Phantasy Soldier 3? WTF?

[Dire 51]

This has puzzled me for years. I have an issue of the British Sega mag Sega Power (dated October 1991), and in it is a section called the Hard Line, which contains capsule reviews and 1-5 star rankings of Master System, Mega Drive and Game Gear games and accessories.

One of the MD games they have listed is a Japanese import called Phantasy Soldier 3. Here's the description they have of it:

PHANTASY SOLDIER 3 (Import) £35

Strider without knobs on. The action is just as enthralling and the smooth visuals are atmospheric - with even more detail. With the fab cartoon sequences it's a winner. *****

I have never seen anything on this game other than this listing, and when searching on Google all that comes up are these results (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Phantasy+Soldier+3%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=0), which tell me nothing. I've never seen anything about it on any MD/Genesis sites, or anywhere else for that matter. I doubt Sega Power was confusing it with Phantasy STAR 3, because that description they gave sure doesn't sound like a PS game.

So what's the deal with Phantasy Soldier 3? Does it exist? Is this name perhaps just a translation from the Japanese title it's more commonly known under? Does anyone here know about it, or better yet own it? I really want to find out more about it.

[Ed Oscuro]

WIERD.

It's not SNK's Psycho Soldier for sure -- that's five years older (and looks the part, too, though it was groundbreaking all the same). Good bet it ain't Star Soldier, either.

Alien Soldier came out in 1995. Not a match there.

Universal Soldier was from 1992 (based off the movie, I guess?) but it certainly doesn't look like Strider with or without knobs (unless you count the little metallic bugs in the screenshot over at the VGM, but it still looks crappy).

The odd thing is I think I ran across the name Phantasy Soldier 3 a few days ago, but I ain't sure where I would've (or even if I did and am not imagining things)! It could possibly be a tentative title, you suppose?

Hmm.

It's a mystery to everybody.

[GaijinPunch]

Nothing on the Japanese side of things.
I tried googling it to no avail.

[deadtech]

I am positive the game in question is: Mugen Senshi VALIS III. A.K.A., Valis III. I am not sure if the series started on the PC Engine, but I believe it was most poular on that system. There are several Valis games on a few different systems. Valis appeared on MegaDrive/Genny, SNES/Sfami, PCE CD/TurboCD, and Famicom. Probably more, but those are all I know. The MD/Gen saw 3 different Valis games: Valis, Valis III, and SD Valis(Syd of Valis in USA). As for the title in that mag you have, I have seen some PCE CD versions with the title "Valis-The Fantasm Soldier" printed on the cover in various places online.

Info for MD/Gen version:

http://www.genesiscollective.com/ShowPage.php?GameLink=682

Info for PCE version:

http://pcecp.com/index.php?mode=catalog&action=info&gameid=802

So there ya go. Valis II, for Gen/MD. Released in North America and Japan, not sure of other territories.

-deadtech

[GaijinPunch]

I'm impressed! Sounds like a winner to me.

[geelw]

lol, and if my computer wasn't down (until about an hour ago), i'd have offered almost the same explanation...

there's also a MSX version of valis, which is almost impossible to play, as the enemies continually respawn and jumping isn't exactly intuitive, lol...

[Ed Oscuro]

I am positive the game in question is: Mugen Senshi VALIS III. A.K.A., Valis III.

Yes, that's what I was thinking of but couldn't remember. Seriously, not just trying to look impressive :P

I'll have to remember to add a [Phantasy Soldier 3] in my list of titles, then. At least the Russians use the term...or some do...

[Dire 51]

I am positive the game in question is: Mugen Senshi VALIS III. A.K.A., Valis III. I am not sure if the series started on the PC Engine, but I believe it was most poular on that system. There are several Valis games on a few different systems. Valis appeared on MegaDrive/Genny, SNES/Sfami, PCE CD/TurboCD, and Famicom. Probably more, but those are all I know. The MD/Gen saw 3 different Valis games: Valis, Valis III, and SD Valis(Syd of Valis in USA). As for the title in that mag you have, I have seen some PCE CD versions with the title "Valis-The Fantasm Soldier" printed on the cover in various places online.

Info for MD/Gen version:

http://www.genesiscollective.com/ShowPage.php?GameLink=682

Info for PCE version:

http://pcecp.com/index.php?mode=catalog&action=info&gameid=802

So there ya go. Valis II, for Gen/MD. Released in North America and Japan, not sure of other territories.

-deadtech

Actually, I own most of those - I'm a huge Valis fan. I've got 1-4 for the PCE CD, 3 for the Turbo CD, and 1, Syd and 3 for the Genesis, as well as 3 for the MD and Super Valis IV for the SNES.

That they were talking about Valis III was the first thing I thought too... but right on the next page is this listing:

VALIS 3 (Import) £30

Swords and sorcery scroller with excellent visuals, smart intermission scenes and astounding music. Characters join you as you go. A quality slash-'em-up. ****

So I'm willing to bet it's not Valis III they're talking about. It being a tentative title crossed my mind too, but for what?

[Ed Oscuro]

Stranger and strangerer yet... :]

[Dire 51]

Now you see why it's been puzzling me for so long. :/

[Dire 51]

Anyone else have any thoughts on this at all? I'm tempted to try to email one of the people that's listed it on a website and see if I get a response.

edit: I just sent it off. Now let's see if I get a reply...

[anagrama]

So there ya go. Valis II, for Gen/MD. Released in North America and Japan, not sure of other territories.

There's not a PAL version.

[geelw]

it COULD be a simple mistake. perhaps someone reviewed valis 3 and translated the title incorrectly, then someone else did valis 3 and got the title right... :o

[Dire 51]

it COULD be a simple mistake. perhaps someone reviewed valis 3 and translated the title incorrectly, then someone else did valis 3 and got the title right... :o

I really hope that's not the case. I'd love to think that's there's an almost unknown gem of an MD game out there, just waiting to be exposed to the gaming world at large...