Recap of Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (RECAPitation)

[@OniBlackMage]

Big Thanks to Dave for being a patron and making this selection! It's funny how this is the 4th game, as I've never actually played the original Phantasy Star games. I'm a fan of sci-fi RPGs, so I might be adding more to this series later (not the MMO installments though). I will actually be putting out a PSA soon explaining HOW I choose which RECAPitations to do, as I feel it will focus the suggestions going forward (keep shouting out and upvoting your picks though!). The next RECAPitation will be Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward

[@lrdalucardart]

He made a good one.

[@bew1977]

I have only played 3 and 4. I asked for 2 when I got my Genesis as a kid, but got Moonwalker instead because PSII was $90 out of the JC Penny Catalog.

[@MrDEMarq]

This was the last love letter to fans from the original SEGA.

[@opa-age]

Yeah I definitely got that feeling when I played this...like this was going to be the last game of its kind.

[@artiegohome]

Absolutely! Saying that PSIII left a great deal to be desired is something of an understatement. A basically unfinished game that felt almost entirely divorced from the 2 brilliant games that came before it, Sega really, really missed the mark with III. PSIV, not only righted the ship in terms of story continuity and game design, it wove together the first two games in the series remarkably well. Both the subtle nods and outright references to PSI and II was probably my first experience with fan service, but it was done so well that it simply felt right. With PSOII finally getting a western release, I can only hope that it out-sells Sega's expectations and that the powers that be will realize that we are LONG overdue for Phantasy Star V. Send us back to Algol, Sega!!!

[@ultrairrelevantnobody1862]

Honestly. I wouldn't say Phantasy Star 2 was brilliant. A lot of it was tedious grinding.

[@tonyknighton4019]

@@artiegohome ...Or on the other end od the stick. They'll just make a PSO3...

[@diegoarmando5489]

@@artiegohome 3's reach exceeded its grasp. There's no way that our technology or our collective knowledge of game design back in 1990 could have accommodated its ambitions while simultaneously producing a good game.

[@JoeyLamontagne]

This could've easily be an anime.

[@drowningin]

Is there no Phantasy Star anime? That's surprising. Sega even made a great anime about some school girls that represent some of their consoles. I think it's the Genesis/Mega Drive, Dreamcast, and it was either the Saturn or Master System or Saturn I forget which. I would love for there to be a Skies of Arcadia Anime. Skies of Arcadia is my favorite JRPG of all time and one of my top 5 or top 10 games ever. I didn't know until recently the same people that made Phantasy Star 1, 2, 4 made Skies of Arcadia. They also made Valkyria Chronicles and the 2 main characters Vyse & Aika can be recruited into your party in Valkyria Chronicles 1. I really wish Sega would remaster SoA, and maybe make a sequel though the game doesn't exactly need one and is 100% self contained I love the world so much and have played it so many times I would love to experience it in a new way

[@edwardevans5759]

@@drowningin I know this is a couple of months later, but there is an anime about the Phantasy Star Online game. I think it's simply called PSO or something like that. Obviously not as good as an actual Phantasy Star anime would be, but better than nothing I suppose.

[@tonyknighton4019]

@@edwardevans5759 There are 2 Anime based on PSO2: The first is "The Animation" Which takes place a year before the game's 4th Episode. The 2nd is named "Episode Oracle" Which is a retelling of the game's first 3 Episodes..With a few adjustments of coruse.

[@dukkemonterier3429]

@@tonyknighton4019 They only care about that horrible Online

[@raysullivan6168]

Well, your half right, it is an anime game!

[@li-pinchang2157]

The death of Alys made me having no mood to play on. 20 years later, I gave this game a second try and this time I finally completed it.

[@ukimenustah26]

dammit i got spoiled

[@ZeroFische]

@@ukimenustah26 haha lamer

[@RyanKWilliamson]

@@ukimenustah26 get smoked

[@iraplikeyoubreathe]

Grew up a final fantasy fan and i gotta say having beat this wonderful game today in 2020 its a seriously amazing story with a battle system that may be the best ive used in any rpg. 10/10 game.

[@canceracar]

The magic combo system is intuitive and baaaaaaad ass. Glad you got to enjoy it

[@anonymoususer69420]

Hi, FF fan as well. Just started going down the rabbit hole of this universe after starting Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis, and although I’ll probably never get to play it, this games story is easily 10/10

[@Bluevirage]

I was so emotional when they killed off a lead character early in the story that was such a badass. Phantasy Star 4 was an RPG that I will never forget and that I on occasion will play every once in a while. It defines what classic SEGA is all about. Would be nice if fans did a remaster of it like SEGA did for One and Two. Such a great game!

[@Quartered_Rodent]

It isn't confirmed but SEGA has mentioned visiting old franchises.

[@lainiwakura4678]

A prequel to the original is what I want. There's so much potential material to work with explaining how Lassic turned evil and how everything came to be, which set it all into motion. I actually worked on a script for it, planning an RPG Maker game but abandoned it like so many things.

[@hitkid2456]

@@lainiwakura4678 It probably would involve PD, there's more there too to be told.

[@EvelynDayless]

This is probably my favorite RPG ever. Since it's balanced so that you don't need to grind if you know what you're doing I've beaten it like 8 or 9 times and it never gets old. They need to re-release 1-4 with mechanics/graphics updated to 4s level and anime cutscenes!

[@JoeyLamontagne]

This was actually a great game with the harder mods available also. Purgatory adds a lot in strategy. Yes, there's some grinding, but the changes actually made it enjoyable

[@jayesper4390]

I never did finish Hell I think it was... I hated they took the instakills out of Purgatory but really they gave those to everyone in this game. I also never finished Hordes of Nei of the first, that one was really fun too.

[@LainK1978]

This (series) was the only JRPG on Sega that could stack up to what was on Nintendo at the time. I grabbed them all up when it came out on the Wii's Virtual Console. I would love it if they did a remake of the 4 games myself. The cutscenes would be fully animated and voiced most likely; that would be awesome. You could do that for all 4 of the games.

[@Mephilis78]

Right they need to do a real reissue of these games. Kind of like what Square did with Final Fantasy Origins. Btw, I actually like the first person dungeon crawl from the first hame, reminds me of Ultima Underworld, or, more closely, Might and Magic.

[@realamericannegro977]

Yeah at this point I wouldn't mind if the first 3 were remade with the same look as 4. They weren't far from it anyway.

[@dylantrashmint8379]

This game is criminally underplayed

[@profoundpro]

One of the true GOATs of RPGs. I got to play (and finish) this on the Sega Channel. I love it

[@Isaac-gh5ku]

5:16 Setting the stage for Phantasy Star III.

[@dimisbam7725]

How?

[@SyddlesFuzz]

This game, and Shining Force 2, are the reason I play RPGs. n_n; Played them both, on the Sega Channel, and was a lifer.

[@pdraggy]

Was there a way to save on the Sega Channel? I seem to recall there wasn't. And if so that's a REALLY hard core experience! It can take an RPG a while to get going but you had to fall in love with these from the get go! I had the oportunity to rent them from Blockbuster (and by opportunity I really mean opportunity! Those games were NEVER there) so I played a bit on Sega Channel but not much I think cuz you couldn't save?? Man things are SO much better nowadays.

[@kharyrobertson3579]

dude, those were literally my first two rpg's as well. salute

[@XeroBloodline]

Sega Channel would hold save data so long as you were only consistently playing that same game. So if you loaded any other game that used save data it would overwrite the previous one. You just had to keep loading up the same RPG game everytime and it would work. Sega Channel is also why I know about this game, and is still one of my favorite RPGs of all time.

[@cupofjoe2251]

I have my sega channel iron on patch still.

[@Snotnarok]

Hell yeah Sega Channel, that's where I found this, Shining Force 2, Beyond Oasis and many other awesome games.

[@csward53]

It's amazing that a game that takes many hours to play can be adequately summed up in less than 20 min. Nice work!

[@airshipmayhem9905]

Rest in peace Alys

[@flyballer1573]

The best rpg of all time. This story has stuck with me all my life and I replay it every few years. I was looking to get a ps4 fix and you hooked it up. Thanks!

[@iamnotyourbuddyGUY]

Handsome Rich Superstar get it on the switch and play on the go. Just beat 1-3, with all the different ways to play 3

[@johntracy72]

I like how the first vehicle you get in Phantasy Star IV is called a Land Rover.

[@lainiwakura4678]

You get it in PS1 too.

[@chirho100]

You can get a 2020 Land Rover/ super charged with navigation & 4wd for only $129,102.

[@Walkeranz]

Sounds about right for the grind it takes to get it in ps1

[@Mnesterus]

this was my childhood game, summer if 94 was off the hook lol

[@CrimsonDevil_Rias]

You forgot one thing: The crew needing to grab the Eclipse Torch from the Air Castle to burn away the carnivorous trees, fighting LaShiec at the end of the Air Castle.

[@fredhurst2528]

I played this years after I finished the 1st game which was the first console RPG I ever finished. It stands out as one of my favorites of all time for many reasons not the least of which were the references and continuation of the original storyline. The mid game tragedy along with the finale of Rika and Chaz gave this game heart to go with with well paced gameplay and story.

[@orangelimesky]

This on Sega and tales of phantasia on SNES were truly ahead of their time when it came to nailing the story+anime+music+sound and overall badass 90s anime aesthetic. Nothing could truly beat them. Chaz and Cless even looked very similar.

[@EndlessDream]

This was EASILY the best of the old school phantasy stars.

[@BGDMusic]

and the modern ones

[@tonyknighton4019]

@@BGDMusic No doubt

[@jenniferpruitt6534]

I really want to see a Phantasy Star 5. A continuation of the main story.

[@notyoursavior78]

A true classic rpg. I was really inspired by this game at one time. Hmmm yeah that's a life time ago it seems. This would definitely make the list of rpgs I'd love to experience again for the first time.

[@lainiwakura4678]

Go away Linguar

[@retrosoul8770]

Fantastic! I just beat this game for the first time about 6 months ago and would love to check this recap, I can watch it tomorrow during my day off.

[@retrosoul8770]

Yeah man, I'm sure more ppl would be trying it out if the mainstream internet wasn't so bias towards Nintendo. It was a great jrpg and yeah rip Alys! Also Laughter is def one of the best boss themes ever.

[@luisreyes1963]

One of my favorite Genesis RPGs ever made. When I first played it, I was amazed from start to finish.

[@ikeyasector]

The ending almost brought tears to my eyes. For several reasons. One is to see these characters that you get invested in leave one another never to meet again, and the other is kind of knowing that the Phantasy Star series has ended. Yeah, there is PSO and PSU and so forth, but for me... the original legacy is all that mattered to me.

[@z0mb1e564]

Easily one of my top 3 JRPGs with Xenogears and Chrono Trigger. Loved the retelling :-D

[@RengaBeats]

Thanks a lot for this great video!! PS4 is one of my all time favorite RPG's.. and its great to hear the complete story once more 😊

[@ArtofBrandonTruster]

Thanks for getting me through the story. I was stuck somewhere in the middle of the game and haven't tried playing it since.

[@igable82]

Thanks for this. Ran across this on my recommendation list. You actually mention PS4 taking place between PS2 and PS3! Nice! Love this game, My top RPG of all time for me.

[@syn.n8110]

I remember being at the local Toys R Us and was blown away by how expensive this game was. If I remember correctly it cost $99 I think maybe a little less. Normal price for new games was $49.99 at the time. This was before there was special or collector edition. This was when Toys R Us had the ticket system also. I always wondered why it was so expensive.

[@petermain6791]

I watched a video yesterday by GTV Japan, and he said it had to do with the expense of localization and that the cart was 24 Mb. My older brother bought it way back then, and it cost $99 plus tax here in Canada.

[@maximillionroivas3893]

In 1996, I wanted to upgrade to a N64 or PS-X, but I only had $100 from all the chores and various neighborhood work I did. Being only 12 years old, $100 was like a million bucks. Anyways, I walked into Shopko and knowing I couldn't afford a next gen console, I decided to get me a game for either my Super NES or Genesis. I came across Phantasy Star 4 and Chrono Trigger. After weighing my options and debating...I chosed PH4. Went home and popped that baby in and...after an hour, I was glued. I beat the game in about two weeks. But I would replay it over and over again. I still have the game and still play it to this day. One of the greatest RPGs ever made. Oh and yeah, I did get Chrono Trigger, but not until a few years later. A great RG as well. We need a new Phantasy Star. SEGA, now is the best time to bring back the mainline franchise. Since the Algol system is retty much told and done, there are more galactic planets out there. Like the Ghural and Pioneers. Or a new planet. Either way...we would love a Phantasy Star 5 someday soon...

[@artagames9349]

Love this! This is my all-time favourite series. How about doing Phantasy Star I?

[@papapaulrocks]

Watching this in 2019. Wow what a nostalgic trip! I played the hell out of Ps3, psIV, and shining force games when I was a kid.

[@tmacco2428]

This is my favorite game from when i was a teen.

[@lichenshadow]

I always though it 4 happenend at the same time of 3 mainly because of the generations aspect of the 3rd game and the 3rd game happened on a couple of the space stations that were shown in 4

[@JuntosXlaLibertadMileyBuIIrich]

PsIII happens 1000 years after PSIV (hence 2000y after PSII) but was mistranslated in the US and they put it was just 1000y after PSII.

[@achidikisob7759]

Oooh, a change up of the sales data. Phantasy Star has been something on my radar for a while, having seen a few other people talk about it online.

[@LainK1978]

This game alone is what made me interested and enjoy the Phantasy Star series.

[@JoseGonzalez-jq5ug]

Hermoso relato, de lo que es un gran juego que vive en mis memorias. Gracias !

[@Keshin4539]

Excellent! These games were soooo hard for me as a kid. I had the original Final Fantasy as my first RPG and that felt like hand holding compared to the Phatasy Star series. Still, I grew to love the challenge and also loved the Online series. So much rich history in the many various RPGs out there and nice to see people wanting you to tackle so many different ones ^_^.

[@mraaronstewart1556]

Keshin4539 I only got as far as After you first fight Zio, then it was to hard however, now that I’m replaying the game it’s more tedious because I trained for the bosses. However again I don’t not mind this grinding, it kinda feels fun and awesome when my work pays off.

[@josuerosario5755]

Great recap. I love this game!

[@rolflandale2565]

1:00 exactly, it tried to be the next sequal part of PhantasyStar 2, however the play style was a near replicate of bosses, map, fight etc. In acception, was the gps map icons was a vehicle instead of the walking group. Only the graphic programing was short of time and effort. Resulting looks of the Iconic classic texture of original part one.

[@RedBlueSpot]

SEGA, I know you are reading this. You need to do a remake of PSIV or continue the saga with PSV. Some of the spaceships from PSIII escaped the Algo system right with Dark Force intact?! One even came to earth in PSIII. What happened to them? There is still much to explain.

[@jinnaihiryu]

Phantasy Star II & IV are powerhouses that I am glad I found in their day, and still love. (In 96, my best friend insisted I borrow his Genesis and PSII and beat the game... So glad I did)

[@drowningin]

Skies of Arcadia is the best game ever made. It is my home feel good game

[@n.b.2164]

I've always heard this was a great game. After watching your video I understand why.

[@opa-age]

That was amazing can you make one for PS2?

[@bobjones4469]

Such a simplistic black and white Light vs Dark story.

[@Sorrowblast]

Much awesome, that’s what happened there. One of the greatest jrpgs of that time.

[@TheProjectProductions]

This was wonderful, thank you

[@johnpeterson8689]

I remember this game; I remember dropping $90 for it when it was released. No joke, that was it's SRP. This game also demonstrated to me that "Official strategy guide" meant nothing too.

[@ralphceaser4292]

great channel just subscribed. one question how can rune travel across to different planets

[@OniBlackMage]

ralph ceaser I'm willing to bet it has something to due with the fact that he wields true magic

[@johnlerch7699]

i remember one spell from the other games that was so OP that all i had to do was use that spell on the end game boss and it 1 hit killed him, that's how OP it was.

[@whitewolf3051]

Phantasy Star collection for GBA has the first three games, but not this one, missed opportunity if there ever was one. I hope we can get this one of the current handheld systems.

[@jayesper4390]

I don't think it would have fit. Notice how there's like only two slots for PSII, so they were already constrained as it was. Besides the Level 99 bug would still be there, which was fixed on the Wii release. I guess it be emulated on PSP with the fix though if you want it on the go.

[@whitewolf3051]

You’ll have take back your reply to my comment, we now have a Sega Classics collection for the Switch with fifty games or so, including Phantasy Star IV, and I just got the collection.

[@レッド-h1i]

It was me, ZIO!

[@hitkid2456]

Oh Zio, the Holy One (That guy sounds like Pucci lol)

[@chirho100]

I played all the phantasy Star games on Sega master and genesis, and I love PS IV, but PS III is still my favorite.

[@inkmage4084]

I loved this game so much when I was a kid. I wished though, they put one of the cool Layans in p, from PS3. Phantasy Star was really a great series, even 3 with all of it flaws, for not being done entirely by the original team... Today unfortunately it is not so great at all.

[@Luos_83]

*adds to watch later list* Phantasy Star is my no. 1 game of all time. I cant explain why in detail though, its part sentiment and part "it just is". One day I'll hope to have the funding to create something in the spirit of this game.

[@malik87breaker]

Yoeri -Luos- Vleer why don't you make concepts. :)

[@malik87breaker]

I guess we need to use digital synthesisyrs from both sega master system and genesis/megadrive :D They help building the charm. Arranged and 16 bit :D

[@johntracy72]

I have the Sega Genesis collection on PS2 and Phantasy Star IV is in the collection.

[@malik87breaker]

john tracy psp too

[@Zarggg]

12:34 "vehical"

[@julien2983]

top notch video, and what a cool game!

[@nintendofan707]

Best rpg of all time.

[@troqu]

Dave has some excellent taste.

[@RunplaysinHD]

Check out the full story of Phantasy Star IV under 4 hours without random encounters on my channel in the Genesis playlist

[@LavaCanyon]

I played this game years ago on the PSP GO; I remember none of this.

[@ENZEED]

Thank you for the summary

[@caseyhayes4590]

A lot of Playstation and SNES RPG junkies missed out on a handful of amazing titles on Genesis/MD and Saturn, especially the strategy RPGs but this traditional JRPG was pretty much perfect and a visual force. I mean I get that SNES and PS1 did have a ton of great RPGs, but if you've already played 4 or 5 SNES RPGs and not PSIV you're not doing it right.

[@raygartargaryen8415]

WHat a nice game, always in my heart.

[@lucag.lisickza425]

one of my favorite jrpg ever

[@kevinharding4176]

i LOVE the way they ret-conned PS3. No hate towards 3 i played the shit out of it as a kid, but basically saying "some died some lived, oh and yeah alot are just not "here" so dont worry about it.

[@SrWho1234]

great video 🥺

[@donnapower697]

sega knows how to make some really scary stuff like its dark gods dark falz and dark gaia but nintendo makes some dark gods that look like a joke like kirby.

[@Madchaskon]

Best rpg ever, thanks reiko kodama

[@sci90174]

Rika and Chaz is like the story between Rolf and Nei coming full circle.......finally they are together

[@kwansauce]

Love your channel. Should definitely do persona and shin megami series :)

[@darientellez73]

I was originally confused as to how one tiny satellite crash could destroy an entire planet, but I began thinking of how Gaira greatly affected the environmental systems on Parma, which leads me to believe that the total destruction of the planet wasn’t caused by the satellite simply exploding and crash landing onto it alone, it also had to do with the other systems that Gaira sustained… Think about how Treasure Planet blew up, with years of technological progress on their side, I don’t think it’s hard to believe that the Parmanians simply created a mechanical skeleton that goes miles and miles into the planet itself, possibly close to its core to greatly affect its gravity.

[@beamnanamin1616]

I love this game.

[@natalironaldo]

This game is pure gold

[@Hotpocketmountiandew]

This would make a really good movie.

[@lnsflare1]

I'm pretty sure that Phantasy Star 3 took place alongside Phantasy Star 4, 1000 years after the events of Phantasy Star 2, with the Dark Force becoming active on one of the colony ships fleeing the destruction of Palm/Parma in PS2 at about the same time the 3 Dark Forces were simultaneously becoming arrive in the Algol system they had hailed from (possibly before they did in PS4, since PS3 took place over 3 generations and I doubt that any of the Dark Forces would have continued to exist after The Profound Darkness, of which they are extensions of, ceased to exist at the end of PS4, which took place over probably less than a single year).

[@galloe8933]

This was such a good game.

[@kasempoop5546]

Your content is amazing, thank you so much for this high quality entertainment that youtubers with subs in the millions can't top! Can you please do the Persona series next?

[@achidikisob7759]

Persona would be interesting, though I can see wars starting depending who he chooses as "best girl" (or if he dodges that all together, leading to a separate complaint).

[@jacques4703]

I think phantasy star iv gave us the perfect ending for the saga. A sequel at this point could only be done if a sidestory is considered. Because let's not forget that the ultimate enemy was a destructive deity so the bar was set very high for a final foe

[@stefanswiss3760]

i see and understand your point that is often made but I would argue that there would also be 2 other ways a franchise like this could be respected and have a continuation : - first : make it about character development and give an arch to great characters (in the end we often stay with a serie for its caracters and not only the world menace) My examples / Rocky didn't have to get a higher belt in each of his movies / also Disney managed to make a fair sequel to cinderella (one good against 20 other bad sequel but that is still to be praised) -secondly : We could still have high stakes as it is still a universe and a solar system filled with havocs and dangers : Biomonsters, bio manipulation, climate control and food crisis, a dormant civilisation with robots that could be used one way or another... many of those thematics ring true especially today. For such reasons, I would definitly say that I'll keep a place in my heart for a PSV that wouldn't disrespect the old episodes... Hopes are hopes :)

[@indifferentone8991]

4:47 wait, I don't remeber this stripclub. Where is it located?

[@hitkid2456]

Aiedo, in the north IIRC

[@YAYGamingYourOwnSenpai]

Still waiting on magna carta 2

[@kazuki199407]

i love your content man

[@bigfredbigfred2760]

This game was amazing I preferred phantasy star over final fantasy during these times.

[@cinnamondan4984]

Wish they had released this on Sega CD as had been planned

[@balihgdah9968]

Chaz looks like Claude Kenny from Star Ocean

[@paulorufalco]

gooood, good times

[@rudedragens7397]

Wish there was more heavy sci fi jrpgs like this they’re usually all fantasy based with dragons and shit like that i need more aliens

[@6gredlite907]

Phantasy Star is one game that makes me emotional when someone dies. Main characters are not safe in this series.

[@albertabramson3157]

And, ironically, PS4 was originally made for the Sega CD... until sales of the $300 addon dropped off to almost nothing. Resulting in a very large game being packed onto a large cartridge... with some cutbacks. We never saw the original CD version.

[@feetking420]

rad. thanks for this

[@nolanmattson4313]

Do Earthbound beginnings, earthbound, and phantasy star 1

[@rvt3676]

YEEEEEEESS NEW VID

[@dukkemonterier3429]

I want a classic Phantasy Star anime *SO.FUCKING.BAD.IT.HURTS!!!!*

[@nolanmattson4313]

Do Earth bound beginnings

[@juliox9]

o the memories, PSO2 has a Rika´s costume for nostagia.

[@shiningkingghidora]

Does Kyra look familiar?

[@EmptyDomoKanti99]

i’m very used to using some wildly different ( and less appropriate ) names

[@RenoKyrie]

While i love the Online Series much more The Classic 4 are great in their own way for its time, ESPECIALLY 4 which aged the best compared to the other 3