Phantasy Star - Multiple US versions?

[rarebucky]

This has probably been discussed before but can anyone tell me what the difference is between the 2 versions of Phantasy Star that I own are? Both are US - one has "WITH BATTERY BACK-UP MEMORY" on the top right corner on the cover and the other has "A Four-Mega Plus Cartridge" on the spine. Any version rarer than the other?

[Blitzwing256]

if I recall the "sega for the 90s" version is particularly hard to find.

[Geddon_jt]

One version has just the Sega copyrigh0 on the back with large "Phantasy Star" in bold letters on the spine, without the 4 mega meg count printed on the spine. The other has smaller text on the spine (with the 4 mega meg count) and the Tonka copyright on the back. I believe the Sega copyright version predated the Tonka version. I've had multiple copies of this game and I've only come across one of the Sega copyright version.

Oh, and how's it going, Rarebucky? It's been what, uh, 7 years? ;)

[rbudrick]

So this thread is really only about box label variations, and not different versions of the game, right?

Hmmm, I had no idea there was more than one US label. I have collected the Euro and Brazil versions of the game, though. Is there different versions of them too?

-Rob

[grolt]

One version has just the Sega copyrigh0 on the back with large "Phantasy Star" in bold letters on the spine, without the 4 mega meg count printed on the spine. The other has smaller text on the spine (with the 4 mega meg count) and the Tonka copyright on the back. I believe the Sega copyright version predated the Tonka version. I've had multiple copies of this game and I've only come across one of the Sega copyright version.

Oh, and how's it going, Rarebucky? It's been what, uh, 7 years? ;)
The Tonka version is the most accessible, with the Sega version being released later in its life and in smaller quantities. When Sega seized the manufacturing rights from Tonka in the late eighties, they decided to re-release the games that would likely sell the best. That's why you hear of all the "blue label" variants for popular games like ALEX KIDD IN MIRACLE WORLD, FANTASY ZONE, DOUBLE DRAGON, etc. All those games have slightly different colors too, and PHANTASY STAR was one of the only games to get the re-release without the label change.

Attached below are the two variants of PHANTASY STAR for reference.

[miaandjohnrule]

That's why you hear of all the "blue label" variants for popular games like ALEX KIDD IN MIRACLE WORLD, FANTASY ZONE, DOUBLE DRAGON, etc.

Where can I find a list of these variants? I have a few of those blue variants.

[grolt]

There's a pretty comprehensive article detailing differences here:

http://www.smstributes.co.uk/view_article.asp?articleid=26

But for this thread, here is a list of SMS games that were re-released:

Alex Kidd in Miracle World (Red)
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World (Blue, NOT a rerelease)
Black Belt (Red)
California Games (Blue, Two Box Variations)
Choplifter (Red)
Double Dragon (Blue)
Enduro Racer (Blue)
Fantasy Zone (Red and Blue)
Ghostbusters (Blue)
Out Run (Blue)
Phantasy Star (Red)
Rambo First Blood Part II (Blue)
Reggie Jackson Baseball (Blue)
Slap Shot (Blue, NOT a rerelease)

[miaandjohnrule]

thanks for the link and the info. More variants to collect. :-)