Phantasy Star

Phantasy Star, which began Sega's epic RPG series and is on its own half the reason to buy a Master System. Explore three planets with wildly differing climates, and wildly similar dungeons.

This game cost 70 dollars in 1988. Adjusted for inflation, that's almost a whopping 194 USD!

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Data

Unused Items#

Items "M SYSTEM" and "ZILLION" exist in the list of items and can be added to the inventory via save editing, but do not appear to have any effect. They are likely a reference to the Sega Master System and the game Zillion, respectively.

Backup RAM Credits#

The following phrase is found in the ROM at 0x807.

PHANTASY STAR   
      BACKUP RAM
PROGRAMMED BY   
       NAKA YUJI

Regional Differences#

Japanese Version#

The Japanese version supports FM audio (by using the FM add-on for the Sega Mark III or the MK-2000 version of the Master System). The code for FM audio was removed entirely for the international versions.

Several items got renamed between the Japanese and international versions, in particular replacing references to two energy-oriented Japanese brands (the Caloriemate supplement bar and Arginine V carbonated drink) with… fast food. Hm.

Korean Version#

Original	Korean

The Korean version featured a radically different title screen, removing Alis in favor of a more generic space scene. The rest of the game is apparently unchanged, other than the translation. As to why this change was made is unknown, though it was perhaps for some sort of censorship.

Revisional Differences#

To do: Document Phantasy Star Fukkokuban, the Genesis edition, better - apparently it does boot to SMS mode, but not exactly the same Master System ROM rewired, instead using software to enter that mode.

Phantasy Star Collection (GBA)#

In the original English-language release, the Governor tells you "IN THE MAHARU CAVE LIVES AN ESPER NAMED NOAH. I WILL GIVE YOU A LETTER OF INTRODUCTION TO PRESENT TO HER", though Noah is listed as a male everywhere else. The GBA Phantasy Star Collection release changed this, using the pronoun "HIM".

Virtual Console#

This page or section needs more images. There's a whole lotta words here, but not enough pictures. Please fix this. Specifically: Comparison screenshots

Like its Genesis sequel, the Virtual Console version of this game contains a plaintext, commented ASM patch. It basically removes every instance of a red cross in hospitals throughout the game. See the data page for the raw patch code.

References#