Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 26

Thread: Do I need to play all of the Phantasy Star games just to play PS IV?

  1. #1
    Great Puma (Level 12) c0ldb33r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    4,980
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default Do I need to play all of the Phantasy Star games just to play PS IV?

    So I've got a hankering to play a phantasy star game. I've tried to get into the first Phantasy Star a dozen times (I don't have the original, I've got the GBA remake) - but I can't stand it. I haven't really played PS II, III or IV because I know the series is continuous and I didn't want to play them out of order.

    I've read that PS IV is the best of the bunch - can I just play that one? I don't want to have to bother with PS I or PS III, and I'd rather play II over IV since IV seems better.

    Any advice on the topic?

  2. #2
    Pretzel (Level 4) Natty Bumppo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    850
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    4
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    12
    Thanked in
    11 Posts

    Default

    PSI is totally different than the others - most of it is first person dungeon exploration. Fine if you like that sort of game, but if you don't have the inclination they are pretty boring.

    2,3 and 4 are all overhead exploration types (which I prefer).

    3 is probably the weakest of the three - the multigeneration approach was a good idea that just didn't pan out for me in terms of satisfying game play.

    I liked 2 more than 4 but part of that was probably because 2 was one of the first RPGs I played so it was instantly addicting. The main drawback with 2 was that the dungeons were so repetitive. Enough overhead pipes to fill out all the sets of the movie "Brazil." But you wouldn't go wrong with playing 4 instead of 2.

    And you don't need to have played any of them to play the others. They each work perfectly well as stand alones.
    When I come home from a long day in Hell, there's nothing I'd rather reach for than a fire-brewed bottle of Styx Beer. Made from the filthiest waters from our own River Styx. Styx Beer is a third more toxic than any other regular beer. The worst beer - the filthiest beer - the deadliest beer. It's Styx Beer!

  3. #3
    Cherry (Level 1) Gabriel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    200
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by c0ldb33r View Post
    So I've got a hankering to play a phantasy star game. I've tried to get into the first Phantasy Star a dozen times (I don't have the original, I've got the GBA remake) - but I can't stand it. I haven't really played PS II, III or IV because I know the series is continuous and I didn't want to play them out of order.

    I've read that PS IV is the best of the bunch - can I just play that one? I don't want to have to bother with PS I or PS III, and I'd rather play II over IV since IV seems better.

    Any advice on the topic?
    There were allegedly a lot of "in jokes/fan service" in PS4, however the translators botched it so badly that none of them are apparrent other than the ones painted with the broadest and most meaningless strokes.

    I played PS4 after only having played PS3 previously. It was a decent, if pedestrian, RPG. Sadly, that did place it in the upper tier of the genre for the Genesis. Most fans of the series tend to think it's pretty good, but it can't begin to compare to it's SNES counterpart/competition, Final Fantasy VI.

    My advice is to go ahead and play it. It's enjoyable enough, and I really doubt you'd miss anything by having not played the others.

  4. #4
    Pac-Man (Level 10) Blitzwing256's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    las vegas
    Posts
    2,038
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    blitzwing256
    PSN
    blitzwing256

    Default

    4 does a very nice job of tying up some loose ends from the previous games, although you aren't going to be totally lost or anything by playing 4 first, i'd highly recomend playing 2 and 3 first as they are both excelllent and fun games just like 4. `1 is admitedly very hard to get into and has a very very high dificulty curve, (then the dungeons in 2 were pretty tough as well).

  5. #5
    Pac-Man (Level 10)
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Md
    Posts
    2,254
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I believe the sega genesis collection has like 3 of them and sword of vermillion for 20 bucks not bad.
    neo geo system

  6. #6
    Great Puma (Level 12) c0ldb33r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    4,980
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gepeto View Post
    I believe the sega genesis collection has like 3 of them and sword of vermillion for 20 bucks not bad.
    Yes I know I've got the genesis collection for both psp ans ps2 - I really wish that you could share save files with both -I'll have to stick with the PSP version.

  7. #7
    Pear (Level 6) Soviet Conscript's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Pittsburgh
    Posts
    1,361
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    4 is one of my favorite RPG's. you can play it fine by itself as a stand alone game but i don't think i would of appriciated it nearly as much as i did if i hadn't played the other games in the series.

    if you don't want to play the other games but still want to have a better grasp on the story as a whole i would suggest going to a fan site and just browseing over the story of what happened in the older games

  8. #8
    Insert Coin (Level 0) 108Stars's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Frankfurt, Germany
    Posts
    162
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    No, you don´t need to. Personally I own all 4 parts, but I hated parts 2 and 3, so I gave up on them long before the end. There are a few jokes you will miss, but really, it does not hurt the game.

    Part 2 is extremely oldschool; super-hard battles, not much dialogue to tell the story, and minimalistic graphics. If you play the Genny Collection you can at least save in dungeons, that helps. But be prepared to get lost in them, as they are pretty maze-like and can get very tedious. Too bad the player´s guide does not come with the collection.

    So, IF you decide to play PS II, be prepared that it plays much more like an 8-Bit-generation RPG than like a later 16-Bit-RPG.
    Last edited by 108Stars; 03-18-2008 at 02:55 AM.

  9. #9
    Ryu Hayabusa (Level 16) rbudrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Buying the rare ones, moments before you get there.
    Posts
    8,435
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    3
    Thanked in
    2 Posts

    Default

    Dammit, why can't you answer the poor guy honestly? When he asked if he should play the others, the answer is YES.

    Don't forget the 2 Gamegear games and the Sega CD can games.

    -Rob
    The moral is, don't **** with Uncle Tim when he's been drinking!

  10. #10
    Kirby (Level 13) j_factor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Oakland, CA (representin')
    Posts
    5,231
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    You can just play PS4 by itself. It is directly connected to the first two, but it does a decent enough job of "filling you in" when necessary. However, you would appreciate it more if you knew the previous stories already.

    http://www.phantasy-star.net/

    If you just want the back story to set up Phantasy Star IV (which is by far the best in the series), the next best thing to playing the first two games is reading them. At that fansite, you can read the game scripts in full. They have a plot synopsis for the first one but not the second. You don't really need to worry about Phantasy Star III at all -- PS4 only makes one big reference to it, and PS3's plot is only related (as opposed to connected) to the rest of the series.
    Quote Originally Posted by TheShawn
    Please highlight what a douche I am.

  11. #11
    Great Puma (Level 12) c0ldb33r's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    4,980
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by j_factor View Post
    You don't really need to worry about Phantasy Star III at all -- PS4 only makes one big reference to it, and PS3's plot is only related (as opposed to connected) to the rest of the series.
    I heard PS III is crap anyway - true?

  12. #12
    Pear (Level 6) Soviet Conscript's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Pittsburgh
    Posts
    1,361
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    i feel PS III relates to the whole phantasy star story more then some people here think. at least indirectly.

    but yhea....its not regarded very highly in the series. i kinda enjoyed it though, at the time i felt the concept was pretty origional. not just the generations system but also the setting (or what you find out the setting really is)

  13. #13
    Kirby (Level 13) j_factor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Oakland, CA (representin')
    Posts
    5,231
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I liked Phantasy Star III, but not as much as the rest of the series. But next to PS4, it doesn't even compare!!!!!!
    Quote Originally Posted by TheShawn
    Please highlight what a douche I am.

  14. #14
    Strawberry (Level 2) FrakAttack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Jamestown, KY
    Posts
    467
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Don't know why III gets such a bad rap. I enjoyed each Genesis version more than its predecessor.
    "Ambitious, but rubbish."


  15. #15
    Pear (Level 6)
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    1,327
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I finished IV without beating any of the others, and it didn't lessen my enjoyment at all. Great game, IMO. I'll go back and finish the first three games eventually, but I have too many others I need to play at the moment.

  16. #16
    DP's favorite trollbait Custom rank graphic
    Kitsune Sniper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Calexico, USA
    Posts
    13,853
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    FoxhackDN
    Steam
    Foxhack

    Default

    I kinda liked PS1, PS2 gave me a headache with its stupid flashy screens when any attack happened, I never played PS3, and I beat the FUCK out of PS4. One hell of an RPG.

    Play PS4, maybe play PS1, ignore PS2 and 3.
    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond Dantes View Post
    I can't tell if we're discussing My Little Pony or Neon Genesis Evangelion anymore.
    eBay Auctions / GameTZ profile / DP Feedback / Youtube / Twitter / RateYourMusic

  17. #17
    Kirby (Level 13) zektor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    Classic Jersey
    Posts
    5,398
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I would highly suggest to play through the very first (Sega Master System) game first. Give it a chance, as it is an absolutely fantastic title. This is the game that made me a fan of the series, is quite vast, and has a pretty cool ending for an 8-bit title. Do up this one, and then move on to the rest

  18. #18
    Stuck in 1998 Cloud121's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    South Town
    Posts
    536
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    2
    Thanked in
    1 Post
    Xbox LIVE
    Cloud121D
    PSN
    Cloud121
    Steam
    Cloud121D

    Default

    Play them all in order, just as I did. You will enjoy Phantasy Star IV much more that way. Sure it will take quite awhile. Phantasy Star took me almost two months to beat, though it was off and on for the most part. Phantasy Star II took me five months. I started over about two weeks in, then took a month off after a couple months (I played very little in April). January 2003 - May 2003 (Memorial Day to be exact). I then took a month off, and started Phantasy Star IV. To say all the hard work put into PS and PSII was worth would be an understatement. Basically, (very minor spoiler), Phantasy Star IV would have just about never happened, if it weren't for the events of Phantasy Star II. PSII is easily the most important game in the series to play. Both for it's overall plotline and relation to PSIV, but also the overall message it's trying to tell the player.

    Whatever you do, DO NOT play Phantasy Star IV until you play Phantasy Star II.
    My Game Collection
    "I am only what you see me as." - Obsidian Rose

  19. #19
    Cherry (Level 1)
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    263
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    PS1 is one of the most damn difficult 8-bit RPGs ever. Until you get to level 3 or so Alis can get mauled by even the weakest monsters when she's at full health. The dungeons are pretty hard to navigate if you dont make maps and there are a few dead-end dungeons you can't get out of without the "Exit" spell if you fall in a pit.

    PS2 on genesis is really hard too, though its better in every other way. The dungeons are hard mostly because of the really high encounter rate plus slow walking plus overhead pipe/fog effects.

    PS3 isn't worth wasting your time on. The only thing you will get out of PS3 is knowing more background about a 3 minute segment in PS4. The game was rushed to completion very badly - so it's buggy, the maps are bland, and monsters are ugly, and the sprites are horrible. PS always had cool animated monsters and PS3's monsters often just had two frames and often something lame like a giant monster wiggling his finger equals the attack. The magic system is dumb and the story is pretty awful even if the concept is good. The ending is turbo-lame too, all four of them are a quad-turbo-lame.

    PS4 is IMO the best RPG on Genesis and almost as good as FF6 and DQ6. Vastly better graphics, vastly better story, vastly better balance, and so forth. Best in the series IMO. It's got a fair number of side-quests too, I just wish the Motavia worldmap matched closer to the PS2 worldmap (old capital became a hamlet in the middle of the ocean instead of the middle of the continent in 1000 years even with environmental upheaval?)

    I would recommend just playing PS4 and reading a story synopsis of PS2, unless you have a Playstation 2 and can play the Sega Ages remake, which generally made the game better in every way, including high res graphics and stuff. You can also have Nei not die if you are willing to spend hours and hours and hours doing stuff.

    There's also a PhanStar1 remake I'd recommend too, but I've only played the remake of 2 since I passed 1 ages ago on emulator.

  20. #20
    Pear (Level 6) rpepper9's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    On Top or On The Bottom
    Posts
    1,291
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Short answer - YES!
    Condoleezza Rice is nice, but I prefer A Roni!

Similar Threads

  1. Can't decide on a Phantasy Star game to play...
    By Ninjamohawk in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: 03-07-2013, 06:43 PM
  2. Skip Phantasy Star and Play PS2?
    By Nz17 in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 87
    Last Post: 05-03-2011, 03:12 PM
  3. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-18-2008, 01:26 PM
  4. Best way to play Phantasy Star IV?
    By c0ldb33r in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 03-26-2008, 09:30 AM
  5. Phantasy Star Universe for 360 - Any DPers play online?
    By Vectorman0 in forum Modern Gaming
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 02-19-2007, 12:38 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •