PStar 1,2 and 3 are awful compared to PStar 4

I can understand where the feeling of being underwhelmed to a certain degree by PSI-III comes from. I, personally, played PSIV first and was unable to get my hands on the predecessors for a couple of years. In that time, I had read text walkthroughs of all 3 games and had visualized them in my mind with PSIV-esque graphics. Sure, it makes no sense technically, but at the time I was 12 and had only owned a Genesis, so don't give me too much crap ;p

However, despite my initial reaction to the more simplistic graphics, scripts and music, I did end up enjoying the older games just as much. PSIV is still my favorite of the series, but PSI and II are just as great. PSIII, on the other hand, I felt was a great idea with poor execution. Everything about it just felt rushed.

-Corey

Welcome to the site!

While I agree that Phantasy Star IV is the best in the series, I can't agree that the others are "bad" in comparison, especially when you've never played the other games and therefore can't make that conclusion to begin with. It's like saying chocolate is gross based upon appearances only when you've never tried it. Yes, that is the analogy I'm using for now. Deal with it.

Phantasy Star I was the first game I played in the series -- I actually played it when it was first out in stores for the original SEGA gaming platform -- and the game itself seriously warped my mind. To me, the game was that amazing. An example of this: I used to be able to run a mile in six minutes, and the music from that game would play in my mind as I ran, and kept me going! Er, I know that sounds insane, but the game was an obsession for me - srsly. LOL.

Anyway, my point is, if anyone snubs the other PS games based upon appearances only, they are missing out. I still get a kick out of the quotes from the games... "You are a fool! You will die!" to the hilarious liar- reputation of the Dezorians.

PSII is beautifully complicated, but makes you feel so many emotions, that it is similar to PSIV in that aspect.

The least favorite of the series for most "phans" is probably PSIII since it is sort of a departure from the rest of the games, however - it is fun, campy, and seriously entertaining - because you get to marry a bunch of different people and have different directions of the game (and therefore the fate of the game itself).

Rune_Walsh wrote:

"You are a fool! You will die!"

As campy as it was in context, this quote stayed with me for years after I played the original PS. It's just so cold and direct. Any game I play with killer robots, no matter what they say, this is what I imagine coming out of their mouths as they gun me down.

when they first came out they were all awesome. however, replay value has changed my opinion over the years

PS1 is still the best
its not a walkthru, you never really knew what you had to do next, and you can play 75% of the game in a different order each time you play it.
...and the 3D dungeons just plain rule all.

PS2 and PS3 are just walkthrus, no chance of any deviation.

PS4 is also a walkthru ("stop telling me what to do!"), but the way its presented to you makes it so much fun to play

Rune_Walsh wrote:

my point is, if anyone snubs the other PS games based upon appearances only, they are missing out. I still get a kick out of the quotes from the games... "You are a fool! You will die!"

hehe ~ i have a screenshot of that one...

You can't really jump right in to PSIV; you have to play through PSI-PSIII in order to experience the historic references in PSIV. I know that it's tedious(and a bit confusing) to play through PSII and PSIII but it's essential. Speaking as a PSIV fanatic, I couldn't have truly enjoyed PSIV if I hadn't played through the first three games.
PSII and PSIII are difficult but they provide a rich gaming experience and build up player-character and player-game relationships. Diving right into PSIV is like experiencing the history from Chaz' perspective, with no knowledge as to the events of the past 3000 years.

Heikabuchi wrote:

Diving right into PSIV is like experiencing the history from Chaz' perspective, with no knowledge as to the events of the past 3000 years.

I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. In fact, something like this may draw you in even more because you're learning things right along with the main character and it may help the player be a little bit more immersed. I know that when I'm learning things right along with the character, I feel a little bit more like I'm in their place in the game. I like having that feeling when I'm playing something, no matter how that feeling is accomplished.

anyone that played all the original games on their original consoles as the games came out will tell you, that is the best way to experience them. of course thats not really possible these days. i still think playing them in order is best, however any exposure to Phantasy Star is better then no exposure.

its pretty obvious that most late-comers like PSIII or PSIV, while most early adoptors prefer PSI or PSII.

ThugsRook wrote:

my point is, if anyone snubs the other PS games based upon appearances only, they are missing out. I still get a kick out of the quotes from the games... "You are a fool! You will die!"

hehe ~ i have a screenshot of that one...
[/quote]

Haha, that is awesome.

pitohui wrote:

As campy as it was in context, this quote stayed with me for years after I played the original PS. It's just so cold and direct. Any game I play with killer robots, no matter what they say, this is what I imagine coming out of their mouths as they gun me down.

I have to agree with you. I remember when encountering the robocop as I was playing the game, it made me jump and freaked me out a bit.

A bit of a late reply to this thread, but I just had a thought while I was reading...

In regards to the older games "not having enough story", is there anyone else out there who basically filled in the blanks themselves while playing? I mean, maybe I'm just overly imaginative, but to me the PSI characters, for example, have always felt just as fleshed out as the PSIV characters. (Hmm... this makes me wonder how similar people's interpretations of the characters in the older games are...)

PS- Has anyone tried playing the PSI fan retranslation? I'm playing it (very slowly) in my free time and its fun to see the changed/expanded script.