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Mother 3
2006
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GAME-BOY-ADVANCE
9.5
Phantasy Star
Reviewed by Marcus Webb & Elena Castillo ·
Sega's 1987 Master System RPG that launched one of gaming's most important franchises — Phantasy Star features a pioneering science-fantasy setting, a female protagonist (Alis), 3D dungeon crawling with first-person corridors, and a story of political rebellion that was remarkable for console RPG sophistication of its era.
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💡 Phantasy Star — Key Facts
- → Phantasy Star was developed by Sega and published by Sega
- → Released in 1987 on SEGA-MASTER-SYSTEM
- → Genre: Jrpg
- → We rate it 9.2/10 — an absolute classic
- → Part of the Phantasy Star franchise
- → Sega's 1987 Master System RPG that launched one of gaming's most important franchises — Phantasy Star features a pioneering science-fantasy setting, a female protagonist (Alis), 3D dungeon crawling with first-person corridors, and a story of political rebellion that was remarkable for console RPG sophistication of its era.
Overview
Phantasy Star chose a female protagonist in 1987. Alis Landale seeks revenge for her brother’s death in a solar system under a tyrant’s control. The science-fantasy setting — swords alongside spaceships, magic alongside technology — was unusual in an era when RPGs defaulted to medieval fantasy.
The choice of what Phantasy Star was to be shaped what RPGs could be.
The Dungeons
The technical demonstration that distinguished Phantasy Star from contemporaries: dungeons render in first-person 3D corridors. The overworld and towns use standard 1987 top-down perspective. The dungeons shift to a first-person view where the player navigates corridor passages rendered in 3D.
For 1987 home console hardware, the effect was remarkable. The SMS’s rendering of 3D dungeon corridors was the kind of technical accomplishment that made players aware they were seeing something hardware wasn’t supposed to do.
Navigation without maps is the consequence. Phantasy Star’s dungeons require either intensive hand-drawn mapping or the frustration of getting lost in corridors that look similar from every direction. The Sega Ages re-release added auto-mapping specifically because the original’s navigationl difficulty created a barrier to modern players.
The Three Planets
The Algo solar system has three planets: Palma (forested, the starting world), Motavia (desert), and Dezoris (ice). Traversal between planets requires space transport — and visiting all three is required to complete the game.
The three-planet structure provided environmental and visual variety that single-world RPGs couldn’t match. Players who had been playing fantasy RPGs in generic medieval settings encountered something genuinely different: a solar system with distinct world identities, space travel as a mechanic, and the sense of a fictional universe wider than any single location.
The Franchise Foundation
Phantasy Star II, III, and IV continued the Algo universe across Mega Drive hardware. Each sequel expanded on the original’s science-fantasy premise in different directions — II’s darker cyberpunk themes, III’s generational saga, IV’s acclaimed conclusion.
Phantasy Star Online (2000) launched the franchise’s second chapter as a massively multiplayer experience. The series has continued across multiple platforms and game types for nearly four decades.
The original SMS game is where it started: Alis, three planets, a tyrant, and 3D corridors that 1987 hardware wasn’t supposed to render.
Our Review
9.2
Outstanding / 10
🎮
Gameplay
★★★★★
🎨
Graphics
★★★★★
🎵
Audio
★★★★★
🔄
Replay
★★★★★
Gameplay
Phantasy Star is a Japanese RPG with overhead exploration and random encounter combat. The game's defining technical feature is its dungeons: while overworld and town exploration is top-down sprite-based, dungeons render in first-person 3D corridors — a technically impressive achievement for 1987 console hardware. The story follows Alis Landale seeking revenge for her brother's death at the hands of Governor Lassic, ruler of the Algo solar system's three planets. The three-planet structure allows traversal between Palma, Motavia, and Dezoris with distinct environments. Party members include Myau (cat/Musk Cat), Odin (soldier), and Noah (wizard). Turn-based combat with magic (Techniques) and party tactics.
Graphics
Phantasy Star's 3D dungeon corridors were technically extraordinary for 1987 — no contemporary home console RPG matched the effect. Character and monster art is colorful and detailed. The three planets' distinct visual identities (forest world, desert world, ice world) are effectively communicated through sprite work.
Audio
The Phantasy Star soundtrack established the series' electronic/orchestral identity. Stage themes reflect each planet's environmental character — Motavia's desert has distinct musical color from Palma's forests. Boss encounter music escalates appropriately.
Replayability
Phantasy Star's linear narrative design means replay follows the same story path, but the dungeon complexity and some difficulty create return play for completionist goals. The game's historical importance motivates revisiting.
Historical Significance
Phantasy Star (1987, SMS) launched one of console RPG history's most important franchises. Its innovations: a female protagonist (Alis) at a time when most RPG heroes were male, a science-fantasy setting mixing swords and spaceships, 3D dungeon corridors on home hardware, and a political narrative with genuine antagonist motivation. Phantasy Star II, III, and IV (all Mega Drive) continued the Algo universe. Phantasy Star Online (Dreamcast, 2000) launched the franchise's online chapter. The original SMS game remains the foundation of a franchise spanning 35+ years.
✅ Pros
- + 3D dungeon corridors on 1987 console hardware — technically groundbreaking
- + Female protagonist (Alis) — unusual progressive choice for 1987
- + Science-fantasy setting unique among contemporary RPGs
- + Three-planet structure creates exploration variety
- + Foundation of a major franchise
❌ Cons
- - Dungeon navigation without maps is extremely challenging
- - Combat is slow by modern RPG standards
- - Grinding requirements for some encounters
- - 1987 RPG conventions feel dated to modern players
Also Known As
Phantasy Star SMSファンタシースター
Phantasy Star FAQ
What makes Phantasy Star historically important for RPGs?
Phantasy Star (1987) introduced several RPG conventions unusual or unprecedented for its era: a female protagonist (Alis Landale) as the primary hero at a time when nearly all RPG heroes were male; a science-fantasy setting combining swords, magic, and spaceships across multiple planets; 3D first-person dungeon corridors rendered on 1987 console hardware; and a political narrative with actual antagonist motivation beyond 'generic evil.' The game demonstrated that console RPGs could achieve narrative and technical sophistication rivaling computer RPGs. Its influence extended through Phantasy Star II's darker themes, III's generational narrative, and IV's acclaimed conclusion to the Algo saga.
How do Phantasy Star's 3D dungeons work?
While overworld and town exploration in Phantasy Star uses a top-down sprite perspective common to 1987 RPGs, the game's dungeons render in first-person 3D corridors. The player navigates dungeon passages with the first-person view showing the corridor ahead and wall intersections. The 3D effect was pre-rendered and scrolled as the player moved — creating a visual effect contemporary home console hardware couldn't easily replicate. The dungeon visualization was technically impressive enough that it served as a distinguishing technical achievement for the Master System at a time when the hardware competed with the NES. Navigation without in-game maps requires either external reference or intensive mapping.
Who are the characters in Phantasy Star?
Phantasy Star's party includes four characters: Alis Landale (the protagonist, whose brother Nero was killed by Governor Lassic's forces, motivating her revenge quest); Myau (a Musk Cat who joins after being freed, provides access to certain areas); Odin (a soldier who was turned to stone and freed by Myau's medicine, a physical combat specialist); and Noah (a wizard who joins later, providing magical techniques for combat). Each character has distinct combat roles and stat distributions. Alis is the balanced all-rounder, Odin is the heavy attacker, Noah is the spell caster. The party structure established conventions the franchise maintained in subsequent games.
Is Phantasy Star available on modern platforms?
Phantasy Star is available through several Sega compilation releases. The Sega Ages Phantasy Star (Nintendo Switch, 2018) includes the original Master System game with quality-of-life additions including auto-mapping for dungeons. Phantasy Star appeared in the Sega Master System / Mark III Classics collection and various Sega compilations for PS3 and PC. The complete Phantasy Star Classic trilogy (I-IV) has appeared on Steam. Phantasy Star Online 2 continues the online franchise. The original SMS version remains accessible through multiple legal channels, making it one of the most available classic SMS titles.
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