Alis and her friends liberated Algo from the evil Lassic. Algo has since prospered under the care of a giant computer called the Mother Brain. The Mother Brain regulates the climatrol tower, the bio-systems lab, and all other things that provide whatever the Mota people need.

The game begins with a short monologue in which the character Rolf recalls a strange recurring nightmare he has been having. In the dream, a young girl who resembles Alis from the first game is battling a demon, although he, himself, does not know anything of her identity. Although Rolf is nearby, he is unable to even move or speak while the demon is striking at the girl. Finally, just before the demon kills the girl, Rolf awakens. From his home in the Motavian capital Paseo, Rolf goes to the central tower to meet with the commander, the head of government on Mota, in order to receive his newest mission.

The series' primary antagonist, Dark Force, the embodiment of evil, returns in Phantasy Star II as one of the enemies Rolf and his friends must defeat. Mother Brain, a computer system built to control and maintain the Algo Star System, begins malfunctioning during the game and must be investigated by Rolf. However, he ends up having to defeat it. During the adventure, the party discovers Neifirst, a half human, half bio-monster, that is also part of Nei. Being part Bio-monster (biologically altered animal), she was an outcast from society, causing her to loathe mankind. This caused her to sabotage Mota's Climate Control system, as well as the bio-systems laboratory, causing a drought on the planet. Nei confronts Neifirst with her actions and attacks her in a one-on-one fight, but gets defeated and killed. Straight afterward, Rolf and the remaining party take over and finish Neifirst off, bringing an end to the Biomonster hazard.

Characters

Phantasy Star II's top-down style travel is shown as Rolf and Nei move through a town

There are a total of eight playable characters in Phantasy Star II, each with his or her own personality, weapons and abilities. For instance, Rolf uses swords and Rudo uses guns, while Kain is strong against robotic enemies and Hugh is strong against Biomonsters.

With two exceptions, all of the characters can be renamed by the player at the time of their introduction.

Rolf

(Japanese: ユーシス, Yūshisu, Eusis) Rolf is the main character in Phantasy Star II. In battle Rolf is the best all-round fighter. He is one of the strongest physical and magical fighters. He learns all the strongest attacking magic spells in the game (such as Nafoi, Nathu and Megid) and even learns some healing magic, although his healing abilities are not as potent as other characters. His main weapons of choice are Swords, although he can also use Knives. Rolf is not given a surname in any version of Phantasy Star II or any of its corresponding official material.

Nei

(Japanese: ネイ, Nei, Nei) After Rolf Nei is the most important character in Phantasy Star II. At the beginning of the game she is more powerful then the likes of Rolf (although later on she is weaker), she gains levels faster than other characters up to a certain point, and her ability to use healing magic also comes in handy. Her main, and only, weapons of choice are Bars. Nei is one of only two characters who cannot be renamed by the player. She also cannot be removed from the adventuring party for the duration of her stay.

Rudolf "Rudo" Steiner

(Japanese: ルドガー・スタイナー, Rudogā Steiner, Rudger Steiner) Rudo is physically the strongest fighter in the game, but this is counter-balanced by the fact that he learns no magic spells at all. His main weapons of choice are Guns but, like Rolf, he can also use some Knives.

Amy Sage

(Japanese: アンヌ・サガ, Annu Saga, Anne Saga) Amy is physically one of the weakest characters in the game. However, she learns the most powerful healing magic spells in the game (such as Nares and Nasar). But she is quite slow, so she will usually attack last of all your characters in a battle phase. Her main weapons of choice are Knives, Staffs and Guns.

Hugh Thompson

(Japanese: ヒューイ・リーン, Hyūi Lean, Huey Reane) Hugh is, like Amy, one of the weakest physical fighters in the game, but he is handy at the beginning of the game because he learns a lot of spells that are strong against Biomonsters. Later, when the player is fighting robotic enemies, his contributions become less important. His main weapons of choice are Guns and Staffs.

Anna Zirski

(Japanese: アーミア・アミルスキー, Āmia Amirusuki, Amia Amirski) Anna is one of the strongest physical characters in the game, but only learns a few weak magic spells. Her main weapons of choice are Slashers.

Josh Kain

(Japanese: カインズ・ジ・アン, Kainzu Ji An, Kainz Ji An) Kain is a fighter of moderate strength most of the time, but when he is pitted against the robotic enemies about half way through the game he becomes extremeley useful because he learns a lot of spells that inflict more damage against robots. His main weapons of choice are Guns and Knives, just like Rudo.

Shir Gold

(Japanese: シルカ・レビニア, Shiruka Rebinia, Shilka Levinia) Shir doesn't gain much in terms of offense, but is the quickest player in the game. Another benefit to the party lies in another area altogether: Because Shir is a thief, if you enter a shop with her in your party she can randomly steal items from the shop, which is very helpful. She can even steal certain items that normally cannot be bought from shops. The items she steals will be more useful the higher her level is. The only catch is that, when Shir steals, she temporarily leaves the party and must be picked up at Rolf's home in Paseo in order to receive the item she stole. Like Nei, Shir cannot be renamed by the player.

Development

Localization changes

• Lutz, a refugee Esper who lives in the Esper Mansion on Dezo, aids Rolf and friends in their mission. He is supposed to be the same Esper who accompanies Alis in Phantasy Star, but due to the English version of Phantasy Star naming the said Esper Noah, this point is lost.
• In the Japanese version, Ustvestia, a musician who teaches the characters the Musik technique, is openly gay; when requested to teach a male character the Musik technique, he comments, "He looks cute", and charges less than he would for teaching female characters. Any obvious references to this were removed from the American release; he instead comments, "He looks smart" – and still charges less for teaching the male characters.^[1]
• While the tracks in the soundtrack are the same for both versions, the snare drums are much louder in the Japanese version.^[2]

Ports

It was re-released as a port in two different forms for the Sega Saturn and Game Boy Advance named Phantasy Star Collection. It was also released on the Sega Smash Pack Volume One for the Dreamcast. A remake, named Phantasy Star Generation 2, was released in Japan for the PlayStation 2 in 2005 as a part of Sega Ages. The game is available through Nintendo's Virtual Console service as of February 18, 2008. It is also part of the Sega Genesis Collection for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. The game is available in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. On June 10, 2009, it was released on Xbox Live Arcade under the Sega Vintage Collection banner. On August 26, 2010 it was released for iPhone.

Reception/Legacy

Phantasy Star II was a landmark game in its time, the first RPG for the Mega Drive, and the first 16-bit console RPG to be released in North America, arriving several months before even the original Final Fantasy, a key game in the genre's popularization in that territory. The original Phantasy Star game was a big game for its time, but because of the advancements in technology between the Sega Master System and the Sega Mega Drive Phantasy Star II featured a a cartridge that held 1.5 times the data of the original's and, in the eyes of many^[who?], was the better of the two games. The game was reviewed in 1990 in Dragon, issue #160, by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.^[3] Honest Gamers also reviewed the game, giving it a score of 10/10 and praising the games apocalyptic mood and difficulty.

Phantasy Star II is regarded by many as a forerunner for certain aspects of console role-playing games, such as an an epic, dramatic, character-driven storyline dealing with serious themes and subject matter, a strategy-based battle system,^[4][5] and the demand for extensive strategy guides for such games (Phantasy Star II included one with the game itself). Phantasy Star II's purely science fiction setting was also a major departure for RPGs, which had previously been largely restricted to fantasy or science fantasy settings.^[6] The game's science fiction story was also unique, reversing the common alien invasion scenario by instead presenting Earthlings as the invading antagonists rather than the defending protagonists.^[4][5] The game's strong characterization, and use of self-discovery as a motivating factor for the characters and the player, was a major departure from previous RPGs and had a major influence on subsequent RPGs such as the Final Fantasy series.^[6]

It has made a number of "Greatest Game of all Time" lists: it was number 97 on EGM's list of The 200 Greatest Games of Their Time, and in August 2005 it was inducted into GameSpot's Greatest Games of All Time list.^[5] Nintendo Power has called Phantasy Star II, along with Phantasy Star IV, one of the greatest role-playing games of all time.^[7] In 2011, GamePro included the game in its "20 Games That Defined Role-Playing Games" list.^[8]

See also

• Phantasy Star II Text Adventures

References

1. ^ Ripplinger, Mike (2002). "The Two Phantasy Stars". Camineet. http://www.ripplinger.us/camineet/theories/twophantasystars.asp. Retrieved 2010-01-29. 
2. ^ Thomas, Damian (2008). "Phantasy Star 1st Series Complete Album". RPGFan. http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ps-1st/index.html. Retrieved 2010-01-29. 
3. ^ Lesser, Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk (August 1990). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (160): 47–52. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Time Machine: Phantasy Star". ComputerAndVideoGames.com. January 2, 2011. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/281081/features/time-machine-phantasy-star/. Retrieved 15 May 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Kasavin, Greg. "The Greatest Games of All Time: Phantasy Star II - Features at GameSpot". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/features/6129293/index.html. Retrieved 2010-09-13. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Kaiser, Rowan (July 22 2011). "RPG Pillars: Phantasy Star II". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/221338/rpg-pillars-phantasy-star-ii/. Retrieved 6 September 2011. 
7. ^ Editors of Nintendo Power: Nintendo Power February 2009; issue 2 (in English). Future US Inc, 39-42. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
8. ^ Kat Bailey; Jason Wilson (July 22 2011). "RPG Pillars: 20 Games That Defined Role-Playing Games". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/221341/rpg-pillars-20-games-that-defined-role-playing-games/. Retrieved 6 September 2011. 

External links

• Phantasy Star Cave's Phantasy Star II section
• Phantasy-star.net's guides (includes original manual and complete script)
• RPGclassics.com's guides and item lists for Phantasy Star II
• FantasyAnime.com's guides (includes screen captures, art scans, music and downloads)
• Nintendo Virtual Console Virtual console homepage