Phantasy Star: Fringes of Algo

There aren't many arcade games like this. It's like an action/puzzle/strategy game. When I first played this, I was just like "This sucks". But then after reading more about what you could do in it, I thought it was really unique. You start the game with three characters, and you either have to get each of them to the exit, or you have to kill all the enemies on screen. There are people you rescue in certain levels, and you can play as them in the next stage if you successfully escort them to the exit. If the character you're playing as gets killed by an enemy, they have to be saved too, and if the next character that comes out gets killed, the one before that character can't be saved. Really unique for an arcade action game. Especially being that this was released in 1988. The Genesis/Mega Drive version is available on the PS2/PSP Genesis/MegaDrive collection, and on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection/Sega MegaDrive Collection for the PS3 and 360, and it's available on the Virtual Console as well.

Gain ground, thats a really good game!!! I really love it^^ I've played a lot with a friend.

The soundtrack "Origin ~Awaken~ (Theme of Heroes) [BGM1]" is addicting.

I've never heard of this game before, but it does sound interesting. Those are some unusual gameplay features. I'll have to give the version the Sonic's Collection a spin.

Something I just found out this very moment (I swear):The arcade version was co-directed by Yang Watt, who worked on PSIII.

You also have to keep certain ones alive because they are useful on other stages.

The man with the long distance bazooka is useful in the midevil world.

Lord Soth (Knight with the fireball shield. Well I named him that) is useful in the modern world.

The characters that shoot bigger fire looking bullets can kill faster than the single shot ones/bow/spear ones.

The ones that can shoot UP onto ledges also have to be saved.

It's best to save each guy then use whatever one beats the levels faster.

The final level and boss is a nightmare however. Don't expect to beat it without cheating.

There is also an oddity to the game.. World 4 is skipped if I recall. It goes 1 (Caveman) - 2 (Midevil) - 3 (modern) - 4? - 5 (Future)

Sound tests exists for stage 4 though..

Rick wrote:You also have to keep certain ones alive because they are useful on other stages.

The man with the long distance bazooka is useful in the midevil world.

Lord Soth (Knight with the fireball shield. Well I named him that) is useful in the modern world.

The characters that shoot bigger fire looking bullets can kill faster than the single shot ones/bow/spear ones.

The ones that can shoot UP onto ledges also have to be saved.

It's best to save each guy then use whatever one beats the levels faster.

The final level and boss is a nightmare however. Don't expect to beat it without cheating.

There is also an oddity to the game.. World 4 is skipped if I recall. It goes 1 (Caveman) - 2 (Midevil) - 3 (modern) - 4? - 5 (Future)

Sound tests exists for stage 4 though..

I noticed that too. Why did they skip Round 4 and go to 5?!

I have no idea. I've heard a rumour that world 4 is only available if you do the hardest mode.

The hardest mode is the one where you get all 21 characters at the beginning. You can only rescue dead ones.

It's curious. I've never been able to do the hard mode because it's.. hard.

There is a stage select code and I don't remember if it takes you to world 4 or not.

Gain ground was a great fun game. I used to play it a lot with my brother. I had a real hard time with the last boss. But later on, I was able to finish the game.

I thought the same thing as you did at first: "This game sucks". But as my sister and I played it, we became strangely addicted. The different characters offered different fighting styles, different advantages. As you go along, you see the need for those different fighting styles. I'll admit, I never actually beat it, though.