Phantasy Star: Fringes of Algo

by **Thoul** » Wed Nov 9, '11, 12:20 am

The first Dark Force encountered in Phantasy Star IV was unofficially named "Cyber Force" by the game developers. Thanks to the creature's deep integration with the computer systems of the space station Kuran, it was able to utilize attacks typical of androids and other mechanical enemies. The bulbous body, looking almost like a corrupted human heart, has tendrils that snake deep into the hardware. Cyber Force is definitely the nastiest infection to ever strike a computer in Algo.

by **carlsojos** » Wed Nov 9, '11, 7:02 pm

That's what happens when you don't update your antivirus software!

by **newsblade** » Wed Nov 9, '11, 8:10 pm

Thoul wrote:The first Dark Force encountered in Phantasy Star IV was unofficially named "Cyber Force" by the game developers. Thanks to the creature's deep integration with the computer systems of the space station Kuran, it was able to utilize attacks typical of androids and other mechanical enemies. The bulbous body, looking almost like a corrupted human heart, has tendrils that snake deep into the hardware. Cyber Force is definitely the nastiest infection to ever strike a computer in Algo.

Woah! It really looks like a corrupted heart. I also noticed the "PHANTASY STAR IV" title on this storyboard. I didn't knew the creators also called this game by that name.

So here we can see that "Dark Force" ("Dark Phallus", "Dark False" or whatever) are like 'seeds' that wherever inserted/implanted on a 'body' or 'environment' they will assume its shape and name:

- Inside the seal: Prophallus (since this is his original shape it could mean "Proto/Prototype Phallus" or "Profound Darkness Phallus" ~~~ Well, I don't know if he is also called "Nightmare" or if he can be summoned with "Nightmare" spell or if "Nightmare is just a portal or an image recreation of a regular Prophallus...)
- Cybernetic environment: Cyberphallus [this one]
- Forest environment: something-phallus (Carnivorous Trees / corrupted forest)
- Human (Seth) environment: Humanphallus...? maybe this was the reason why they scraped the idea of giving titles

Anyway, it's interesting that the order of their shapes also appears on the final confrontation of profound darkness:
PD1 - Has an organic shape, just like cyberphallus
PD2 - Looks like it has spines, or branches like a tree (just like DF at the Garuberk tower)
PD3 - Human shape (instead of a man with a sword, it's a woman shape)

by **Thoul** » Mon Nov 14, '11, 2:34 am

Excellent analysis, newsblade. I never thought about those aspects of the Dark Force manifestations or the mirroring in the Profound Darkness' forms. They do match up rather well.