What gets me is how some people say Phantasy Star 3's enemies were pathetic when they attacked. If you look at Phantasy Star 4, the attack animations aren't that great for some of the monsters either. A monster in Ps 3 lifts its finger, a boss in PS IV lifts his hand. The animations are just as simplistic but they are more tastefully done for PS 4.
Now what gets me is those same people who mock Phantasy Star 3 for its enemies and attacks, will PRAISE Final Fantasy 1-6 for the way its battles are done. In those games, most of the enemies just BLINK. A Blink, damage numbers shown. Now 5 and 6 added a little attacks but the monsters have no life. Wow, 2 steps and they don't even touch the monsters. PS 2 and 4? Monsters get touched..
Phantasy Star 1-4, the enemies have little things that bring them to life. Glowing eyes, bouncing, moving eyes, moving tentacles, etc.
That is what makes Phantasy Star a better series during the 8-16 bit era. Enemies had life to them.