Rika (Phantasy Star IV)
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is a 1993
role-playing video game Role-playing video games, also known as CRPG (computer/console role-playing games), comprise a broad video game genre generally defined by a detailed story and character advancement (often through increasing characters' levels or other skills) ...
by
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for the
Sega Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Sys ...
. It was first released in Japan and later in Europe and North America in 1995. It is the fourth and final game in the original ''
Phantasy Star is a series of console role-playing video games and other supplementary media created by Sega. The series debuted in 1987 on the Master System with '' Phantasy Star'', and continues into the present with ''Phantasy Star Online 2'' and other ex ...
'' series, concluding the story of the Algol Star System. ''Phantasy Star IV'' kept many of the gameplay elements of the previous game, including
turn-based Timekeeping is relevant to many types of games, including video games, tabletop role-playing games, board games, and sports. The passage of time must be handled in a way that players find fair and easy to understand. In many games, this is don ...
battles, overhead exploration, and magic spells. It received mixed reviews upon its release but has since been considered one of the
greatest video games of all time This is a list of video games that video game journalists or magazines have considered among the best of all time. The games are included on at least six separate best-of lists from different publications (inclusive of all time periods, platfor ...
.


Gameplay

''Phantasy Star IV'' is an archetypal
role-playing video game Role-playing video games, also known as CRPG (computer/console role-playing games), comprise a broad video game genre generally defined by a detailed story and character advancement (often through increasing characters' levels or other skills) ...
, featuring the staples of exploration, NPC 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" (''i.e.'' magic spells), the use of which draw upon a character's pool of "Technique Points" (TP), with new techniques being learned as a character gains levels. ''Phantasy Star IV'' has a number of features new to the series, including combination techniques,
manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
-style panel illustrations that accompany the narrative, and an expanded
script Script may refer to: Writing systems * Script, a distinctive writing system, based on a repertoire of specific elements or symbols, or that repertoire * Script (styles of handwriting) ** Script typeface, a typeface with characteristics of handw ...
. 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".


Plot

''Phantasy Star IV'' takes place 1,000 years after the events of ''
Phantasy Star II is a science fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. It was released in Japan in 1989 and North America and Europe in 1990. It was later ported to a variety of different platforms. An updated remake ...
'' and 1,000 years before the era of '' Phantasy Star III''. After an event called the Great Collapse, much of the once-thriving planet Motavia has reverted to its original desert-state as the climate and biosphere-controlling devices installed over a thousand years previously begin to fail, and life has become progressively more difficult for the planet's inhabitants. To make matters worse, there has 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." Hired by Piata Academy on Motavia, hunters Alys Brangwin and her young apprentice Chaz Ashley begin their investigation into the relationship between the biomonster problem and the planet's ecological crisis. Joined by others along the way, they connect the world's troubles to a cult leader called Zio, "The Black Magician", whose aims appear to be total annihilation of not only Motavia but of the whole Algol solar system. During their initial confrontation, Zio mortally wounds Alys with his Dark Energy Wave. Taking the lead upon her passing, Chaz is joined by Alys’s wizard acquaintance Rune Walsh who helps break the barrier on Zio’s tower and eliminate the wizard to restore the computer systems maintaining Motavia. With no change in Algo’s abnormal conditions, the party turns their attention to a malfunctioning satellite space station found to be contaminated by Dark Force, which they are forced to engage and purge. However, Algo’s disasters remain unabated and the party is further baffled as they encounter multiple incarnations of Dark Force along the way. Traveling to Rykros, an unknown fourth planet of the Algo solar system, Chaz and his companions learn of the Profound Darkness: a powerful entity banished behind a planetary seal billions of years ago that is able to manifest its hatred in physical form as Dark Force every thousand years due to fluctuations in the seal. With the seal now severely weakened by the planet Parma’s destruction during the Great Collapse, Chaz and his party enter the Profound Darkness’s dimension and eliminate it before it is able to break completely free and destroy the galaxy. With the evil banished for good and the party going their separate ways, Rika — a numan girl in the group — chooses to stay behind with Chaz as they bid everyone farewell, remembering the sacrifice of those who have defended Algo through the ages and awaiting the next one to come.


Release

The game was released in Japan in December 1993, North America in February 1995 and the United Kingdom and Europe in December, 1995. ''The End of the Millennium'' was the first ''Phantasy Star'' title not to be localized to Brazil by
Tec Toy Tec Toy S.A., trading as Tectoy since 1997, is a Brazilian toy and electronics company headquartered in São Paulo. It is best known for producing, publishing, and distributing Sega consoles and video games in Brazil. The company was founded b ...
. Sega initially stated that they would not publish the game in Europe. In the United States, the game retailed for just under $100. The cover art for the American and European releases was done by
Boris Vallejo Boris Vallejo (born January 8, 1941) is a Peruvian-American painter who works in the science fiction, fantasy, and erotica genres. His hyper-representational paintings have appeared on the covers of numerous novels in the science fiction, sword ...
. Both covers depict Chaz, Rika, and Rune, but the American/European box art deviates from their appearance in-game. In Japan, the game was initially announced as ''Phantasy Star IV'', but by the time of release, it had been renamed ''Phantasy Star: The End of the Millennium''. At the time, this renaming was seen by the gaming press as an attempt to make it clear that the game was a followup to ''
Phantasy Star II is a science fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. It was released in Japan in 1989 and North America and Europe in 1990. It was later ported to a variety of different platforms. An updated remake ...
''. The American and European releases took the title ''Phantasy Star IV'', though the title screen of all versions of the game reads ''Phantasy Star: The End of the Millennium''. The titles are combined to ''Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium'' in the ''
Sega Genesis Collection ''Sega Genesis Collection '' (''Sega Mega Drive Collection'' in PAL regions) is a compilation of video games developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Sega for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. The collection includes twenty-eight Sega ...
'' compilation. ''Phantasy Star IV'' was the last ''Phantasy Star'' game until ''
Phantasy Star Online ''Phantasy Star Online'' is an online role-playing game (RPG) developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega in 2000 for the Dreamcast. It was the first successful online RPG for game consoles; players adventure with up to three others over the ...
'' (2000), which has a mainly unrelated story.


Ports and remakes

An unlicensed demake of the game for the 8 bits NES
famiclone In video game parlance, a famiclone is a hardware clone of the Family Computer/Nintendo Entertainment System. They are designed to replicate the workings of, and play games designed for, the Famicom and NES. Hundreds of unauthorized clones and ...
s was published in Chinese by Fuzhou Waixing Computer Science & Technology Co. Ltd. in 1996. The game was ported as part of ''
Phantasy Star Collection is a compilation of the ''Phantasy Star'' video games. When released for the Sega Saturn in Japan in 1998, it featured the first four games in the series, whereas the Game Boy Advance version, released in 2002 in North America and in 2003 in E ...
'' for the
Sega Saturn The is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it is the successor to the succes ...
, released only in Japan. There was a Windows port released in 2004, as well as its inclusion in the ''
Sega Genesis Collection ''Sega Genesis Collection '' (''Sega Mega Drive Collection'' in PAL regions) is a compilation of video games developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Sega for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. The collection includes twenty-eight Sega ...
'', ''
Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection ''Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection'' (''Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection'' in PAL regions) is a Video game compilation, compilation of video games developed by Backbone Entertainment and published by Sega for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The ...
'', ''
Sega Genesis Classics ''Sega Genesis Classics'' (released as ''Sega Mega Drive Classics'' in PAL regions) is a series of compilations featuring Sega Genesis video games released for Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The collections ar ...
'', and the
Sega Genesis Mini The Sega Genesis Mini, known as the Mega Drive Mini in regions outside of North America, is a dedicated console modeled on the Sega Genesis. The Mini emulates the original console's 16-bit hardware, and includes 42 games made available through ...
. ''
Sega Ages is a series of video game Porting, ports, Video game remake, remakes, and compilations published by Sega. It consists of Sega arcade games and Home video game console, home console games, typically those for the Sega Genesis and Master System. Th ...
'' planned a remake for the
PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...
console, having revamped the first two games: '' Phantasy Star Generation 1'' and '' Phantasy Star Generation 2''.


Reception

''Phantasy Star IV: End of the Millennium'' received generally positive reviews upon release, with critics praising the gameplay but with mixed reactions to the story and graphics. ''
GamePro ''GamePro'' was an American multiplatform video game magazine media company that published online and print content covering the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software. The magazine featured content on various video ...
'' praised the ability to inspect background objects, the convenience of the macros and talk option, the translation, and the story sequences. However, they commented that the inability to purchase multiple items at once is irritating, and described the story as frequently incoherent and occasionally derogatory towards women. ''
Next Generation Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to: Publications and literature * ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company * Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...
'' remarked that ''Phantasy Star IV'', "while still a good game, is years behind." They elaborated that while other RPGs were making major innovations to the genre in both graphics and gameplay, ''Phantasy Star IV'' still fundamentally looked and played the same as ''
Phantasy Star II is a science fantasy role-playing video game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. It was released in Japan in 1989 and North America and Europe in 1990. It was later ported to a variety of different platforms. An updated remake ...
'' from five years before. The four reviewers of ''
Electronic Gaming Monthly ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews. History The magazine was fou ...
'' commented that the magic/technique system, equipment and general gameplay are all highly involving and enjoyable, but that the graphics are mediocre, the music is irritating, and the story is too slow-paced. ''
Sega Saturn Magazine ''Sega Saturn Magazine'' (originally known as ''Sega Magazine'') was a monthly magazine from the United Kingdom covering the Sega Saturn, a home video game console. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and some issues incl ...
'' (previously ''
Sega Magazine ''Sega Saturn Magazine'' (originally known as ''Sega Magazine'') was a monthly magazine from the United Kingdom covering the Sega Saturn, a home video game console. It held the official Saturn magazine license for the UK, and some issues inclu ...
'') said that the graphics are outdated even compared to other Mega Drive/Genesis games and that the game is incomprehensible to newcomers to the series, but that "the game succeeds by creating cinematic moments, introducing new characters and powers, and taking many weird and wonderful plot turns." ''
Mean Machines ''Mean Machines'' was a multi-format video game journalism, video game magazine published between 1990 and 1992 in the United Kingdom. History In the late 1980s ''Computer and Video Games'' (''CVG'') was largely covering the outgoing generatio ...
'' criticized the graphics, animation, and effects, but praised the playability, story, and lastability, calling it the "best pure RPG for the Megadrive." The three reviewers of ''
GameFan ''GameFan'' (originally known as ''Diehard GameFan'') was a publication started by Tim Lindquist, Greg Off, George Weising, and Dave Halverson in September 1992 that provided coverage of domestic and imported video games. It was notable for it ...
'' rated it 90, 97, and 92, stating the "graphics are beautiful, the music is powerful, and the non-stop original ideas make this cartridge an absolute must-own for the RPG enthusiast" while criticizing the translation. Retrospective reviews have been very positive, with praise for the gameplay, story and visuals. In ''RPGamer'', Sephirstein praised the title as one of the greatest RPGs he had ever played, with "magnificent graphics, sensational soundtrack, gripping story and incredible battle system". Parn of ''RPGFan'' also called it one of "the best RPGs ever made". Reviews for the
Virtual Console The Virtual Console was a line of downloadable retro video games for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS family of handheld systems. The Virtual Console lineup consisted of titles originally released on pa ...
release were also very positive. ''Nintendo Life''s Corbie Dillard said that one could not have asked for a better end to the 16-bit series. ''
IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
'' called it one of the definitive 16-bit role-playing games, stating the "storyline and characters are deep and engaging", the "attractive
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
-style cutscenes steal the show visually", and the gameplay is both "classic and unique at the same time". ''
Tor.com ''Reactor'', formerly ''Tor.com'', is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine published by Tor Books, a division of Macmillan Publishers. The magazine publishes articles, reviews, original short fiction, re-reads and commentary on specul ...
'' described it as "an ambitious JRPG that is the perfect end to the series, taking the best elements of each of the previous games and weaving together a 'phantastic' journey." ''
Eurogamer ''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 alongside parent company Gamer Network. In 2008, it started in the formerly eponymous trade fair EGX (Eurogamer Expo until 2013) organised by its parent company. Fr ...
'' stated that it is "epic in scope" and recommended that "anyone with a fondness for JRPGs should investigate this at once". In 2007, ''IGN'' ranked ''Phantasy Star IV'' as the 61st best game ever made. In 2012, ''IGN'' placed ''Phantasy Star IV'' at number 59 in their Top 100 RPGs of all time, citing the elegantly simple mechanics and the game's influence on ''
Phantasy Star Online ''Phantasy Star Online'' is an online role-playing game (RPG) developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega in 2000 for the Dreamcast. It was the first successful online RPG for game consoles; players adventure with up to three others over the ...
'' (which they ranked as number 23 on the list). In 2009, ''
Nintendo Power ''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninte ...
'' labelled the title, along with ''Phantasy Star II'', as one of the greatest RPGs of all time. ''
Complex Complex commonly refers to: * Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe ** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
'' ranked the game number 2, behind only ''
Gunstar Heroes ''Gunstar Heroes'' is a 1993 run and gun video game developed by Treasure and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. It was Treasure's first developed video game. The game's premise is centered around a pair of characters, the Gunstars, in ...
'', in its list of the best Sega Genesis games.


References

{{Phantasy Star series 1993 video games Fiction set around Algol Japanese role-playing video games Nintendo Classics games Overworks games Phantasy Star video games Sega Genesis games Sega video games Single-player video games Turn-based role-playing video games Video game sequels Video games about cults Video games developed in Japan Virtual Console games Windows games