Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Encyclopedia
is a console roleplaying game released in 1993 for the Mega Drive in Japan
and in 1995 for the Sega Genesis in North America
. It is the fourth and final game in the original Phantasy Star
series, concluding the story of the Algol Star System. The game was also made available on the Wii
Virtual Console
in Japan on June 24, 2008, in the PAL regions on November 14, 2008, and in North America on December 22, 2008, for the price of 800 Wii Points
. Phantasy Star IV is also part of the Sega Genesis Collection
on the PlayStation 2
and PlayStation Portable
and on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
for Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3
.
Phantasy Star IV kept many of the gameplay elements of the previous game, including turn-based battles, overhead exploration, and magic spells. This game is typically seen as the last of the original Phantasy Star games, closing the Algol system story as a sequel
to Phantasy Star II
(Phantasy Star III does not involve the Algo System). Phantasy Star IV is generally named as one of the greatest role-playing games of all time.
interaction, and turn-based combat. Like the previous games in the Phantasy Star series, individual characters each have their own statistics and equipment that determine the character's performance in combat, improving their statistics by gaining experience levels (achieved through victory in combat). Additionally, non-Android characters have access to "Techniques," abilities similar to magic spells in other games, drawing upon a character's pool of "Technique Points" (TP) to be used, with new techniques being learned as a character gains levels.
Phantasy Star IV has a number of features new to the series, including a more-streamlined battle system, an addition of many manga
-style panel illustrations that accompany the narrative, an expanded script, and a much reduced difficulty curve compared to the previous entries in the series.
Phantasy Star IV takes place 1,000 years after the events of Phantasy Star II
. It is the story of Chaz Ashley, a young bounty hunter, who, along with his friends and allies, unwittingly becomes the savior of the Algol solar system. The story begins on the planet Motavia, which has gone through dramatic climate changes since the end of Phantasy Star II
. After an event called the Great Collapse, much of the once-thriving ecosystem had been reduced to desert, and life had become progressively more difficult for the planet's inhabitants. To make matters worse, there had been a marked increase in the numbers of the "biomonsters," a catch-all term for the strange and violent aberrations of Motavia's flora and fauna.
Keeping these creatures under control is the job of "hunters", and it is during an investigation into such an outbreak that the characters learn of the relationship between the biomonster problem and the planet's ecological crisis. The planet is in the process of returning to its original desert state as the climate and biosphere-controlling devices installed over a thousand years previous begin to fail. The reasons behind the malfunctions are clarified as the plot unfolds, relating directly to the events of Phantasy Star II.
Chaz and his allies connect the world's troubles to a cult leader called Zio, "The Black Magician," whose aims appear to be total annihilation, not only of Motavia, but of the whole Algol solar system. The heroes therefore decide to stop Zio in order to restore the computer systems maintaining Motavia. However, it soon becomes clear that Zio is merely the vanguard to a much larger, more dangerous enemy, long buried in the past. The secrets of the Algol star system are revealed as Chaz and company progress through the story, discovering both the nature of the threat to their worlds as well as the safeguards placed in a time long forgotten.
), full motion video
cutscenes, voice acting
, and much more were planned. However, poor sales and lack of support for the Mega-CD platform caused a change of plans midway through development. Most of these features were scrapped from the final design, the intended voice cast declined, and the end result was a Sega Mega Drive cartridge game that bore little resemblance to the original plans for the CD-ROM version, which would have been at least 240 megabit.
by Tec Toy
.
rather than the less well-received Phantasy Star III
, although there are references to both titles during the story of the game. In spite of this, the title screen of all versions of the game reads Phantasy Star: The End of the Millennium. The combination of the titles is Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, as seen in the Sega Genesis Collection
compilation.
. Both covers depict Chaz, Rika, and Rune, but the American/European box art deviates from their appearance in-game.
for the Sega Saturn
, released only in Japan. There was a Windows port released in 2004. American and European gamers would have to wait for the The Sega Genesis Collection
for the PlayStation 2
and PSP
. Most recently, it was included in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
, released for the Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3
consoles.
The Sega Ages
project planned a remake
of this game for the PlayStation 2
console, having revamped the first two games: Phantasy Star Generation 1
and Phantasy Star Generation 2
. However, the Sega Ages website confirmed that a port of Phantasy Star Collection
for the PlayStation 2 featuring all four of the original games would be released, leaving the previously announced remake in development limbo.
, where it is also the fourth highest ranking game for the Sega Genesis. It is also considered to be the definitive end of the original series, as future games bearing the Phantasy Star name such as Phantasy Star Online
and Phantasy Star Universe
have no direct relationship to the original games.
Nintendo Power
has called it, along with Phantasy Star II
, one of the greatest RPGs of all time.
placed into the game for the appreciation of series fans. There are also a number of references to other popular Sega franchises. In the final dungeon, players may experience a random encounter with an enemy called "Prophallus", which looks identical to Dark Falz
(Dark Force) from the original Phantasy Star
; this is an even closer reference than it appears, as "Prophallus" is considered by some to be an incorrect transliteration of "Dark Falz". There is also a wreckage in the fields near the town of Nalya. It is a purely optional dungeon full of robotic enemies, some of which are strongly reminiscent of enemies from previous games: For instance, Whistles are similar to those found in Phantasy Star II [Whistlers], and the Forren enemies are a reference to the androids from Phantasy Star III. The wreckage itself is a crash of a spaceship habitat similar to the Alisa-III, the world-setting of Phantasy Star III. The town of Termi, near Ladea Tower, is an homage to the original Phantasy Star, featuring statues of Alis and Myau and the shop called "Bayamare," a reference to the tower of Baya Malay, which sells numerous Easter Egg items that previously appeared in Phantasy Star.
Some music tracks from previous Phantasy Star games have reappeared as remixes (PS1 Dungeon Arrange 1 and 2). Also, "Pao-Pao", the track that has played in an area of Aiedo's Hunter Guild, is a remix of a track used in Sega's "Fantasy Zone
" series. "Pao-Pao" is likely to be a reference to Opa-Opa, the main character. One of the young Musk Cats in Myau's cave brags about being able to get the top off a bottle. In the original Phantasy Star, Myau needed help getting the top off a bottle, which contained a potion necessary to save his friend, Odin. Sonic The Hedgehog
is referenced in the game in a book titled Run, Hedgehog, Run! in Saya's Grammar School along with Ecco the Dolphin
in the book titled A Day With Ecco. A reference to Golden Axe
also appears. There is also a Game Gear located in the cupboards of the inn in Nalya.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and in 1995 for the Sega Genesis in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is the fourth and final game in the original Phantasy Star
Phantasy Star
is the first installment in Sega's renowned series of the same name. It was released for the Sega Master System in Japan on December 20, 1987, and then in North America and Europe in 1988. It is considered one of the pioneers amongst console role-playing games, both for its advanced graphics...
series, concluding the story of the Algol Star System. The game was also made available on the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
in Japan on June 24, 2008, in the PAL regions on November 14, 2008, and in North America on December 22, 2008, for the price of 800 Wii Points
Wii Points
Nintendo Points are a currency that Nintendo uses for its Wii and Nintendo DSi systems through the Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop respectively...
. Phantasy Star IV is also part of the Sega Genesis Collection
Sega Genesis Collection
The Sega Mega Drive Collection is a video game compilation for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, compiled and emulated by Digital Eclipse and released in the U.S. in 2006 and Europe and Australia in 2007...
on the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
and on Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, known as the Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection in PAL regions, is a compilation of video games developed by Backbone Entertainment for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles...
for Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
.
Phantasy Star IV kept many of the gameplay elements of the previous game, including turn-based battles, overhead exploration, and magic spells. This game is typically seen as the last of the original Phantasy Star games, closing the Algol system story as a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star II is a console role-playing video game developed by Sega AM7 and released for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan in 1989. It was also released for the Mega Drive in Europe and the Genesis in America in 1990...
(Phantasy Star III does not involve the Algo System). Phantasy Star IV is generally named as one of the greatest role-playing games of all time.
Gameplay
Phantasy Star IV is an archetypal console RPG in the spirit of the series, featuring the staples of exploration, NPCNon-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
interaction, and turn-based combat. Like the previous games in the Phantasy Star series, individual characters each have their own statistics and equipment that determine the character's performance in combat, improving their statistics by gaining experience levels (achieved through victory in combat). Additionally, non-Android characters have access to "Techniques," abilities similar to magic spells in other games, drawing upon a character's pool of "Technique Points" (TP) to be used, with new techniques being learned as a character gains levels.
Phantasy Star IV has a number of features new to the series, including a more-streamlined battle system, an addition of many manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
-style panel illustrations that accompany the narrative, an expanded script, and a much reduced difficulty curve compared to the previous entries in the series.
Story
- The long, long struggle of ancient times finally ended...
- The victor sacrificed the vanquished to the heavens.
- Four bells tolled. Four torches were lit.
- And the world continued for thousands of years...
Phantasy Star IV takes place 1,000 years after the events of Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star II is a console role-playing video game developed by Sega AM7 and released for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan in 1989. It was also released for the Mega Drive in Europe and the Genesis in America in 1990...
. It is the story of Chaz Ashley, a young bounty hunter, who, along with his friends and allies, unwittingly becomes the savior of the Algol solar system. The story begins on the planet Motavia, which has gone through dramatic climate changes since the end of Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star II is a console role-playing video game developed by Sega AM7 and released for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan in 1989. It was also released for the Mega Drive in Europe and the Genesis in America in 1990...
. After an event called the Great Collapse, much of the once-thriving ecosystem had been reduced to desert, and life had become progressively more difficult for the planet's inhabitants. To make matters worse, there had been a marked increase in the numbers of the "biomonsters," a catch-all term for the strange and violent aberrations of Motavia's flora and fauna.
Keeping these creatures under control is the job of "hunters", and it is during an investigation into such an outbreak that the characters learn of the relationship between the biomonster problem and the planet's ecological crisis. The planet is in the process of returning to its original desert state as the climate and biosphere-controlling devices installed over a thousand years previous begin to fail. The reasons behind the malfunctions are clarified as the plot unfolds, relating directly to the events of Phantasy Star II.
Chaz and his allies connect the world's troubles to a cult leader called Zio, "The Black Magician," whose aims appear to be total annihilation, not only of Motavia, but of the whole Algol solar system. The heroes therefore decide to stop Zio in order to restore the computer systems maintaining Motavia. However, it soon becomes clear that Zio is merely the vanguard to a much larger, more dangerous enemy, long buried in the past. The secrets of the Algol star system are revealed as Chaz and company progress through the story, discovering both the nature of the threat to their worlds as well as the safeguards placed in a time long forgotten.
Protagonists
- Chaz Ashley ( in the Japanese version) is the sixteen-year-old protagonist of Phantasy Star IV. At the start of the game, he had just become a fully-fledged Hunter of the Hunter's Guild in Aiedo, as well as the professional partner of his mentor, Alys Brangwin. His first full assignment sends the two of them to the far-off city of Piata in order to investigate disturbances at the local academy, thus setting the game into motion. In battle, Chaz can use either swords or daggers as his weapons, and can wear heavy armor, making him a stereotypical protagonist for the genre. He has a moderately-large pool of Techniques, allowing him to deal great damage with spells, a trait he shares with previous Phantasy Star protagonists.
- Alys Brangwin ( in the Japanese version) is one of the most skilled Hunters on Motavia, top-ranked at the Hunter's Guild in Aiedo. She is world-renowned for her no-nonsense attitude and great skill in combat. She shares a veiled history with Rune Walsh, the specifics of which are never discussed. She took Chaz off the streets and raised him as her apprentice, serving as an unusual combination of a mother and an older sister while mentoring him in the ways of life. Her time with the party is short, as she leaves the group after the first encounter with Zio. In battle she serves as a generalist; she is able to use a smattering of attack Techniques and some support Techniques, and she can use "slasher"-type weapons (bladed boomerangs) that automatically target all enemies.
- Hahn Mahlay is a young scholar who studies under professor Holt at the Piata Academy. He joins Chaz and Alys as they begin their investigation into the disturbances that brought them all the way from Aiedo. Hahn, as a student, is not a strong fighter, allowing Alys to repeatedly extort money from him under the guise of providing protection. Hahn remains with the party up to the first encounter with Zio, after which he parts ways with the group, though much later he becomes available as an optional party member. Hahn uses daggers in battle, giving him weak physical attacks, but has a wide variety of attack Techniques that allow him to deal damage; this, combined with his low defenses and health scores, makes him a stereotypical magic-user.
- Rune Walsh ( in the Japanese version) is an enigmatic, somewhat caustic man who is first met in the smoldering ruins of Molcum, whereupon he joins the party to travel to Tonoe. He leaves the party soon after arriving in Tonoe to perform some arcane errand, and finally rejoins permanently soon after the first encounter with Zio. He and Alys share some shrouded history, but the specifics are never mentioned. Rune is one of the few people remaining in Algol with knowledge of the forgotten power of "magic," (a force distinct from the series staple "Techniques," abilities that fill the role commonly occupied by magic spells in most RPGs) which he uses to destroy an obstacle barring the party's way forward. Rune serves as a stereotypical magic-user in battle, with low health and strength, few armor choices, powerful attack Techniques, and high magic statistics.
- Gryz ( in the Japanese version) is a Motavian warrior and, along with his sister Pana, one of the two sole refugees from the razed city of Molcum. He is met in Tonoe, living under the protection of the Motavian Elder. Gryz is driven by a need to protect Pana, his last remaining family, as well as by a powerful thirst for vengeance against those responsible for the devastation of his home. He joins the heroes for the latter purpose, parting ways with Chaz before the party first heads into space. Gryz once again becomes available as an optional party member much later in the game. Gryz is very strong and slow and uses axes in combat; he has few abilities aside from his powerful physical attacks.
- Rika ( in the Japanese version) is a NumanNuman (race)Numans, or newmans, are members of a fictional race in the Phantasy Star video game series. They are genetically engineered beings, made with a combination of DNA from Palmans and artificial wild creatures called biomonsters...
, the product of a thousand years of continuous research in genetic engineering by the biological support system artificial intelligence, Seed; she is effectively a descendant, clone, and superior version of Nei, originally born to carry out the will of Seed and had since her birth developed into a surrogate daughter for the artificial intelligence. She joins the party soon after she is met, and her travels with Chaz and company are Rika's first experiences with the world outside of Seed. Rika is very fast and agile, using artificial claws as her weapons; she also has a number of healing and supportive Techniques. - Demi ( in the Japanese version) is an android created by Wren to regulate the Nurvus central control system of Motavia. She is discovered to be a prisoner of Zio, her captivity part of his scheme to disrupt the support systems of Algo. Once freed by Chaz and friends, she joins the party throughout the rest of their adventures on Motavia, providing material assistance in the form of lost technologies and access to hidden or otherwise sealed facilities as well as acting as another ally in battle. She parts ways with Chaz once he heads into space, her duties at Nurvus requiring her complete attention and all of her energies, though she becomes an optional party member much later in the game. In combat, Demi uses guns as her weapons and possesses several internal devices to assist in her defense, though she is especially weak against magic.
- Wren ( in the Japanese version) is the android custodian of the space station Zelan, a surviving control complex and current center of Algol's remaining support systems; it is on Zelan he is met, and from that point on he is one of Chaz's constant companions, remaining with them through the game's conclusion. Wren is knowledgeable and insightful, having been functioning for almost 1,000 years, and possesses a wide variety of scientific and mechanical skills, allowing him to both pilot and maintain spaceships. Despite his many physical similarities to Wren from Phantasy Star III, the two characters are unrelated (the PSIII Wren was named Searren in the Japanese version, and the events of PSIII are far removed from those of Phantasy Star IV). Wren functions much like Demi in battle, using heavy guns as his weapons while being loaded with a number of devices to assist him in combat; he is very strong against physical damage, but is especially weak against magic.
- Raja is a Dezolisian priest who successfully talks his way into Chaz's party after an emergency crash landing crushes Raja's temple. He is an easy-going old man, with an avid, if quirky, sense of humor, whose knowledge of Dezolis proves to be an invaluable resource to the now-marooned party. He remains with Chaz and friends until the events at the town of Meese, which will occupy Raja until close to the end of the game, at which point he becomes an optional party member. Raja is a stereotypical healer in battle; he is physically frail and has few attack options, yet he is easily the best healer in the game and is highly resistant to magic damage.
- Kyra Tierney ( in the Japanese version) is a young, aggressive, tomboy-ish Esper (one of the dwellers within the Esper Mansion, abode of the great Lutz) who meets the party when she is rescued from an altercation with the Forest of Carnivorous Trees. She treats Chaz as though he were her kid brother despite the relative closeness of their ages. Her (self-appointed) mission is to investigate the cause of the never ending blizzard afflicting Dezolis, coinciding with Chaz's goals when they meet. She remains with the group until the mystery is resolved, after which she bids the party farewell, though she does return as a possible optional party member later in the game. Kyra is a balanced character with few weaknesses and few strengths; she uses slashers and has a decent repertoire of attack Techniques while being far more durable than other mage-type characters, yet her statistics do not allow her to excel in any specialized role.
- Seth is a middle-aged, traveling archaeologist who meets the party outside the Soldiers' Temple; he agrees to join up with Chaz and company for the purpose of delving into the ancient structure; he demonstrates his knowledge by commenting on the antiquities the party encounters once inside. In battle, Seth functions exactly like a much-simplified Hahn, being a magic-user with a short list of powerful abilities.
Antagonists
- Zio, the Black Magician, is the mysterious and baleful cultist whose acts are menacing Motavia. Zio possesses frightening powers of unknown provenance, claims to have the favor of a god, and controls vast resources, enough to grant him effective political control of the city of Kadary, a large fortress headquarters, and even a private army. He also seems to know an incredible amount of forgotten lore, understanding the secrets of Motavia's past in a way that eclipses the learning of the world's greatest scholars; every indication is that Zio's intended course of action using his unique insight is not a wholesome one. The first part of the game is spent piecing together Zio's movements and motives, in the beginning by happenstance as Zio's acts are necessarily preventing Chaz and company from completing their mission, and then by design as the nature of Zio's intentions are revealed. The party eventually sets out to stop Zio's machinations before the damage is irreversible.
- Reipard La Shiec (Shortened to Lashiec in the game, Lassic in Phantasy Star I) was the tyrannical potentate of Algol and served as the primary antagonist of Phantasy Star; it is also the name of a deformed, corpselike creature that orchestrates the burglary of an artifact in order to lure the Esper Lutz deep into space, to the ruins of the Air Castle (the fortress that originally served as La Shiec's seat of power), found amidst the asteroid belt that was once the planet Parma, in an attempt to get revenge against the only surviving member of the party that originally killed him.
- Dark ForceDark Force (Phantasy Star)Dark Force is the major recurring villain and plot element in the Phantasy Star series of video games. It is featured as a major boss in each game of the series, typically being discovered as the hidden source of recent calamities...
is the recurring final enemy of the Phantasy Star series, always nightmarish in form though its appearance changes between games. It is the "god" at the center of Zio's church, and serves as Zio's patron. Dark Force is ultimately responsible for the turmoil and catastrophe that are disrupting Algol, though it is now present in several places simultaneously, each with a different appearance and each engaged in a separate act of widespread destruction. Dark Force does not serve precisely the same role in Phantasy Star IV, and speculation about what Dark Force is and what it wants plays a part of the plot. - The Profound Darkness is the final boss of Phantasy Star IV as well as arguably the main antagonist of the original Phantasy Star series. It was born when the creator of the universe, after having made reality, subsequently split into two antithetical beings, one being The Great Light, and the other The Profound Darkness. The two battled until The Profound Darkness lost, its fate to be sealed within an inter-dimensional prison that is kept locked by the Algol star system. While not necessarily originally an evil or malicious creature, the eternity of being sealed away had made it bitter and hateful. The Algol seal weakens for a short time once every thousand years, and The Profound Darkness began to exploit this flaw send an avatar back into reality; this entity became known as Dark Force.
Mega-CD version
Phantasy Star IV was originally designed for the Mega-CD system, and would have been vastly different from its final incarnation. This unreleased version was called Phantasy Star IV: The Return of Alis. Features like 3-D dungeons (such as those featured in the first Phantasy StarPhantasy Star
is the first installment in Sega's renowned series of the same name. It was released for the Sega Master System in Japan on December 20, 1987, and then in North America and Europe in 1988. It is considered one of the pioneers amongst console role-playing games, both for its advanced graphics...
), full motion video
Full motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
cutscenes, voice acting
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
, and much more were planned. However, poor sales and lack of support for the Mega-CD platform caused a change of plans midway through development. Most of these features were scrapped from the final design, the intended voice cast declined, and the end result was a Sega Mega Drive cartridge game that bore little resemblance to the original plans for the CD-ROM version, which would have been at least 240 megabit.
Original releases
The game was released in Japan on the Mega Drive in December 1993. It would be more than a year before the English-translated version of the game was released on the Sega Genesis in the United States. After delays beyond 1994, Americans were finally able to play Phantasy Star IV in February 1995. In the United Kingdom and Europe it was released on December 8, 1995. However, Portuguese audiences would have to wait for a 2004 fan translation, as End of the Millennium became the first Phantasy Star title not to be officially translated to PortuguesePortuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
by Tec Toy
Tec Toy
Tectoy is a Brazilian videogame and electronics company. They are best known for publishing and distributing Sega's consoles and video games in that country. The company stock is also traded at Bovespa...
.
Naming
In Japan, the game had been named Phantasy Star: At the End of the Millennium, but in the American and European releases, the box read simply Phantasy Star IV. At the time, this was seen by the gaming press as an attempt to make it perceived as closer to the widely praised Phantasy Star IIPhantasy Star II
Phantasy Star II is a console role-playing video game developed by Sega AM7 and released for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan in 1989. It was also released for the Mega Drive in Europe and the Genesis in America in 1990...
rather than the less well-received Phantasy Star III
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
is a traditional console roleplaying game that was released for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan in April 1990 and in the United States in the summer of 1991...
, although there are references to both titles during the story of the game. In spite of this, the title screen of all versions of the game reads Phantasy Star: The End of the Millennium. The combination of the titles is Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, as seen in the Sega Genesis Collection
Sega Genesis Collection
The Sega Mega Drive Collection is a video game compilation for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, compiled and emulated by Digital Eclipse and released in the U.S. in 2006 and Europe and Australia in 2007...
compilation.
Marketing
In an effort to appeal to the aesthetic sensibilities of Western gamers, the cover art for the American and European releases was re-done by Boris VallejoBoris Vallejo
Boris Vallejo is a Peruvian-born American painter. He immigrated to the United States in 1964, and he currently resides in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He frequently works with Julie Bell, his wife, painter, and model....
. Both covers depict Chaz, Rika, and Rune, but the American/European box art deviates from their appearance in-game.
Production errors
The instruction manual for the American version states that there are 15 possible combination attacks. However, only 14 were ever discovered. Occasionally, the "secret technique" Feeve, a useless technique accessible through hacking, is mistaken for the "lost 15th combo."Ports and remakes
The game was ported as part of the Phantasy Star CollectionPhantasy Star Collection
Phantasy Star Collection's North American release was met with generally favorable reviews, earning an aggregate score of 76 out of 100 on MetaCritic. Critics noted that although the game was outdated, it still held up with its innovations to the genre. They praised the games' uniqueness upon their...
for the Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
, released only in Japan. There was a Windows port released in 2004. American and European gamers would have to wait for the The Sega Genesis Collection
Sega Genesis Collection
The Sega Mega Drive Collection is a video game compilation for the PlayStation 2 and PSP, compiled and emulated by Digital Eclipse and released in the U.S. in 2006 and Europe and Australia in 2007...
for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
. Most recently, it was included in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, known as the Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection in PAL regions, is a compilation of video games developed by Backbone Entertainment for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles...
, released for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
consoles.
The Sega Ages
Sega Ages
Sega Ages refers to a number of compilations or re-releases of classic video games from developer and publisher Sega.-Saturn version:Sega-AM2 released several Sega Ages games for the Sega Saturn in Japan:...
project planned a remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of this game for the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
console, having revamped the first two games: Phantasy Star Generation 1
Phantasy Star Generation 1
Phantasy Star Generation:1 is a role-playing game released in 2003 for the PlayStation 2 and is an enhanced remake of Phantasy Star, originally released for the Sega Master System in 1987....
and Phantasy Star Generation 2
Phantasy Star Generation 2
Phantasy Star Generation:2 is a role-playing game released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and is an enhanced remake of Phantasy Star II, originally released for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in 1989...
. However, the Sega Ages website confirmed that a port of Phantasy Star Collection
Phantasy Star Collection
Phantasy Star Collection's North American release was met with generally favorable reviews, earning an aggregate score of 76 out of 100 on MetaCritic. Critics noted that although the game was outdated, it still held up with its innovations to the genre. They praised the games' uniqueness upon their...
for the PlayStation 2 featuring all four of the original games would be released, leaving the previously announced remake in development limbo.
Reception
Phantasy Star: The End of the Millennium maintains an 85% rating on the aggregate site Game RankingsGame Rankings
GameRankings is a website that collects review scores from both offline and online sources to give an average rating. It indexes over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 games.GameRankings is owned by CBS Interactive...
, where it is also the fourth highest ranking game for the Sega Genesis. It is also considered to be the definitive end of the original series, as future games bearing the Phantasy Star name such as Phantasy Star Online
Phantasy Star Online
Phantasy Star Online is an online multiplayer action RPG title, originally released for the Dreamcast in 2000, bundled with a demo of Sonic Adventure 2. Another edition, entitled Phantasy Star Online ver.2, was released for Dreamcast the following year...
and Phantasy Star Universe
Phantasy Star Universe
is an action roleplaying game by Sega's Sonic Team for the PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360. In Japan, it was released for the PC and PlayStation 2 on August 31, 2006, with the Xbox 360 version releasing on December 12, 2006. Its North American release was on October 24, 2006, available in all...
have no direct relationship to the original games.
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
has called it, along with Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star II is a console role-playing video game developed by Sega AM7 and released for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan in 1989. It was also released for the Mega Drive in Europe and the Genesis in America in 1990...
, one of the greatest RPGs of all time.
Allusions
Phantasy Star IV makes a number of references to previous games. Some references are direct tie-ins to the overall plot, while others are so-called easter eggsEaster egg (media)
Image:Carl Oswald Rostosky - Zwei Kaninchen und ein Igel 1861.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of Easter egg hidden within imagerect 467 383 539 434 desc none...
placed into the game for the appreciation of series fans. There are also a number of references to other popular Sega franchises. In the final dungeon, players may experience a random encounter with an enemy called "Prophallus", which looks identical to Dark Falz
Dark Force (Phantasy Star)
Dark Force is the major recurring villain and plot element in the Phantasy Star series of video games. It is featured as a major boss in each game of the series, typically being discovered as the hidden source of recent calamities...
(Dark Force) from the original Phantasy Star
Phantasy Star
is the first installment in Sega's renowned series of the same name. It was released for the Sega Master System in Japan on December 20, 1987, and then in North America and Europe in 1988. It is considered one of the pioneers amongst console role-playing games, both for its advanced graphics...
; this is an even closer reference than it appears, as "Prophallus" is considered by some to be an incorrect transliteration of "Dark Falz". There is also a wreckage in the fields near the town of Nalya. It is a purely optional dungeon full of robotic enemies, some of which are strongly reminiscent of enemies from previous games: For instance, Whistles are similar to those found in Phantasy Star II [Whistlers], and the Forren enemies are a reference to the androids from Phantasy Star III. The wreckage itself is a crash of a spaceship habitat similar to the Alisa-III, the world-setting of Phantasy Star III. The town of Termi, near Ladea Tower, is an homage to the original Phantasy Star, featuring statues of Alis and Myau and the shop called "Bayamare," a reference to the tower of Baya Malay, which sells numerous Easter Egg items that previously appeared in Phantasy Star.
Some music tracks from previous Phantasy Star games have reappeared as remixes (PS1 Dungeon Arrange 1 and 2). Also, "Pao-Pao", the track that has played in an area of Aiedo's Hunter Guild, is a remix of a track used in Sega's "Fantasy Zone
Fantasy Zone
thumb|Fantasy Zone arcade PCB is a surreal arcade game released by Sega in 1986. It was later ported to a wide variety of consoles, including the Sega Master System. The player controls a sentient spaceship named Opa-Opa who fights nonsensical invader enemies in the titular group of planets, full...
" series. "Pao-Pao" is likely to be a reference to Opa-Opa, the main character. One of the young Musk Cats in Myau's cave brags about being able to get the top off a bottle. In the original Phantasy Star, Myau needed help getting the top off a bottle, which contained a potion necessary to save his friend, Odin. Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog (character)
, trademarked Sonic The Hedgehog, is a video game character and the main protagonist of the Sonic video game series released by Sega, as well as in numerous spin-off comics, cartoons, and a feature film. The first game was released on June 23, 1991, to provide Sega with a mascot to rival Nintendo's...
is referenced in the game in a book titled Run, Hedgehog, Run! in Saya's Grammar School along with Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco the Dolphin is a puzzle video game released in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. The central character, Ecco, is a bottlenose dolphin controlled by the player through a progression of side-scrolling aquatic levels...
in the book titled A Day With Ecco. A reference to Golden Axe
Golden Axe
Golden Axe is a side-scrolling beat 'em up and hack & slash arcade video game released in 1989 by Sega for the System 16-B arcade hardware. It is the first game in the Golden Axe series....
also appears. There is also a Game Gear located in the cupboards of the inn in Nalya.