Phantasy Star…the ultimate RPG of my childhood. When I discovered the game was on the Nintendo Switch eShop I absolutely had to have it. I cannot begin to describe the endless hours middle-school-aged me spent mapping out dungeons with a graph paper notebook, step by freaked out step, hoping to not run into horrible monsters.
The BEST thing about the SEGA AGES version of Phantasy Star is the included map-reveal widget that maps out as much of any dungeon as the player cares to explore. Not only that, but the dungeon maps are saved so any reentry does not result in needing to blindly explore again. THANK YOU, SEGA! It’s worth mentioning, however, that this pioneer of the RPG genre goes by quickly without the need to meticulously map out the unending slog of mandatory dungeons.
Step into the shoes of Alis, an orphaned girl on a mission to revenge herself on the dictatorial regime that murdered her brother. Find allies, battle monsters, and work your way up to a quite literal castle in the sky to achieve your goal. Phantasy Star AGES has all of the punishing elements I remember as far as spawn rates and RNG but was a much more satisfying adventure when dungeons could be explored and documented in real-time instead of step by agonizing step.
AGES also allows players to choose between the original version of the game and a slightly easier mode that lowers spawn rates and increases dropped gold - though shop prices seem to go up as a result.
My only real gripe about this game would be present for the original as well, and that is the ending. Yes, there are monsters living throughout each of the planets Alis visits, and yes they can be pretty thick on the ground, but (spoilers) creating a final-FINAL boss that is a demon possessing a guy is just…not great?
Was this demon possessing the king? Is this demon somehow responsible for the king turning evil? Why has this demon now possessed the body of a governor instead of the heir to the galaxy’s throne (Alis)? Was this just a random possession? Is Alis being targeted in it? I don’t know. It was very confusing and felt wildly off-topic and out of place, but yay for a secret-yet-very-necessary boss?
Phantasy Star SEGA AGES is available on Nintendo Switch.