Ask any Master System fan about this game, and chances are that their eyes will light up and they'll snap, "Phantasy Star? Of course it's good!" And I'd have to agree, because it rocks.
Phantasy Star, of 1988, is what you might call yesterday's Final Fantasy 7. Well, Sega did not sell anywhere near as many copies, but in terms of the effect it has had on the people who have played it, it is just the same, if not more so.
The game begins with an introductory sequence that shows a young man named Nero dying at the feet of his killers. It turns out that he was trying to sniff around in and stop the doings of Lassic, an evil king hell-bent on leading the world to destruction. When his sister Alis finds him in this state, he tells her of Odin, a warrior with great strength who might be able to help Alis avenge him and put a stop to Lassic's evil ways. And with that, he passes away. Alis vows to do as he wishes.
So, the adventure has begun! As with all traditional RPG's, there are a lot of people to speak to, places to visit, shops to supply your arms, etc. There are even three other people who will join you in your quest as you progress through the game- Myau, a cool cat with the claws and ears to match; Odin, the warrior of whom Nero spoke during the intro scene; and Noah, an esper of the desert.
The combat system is in the traditional RPG turn-based style, with various attacks and magic spells. Not everybody likes this style of combat, but it's more or less the same as in FF7, though without the same graphics, obviously. Interestingly enough, you can use all four of your characters in combat, whereas in FF7 you can only use three! There are interesting creatures and monsters of all kinds.
The game looks good. Graphics, by SMS standards, are superb. Bright, sharp and colourful map screens, bold backgrounds for the combat scenes, and great anime-style character pics. Not the best Master System graphics I've seen, but certainly some of the better.
The smooth, fast Doom-style 3D dungeons are impressive, and certainly not something you find in every SMS game! It's great fun navigating your way through them, not knowing what you'll come across around each corner... but it's easy to get lost, so look out! :) The sound is decent as well. Some good tunes throughout the game, and I like the battle music. Sound effects are more of the same.
But in spite of excellent graphics and good sound, where this game shines is in it's great gameplay. It's a long, addictive journey, with an involving storyline - always welcome in any game, and more compulsory than welcome in a role-playing game like this. It blends traditional RPG gameplay with some unique features of it's own, such as the impressive 3D dungeons I mentioned before, plus an in-cart battery for saving up to five games.
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So overall, Phantasy Star is one of the best titles available for the SMS. Excellent graphics, great music, and an enjoyable adventure for RPG lovers and loathers alike. It's a winner!
The popularity of this game among the Internet "Master System community" is amazing, and it's said that this game is the one reason that many people still own an SMS. I don't doubt it! :) |
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