3 ms·

Phantasy Star IV – 1993 Developer Interviews

148 points by speckx 6mo ago

functionmouse 6mo ago
Awesome game, highly recommended. It's fine if it's your first PS game
- deafpolygon 6mo ago
  Not sure if it was on PS (except as part of the Sega Collection disc), but I played it on the Sega Genesis. Loved it.
  - loloquwowndueo 6mo ago
    PS = Phantasy Star
    - deafpolygon 6mo ago
      Oops. Yea. It works great as your first game. I recommend PSIV->PSII->PSIII and maybe skip the original unless you're really into it. It's quite outdated.
      - hnlmorg 6mo ago
        The original is still a great game. But I'd recommend the `Sega Ages` version on the Nintendo Switch rather than the original because the Sega Ages version includes a couple of quality of life improvements such as a map of the dungeons. It's also a lot less "grindy".
        mghackerlady 6mo ago
        imo part of the fun when I went back to it was drawing maps on graph paper :)
        hnlmorg 6mo ago
        I might agree with you if it wasn't for those annoying trap doors. I got so lost as a result of them back when I originally rented the game back in the 90s that I never managed to complete it.
      - code_duck 6mo ago
        The original is amazing for an 8 bit game. If I was going to suggest skipping one it would definitely be 3.
  - code_duck 6mo ago
    Incidentally, there are remakes of the first two for PS2, released under the Sega AGES line of discount games. Unfortunately, only in Japanese at the time I played, though translation patches are now available. They’re called Phantasy Star Generation 1 and 2. There is also a release of a compilation of the original games for PS2.
- ansgri 6mo ago
  PS3 was one of my favorite games, maybe it's time to get myself one of those pocket emulators and play PS4 finally.
  - functionmouse 6mo ago
    edit: If you have the space, a Nintendo Wii running Genesis Plus GX with the video mode set to "Original" and a CRT with at least composite (yellow cable) blows all of those handhelds out of the water. If you only have composite, the emulator has a "trap filter" option which utilizes some custom hardware and the Nintendo Wii's graphics chip to isolate the chroma and luma channels, resulting in a much cleaner composite image. Of course, component is still better, but it's becoming harder to find a 15kHz CRT with component hookups. Otherwise, I recommend Retroid Pocket 6 if you like Android or want to play GC/PS2/N64, or a Miyoo Mini Plus if you don't care about any of that. Neat thing about the mini plus is its 640x480 screen, so you get Genesis/Mega Drive games edge to edge 2x integer scale if configured properly. Also has OnionOS which is a pretty good custom firmware. Other than that, lots of these things have major problems. Watch out for things like improperly calibrated joysticks (can't run in certain directions in 3D platformers, only walking speed), screen tearing, saves disappearing from the filesystem if the system shuts down improperly during gameplay, audio crackle/poor audio in general, IPS bleed around display edges, soggy dpads, face buttons too firm, etc. A lot of problems with any given device you can run into that don't fall under the usual umbrella of review metrics, so you won't know until you realize a week into owning it why something feels off about it...
    - ansgri 5mo ago
      Thanks, I was hoping for this sort of a response. Ordered a Miyoo Mini Plus.
- Esn024 6mo ago
  Yes, it is surprisingly polished. I tried playing the first three Phantasy Star games, but each time was put off by one annoying design flaw or another (such as the camera not being centred in II, so that you can't see very far ahead when exploring). In the fourth game, everything just works. Just about the only annoying flaw still left is that it's not obvious what items do, and you kinda will need to memorize lots of random names... (Well, or have a reference near you while you play) This is actually mentioned in the interview as them not wanting to be too explicit about what things do (not saying "attack +20" etc.) - unfortunately, it's one of those design decisions that does create friction for the player.
musha68k 6mo ago
Phoenix Rie <3
AdmiralAsshat 6mo ago
Reiko Kodama did some incredible work for Sega, Skies of Arcadia probably being her most notable after Phantasy Star. She unfortunately passed away in 2022, and it took some months before anyone was even aware of it due to her family's desire for privacy.
ZeroClickOk 6mo ago
By far one of the best games I have played.
xphos 6mo ago
The OG phantasy Star was a little before my time but the GameCube version of Phantasy Star online was so good. They even have community servers for it today as Phantasy Star Blue burst. The game is now dated but honestly I could still play it because it had a good grind formula https://www.phantasystaronline.net/ https://www.phantasystaronline.net/
- hnlmorg 6mo ago
  I still play PSO weekly online with a small guild of friends.
  - mountainriver 6mo ago
    How can I play with you all!?
    - mghackerlady 6mo ago
      what version do you play? I believe that affects it. There are custom servers for pc and gamecube, but there's more work on dreamcast
      - hnlmorg 6mo ago
        I use https://schtserv.com https://schtserv.com which supports both GC and Xbox versions of PSO. The Dreamcast has it's own community servers and isn't compatible with Schtserv. Though I believe that might just be because Episode 2 wasn't release on the DC. I do have an account for the DC servers too but I wouldn't recommend them. The DC takes too much hassle to get online for the value when most people on the DC PSO server are there for the novelty rather than the grind. Blue Burst (PC) has it's own community servers too. But I've never owned nor played PSO on the PC.
        mghackerlady 6mo ago
        I've played a few hours of the gamecube version online. I honestly would rather play the dreamcast version, I'm not a big MMO person so the novelty is why I'm playing
tosh 6mo ago
one of the best RPGs on Mega Drive I wish like for Sonic (Mania) there would be additional Phantasy Star entries in the IV formula
mghackerlady 6mo ago
Phantasy Star is such an underrated series. They're all far before my time, I was exposed via a sega genesis collection on the xbox 360. I've played a lot of I, II, and IV. I've also played and enjoyed phantasy star zero on the ds and got some enjoyment out of it
kinow 6mo ago
Phantasy Star I was the first RPG I played when child. I remember my father showing us the basic commands, and then my brothers and I taking notes of items, magic, and drawing cave maps.
izzydata 6mo ago
I like Phantasy Star IV, but my main love of the franchise is still Phantasy Star Online 1. From my understand during the planning phase of PSO it hadn't been decided to be a Phantasy Star game. It wasn't until later that they decided to skin the game to Phantasy Star. Funny how you can be well into development on the fundamentals of a game and not know what it will be called or exactly what it will look like.
- fooqux 6mo ago
  I would say it showed though. The game basically had zero story, and that's why.
theologan 6mo ago
This game was ahead of its time, and had a most excellent sound track.
falsaberN1 6mo ago
Raise your hand if you got Megid without a guide. I love Phantasy Star I-IV (except III, mostly everyone agrees it's too flawed and wacky despite some good ideas). I never got into Phantasy Star Online, which is the only game people today seem to be familiar with, though. Is it even related to the original RPGs? I heard 2 has Dark Force as a boss but the events of IV make it...strange. That shouldn't be possible in-universe. Still, Phantasy Star IV is my favorite and most likely the best RPG on the Megadrive by a long shot. It had good combat, good music, it stayed away from medieval fantasy and generally speaking was full of good vibes (except after the first battle with Zio. If you know you know.). If you want to replay it there is a randomizer called Profound Distortion that allows to mix things up and I believe it's still in active development. Anyway, I really loved some of the things it did with enemies like the witches using combined attacks or monsters fusing together like the Dualblade and the Life Deleter. Even today that stuff is rare to see, last game I remember with enemy fusions is Etrian Odyssey V. I never managed to find the game in a normal shop, but when the local Blockbuster closed up, they happened to have a rental copy that I managed to get. It's still with me.
- debo_ 6mo ago
  Sega decided to make a console-first online game. It was sci-fi from the beginning, but the Phantasy Star veneer was added later in development. The creators of PSO are on-record saying that the only thing PSO shares with the classic PS games are names of things. Strangely, I posted this just a few days ago (I've been playing Phantasy Star Portable recently) https://www.avclub.com/sega-phantasy-star-online-gaming https://www.avclub.com/sega-phantasy-star-online-gaming
- rikthevik 6mo ago
  For me the height of the 16-bit era was Final Fantasy VI, but wow was Phantasy Star IV great. The intro, the savage twang of those Genesis basslines, the aesthetics, it was really something special.
- S_Bear 6mo ago
  III was my favorite. Lyle was so cool to 13 year old me, the multi-generation cyborgs were awesome (in fact, the multiple ending were all kind of neat), I loved the biomes connected by tunnels, and the art direction was kind of gross and funky compared to how clean the PSII enemies were.
saejox 6mo ago
This part fires me up to create art for arts sake: Kodama: That’s also partly why this development was a lot of fun, I think: we (the developers) started the project on our own initiative, and many people on the team had worked on PSII and were able to address the shortcomings and unfinished ideas they had from that game in PSIV.
mwkaufma 6mo ago
RIP Rieko Kodama
- neuronexmachina 6mo ago
  TIL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rieko_Kodama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rieko_Kodama > A memorial message dedicated to Kodama was included in the end credits of the Sega Genesis Mini 2, which was released on October 27, 2022.[16] Addressing inquiries by IGN and Famitsu, Sega confirmed that Kodama had died on May 9, 2022, aged 58,[17][18] and initially refrained from a public announcement to respect her family's privacy
sylware 6mo ago
Proud player of phantasy star I on sega master system here (I was a really, really, young kid when I played it) Yeah, and I don't want to play more phantasy star games, and you know why? I am klinging to those amazing positive emotions I can still remember, namely I don't want to ruin them.
throw_m239339 6mo ago
Fantastic game, and the only PS game I actually finished! Unfortunately Rieko Kodama passed away not too long ago, fantastic game director and artist she was... I really like the Manga style cut scenes in the game, it really added to the production value, and the plot is once again, full of twists and turns. This is a JRPG that did age well and it's still engaging to play today, so it's a classic... like Breath of Fire III, Final Fantasy 6, Chrono Trigger,... they have well crafted stories & characters and they are not too hard to play or too grindy... and they all have a certain care for presentation.
ferguess_k 6mo ago
Is there any extensive interviews with Japanese Console programmers? I feel all these interviews focus on the writing/design side, which make sense for popularity, but I do hope there are extensive interviews with programmers. There are plenty of interviews with EU/US console programmers.
daneel_w 6mo ago
Thanks for sharing! I've been a great fan ever since childhood. Phantasy Star 1, 2, 3 and 4 played a huge part in the world of games I grew up with and I consider the series among the best Japanese RPG universes ever made.
bcardarella 6mo ago
Phantasy Star remains to this day my favorite RPG. I was the kid in the neighborhood who's parents bought a SEGA Master System instead of a NES. I would play Final Fantasy a bit over their houses but it always paled in comparison to Phantasy Star. I recently replayed it on Nintendo Switch. Still a very challenging RPG and stil feels great.
wormius 6mo ago
My friend had the Master System, so I got to experience the first two, and loved the dome shaped buildings it had going on. Another friend had a Dreamcast and had pondered getting Phantasy Star Online, but never did. Anyways, I'm glad it's still "a thing" even if it's not the same. It'd be wild to see it come back the way Dragon Quest did with XI.
theologan 6mo ago
Most excellent.
jdiaz97 6mo ago
This game changed my life

148 points by speckx 6mo ago

functionmouse 6mo ago

Awesome game, highly recommended. It's fine if it's your first PS game

deafpolygon 6mo ago
Not sure if it was on PS (except as part of the Sega Collection disc), but I played it on the Sega Genesis. Loved it.
- loloquwowndueo 6mo ago
  PS = Phantasy Star
  - deafpolygon 6mo ago
    Oops. Yea. It works great as your first game. I recommend PSIV->PSII->PSIII and maybe skip the original unless you're really into it. It's quite outdated.
    - hnlmorg 6mo ago
      The original is still a great game. But I'd recommend the `Sega Ages` version on the Nintendo Switch rather than the original because the Sega Ages version includes a couple of quality of life improvements such as a map of the dungeons. It's also a lot less "grindy".
      - mghackerlady 6mo ago
        imo part of the fun when I went back to it was drawing maps on graph paper :)
        hnlmorg 6mo ago
        I might agree with you if it wasn't for those annoying trap doors. I got so lost as a result of them back when I originally rented the game back in the 90s that I never managed to complete it.
    - code_duck 6mo ago
      The original is amazing for an 8 bit game. If I was going to suggest skipping one it would definitely be 3.
- code_duck 6mo ago
  Incidentally, there are remakes of the first two for PS2, released under the Sega AGES line of discount games. Unfortunately, only in Japanese at the time I played, though translation patches are now available. They’re called Phantasy Star Generation 1 and 2. There is also a release of a compilation of the original games for PS2.
ansgri 6mo ago
PS3 was one of my favorite games, maybe it's time to get myself one of those pocket emulators and play PS4 finally.
- functionmouse 6mo ago
  edit: If you have the space, a Nintendo Wii running Genesis Plus GX with the video mode set to "Original" and a CRT with at least composite (yellow cable) blows all of those handhelds out of the water. If you only have composite, the emulator has a "trap filter" option which utilizes some custom hardware and the Nintendo Wii's graphics chip to isolate the chroma and luma channels, resulting in a much cleaner composite image. Of course, component is still better, but it's becoming harder to find a 15kHz CRT with component hookups. Otherwise, I recommend Retroid Pocket 6 if you like Android or want to play GC/PS2/N64, or a Miyoo Mini Plus if you don't care about any of that. Neat thing about the mini plus is its 640x480 screen, so you get Genesis/Mega Drive games edge to edge 2x integer scale if configured properly. Also has OnionOS which is a pretty good custom firmware. Other than that, lots of these things have major problems. Watch out for things like improperly calibrated joysticks (can't run in certain directions in 3D platformers, only walking speed), screen tearing, saves disappearing from the filesystem if the system shuts down improperly during gameplay, audio crackle/poor audio in general, IPS bleed around display edges, soggy dpads, face buttons too firm, etc. A lot of problems with any given device you can run into that don't fall under the usual umbrella of review metrics, so you won't know until you realize a week into owning it why something feels off about it...
  - ansgri 5mo ago
    Thanks, I was hoping for this sort of a response. Ordered a Miyoo Mini Plus.
Esn024 6mo ago
Yes, it is surprisingly polished. I tried playing the first three Phantasy Star games, but each time was put off by one annoying design flaw or another (such as the camera not being centred in II, so that you can't see very far ahead when exploring). In the fourth game, everything just works. Just about the only annoying flaw still left is that it's not obvious what items do, and you kinda will need to memorize lots of random names... (Well, or have a reference near you while you play) This is actually mentioned in the interview as them not wanting to be too explicit about what things do (not saying "attack +20" etc.) - unfortunately, it's one of those design decisions that does create friction for the player.

musha68k 6mo ago

Phoenix Rie <3

AdmiralAsshat 6mo ago

Reiko Kodama did some incredible work for Sega, Skies of Arcadia probably being her most notable after Phantasy Star. She unfortunately passed away in 2022, and it took some months before anyone was even aware of it due to her family's desire for privacy.

ZeroClickOk 6mo ago

By far one of the best games I have played.

xphos 6mo ago

The OG phantasy Star was a little before my time but the GameCube version of Phantasy Star online was so good. They even have community servers for it today as Phantasy Star Blue burst. The game is now dated but honestly I could still play it because it had a good grind formula https://www.phantasystaronline.net/ https://www.phantasystaronline.net/

hnlmorg 6mo ago
I still play PSO weekly online with a small guild of friends.
- mountainriver 6mo ago
  How can I play with you all!?
  - mghackerlady 6mo ago
    what version do you play? I believe that affects it. There are custom servers for pc and gamecube, but there's more work on dreamcast
    - hnlmorg 6mo ago
      I use https://schtserv.com https://schtserv.com which supports both GC and Xbox versions of PSO. The Dreamcast has it's own community servers and isn't compatible with Schtserv. Though I believe that might just be because Episode 2 wasn't release on the DC. I do have an account for the DC servers too but I wouldn't recommend them. The DC takes too much hassle to get online for the value when most people on the DC PSO server are there for the novelty rather than the grind. Blue Burst (PC) has it's own community servers too. But I've never owned nor played PSO on the PC.
      - mghackerlady 6mo ago
        I've played a few hours of the gamecube version online. I honestly would rather play the dreamcast version, I'm not a big MMO person so the novelty is why I'm playing

tosh 6mo ago

one of the best RPGs on Mega Drive I wish like for Sonic (Mania) there would be additional Phantasy Star entries in the IV formula

mghackerlady 6mo ago

Phantasy Star is such an underrated series. They're all far before my time, I was exposed via a sega genesis collection on the xbox 360. I've played a lot of I, II, and IV. I've also played and enjoyed phantasy star zero on the ds and got some enjoyment out of it

kinow 6mo ago

Phantasy Star I was the first RPG I played when child. I remember my father showing us the basic commands, and then my brothers and I taking notes of items, magic, and drawing cave maps.

izzydata 6mo ago

I like Phantasy Star IV, but my main love of the franchise is still Phantasy Star Online 1. From my understand during the planning phase of PSO it hadn't been decided to be a Phantasy Star game. It wasn't until later that they decided to skin the game to Phantasy Star. Funny how you can be well into development on the fundamentals of a game and not know what it will be called or exactly what it will look like.

fooqux 6mo ago
I would say it showed though. The game basically had zero story, and that's why.

theologan 6mo ago

This game was ahead of its time, and had a most excellent sound track.

falsaberN1 6mo ago

Raise your hand if you got Megid without a guide. I love Phantasy Star I-IV (except III, mostly everyone agrees it's too flawed and wacky despite some good ideas). I never got into Phantasy Star Online, which is the only game people today seem to be familiar with, though. Is it even related to the original RPGs? I heard 2 has Dark Force as a boss but the events of IV make it...strange. That shouldn't be possible in-universe. Still, Phantasy Star IV is my favorite and most likely the best RPG on the Megadrive by a long shot. It had good combat, good music, it stayed away from medieval fantasy and generally speaking was full of good vibes (except after the first battle with Zio. If you know you know.). If you want to replay it there is a randomizer called Profound Distortion that allows to mix things up and I believe it's still in active development. Anyway, I really loved some of the things it did with enemies like the witches using combined attacks or monsters fusing together like the Dualblade and the Life Deleter. Even today that stuff is rare to see, last game I remember with enemy fusions is Etrian Odyssey V. I never managed to find the game in a normal shop, but when the local Blockbuster closed up, they happened to have a rental copy that I managed to get. It's still with me.

debo_ 6mo ago
Sega decided to make a console-first online game. It was sci-fi from the beginning, but the Phantasy Star veneer was added later in development. The creators of PSO are on-record saying that the only thing PSO shares with the classic PS games are names of things. Strangely, I posted this just a few days ago (I've been playing Phantasy Star Portable recently) https://www.avclub.com/sega-phantasy-star-online-gaming https://www.avclub.com/sega-phantasy-star-online-gaming
rikthevik 6mo ago
For me the height of the 16-bit era was Final Fantasy VI, but wow was Phantasy Star IV great. The intro, the savage twang of those Genesis basslines, the aesthetics, it was really something special.
S_Bear 6mo ago
III was my favorite. Lyle was so cool to 13 year old me, the multi-generation cyborgs were awesome (in fact, the multiple ending were all kind of neat), I loved the biomes connected by tunnels, and the art direction was kind of gross and funky compared to how clean the PSII enemies were.

saejox 6mo ago

This part fires me up to create art for arts sake: Kodama: That’s also partly why this development was a lot of fun, I think: we (the developers) started the project on our own initiative, and many people on the team had worked on PSII and were able to address the shortcomings and unfinished ideas they had from that game in PSIV.

mwkaufma 6mo ago

RIP Rieko Kodama

neuronexmachina 6mo ago
TIL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rieko_Kodama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rieko_Kodama > A memorial message dedicated to Kodama was included in the end credits of the Sega Genesis Mini 2, which was released on October 27, 2022.[16] Addressing inquiries by IGN and Famitsu, Sega confirmed that Kodama had died on May 9, 2022, aged 58,[17][18] and initially refrained from a public announcement to respect her family's privacy

sylware 6mo ago

Proud player of phantasy star I on sega master system here (I was a really, really, young kid when I played it) Yeah, and I don't want to play more phantasy star games, and you know why? I am klinging to those amazing positive emotions I can still remember, namely I don't want to ruin them.

throw_m239339 6mo ago

Fantastic game, and the only PS game I actually finished! Unfortunately Rieko Kodama passed away not too long ago, fantastic game director and artist she was... I really like the Manga style cut scenes in the game, it really added to the production value, and the plot is once again, full of twists and turns. This is a JRPG that did age well and it's still engaging to play today, so it's a classic... like Breath of Fire III, Final Fantasy 6, Chrono Trigger,... they have well crafted stories & characters and they are not too hard to play or too grindy... and they all have a certain care for presentation.

ferguess_k 6mo ago

Is there any extensive interviews with Japanese Console programmers? I feel all these interviews focus on the writing/design side, which make sense for popularity, but I do hope there are extensive interviews with programmers. There are plenty of interviews with EU/US console programmers.

daneel_w 6mo ago

Thanks for sharing! I've been a great fan ever since childhood. Phantasy Star 1, 2, 3 and 4 played a huge part in the world of games I grew up with and I consider the series among the best Japanese RPG universes ever made.

bcardarella 6mo ago

Phantasy Star remains to this day my favorite RPG. I was the kid in the neighborhood who's parents bought a SEGA Master System instead of a NES. I would play Final Fantasy a bit over their houses but it always paled in comparison to Phantasy Star. I recently replayed it on Nintendo Switch. Still a very challenging RPG and stil feels great.

wormius 6mo ago

My friend had the Master System, so I got to experience the first two, and loved the dome shaped buildings it had going on. Another friend had a Dreamcast and had pondered getting Phantasy Star Online, but never did. Anyways, I'm glad it's still "a thing" even if it's not the same. It'd be wild to see it come back the way Dragon Quest did with XI.

theologan 6mo ago

Most excellent.

jdiaz97 6mo ago

This game changed my life