Sega was a very different company back in the day. The company was constantly trying out new ideas both in the arcades and on the home console market. One such innovation was the Phantasy Star series, an RPG series that would have a very longlisting impact on the genre and gaming as a whole. Now Sega and M2 have brought the first game in the series to the Nintendo Switch via the Sega Ages lineup. But has the experience aged well?
Phantasy Star 1 was a game that was ahead of its time, with dungeons that simulated a 3D effect and a very diverse amount of enemies This may have been shocking and new at the time, but can be hard to navigate for new players. Fortunately M2 has thought of this and added some new features to help new players get the most. These include new navigational tools for the maze dungeons, a bestiary to keep track of the enemies and as an added bonus, the FM music from the Japanese release is included here. There is even a neat sound test option so you can enjoy the music as you want it.
Phantasy Star was Sega’s answer to the Final Fantasy series, albeit having gone with a slightly different direction. While Final Fantasy always had some sci fi aspects in the games, the focus was much more on the fantasy aspect instead in the earlier games. Phantasy Star on the other hand, always had sci fi as the bigger aspect. It helped the series stand out, and while it does not hold up as well as the second and fourth games, it has inarguably aged better than the NES Final Fantasy games.
There is a good amount of character balance and pacing here, and this release even brings a new mode called “Ages Mode” that lets you play with a modified difficulty version. In this mode, you can cut down on grinding and still level up to the same extent as the regular mode. It is a great way to learn about the game and come in without being intimidated.
If you have never played Phantasy Star, I urge you to check this out. It is an amazing experience and this is the definitive version of the classic.
Disclaimer: Sega provided us with a review key in exchange for an honest review.