#phantasy star series

[posthumanwanderings]

[Cosplayer Umister > Photo of Nei (Phantasy Star II)]

[aquamarine-oceanfront]

Fun fact: the artbook for Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series dedicates a page to explaining the writing used in Volk, which largely maps to the English alphabet. It contains two examples:

The second sentence is a direct quote from the chorus of "Ai wo Torimodose!!," the Fist of the North Star anime's first opening theme.

The official English translation obfuscates the reference by rendering it as "SHOCK YOU!!"

[indigozeal]

Apropos of nothing, Nei, Luna, and other 16-bit-era gaming characters from Akari Funato’s doujinshi Jam Jar.

[thesonicstadium]

Phantasy Star fans are in for a treat next month as a special 35th Anniversary event will kick off on PSO2 New Genesis with a rock remix by Jun Senoue! #SonicTeamIP #SEGANews

[limpbizkitmutual]

Been playing the Phantasy Star II Text Adventures and it's reminding me that I do not enjoy these games for their writing. I was literally sitting there in shock when I finished Eusis' adventure because the ending felt like a three month old hamburger

[francostrider]

Random Encounters in RPGs

Every once in a blue moon, I want to play a Japanese style of RPG. It is kind of hard to explain why, considering the hit or miss history I’ve had with the genre. Final Fantasy VII was not only my introduction to JRPGs, but to a lot of terms in RPGs in general, from leveling up to turned based systems and so on. But after hearing about the more western styles of RPGs, and how you could create a character and backstory and so on, I remember one night playing FFX thinking to myself “I really wish I was playing that.” But then games like Chrono Trigger, the Fire Emblem series, Golden Sun, Tales of Vesperia, and some of the Dragon Quest games have become some of my favorites.

But there is one aspect that I have been wanting to accept, but never really could: Random Encounters. Come to think of it, many of the above examples do not have them (even the versions of Dragon Quests VII and VIII do not have them). There is something kind of pure about them, as the combat runs on dice rolls and it would only make sense for encounters to follow suit. It can also be a good test of resource management, having enough potions and recovery items and deciding whether or not to use any right now. Yet, it tests my patience more than the actual combat system itself. I am fine with a standard turn based system. It’s kind of like how Doom is still very playable despite its age; it’s standard, but easy to pick up and play and still fun. But when I am barraged by them endlessly, it starts to get numbing after a while. The ultimate goal is to make these fights easier with leveling up, but that does not make it any less dull. I am here for challenge as well as story, after all.

And this is a shame, because this is a barrier to a lot of highly regarded games. Breath of Fire, Phantasy Star, most Dragon Quest games, have random encounters, and I want to play them, but I am growing more and more impatient with them. And it can be anxiety inducing, running through a maze, just trying to pick up an ite-- BAM THE 70TH SLIME IS OUT TO GET YOU. This one dungeon seems to have an infinite number of these creatures.

And that last point is really what opened up the true issue I have with these random encounters. You are given no context to why they are in that spot. A lot of this has to do with graphical limitations and there is only so much you could put on a map back in the day. But a lot of JRPGs still hold onto this tradition. Big empty room, and suddenly this 20 foot behemoth comes out of the blue.

The big counter point for this is the Tales series, namely the ones I’ve played through, Vesperia and Arise. I have given Arise grief, but it does encounters well. Now, we are not talking about whether it is turned based or not, merely the way you enter these combat encounters. The enemies you see in the exploration map will be the ones you face.

Now, Dragon Quest has also played around with enemies on the map in recent years. Often they appear and disappear at random, and wander around in random directions before they run at you. While this is preferable to the classic method, what Arise does better is take it another step. They’re not just milling about, there are set encounters placed on the map (reappearing when you leave and enter the area) and have some context. Giant wolves around an overturned wagon, Airborne monsters in a high place, bonus bosses in their given lairs.

The way they are distributed in Tales of Arise serves a couple of purposes. One, as noted, giving them context. Two, giving you a feeling that you cleared an area for the moment, that defeating the monsters has made the place (albeit temporarily) safe. Three, it makes the hunt for monsters in a given side quest into a search and not just bumbling around waiting to be struck.

Lastly, it also makes entering an encounter into a decision making process. Do you destroy every single one again for the exp, and possibly lose precious resources? Or have you done this room already and would like to take the path of least resistance to find your way to other treasures or a boss? This makes the interaction with these encounters more engaging.

While this is subjective, I stand by my statement that this is a more fun method. As for the supposed “purity” I am looking for, it probably is not what I think it is. On a tabletop, most DMs won’t have you barraged with fight after fight, since there isn’t enough time for that in a given session. And usually, an encounter is made for a story reason, not just to throw more goons at you. Simply put there is a lot more potential in having set up encounters on the map than random encounters. In my personal opinion, it is perhaps one of the many grandfathered systems (like gear grinding and constant number inflation) that needs a thorough re-evaluation.

[tweltchy]

Trying to convince chronic Pokemon fans to play another RPG is like talking to a brick wall. It's useless.

[shinigami-striker]

Wii-Mastered | Wednesday, 07.05.2023

Some of the best (and underrated) Wii games have been remastered for modern consoles right now. What's your pick?

de Blob

de Blob 2

Kirby's Return to Dreamland ➡ Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe

Klonoa (Wii) ➡ Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series

Mega Man 9 & 10 (Rockman 9 & 10) via Mega Man Legacy Collection 2/Rockman Classics Collection 2

Resident Evil 4 (Biohazard 4)

Sonic Colors ➡ Sonic Colors: Ultimate

Super Mario Galaxy ➡ Super Mario 3D All-Stars (delisted after 3/31/2021)

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

[tiredgamergirl]

Collaboration items in Phantasy Star Portable 2

[misscaptainbear]

One of the most needlessly strong opinions that I hold is that RPGs should be played from the side, not the back. Why would I want to look at the back of my cool character's head all game? And god help you if you don't even put in the player characters and *just* show the monsters in a line. Try a little harder, kiddo.

For real though despite this, Phantasy Star 1 is one of my favorites.

Bonus points for games that have the monster's point of view. Are there any that do this?

[brawler1993]

The Entertainment Dome Episode 201 - A Black Panther Game Without Black Panther

This week on The Entertainment Dome, we spend most of it discussing our thoughts on Xenoblade Chronicles 3, before moving onto the news of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic's indefinite delay and the rumoured Black Panther game from EA.

This week on The Entertainment Dome, we spend most of it discussing our thoughts on Xenoblade Chronicles 3, before moving onto the news of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic‘s indefinite delay and the rumoured Black Panther game from EA.

[mygamingpage]

PSO NGS looks fantastic when in battle mode.

[thejohnsu]

Happy 30th anniversary to Phantasy Star IV! I wanted to make this tribute piece to the original series while parodying Phantasy Star Online's cover art. Special call out to Yoshibon, whose character designs are some of my favorites!

[roaxes]

The Big Fisher, a weapon from the Phantasy Star Universe/Portable series that has a jaggo attached to it! (Jaggo being monsterized references of Chao from the Sonic series!)

(Equipped by my friends character Fire-Desu)

[thecatfight2023]

The Bracket™ is here!

here are our competitors!

to space out the polls some, we have them divided in mini-brackets (each mini bracket will be posted a day as to not overwhelm everyone with all of the polls at once)

THIS WILL ALSO BE UPDATED TO HAVE THE LINKS TO THE POLLS!!

mini-bracket 1

Mewo (OMORI) V. Spider Cat (OMORI)

Domino (Amphibia) V. Ghost (The Owl House)

Thomas O’Malley (Aristocats) V. Marie (Aristocats)

Oliver (Oliver & Co.) V. Mochi (Big Hero 6)

Cat (Coraline) V. Cheshire Cat (Alice in Wonderland)

Tasque (Deltarune) V. Tubbs (Neko Atsume)

Daffodil (Spiritfarer) V. Black Cat (The Witch’s House)

Neite (Runescape) V. Black Cat (Divinity Original Sin 2)

Alpine (Marvel) V. Goose (Marvel)

Isis (Batman: The Animated Series) V. Alfred the Cat (DC)

Mikeko (Ace Attorney) V. Shoe (Ace Attorney)

Cats (Jet Set Radio Future) V. Shadow (Super Lesbian Animal RPG)

Fat Louie (The Princess Diaries) V. Orion (Men in Black)

Milo (Milo & Otis) V. Miss Kitty Fantastico (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Cat God (Identity V) V. Yuumi (League of Legends)

Opalescence (MLP:FIM) V. Ice Cream Kitty (TMNT 2012)

mini-bracket 2

Ichigo Momomiya [cat form] (Tokyo Mew Mew) V. Alto (Tokyo Mew Mew)

Kyo Sohma [cat form] (Fruits Basket) V. Kuro (Blue Exorcist)

Sakamoto (Nichijou) V. Kuroneko (Trigun)

Prince (Genshin Impact) V. Neko (Genshin Impact)

Pusheen (Pusheen) V. Simon’s Cat (Simon’s Cat Animations)

Nyan Cat V. Minecraft cats

Video (Strong Hearts are Mandatory) V. Ginger (Brimstone and Roses)

Midnight (Castle in the Air) V. Jenny Linsky (Jenny Linsky books)

Schrodinger’s cat V. Tuna Sandwich (Kid Cosmic)

Pura (Crash Bandicoot) V. George (Spyro)

Tom F14 (Atom: The Beginning) V. Murr (The Case Study of Vanitas)

Mausfänger (Pentiment) V. Myau (Phantasy Star)

Cam (Squishmallow) V. Autumn (Squishmallow)

Serafina (Barbie Princess and the Pauper) V. Wolfie (Barbie Princess and the Pauper)

Melog (She-Ra 2018) V. Curious Cat (RWBY)

Judd + Lil Judd (Splatoon) V. Webkinz cats (all of them)

mini-bracket 3

Tama V. FDC Willard

Stray Cat J V. Pangur

Grumpy Cat V. Miette

Jinx V. Jorts

Gandalf V. Raymond 

Smudge V. The Cat Foretold

Forever’s Brood V. Norman (SolidarityGaming)

Jellie (GoodTimesWithScar) V. BB (Jacksepticeye)

Garfield (Garfield) V. Meowth (Pokémon)

Puss In Boots (Shrek Cinematic Universe) V. Kitty Softpaws (Puss in Boots)

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess cats V. The Garreg Mach Monastery cats (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)

Purrsula (Dragon Quest Treasures) V. Shiro/Blanche (House 1977)

Slugcat (RainWorld) V. Pussyfoot (Looney Tunes)

Li'l' Mittens (WordGirl) V. Mittens (Wander Over Yonder)

Greebo (Discworld) V. Maurice (Discworld)

You (Discworld) V. The Cat (Infinity Train)

mini-bracket 4

Cat (Ghost Trick) V. Cat (Stray)

Salem (Sabrina the Teenage Witch 1996) V. Binx (Hocus Pocus)

Firestar (Warrior Cats) V. Scourge (Warrior Cats)

Mothwing (Warrior Cats) V. Leafpool (Warrior Cats)

Sprigatito (Pokémon) V. Litten (Pokémon)

Meowstic (Pokémon) V. Shinx (Pokémon)

Jiji (Kiki’s Delivery Service) V. Luna (Sailor Moon)

Artemis (Sailor Moon) V. Diana (Sailor Moon)

Morgana (Persona 5) V. Ravage (Transformers)

Fukumaru (A Man and His Cat) V. Nyanko-Sensei (Natsume Yuujinchou)

The Judge (OFF) V. Mr. Midnight (Fran Bow)

Khoshekh (WTNV) V. Catbus (My Neighbor Totoro)

Grudge (Star Trek: Discovery) V. Spot (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Lumi (Cats are Liquid) V. 808 (Hi-Fi Rush)

Ser Pounce-A-Lot (Dragon Age) V. Warmseeker (Elder Scrolls Online)

Frumpkin (Critical Role) V. The Admiral (TMA)

polls for mini-bracket 1 will be scheduled to post around 2 pm EST tomorrow! also reminder they will be open for 1 day each!

propaganda is encouraged!! go wild! we will do our best to reblog as much as we can and it will be tagged with "purr-opaganda" (for those who want to filter the tag). we also recommend making propaganda for your cat blorbos sooner rather than later so there's a chance for them to win!!

-mod orange

[segadriven]

One of the most obscure entries in the Phantasy Star series is Phantasy Star Nova - a 2014 PS Vita exclusive developed by Tri-Ace and never released outside Japan