Skip straight to the translation right now. (Though, if this is your first visit, I'd recommend you visit the Names section first, lest you end up royally confused.)
Wonderful news! A very, very generous soul by the name of Yukiko Yasuge translated the last of the PS staff interviews - thank you so much! Thanks to her (and Aaron, who contacted me about her), this translation (barring typo checks) is complete.
Irasshaimase! This site (well, it's not really a site; once the translation is finished, it'll no longer be updated) houses the in-progress unofficial translation of Sega of Japan's official Phantasy Star fan book, The Phantasy Star Compendium. The Compendium was first published in late 1995, and it's basically a "data book" on the series, filled with production art, details on the games' development, new information on the series's characters and locales, etc. (Unfortunately, in the couple years since I first posted this translation, the Compendium seems to have become much rarer and, in most cases, unavailable even by special order through anime import shops. The ISBN identification number is 4-89052-782-6, if you still want to try; the price was previously in the $25-$35 range, though I doubt any retailer able to grab hold of some copies of the book will hold to that at this point.)
Before we begin, a few points:
NAMES
As everyone knows, Sega of America played a lot of Three-Kana Monte with the PS names to get them to fit into the four-character-limit name spaces. As a result, some of the US names are abbreviated versions of the Japanese originals ("Alis" and "Rudo", for example, come from "Alisa" and "Rudger" ["Rudogaa" in katakana]), while others have been simply changed all together. Since the Phantasy Star Compendium is a Japanese fan book, I use the Japanese names. This runs the risk of confusing the heck out of a lot of folks, since PS isn't quite like, say, Sailor Moon, where absolutely everyone knows the original names of every character. I have taken safeguards, however - whenever a personal or place name is introduced, its English equivalent is included in brackets after it if the name differs from its Western incarnation. And, of course, there is the list below. These are my own romanizations; there is, no doubt, room for error, but I have tried to be as accurate as possible. Whenever the U.S. name is an acceptable romanization of the Japanese original, I use it; whenever the Japanese name is written out in Roman letters, I (definitely) use it. Please e-mail me if you have any corrections, suggestions, or questions, and many thanks to Neilast, Jack Power (my name's Ukrainian, smart guy!), Mike Ripplinger, and especially Eve Chauviré for help and input on these.
The game titles themselves - The "Phantasy Star" - "Ph" and all - is kept intact, of course, but the subtitles have changed. The names of the four Japanese installments are as follows:
The planets - The Algo Star System is the Algol Solar System, and the Japanese names of the four planets are Parma, Motabia, Dezolis, and Ryucross. Ugly. I despise using "Parma" and "Dezolis", since they're considered particularly egregious translation discrepancies in the English version of PSIV, but I'm taking the names from the only solid Japanese sources we have - the PSIV sound test (which was ported over intact from the Japanese version, minus a banner across the top (it had kanji on it, which was probably what got it whacked)) and the small panel that pops up when Rolf discovers the computer on Gaila that shows the names of the planets written on in Roman letters (which, again, was ported over directly from the Japanese version; there's a picture of it in the Compendium). Dezoris is referred to as "Dezolis" in the Jap PSII and "Dezoris" in the PSIV sound test; I'm taking the former as canon, seeing that, to put it bluntly, it came first (and thus takes precedence over any changes later on). (Late note: it turns out that Huey/Hugh's PSII text adventure romanizes "Motabia" as "Motavia". I have no idea how this fits in to the main series's canonity. I'm not even sure the programmers know for certain. I'm leaving it as "Motabia" in the document and just plain giving up.)
Character names (Note: an abbreviated version (i.e., without all the explanatory chatter) is available here; you might want to open it in another window and keep it handy for quick reference while browsing through the page.)
PSI -
Alis Landale - Alisa Landeel
Others:
Lassic - La Shiec (Yes, the "s" is capitalized - it's "Ra Shiik" in kana, given the same way the last names of the PSIII crew are. While this probably could be romanized as "La Chic" or "La Sick" as well, I've followed in PSIV's footsteps, since its translations of previously-established places and figures are the most literal - if the most unfaithful to English naming conventions - of the series. La Shiec is actually his last name; his first is Reipard, if anyone's interested.)
PSII (note: the PSII text adventures spell out the PC's first names in roman letters on certain screens. Eusis, Nei, Amia, and Shilka are canonical (culled from the PSII text adventure games); the rest of the first names (and all of the last names) are my romanizations. If you have played the text adventures and have found in-game contradictions to these approximations, by all means, give me a ring. (In fact, since the smarter-than-the-average-Musk Cat Naflign has managed to get hold of one of these precious discs, we might be seeing some changes/confirmations in these names soon.)
Rolf - Eusis (The book says that Rolf/Eusis is of the Landale bloodline; whether or not his last name is actually Landale (or "Landeel") is not known (at least by me).)
Others:
No significant changes as far as I can see. Motherbrain, Neifirst, Tyler, and Lutz all retain their original names. (The Commander, however, is the governor-general or viceroy, as in PSI.)
PSIII (I'm including the marriage prospects in the PC section, if that's OK. I'm also very wordy here, if that's OK.) -
Rhys - Kane Sa Riik (from the kana "Sa Riiku". God knows how to properly romanize it. Could be "Leek", but then the great Orakian homeland would be named after a vegetable. Then again, read further on down the line and you'll probably agree that PSIII isn't past such goofy nomenclature.)
Others:
Laya is Laia, but Orakio, Rulakir, Miun, and Siren are all the same (I have, however, seen some Japanese fan pages which refer to Siren as "Psi-Wren"). Orakio's (and, I suppose, Rulakir's) last name is Sa Riik (and, as with her little sister, Laia's is probably Le Cille). Lune isn't mentioned (well, he's mentioned, but his name isn't used).
PSIV -
Chaz Ashley - Rudy Ashleigh ("Ashley" doesn't have the same sound.)
Others:
Seth - Shiam (It's tempting to romanize this as "Sham", but - no.)
I'm told that the PS Collection offers the following names as romanizations. Personally, I don't know quite what to make of these; some of them are reasonable, but some are just...bizarre; translating the katakana "Raira" as "Ryre" and "Arisa" as "Alicer" is like using the abbreviation "OTOH" on the Net but taking it to mean "on Tuesdays or holidays". I can't see these as the programmers' intended names. Ah, well; at the very least, we can take solace in the fact that there are apparently lousy Sega translators in Japan too.
PSI:
PSIII:
PSIV:
Phantasy Star: Official Production Compendium
pg. 2
Phantasy Star: Official Production Compendium
pg. 3
PHANTASY STAR WORLD GUIDE
For eight entire years, the "Phantasy Star" series has continued to impress us. We present these thorough color illustrations to all those it has charmed.
pg. 4
ALL OF PS STARTED HERE
[data box] Date Released: on sale December 20, 1987
Story
The year AW 342 - Parma [Palma], the first planet in the Algol [Algo] Solar System, had reached the height of its glory, under the rule of La Shiec [Lassic]. The other planets of the Algol Solar System had been opened to colonization, and plans for the development of farm plants and resources had smoothly gone forward. Stargoing space shuttles went back and forth to the Algol Star System's second planet, Motabia [Motavia], from Parma's spaceport, and some years after the start of that, construction had begun on a spaceport on the third planet, Dezolis [Dezoris], as well.
Picture Captions:
[large] The package illustration for the commemorative edition of Phantasy Star.
pg. 5
CHARACTER [sic] OF PSI
Alisa
Myau
Tyrone [Odin]
Lutz
A Grand Adventure across 3 Planets
The party of three people and one animal will begin their search for the items, weapons, and armor needed to challenge La Shiec. They will fight heroically against the likes of the Red Dragon and Medusa. They will meet Dr. Luveno and Lutz's teacher, Tajim. Within their various adventures lies the climax of the tale. For, in the end, Alisa will discover that her father was king of the Algol Solar System, and she is thus the rightful heir to the throne.
Picture Captions:
[upper reel] The beauty of the smooth scrolling animation seen when you advance, retreat, or turn left or right in the richly-colored 3D dungeons was novel and amazing.
Picture Text:
[lower reel] The party fights a Red Dragon, and the governor asks Alisa, "Will you succeed your father and become the next queen of Algol?"
pg. 6
AT THE END OF THE REBELLION AGAINST LA SHIEC...
Picture Captions:
[Gold Drake] The journey nears its end at, at last, La Shiec's fortress, the Air Castle. But there lurks the fortress guardian, the Gold Drake [Gold Dragon]...
PHANTASY STAR REISSUE
This Ageless Masterpiece Is Perfectly Reproduced!
Now this software has been made a legend. Even today, it is a fun and completely enjoyable piece. However, this game was released eight whole years ago; obtaining the hardware and software is getting difficult. Luckily, there is good news, for there is a Megadrive version!
Picture Captions:
[Sega Mark III screen] It is the same at the onset from when the "Mark III" appears.
pg. 7
PHANTASY STAR II
Phantasy Star II - At the End of the Time Which Can Never Be Returned to
AN EARLY MEGADRIVE MASTERPIECE OF ROLEPLAYING
[Data Box] Date Released: on sale March 21, 1989
Sega's new family game system, the Megadrive. II, which succeeded in showing off the power of this new hardware, ended up a totally different product from the previous work, with its dual-layered scrolling, 2D-perspective dungeons, anime-inspired characters, and so on. Its battle animation and magnificent story spanning the Algol Solar System, however, laid the groundwork for the framework of the series from then on.
Picture Captions:
[Eusis [Rolf]] Package illustration. Drawn by the hand of Hitoshi Yoneda-shi. It is a portent of the battle to come.
pg.8
1000 YEARS AFTER I - ONCE AGAIN ALGOL IS FLUNG TOWARDS CHAOS BY THE EVIL FORCES OF DARKNESS
Story
Alisa, Lutz, and their friends...their fight to save the Algol Solar System has already become a legend and a modern fairy tale.
Picture Captions:
[Alisa in Eusis's dream] Eusis has this nightmare every night. A lone girl, challenging a giant monsters, goes to strike...
Picture Text:
[Alisa in Eusis's dream] have nightmares. [That's the end of a sentence in Japanese; their syntax structure is wildly different from ours, so sentence fragments alone often seem out-of-place.] A lone girl is battling a frightful monster that appears to be a powerful demon.
pg. 9
CHARACTER OF PSII
Eusis
Nei
pg. 10
Rudger Steiner [Rudo (Rudolf) Steiner]
Anne Saga [Amy Sage]
Amia Amirski [Anna Zirski]
pg. 11
Huey Reane [Hugh Thompson]
Shilka Levinia [Shir Gold]
Kainz Ji An ["Josh" Kain]
pg. 12
THE TRAGEDY OF MANKIND'S ENEMY BROUGHT FORTH FROM CIVILIZATION
The results of the analysis on the system recorder that Eusis's party discovered and brought back from the lowest level of the Biosystem [Biosystems] brought to light some surprising facts. A huge amount of energy flowing into the system caused the abrupt evolution of an out-of-control creature. This event coincides with the start of the abnormal weather patterns two years ago. Eusis and his party go to investigate the climate control system Amedasu [Climatrol - "Amedasu" means "Rainstarter" or "Rainbringer"; it's written in katakana in the book]. They meet someone at Amedasu - a girl that looks exactly like Nei. The girl speaks. "I am Neifirst. I was born by accident in a Biosystem experiment two years ago, but the humans classified me as a failure and thought they would kill me. To exact revenge on those humans, I created the Biomonsters." The other Nei also came from such painful circumstances; she was born when she divided from Neifirst, and.... Irreconcilable, the two fight, and, finally, a tragedy occurs...
Picture Captions:
[Nei vs. Neifirst] The two Neis cross swords. No one can stop them now. The sisters fight to the death.... What can be said about this sad sight?
Picture Text:
[Tyler & exploding Parma] the whole planet perished. I wonder what will become of Algol? Now, I forgot what I was going to tell you...
pg. 13
WITH ALGOL'S DESTINY HANGING IN THE BALANCE, THE FINAL BATTLE AT NOAH BEGINS
Finding themselves on Dezolis, Eusis and company meet a man amidst the ice and snow who has been in cold sleep. He is Lutz, Algol's last Esper. He says that Eusis was saved from the spaceship accident 10 years ago through his power. ...Alisa, the heroine who once saved Algol - Eusis is her last descendant. Lutz tells him, "The vision in the dream you always have - that is the fight between Alisa and Dark Force.... There is an evil being leading Algol to ruin. To defeat it, you must collect the most powerful weapons, the 'Nei' series, hidden about Dezoris." Eusis nods his head. When Eusis and his party collect all the weapons, they are transported to the enemy spaceship "Noah".
Picture Captions:
[Dark Force] Dark Force again! One by one, your comrades' hearts will be seized by darkness. They will be crushed by despair, or rummage through their allies' possessions. But the light of the Neisword will cleanse the darkness from their hearts.
Picture Text:
[Earthmen] We are not humans of Algol. Our homeland is a star called "Earth". It stood out in the galaxy, green and shining, the blossom of our highly advanced civilization.
[green box] PSII Extra - Secrets Collection
pg. 14
SUCCESSORS OF TIME: PHANTASY STAR III
Successors of Time: Phantasy Star III
THE GRAND STORY OF A GREAT BATTLE FROM 1,000 YEARS AGO SPANNING THREE GENERATIONS OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN!!
[Data Box] Date Released: on Sale April 21, 1990
Story
Long ago, the people of this world prided themselves upon being part of a civilization that traveled the stars. Then, however, a girl with mysterious powers named Laia [Laya] appeared. Instantly, the world was conquered by an army of monsters commanded by Laia and her right-hand man, a young nobleman of the house of Eshyr [note: this phrase obviously refers to Lune, but I don't know if "Eshyr" is the Japanese name of Dahlia, or merely Lune's family, or what. It says that he's from the house (not kingdom) of Eshyr, but then, Kane [Rhys] is said to be of the house of Riik [Landen], so...I dunno.]
Picture Captions:
[Kane and his cool-handled sword] The package illustration for the third Phantasy Star, for play on the Megadrive.
pg. 15
CHARACTER OF PSIII
Kane Sa Riik
Mieu Type S2
Shirren Type 386 [386! Goodness, Shirren better get an upgrade soon!]
pg. 16
Lyle La Mirah
Lena No Satera
Marlena Le Cille
A Brief Rest, and Then the Wedding...
After the quest has been settled and peace has come, the wedding ceremony will begin. It would not be exaggerating to say that this is the biggest event in PSIII. Since this very much determines the course of the second- and third-generation scenarios, think carefully when choosing a marriage partner. [There's a little chart below this paragraph in the book that shows the various possible marriage unions and their offspring. I can't display anything chart-like here, so I'll just sum it up - if Kane Sa Riik marries Marlena Le Cille, they'll produce Ayn Sa Riik, who in turn has a choice of marrying Lynn No Satera [Sari] or Lann La Mirah [Thea]. If Ayn marries Lynn, his son will be Noin No Satera [Crys]; if he marries Lann, his son will be Shiin Le Cille [Sean]. On the other hand, if Kane Sa Riik marries Lena No Satera, they'll produce Lane Sa Riik [Nial], who in turn has a choice of marrying little-sister Laia [Laya] or Luise Kay Eshyr [Alair]. If Lane marries Laia, his son will be Fuin Sa Riik [Adan - no mention is made of Gwyn]; if he marries Luise, his son will be Ruin Sa Riik [Aron]. Whew. Onward.]
Picture Caption:
[(rather distorted) map of Riik] The quest begun to save his fiancée Marlena wound up at the castle of the Laian land of Cille. The king of Cille challenged the five comrades to a fight, promising to return her if they won.
pg. 17
After the First and Second Generations of Successors Comes the Final Battle
When the second generation's fight has become history, the cause of all the wars will be drawn out. In this quest, the third generation will learn of the great mistakes of the Laia-Orakio Wars and sense that something is hurling this world into dark days as they race towards the final battle.
After the End of the Battle to the Death, Peace Will Return...But Only for 1,000 Years.
The partner to whom Rulakir sold his soul was Dark Force. At the end of the life-or-death struggle, the spirit is destroyed. His taunting last words are, "I will revive in about 1,000 years..."
PSIII Interesting Secrets
pg. 18
PHANTASY STAR: AT THE END OF THE Millennium
Phantasy Star: The End of the Millennium [Note: "The End of the Millennium" is written in English. The subtitle in Japanese, however, is "At the End of the Millennium".]
THE SERIES'S FINAL CHAPTER THAT REVEALS THE SECRET OF THE GENESIS OF THE ALGOL SOLAR SYSTEM
[Data Box] Date Released: on sale December 17, 1993
Story
The explosion of the first planet, Parma. This devastating event, along with the destruction of the planetary control system "Mother Brain", flung the Algol Solar System into chaos. That [something] catastrophe, called the Great Collapse, has already become history.... Rudy [Chaz], a greenhorn Hunter, along with his teacher, Lyla [Alys], is heading out for Motabia Academy, from which they have received a request for help. Little does he know that he is about to embark on a great adventure in which Algol's fate hangs in the balance.
Picture Captions:
[Forren [Wren], Thray [Rune], Rudy, and Fal [Rika]] The illustration put on the reverse side of the cartridge [and pg. 37 of the U.S. manual]. The giant armor [meaning the claw] on Fal's arm doesn't appear in the game.
pg. 19
CHARACTER OF PSIV
Rudy Ashleigh [Chaz Ashley]
Fal
Picture Caption:
[3D dungeon screen] 3D Dungeons Were Also Investigated
Picture Text:
[3D dungeon screen] Rudy, Fal, Thray, Forren, and Lyla take on a Grass Assassin [Fanbite] and a Da-Kemal-Rah [Xe-A-Thoul].
pg. 20
Thray Walsh [Rune Walsh]
Pyke [Gryz]
Forren
pg. 21
Lyla Brangwen [Alys Brangwin]
Picture Caption:
Freyna [Demi]
pg. 22
Shess Tierney [Kyra Tierney]
Picture Caption:
Picture Captions:
[Rudy, Thray, Fal, & Dark Force] Package illustration. Drawn by Yoneda-shi, the same artist as in II.
pg. 23
SUB-CHARACTER OF PSIV
Shiam [Seth]
Zio
La Shiec
Picture Captions:
[Rudy, Shiam, and Thray] A height comparison of Rudy, Thray, and Shiam. It's a rough sketch.
pg. 24
Dorin
Holt
The Dean [The Principal]
Pana
Sahya [Saya]
Gyuna
The Archbishop [The Bishop]
Ta Suuk [High Priest of Gumbious]
Esper Comrade
pg. 26
Mentor
Bakery Proprietor [all right, this is getting a little excessively comprehensive]
Juza
Fortuneteller
1992 TOY SHOW VERSION
At the End of the Millennium first premiered at the June 1992 Tokyo Toy Show. Judging by the title screen, in was called Phantasy Star IV at the time. Since hardly any screenshots were shown from the finished product after that, I wonder if these were the "first-look screen shots" for the Megadrive magazines and the people who couldn't come to the Toy Show. Incidentally, since the ROM of this version no longer exists, you won't be able to see the following screens again.
Picture Captions:
[the four Protectors] Everyone's poses in the opening sequence are different.
Picture Text:
[Dark Force] AN EVIL SPIRIT REAWAKENS
pg. 26
AT THE END OF THE Millennium ADVANTAGE INFORMATION
How to Pull Off a Combination Attack
This game system's most outstanding feature is its combination attacks. Through the designated matches (a combination of battle order and assignments), the appearance of something unusual will point to a combination attack. Together with the use of macro commands, you'll eventually be able to execute them whenever you like. All fourteen types of combination attacks are presented in this section. Since their attack powers are great, you probably won't be able to use these until the optimum experience levels.
*Here, "T" means "technique" and "S" means "skill". Combos where the attack order is not specified as "fixed" will still squish monsters no matter which way its components are arranged. [Note: the last three columns denote how well each combo will work on the given enemy group, with "excel." denoting "excellent" and "---" denoting that it doesn't work at all.]
Sound Test
There are arranged-version CDs on sale, but, to some, it's disappointing that original sound versions are unavailable. There are probably a lot of people saying "I want to hear that piece of music from that scene one more time!". For all those people, we have this sound test mode. With this mode, you can settle down and listen to all 48 tunes, from the opening to the ending, to your heart's content.
Combination Attack Secrets
If certain conditions are fulfilled, a combination attack will certainly result. In the event that nothing happens even though "it looks like everything is in place!", it isn't. To explain, the program decides when your enemies and allies take their turns. For example, let's suppose that the order is decided as "Lyla-->enemy-->Rudy...". If the command "Lyla - Foie, Rudy - Zan" was entered, a combination attack will not occur, since Lyla cast Foie. If the second enemy dies by this attack, what do you think will happen? Naturally, the program will unleash Rudy's attack. Your commands will continue to be carried out this way, seemingly in succession.
pg. 27.
THE OVERSEAS VERSION OF "PSIV"
As I - III were marketed overseas, an overseas version of At the End of the Millennium also exists. The highly anticipated (?) package, when completed, was ghastly, gloomy, and alarmingly dark in color. This difference from the original gave cause for concern, but when you compare all the visuals against the Megadrive version, with the supposed exception of the sound test, it's about the same. Yes, of course the messages are all in English! There are, by the way, visuals that weren't seen in the original version, but, since they're printed on pg. 197 of the Phantasy Star: At the End of the Millennium Game Guide (sold in fine bookstores), interested parties can take a look if they wish. [Let us all pause for a moment to allow the idea of us getting something that the Japanese didn't to fully sink in.]
Picture Captions:
[party confronting Zio] Though the package is different, the in-game visuals are exactly the same.
[lil' comic strip [no relation to the U.S. PSIV stuff]]
YOSHIDA-SHI'S NEW CG WORKS
The five visuals published here featuring the Millennium character designs put forth by Yoshida-shi were planned for a cover of SPEC magazine. SPEC is a Sega-organized fan club linking together Sega users. The fan club newsletter is put together completely by Sega development staff. Since, due to various circumstances, the last issue of the magazine was not published, the graphics are being "housed" here. So then, of course, they're being published here for the first time.
pg. 28
ETC.
There are other works under the Phantasy Star name outside of the main series. In-depth looks at the inside stories of the characters in the main series and a whole other side series were also made. I wonder how many of these you've played?
PHANTASY STAR II TEXT ADVENTURES
Game Library / PHANTASY STAR II TEXT ADVENTURES
Phantasy Star II's Eusis and his future comrades are the eight heroes of these short adventure games.
[green box] You Can Play the Text Adventures on Mega CD!!
Eusis's Adventure
Nei's Adventure
Rudger's Adventure
Anne's Adventure
Huey's Adventure [Now, stop me if you've heard this one...]
Amia's Adventure
Kainz's Adventure
Shilka's Adventure
Picture Captions:
pg. 29
Game Gear / PHANTASY STAR GAIDEN
The setting is the world called 'Alisaland'. Alec, a boy living in the town of Tedo, and his young friend Minima are presented in an eventful, staggering adventure. Some people have been imprisoned, and two others will start out with Alec on the search for his father, Morg. It is said that the proof of these chosen warriors is the possession of the Light Pendant...
Game Gear / PHANTASY STAR ADVENTURE
The game uses Phantasy Star II's setting, but Phantasy Star Adventure's characters and system are all original.
The Places You Find Nei! KINETIC CONNECTION
There was a puzzle game for the modem game service called Kinetic Connection, in which you put together pictures played in real time, which used Nei in two puzzles. Unfortunately, we don't have a recent photograph of it, but we did discover one published in a Sega pamphlet, so we decided to present it here.
pg. 30
PHANTASY STAR ITEM CATALOG [or, "Cool Things Japanese People Can Order That Westerners Can't"]
Phantasy Star Merchandise
Compared with other masterpieces, we have a surprisingly small amount of merchandise available. Foremost among these items are goods that were released in the past that are still available now. Strategy guides and such are now scarce items and difficult to get a hold of. I wonder how many of these goods you have?
CHARACTER GOODS
CD's
Illustration Collection
T-Shirts
Telephone Card
Bandanas
[yellow box] Inquiries about Character Goods
pg.31
PROMOTIONAL HANDBILL SAMPLES
These flyers were widely distributed at events like the Toy Show and in from of shops. Their main purpose was to promote new products, and, since the games, recognized as masterpieces, had a lot of handbills made for them and were well-publicized, they were easy to get. All four PS games had handbills made for them, and each turned out to be quite splendid.
STRATEGY BOOKS - GAME BOOKS
If it's an RPG, it's a sure thing that strategy guides will be released for it. It's human nature to want to know the dungeon maps, the items, and the solutions to all the puzzles perfectly. Did so many people turn to strategy books for help because PSII's dungeons were so intricate and mapping was so hard?
Apology - The number listed to ask about ordering character goods on page 49 of the Memorial Drama CD & Fan Book "Phantasy Star" is in error. The one on page 30 [in this book] is correct. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused all our readers.
pg. 32
PHANTASY STAR TV-CM
The PS World Recreated with Picture Tubes
Commercials were made for whatever title of Sega's crown RPG series was popular at the time. There are probably a lot of people for whom it's been an unbearably long time since the commercials were released, with their deft use of sound effects and well-paced presentation of game screenshots. Here, we present these precious TV images.
Phantasy Star
Phantasy Star II: At the End of the Time Which Can Never Be Returned to
pg. 33
Successors of Time: Phantasy Star III
Phantasy Star - At the End of the Millennium
pg. 34
At the End of the Millennium Television Commercial Production Continuity Sheets
Picture Captions:
[Parma exploding] This is the beginning of the scene of Parma blowing up. The contrast between the continuity charts and the realistic picture is interesting.
pgs. 35-39
PSIV STAFF INTERVIEW
[Many, many heartfelt thanks to Yukiko Yasuge for completing the interview translation.]
Phantasy Star: At the End of the Millennium Staff Interview
We got together with four members of the Sega staff that worked on the production of Phantasy Star and created At the End of the Millennium, and they shared their memories with us. Here are the comments the comments of those four and of others on the development staff.
Rieko Kodama [a.k.a. Phoenix Rie] - Greatest works - Phantasy Star, At the End of the Millennium. In charge of general direction on At the End of the Millennium. Also was responsible for dungeon and battle screen backgrounds.
Tohoru Yoshida [a.k.a. Yoshibon] - Greatest works - Phantasy Star II, At the End of the Millennium. In charge of story, planning, character design, graphics, etc. for At the End of the Millennium.
Kazuyoshi Tsugawa - Greatest works - Sorcerian, At the End of the Millennium. In charge of At the End of the Millennium's battle system and parameters. Also contributed to monster designs.
Akinori Nishiyama - Greatest works - At the End of the Millennium, Magical Knight Rayearth. In charge of At the End of the Millennium's overall scenario, character animation, and title screen graphics.
Q: Talk about the particulars of producing At the End of the Millennium.
Rieko Kodama: I was told by the company to make the RPG as soon as possible. They also asked me to try and bring together the original scenario writers, illustrators, and character designers, but I met with Yoshida in the meantime, and I heard that a story had come to him while he was taking a bath. (laughs)
Tohoru Yoshida: I must have subconsciously approved of it. (laughs) Anyway, even though we were on our own up to the very end, you could say that we were somewhat relieved not to have anything or one hanging over our heads. Looking back now, it seems wonderful that we were allowed to do things our own way.
Q: Were you very satisfied in the respect that you were allowed to create [the game] however you wanted?
Yoshida: Oh, it goes without saying that, in retrospect, it was marvelous that we didn't have any outside direction.
Kodama: Since I got together all the talent that they [Sega] asked me to, they let us have our own way. On top of their way of doing business, I was also told that Sega eagerly wanted another installment of this RPG series. If I said that we were done after Yoshida made part II and I made part I, some would think that is not true (laughs). Some of us wanted to make a collection of the previous games. On the other hand, Tsugawa and Nishiyama wanted to create a game from the player’s point of view because they were players when I and II came out. This is a game that has two different sides of thoughts.
Q: Didn’t the team break up after that?
Akinori Nishiyama: Well, we didn’t really break up. We made a good game since we thought this was the last one (laughs).
Yoshida: After all, we didn’t interfere with each other’s work, did we? But that was a weird job when I think about it now.
Nishiyama: We argued this should be that and that should be this when it first started, but eventually no one tried to check that kind of detail…(laughs)
Yoshida: Each one of us has talent to some degree and satisfied their need. That’s why sometimes we totally relied on each other in each division.
Kazuyoshi Tsugawa: I guess every one of us sort of knew what to do and which part to compromise or confront with.
Q: Back to Millennium - is it true that Fal was developed from the original Nei?
Yoshida: Well, I was thinking about using the first Nei [in Millennium], but the other staff members had a lot of things to say about that. They still do, in fact.
Kodama: I said something. (laughs)
Yoshida: At one point, I seriously considered just drawing up another character altogether, but, one way or the other, we worked things out among ourselves, and, in the end, I got the feeling that everyone would let me keep her in. I made the tips of her ears black to get away with her. (laughs)
Nishiyama: I thought that if she just had the long ears it would've been fine.
Tsugawa: I said it would've been all right to leave their [Fal and Nei's] ears the same.
Kodama: Now I don't remember why I objected. (laughs)
Q: Was there any reason?
Yoshida: It was probably a “why now?” kind of thing. Because, at that point, it had been three years since II came out.
Q: Each of you please tell us your favorite title and character in the series.
Yoshida: I think my favorite title would be, of course, Millennium, since each of us contributed to it. I don't know what I would say for my favorite character. (laughs) I had just joined Sega when I worked on the PSII characters, and, even though I had just been given such a great job, I actually had no idea of what it was like to work for a company at the time, and, until I decided to join the company, I didn't know of the existence of any game systems beyond the Famicom. (laughs) When I was given II, I was so thrilled to be able to work on an RPG that the characters really just flowed from my pen, so I'm terribly sorry [but I can't choose a favorite character]. Even now, I don't understand why I drew Nei the way I did, why I gave her those ears or that leotard, much less why I used so much purple.
Q: Nei originally had a tail...
Yoshida: Yes, she did! I thought about adding a tail and made a graphic of her in which her tail swung back and forth when she walked. She didn't have a tail in the battle graphics, though, and I had a talk with my superiors over whether to add the tail or leave it out. Even though they [my superiors] were in charge of the battle graphics at the time, they told my that, since I was the one who added it, it was OK, but I wound up cutting it off anyway. I just thought it would be better to leave it off. It would have been too much if it were there… Anyhow, Nei is probably the character who's closest to me.
Kodama: Personally, my favorite [title] is, of course, Millennium, but I is closest to my heart. PS I came out after Dragon Quest. That was the time when RPGs started to sell well, right? Then we came up with the idea of making one. It was really fun because that was the first time to make both what they call small characters and realistic, well-proportioned characters. It [Nei] is one of my most favorite characters of all.
Tsugawa: If I remember correctly, somebody asked that one time on some questionnaire, and I wrote down "the Slime from I". (laughs) I played up to II when I was a student, and, so when I first played I, that Slime really shocked me. I remember being so impressed that such a thing was possible, so I wrote down "the Slime". In the time that I made Millennium, it became my favorite project that I'd worked on thus far. My choice of favorite characters are somewhat repulsive, but I have to say Dark Force and the final boss. (laughs) I can't really say why I like the enemies so much. I guess that since there are so few impressive monsters that I think are well-drawn and that fill the screen, I'm glad when I do see some. (laughs)
Nishiyama: My favorite character is Hahn, but, if Yoshida was the one who gave birth to all the characters, then I suppose that I feel like I'm the one who raised them. I feel that way towards every character, and each one has their own personality, and because of that, I'm quite fond of all of them. I'm partial to Raja's jokes and Freyna's way of speaking, so I like those characters in their own way. And since the main heroes in RPG's generally don't talk much, they tend to suffer from a lack of individuality, so I made sure that, in Millennium's case, the lead would be plenty talkative. So I added "investigative messages" [the messages that appear when you inspect part of the terrain with the A/C button] as I wanted, at will, and I read afterwards in a game magazine where someone said that "we can't make sense of this babbling Rudy!". (laughs) No matter how much of a sad and tough situation Rudy was in, I made him say such things like, “what a dirty kitchen.” I thought to myself how silly that dialogue was. But I guess that Rudy is my favorite character.
Yoshida: Honestly, I think that "what a dirty kitchen" was a big help! (laughs)
Q: I see. By the way, what about the possibility of a Saturn version or a sequel?
Kodama: What about it? (laughs) We have discussed a continuation of Phantasy Star, but we're not restricted to the Saturn. We've talked about that there should probably be a change of scenery, trying to set it in a different world or something.
Tsugawa: Myself, I want to see about killing off the Great Light this time around. (laughs)
Nishiyama: We really thought up of a lot of different ideas.
Tsugawa: Yeah, I remember. The idea was that Lutz would finally get a starring role, since Alisa and her companions would have died generations ago; the heroine would have lost her memory at the start of the game, but would eventually remember that she was a follower of the Great Light called Neta, and she'd go on a journey with the fourteenth generation Lutz. [Note: I use "she" when referring to Neta, but the character's gender is never given in the interview. I'm sure Tsugawa knows, but I can't tell from the text. I'm basing my guess on the name, but I suppose that, in RPG-land, "Neta" could be either a male or female name.] At least, that was the story we thought up at one time. Whether or not it'll ever come to pass is to pass is out of my hands; as it is, it was something that we thought up in our spare time.
Q: If you ever make a sequel, which system and what kind of story would you like to use?
Kodama: Well, I still have motivation to create something like that, but ….
Nishiyama: Because what was once impressive on old hardware has become ordinary now. That was the significance of Phantasy Star. If we make it now again, its concept is difficult for people to accept.
Kodama: Very difficult.
Q: What about drawing the dungeons in polygons or changing the perspective?
Nishiyama: Those kind of techniques are not innovative any more. They were very innovative back then, but I think they have already become conventional. So these techniques are not great or anything even though they are used on the [Sega] Saturn. Then we started to focus on the concept of the game. It's difficult to clearly say.
Yoshida: We are thinking to stop using Algol. So in the next game, we are going to start the premise of the game with Algol’s story. But if the beginning of the game is like that, the whole system of the game will change and the game would lose the clear framework of Phantasy Star. Because of this, if we are going to make the game again, I think we should not rebuild the new structure of Phantasy Star until we can find our clear definition of Phantasy Star as a framework.
Tsugawa: Whom did you tell we quit using Algol?
Yoshida: I thought I said that.
Q: And what of cutting off the connection to the Great Light?
Yoshida: That's the only way to connect everything, isn’t it?
Nishiyama: There were also plans to give Phantasy Star's battles a Shining Force-like feel. They eventually faded away, but they did exist at one time. If they had eventuated, in Millennium probably would have had 8-10 characters appearing at a time. I think I would've liked to have seen some variant of that system.
Yoshida: [I would've liked to have done] some side stories, stories exploring the past, Alisa's story, stories like those.
Nishiyama: And the older stories have a lot of holes.
Yoshida: I've thought it would be interesting, if I got the chance, to tell the individual stories of the existing Millennium characters after the game. (refers to pg. 55 sketches [of an older Fal and her son, Rui]) These are just little diversions I dreamed up for my own amusement. But if a Phantasy Star were made for new hardware, I'd probably completely change the game system and characters. I'd probably keep the technique names and the prices in meseta. (laughs)
Nishiyama: If we go to the Saturn, with the breaking down of hardware barriers, we'll be able to use a great number of new animation-style techniques, and, even though it'll be a difficult road, I think that we could lead the way in revolutionary stories and characters.
Q: Well, then, I hope we'll be able to talk again in the future, since I know that the fans will be looking forward to it. Japan deeply thanks you. (Sega offices, July 1995)
Comments from Other PS Development Staff Members
Yuuji Naka
Gamer Miki
K.T
Makoto Hunabashi
M. Shibata
Y. Endou
Daisuke Yamamoto
pg. 39
COVER ILLUSTRATIONS
Commentary on Illustrations Drawn by Hitoshi Yoneda-shi and Tohoru Yoshida-shi
A presentation of the illustrations drawn for posters and CD packs. Since both Yoneda-shi and Yoshida-shi are so well-known and -liked among PS fans, I wonder why they [Yoneda and Yoshida] aren't more grateful?
HITOSHI YONEDA
The illustration used in this book's poster supplement and in the Memorial Drama CD & Fan Book "Phantasy Star" released by own company. The touch of the transparent watercolors finishes the piece and brings it to life.
Draft A
Draft B
A Profile of Hitoshi Yoneda-shi
pg. 40
MEMORIAL DRAMA CD AND FAN BOOK
TOHORU YOSHIDA
A presentation of two pieces by Tohoru Yoshida, who was in charge of character design for Phantasy Star II and story planning and character design for At the End of the Millennium.
[Mieu/Rika/Myau/Nei/Rappy group shot] This is a CG done on a Macintosh. This superb piece of the series's heroines gathered together was included in the CD booklet. It was also specially made up as a poster for this book. But why is that "Rappy" so small?
[Rudy/Fal et al. shot] The piece used on the CD case for the Memorial Drama CD & Fan Book put out by our firm. Nei and a 13-year-old Rudy are the focus [foci], with the other characters that appear surrounding them; the piece is conscious of the contents of the drama CD.
MEMORIAL DRAMA CD & FAN BOOK "PHANTASY STAR" WELL-RECEIVED AND ON SALE!!
Phantasy Star is transformed into an original CD in an original scenario created by Sega's own talent. A fan book with commentary on the series and the making of the CD was also included.
pg. 41
PHANTASY STAR SETTEI, DATA, & ETC.
Phantasy Star Material & Etc.
Many settei were prepared during the production of the PS series. Various unreleased material from I, II, and At the End of the Millennium are all presented here.
Picture Captions:
[The following comes from production sketches of an alternate Lyla death scene (Yoshibon, in his li'l Yoshibon Club manga (included in the Compendium on pgs. 70-71), says that Lyla was originally supposed to die in Tonoe, though, since that manga has a not-at-all serious tone to it, I don't know if that statement can be taken at face value). Lyla is dying in her battle armor, on the ground near a building, with Thray holding her and Rudy and Hahn before her.]
Phantasy Star
Phantasy Star II - At the End of the Time Which Can Never Be Returned to [Note: this was previously translated as "At the End of the Restoration", but loc, a PS fan who's translating some of the PSII text adventures, says that the subtitle is a Japanese expression which means the above phrase. I'll trust him because he lives in Japan and I don't. ^_^]
Successors of Time: Phantasy Star III
Phantasy Star - At the End of the Millennium (Yes, there is an "At", and, no, there is no "IV".)
Myau - same
Odin - Tyrone
Noah - Lutz (Note - a PS comic that appeared in Sega of Japan's official fan magazine by Judy Totoya gives Lutz's full name as "Mizerisu Rutsu Iisa Ranai" (Mizerith Lutz Iysa Lanai, perhaps? Anyone's guess (or romanization), really). A fun (but useless and most probably noncanonical) fact.)
Dr. Luveno - same
Hapsby - same
Tajima/Tarzimal/God knows what else - Tajim
The governor is referred to as the "governor-general" or "viceroy".
Nei - same
Rudolf Steiner - Rudger Steiner
Anna Sage - Anne Saga (Her name is French; "Saga" might actually be the romanization of a French surname with a silent vowel at the end. Au secours, Eve.)
Hugh Thompson - Huey Reane
Anna Zirski - Amia Amirski
"Josh" Kain - Kainz Ji An
Shir Gold - Shilka Levinia
Maia - Marlena Le Cille (I've translated the "Ru" in "RuShiiru" as "Le". The Japanese "u" most closely approximates the French "e" sound in "le". And, no, it's not "Marina"; I like her better as a "Marina" too, but "Maarina" is not the same as "Marina", and a double vowel before an "r" character often translates as an "r". PS3 does this, of course, so that Rhys (or Kane) can, come marriage time, choose between a Lena and a Marlena. There are other examples of this cloyingness further on.)
Mieu - same
Wren - Shirren
Lyle - Lyle La Mirah (mee-rah)
Lena - Lena No Satera (I've also seen "Di Satera" and "De Satera". In Japanese, "no" is a possessive article, as "di" and "de" are in Italian and French, so same difference. The book uses "No Satera" (and it's written, like all the names, in katakana), and since I'm translating the *book*, it's "No Satera" from here on in.)
Ayn - Ayn Sa Riik ("Ayn" is pronounced like the German article "Ein", BTW.)
Thea - Lann La Mirah
Sari - Lynn No Satera (And Ayn gets to choose between "Lann" and "Lynn".)
Nial - Lane Sa Riik (a combination of "Lena" and "Kane", och)
Alair - Luise Kay Eshyr (First name pronounced "lu-ee-say"; beats me on the nationality. The last name is the subject of much controversy. It's not "Ecille", as it's not spelled the same way - Cille is "Shiiru", the surname in question is "Ke Eshiru" (only one "i", which does make a difference). The romanization here is only a guess.)
Laya - Laia (This was a toughie, because both the U.S. "Laya" and "Laia" are pronounced the same way, with a long i - "Lie-ah". Eve Chauviré, however, brought it to my attention that "Laya" would be "Raya" in katakana; the Japanese don't use "aia" for our equivalent "aya" sound ("Maya" (as in the Mayan civilization) is still "maya", not "maia", etc.). Therefore, her name is "Laia". Either way, Laia has no last name mentioned in the book; there is, however, a great chance of it being "Le Cille". (And either way, Nial/Lane doesn't get a cutesy choice of marriage prospects, no fair!))
Sean - Shiin Le Cille (I'm not going to even try to devise a romanization for the four third-generation heroes. The first names are presented in their original kana form. ("The prince's offspring will wander afar, and his grandson will be cursed with a really stupid name."))
Crys - Noin No Satera
Adan - Fuin Sa Riik
Aron - Ruin Sa Riik ("Well, he has a three-out-of-four chance of being cursed with a stupid name." Incidentally, I transposed Adan and Aron's corresponding Japanese names in my post to the PS newsgroup - mooshi wake nai - gomen nasai!)
Kara - Luna Kay Eshyr (I'm assuming on the last name.)
No other PCs are mentioned.
Alys Brangwin - Lyla Brangwen
Hahn Mahlay - same
Rune Walsh - Thray Walsh (Yes, yes, I know; everyone calls him "Slay". The sound test, however, titles his theme as "Thray", and since the text and titles of the sound test are unchanged from the Japanese game, and since "Thray" is a perfectly acceptable romanization of "Surei", I'm going with "Thray".)
Gryz - Pyke (or "Pike". I figure, though, that if it's "Alys" and "Gryz", it might as well be "Lyla" and "Pyke")
Rika - Fal
Demi - Freyna (derived from the Norse goddess of love? They have "Vahal(la) Fort" in the game, so it's not implausible)
Wren - Forren (Yes, yes, I know part deux - everyone uses "Fuoren". It's more aesthetically pleasing, but it's incorrect. In katakana, the android's name is spelled fu - small o - dash/sound elongation/macron sign - re - n. Had the designers intended it to be "Fuoren", they would've used fu - regular-size o - re - n. "Fuoren" is pronounced differently, to boot.)
Raja - Su Raja (Dezorians place their surnames first.)
Kyra Tierney - Shess Tierney (Could be "Cess" after all; the Japanese are rather liberal with a "sh" sound vs. a "s" sound in katakana-ization.)
Zio - same (could be "Jio" too. The ending sound is pronounced "ee-oh", not "ai-oh")
Dorin - same
Professor Holt - same
Pana - same
Saya - Sahya
Gyuna - same
Juza - same
Mito the fortuneteller - same (if you spot it in the U.S. version - one NPC calls her that)
High Priest at Gumbious - Ta Suuk
Bishop - the Archbishop, and the book says he had the name "Sha Iraa" in production.
the Principal - the Dean, and the book says he had the surname of "Kroft" in production.
Old Esper (Rune's attendant) - the "Mentor", and the book says he had the name "Hasari" (it's an Indian name) in production.
Alis - Alicer
Myau - Myaw
Odin - Tylon
Noah - Lutz
Nero - Nero
Rhys - Kein
Lyle - Rile
Wren - Searren Type 386
Mieu - Myew Type S2
Lena - Lina
Maia - Marina
Chaz - Rudy
Rika - Fal
Rune - Thray
Wren - Fallen
Alys - Ryre
Gryz - Pike
Hahn - Hearn
Demi - Flena
Raja - Raja
Kyra - Shess
Zio - Zio
Dark Force - Dark Phallus
The translation. Finally. (The Compendium's table of contents doubles as the site's table of contents; any section with a "hyperlinked" heading is complete.)
pg. 1
Contents:
PHANTASY STAR WORLD GUIDE - 3
Phantasy Star & Reissue - 4
Phantasy Star II - At the End of the Time Which Can Never Be Returned to - 7
Successors of Time: Phantasy Star III - 14
Phantasy Star - At the End of the Millennium - 18
Others in the Phantasy Star Series - 28
Phantasy Star Merchandise Catalog - 30
Phantasy Star TV Commercials - 32
At the End of the Millennium Development Staff Interview - 35
Illustration Commentary - 39
PHANTASY STAR PRODUCTION DATA & ETC. - 41 [not 35, as the book says]
Phantasy Star & Reissue - 42
Phantasy Star II & Text Adventures - 47
Phantasy Star - At the End of the Millennium - 51
Algol Solar System Chronological Table - 64
Phantasy Star Glossary - 66
Do you know "SPEC"? - 68
Price: 6,000 yen
Capacity: 4 megs + battery backup (4)
But, that spring, sinister rumors began to spread among the citizens...that the nobles of the ruling class that had brought La Shiec to power had been taken in by an evil religion, and that La Shiec had turned over the Algol Solar System in exchange for eternal life. Moreover, it looks as if the rumors are becoming reality. Strange creatures run rampant all throughout each planet, and the peaceful lives of the populace are imperiled.
[little screen] The boundless, legendary adventures of Alisa [Alis] and friends will start here.
A 15-year-old girl raised in the residential district of Camineet on Parma. She lived together with her older brother, but when her brother is murdered by La Shiec's underlings, she swears vengeance and starts on a journey to overthrow La Shiec.
A strange animal that can speak the human language. He's usually the size of a housecat, but when he eats a Laerma berry [Laerma nut], he transforms into a beautiful beast with large wings. [Note: I use "he" in reference to Myau, but the Compendium doesn't give Myau's gender.]
He also set out to overthrow La Shiec, but was beaten in a fight with Medusa and turned to stone. He is rescued by Alisa and vows to join forces with her to fight evil.
An Esper who conceals great magical power. He refuses to go with Alis because he is in the middle of training in the deepest depths of the Maharu Cave, but, through a letter from the governor, he comes to understand the crisis Algol is in and becomes an ally.
[lower reel] The graphics and numerous great scenes incorporated many colors. It was a difficult RPG to complete.
[La Shiec] Upon arriving at La Shiec's palace, the three people and one animal defeat La Shiec's shadow [actually, La Shiec's shadow warrior or body double, his "kagemusha" - you've heard of the movie, right?], then challenge La Shiec as well. The final battle at last begins.
[Dark Force] DARK FORCE
The real enemy, Dark Force, who feeds on the evil in the hearts of people. La Shiec was corrupted body and soul by his magic power and was nothing but a pawn.
[group shot] Since the Megadrive and Mark III sound system standards are different, it is not compatible with the FM sound system, but the contents of the game are the same.
Price: 8,800 yen
Capacity: 8 megs + battery backup (4) [Note: The U.S. cart package says that PSII has 6 megs of RAM. Hmmm...]
[Nei with gun] The illustration of Nei put on the other side of the package. Drawn by Hitoshi Yoneda-shi.
The year AW 1284. Motabia, the second planet in the Algol Solar System. The giant computer from times unknown called Mother Brain changed this desolate desert star into a lush, green planet. Mother Brain managed the weather conditions and food production as well, and the people led carefree lives.
Now, ever since the breeding of the evil creatures called "Biomonsters" years ago, the people have lived in fear and are at a loss as to what to do.
But, in these times, there are still a few strong-willed people. Eusis, an agent of the Motabian government, is one of them. Under orders from the governor [Commander], he heads off to the Biosystem [Biosystems] to solve the mystery of the incident that happened there.
[Eusis in bed] Just as the girl is fighting with all her strength, Eusis awakens. His heart is filled with sadness...
[Eusis in bed] in my room, dimly lit by dawn, I am seized by an uneasy sorrow and desperately surpress the welling tears.
Born September 17, AW 1263. Employed as an agent of the Motabian government. His faithfulness to his many duties has earned him the governor's deep confidence.
When he was ten years old, he lost his parents through a spaceship accident and has lived alone ever since. He is a sword master and, though he has gone through some rough times, he is at present a kind-hearted young man. He dreams of the battle between the brave, legendary Alisa and Dark Force every night, a clue to the secret of his lineage. With his little sister Nei [used figuratively, not literally], he goes to investigate the mystery of the Biomonster creatures, but he will soon become embroiled in the fight for Algol's destiny.
Born August 30, AW 1283. A girl born from the fusion of human and Biomonster cells. Because of this, she was given a hard time by humans and wandered about Motabia.
Seven months ago, when someone attacked her and tried to kill her, Eusis saved her, and from then on she became his little sister and lived with him. When she was rescued, she was still a child, but she has grown rapidly in seven months.
When she learns that Eusis is going to investigate the Biosystem, she asks him to take her along too. Her quick, lithe movements and claw attacks are her strengths, and she rises in level very quickly.
Born July 1st, AW 1249. He was a gifted soldier in the Motabian army, but when Biomonsters killed his wife and daughter, he retired from military service and became a Biomonster-slaying hunter.
As a weapons professional, there is hardly any gun he cannot handle. Since losing his wife and child, he has lost his smile, but he has not lost his warm heart. With his cool-headed composure, he acts as the rational voice to Eusis and his quick-to-action comrades.
Picture Caption:
Of all the weapons, guns boast the highest attack power. He is a character to keep in the party until the very last.
Born April 26, AW 1261. Raised in a normal Motabia home, she finished her internship spring of this year and successfully became a doctor. She, who has seen many tragedies in the course of her profession, believes in helping the many people who are alone and thus decides to join Eusis and friends in their actions. She'll want to help any comrade whose life force has been diminished and is a kind-hearted woman. Except for things like maces and chemicals, she can use hardly any weapons, but her strength in healing wounds makes her a vital presence in the party.
Day, month, and year of birth unknown. Employed as a counter-hunter [Guardian].
Within the hunters there are those use their skills for evil purposes, fugitives who wound and slaughter. She is the professional who hunts them down. She is an expert with the boomerang-like weapons called "slicers" [slashers]. She appears to be a fierce woman, but she really is a gentle-hearted lady. She speaks little of her own past, but she seems to be a loner from far-off lands; she comes to treat Eusis as a friend, with the type of familiarity that comes, perhaps, from one who has lived through similar circumstances.
Picture Caption:
With a weapon other than a slicer, Amia can go in for a close-range attack. [And then there follows a small sentence that I can't translate; it says something about Amia's abilities being very strange. Sorry, folks, can't win 'em all.]
Born June 14th, AW 1264. Employed as a scholar - a young researcher at Motabia University. He asks to join Eusis's quest because he has a pure heart and feels for the helpless animals and plants being cruelly killed by the Biomonsters.
Cool-headed in crises, he has abundant knowledge of all things pertaining to medicine and living things. He is quick to learn new techniques that are quite effective against Biomonsters. Since he's a character who relies on his brains, he can't use powerful weapons. When you take him along, you must think of how to balance him with the other members.
Picture Caption:
In the first half's battles against Biomonsters, he's quite helpful, but, regrettably, against the middle stage's machines, he is not.
Born April 1st [somehow, that figures], AW 1263. "I'm Shilka of the wind. No one can hold me back!" is the favorite phrase of this female crook. Although she's the only daughter of a very wealthy man, to break the monotony of daily life, she has come to pursue the thrill of stealing. And it is in search of new thrills that she joins Eusis's party. She is not a particularly useful character in battle, but...from time to time, she's disappear from the party; at those times, she's gone to commit a theft. She'll return having stolen a valuable item. Since any reprimands fall on deaf ears, everyone's half-resigned themselves to her behavior.
Born December 9, AW 1263. He likes mechas and had aspired to become an engineer, but he has always ended up breaking the mechas he worked on. [Note: the verb used here, "kowasu", can mean either to "break" or "destroy", but it's usage with the verb "shimau" (used in several senses - mostly to suggest a fully or suddenly completed or unintentional action - "to wind up" doing something, in English) suggests that Kainz ends up breaking stuff not because of any psychosis (as suggested in the U.S. version), but simply because he's a bad mechanic.] Because of this, he skipped school one time, and saw the people who were suffering at the hands of the Biomonsters; even though he had gone astray before, this sight awakened the fires of justice that had laid dormant within his heart, and he became a member of Eusis's group. He puts his special ability (?) to good use and wrecks enemy machines.
He is secretly in love with Nei. I wonder if his primary reason for coming with Rolf was for the chance to get closer to Nei?
Picture Caption:
Since he can use techniques as well as equip moderately powerful guns and armor, he is a character who is always helpful.
Awaiting a heartbroken Eusis is the news that he and his friends have been declared to be criminals that have made Mother Brain go insane and that a search is now on for them. In time, they are captured and taken to the artificial satellite Gaila to await execution. What's more, Eusis finds out that Gaila is going to fall on Parma. The party is rescued by Tyler the space pirate and discovers that a person who knows the secret of Mother Brain is on the planet Dezolis.
[Nei dead] "Please don't let the tragedy that befell us repeat itself..." Nei died. Cherish the seven months that were. For this girl will not return....
[Alisa close-up in dream] In Eusis's dream, this girl screams. "Help!" This is no dream. It is a revelation of the truth of days gone by.
[diagram of Gaila & Algol] Gaila is going to drop on Parma. The entire planet will be wiped out...and Eusis and his party realize that there is nothing that they can do about the impending accident. They begin to be dragged down in a giant vortex.
[Tyler & exploding Parma] The party is saved by Tyler. What's he really all about?
[Lutz] Lutz, who passes on a shocking secret from beyond the ages. For Alisa, for Algol, for Nei...Eusis must face the battle!
Eusis and his party fought Mother Brain to the death and totally destroyed her. From now on, Algol will no longer receive the blessings of Mother Brain. The people will probably have to struggle against harsh circumstances. But Eusis and his friends could not share in that feeling. Somebody was still in the heart of the spaceship - a multitude of people from "Earth". They created Mother Brain...! Their own planet was destroyed, and, having grown envious of Algol, they tried to take it by force. With a cry of, "We will not surrender this star!", Eusis seized the Neisword...
[Mother Brain] Mother Brain, sinister [thanks, Gray] and beautiful, the root of all evil. But the warriors who conquered the darkness will not be denied. Mother Brain is shut down.
[Earthmen] At the end of the long battle awaits no legendary devil or hell-borne evil god - only ordinary Earthmen. It is they who have been controlling Algol from behind the scenes...
[final screen] Whoever won the battle? The ending does not say. But the player should be convinced. The victors are...
[final screen] I wonder what they will see at the end of the time which can never be returned to?... [This is a reference to PSII's Japanese subtitle, At the End of the Time Which Can Never Be Returned to. Note the differences between the English "I wonder what the people will see in the final days?"]
Taking Items
If you have Shilka in your party and go in and out of a shop, she could disappear when you come out. If you return to Eusis's house, Shilka will come back. When she does so, she'll have taken an item.
The Hidden Item Visiphone
Under the same conditions as at left [well, at above here], go in and out of the greeting room [literally, "friends' room" - ??] in Central Park [Central Tower], and, when Shilka disappears from the party, you'll get an item called the "Visiphone" [when you go back to Eusis's house for Shilka - sorry for all the brackets]. This is a convenient item that allows you to save anywhere, even in dungeons, except in the midst of battle.
Weapons and Armor that Have Effects in Battle
Use these weapons and armor in battle and they'll demonstrate their special effects.
Wind Bandana [Wind Scarf] - Zan
Blaze Staff [Fire Staff] - Foie [Foi]
Storm Gear - Gizan
Snow Crown - Deband [Deban]
Rainbow Crown [Color Scarf] - Shunera [Saner]
Green Sleeves - Shinparo [Shinb]
Crescent Gear, Sacred Shield [Aegis], Truth Sleeves [not written in katakana like the other "sleeves"], Amber Robe - Giresta [Gires]
Crystal Harness, Crystal Chest, Crystal Harness [Crystal Nish - always wondered what a "Nish" was] - Grabuto [Gra]
Picture Caption:
[Shilka using Storm Gear] This is Storm Gear. There are some sets of it in the dams. Don't let them get away!
Price: 8,700 yen
Capacity: 6 megs + battery backup (2)
At that point, a young man named Orakio Sa Riik took a stand. He raised a robot army, with the robots Siren and Miun as its leaders, to confront Laia's forces. When the battle was decided, it is said that Laia and Orakio killed each other, and that all traces of them disappeared. Because of this war, all memories of the scientific culture and its devices were lost, and the people reverted to a medieval way of life.
[beautiful watercolor of Kane and Marlena [Maia]] When the prince of the Orakians and the princess of the Laians meet by chance, a new Phantasy Star begins.
[watercolor of Laia and Orakio] Because of the Laia-Orakio War [Layan-Orakian War], the world's people were divided in two. Their descendants call themselves, like the armies of the war, either "Orakians" or "Laians".
Hero of the first generation. He is the prince of the house of Riik, who carries the blood of Orakio and has a strong sense of justice. He enjoys great popularity among his subjects, and it is said that his sword never leaves his right hand. The girl that he meets on the beach one day changes his life.
An android indistinguishable from other beautiful women who, except for the fact that she never blinks, looks like an ordinary girl. Like the Shirren [Wren]-types, she was made with the super-advanced knowledge of ancient times, but she has emotions. It is unknown, however, whether or not these were programmed or if she has a will of her own.
A combat robot [not cyborg, not android, robot - debate amongst thyselves] created from the technological civilization of ancient times. He has no emotions, and he can only follow orders from Orakians. He can operate the metal machines left behind from the ancient civilization effortlessly, and, what's more, with the aid of three sets of parts, he can transform into many different shapes.
Picture Captions: [Note: the captions do not match the pics shown due to publisher error.]
[aquaskimmer] Shirren using the Sky Parts [Aero Parts] to soar the skies.
[submersible] With the Marine Parts [Aqua Parts], he can also change into an aquaskimmer.
[aerojet] Aqua-Shirren, who can dive underwater using the Submarine Parts [Sub Parts].
Prince of the country of Shusoran. The climate control system has broken down, and to save his own country, now covered with ice, he sets out on a journey. His true agenda is unknown, but he values chivalry and is deeply loyal. Plus, his courage in battle is first-rate.
A girl who has always watched over Kane from the shadows, concealing a fiercely brave heart inside. She is the princess of the country of Satera, and she was actually betrothed to Kane in early childhood and has been brought up as his fiancée since then. [Back up a minute - if Kane and Lena's parents had arranged a marriage alliance between their children, then how come Kane's parents are presiding over his wedding ceremony with Marlena, thus "officially sanctioning" a different marriage?] She has an attractive body and a gentle disposition, but when she is deeply invested in a battle, she shows her courageous side.
When she is rescued by Kane, she has washed up on the shores of Riik with no memory. When she is abducted by Laia's tribe, Kane's adventure begins, but, at the end of his journey, he sees that she is the princess of the kingdom of Cille, the head of Laia's lands.
Picture Captions:
[Laia, Lynn, and Luise] A clutch of heroic ladies. Beauty is courage in battle and first-rate techniques. [Preach on, brother! ^_^] I wonder, if I could meet these women, if they'd become my marriage partners?
[Shiin and company fighting Rulakir] The third generation's enemy, Orakio's older brother Rulakir. He lost his family in the war 1,000 years ago, and, now jaded, he has sold his soul to evil.
Picture Captions:
[Dark Force] "You have been brought here to face your destruction!" says Dark Force.
[Mieu and Shirren] Mieu and Shirren, together from the first generation's adventure to the third's.
["mean" Luna [Kara] using Foie] Balanced, well-timed attack techniques are important in fights.
[Lann using Wata [Wat? But that's "Bahta" is PSIV, and the text speaks of healing techs...]] Rest techniques are absolutely necessary in battles against strong monsters.
[poster] An RPG Fanatic's Test!?
There was a quick-finish contest for PSIII also, with lavish prizes that were much talked-about at the time. Where is this "Broxede" now? [Let me explain - the poster in the picture advertises "The Big Thing That's the Talk of the Town - Presents and Contest", a "Release Date Big Present Campaign", and a "Challenge Campaign! - Quick Finish Contest!". (Does that mean that the Jap PSIII had a timer?) I can't make out the exact rules, but the prizes and giveaways include telephone cards, Arcade Power Stick controllers, a trip to (the Japanese) Disneyland, and a "complete game system", with the aforementioned "Broxede" (or "Broxide" or "Broxeed" or "Broxseed" - it's "burokushiido", I don't know what they're trying to communicate), which looks basically like a tabletop arcade unit, with TV screen, joystick, and Genesis port all built into one machine.]
As a Last Resort, Press Super-Reset!
At the start, Kane doesn't have any money, but he does have clothes and Razor Boots [just plain Boots, I guess]. If Kane sells his possessions just after starting out, he should use the proceeds to buy an Iguza Ocarina [Escapipe]. When the game progresses to the point where he is thrown into the king's dungeon, use the Iguza Ocarina to escape. If you do this, the story won't be able to go on, and the king will end up telling you to press Reset.
Picture Caption:
[Noin buying a sword (not that that has anything to do with this)] By the way, try not selling your clothes and buying an Iguza Ocarina. See what happens! [Huh? But you just said to try selling Kane's clothes to get the ocarina...!]
Picture Text:
King of Riik: "I'm sorry, but could you please press the reset button out there?"
Price: 8,800 yen
Capacity: 24 megs + battery backup (3)
[Motabian city] This image of Motabia 1,000 after II is drawn by Yoneda-shi.
A 16-year-old boy who has just been formally inducted as a Hunter. He had been a warehouse robber, but, three years ago, he was caught by Lyla; she then took him in and taught him all the skills, behavior, and manners he needed to become a Hunter. The hero of this episode.
A girl created as the prototype of a new species of human, based on information handed down before the Great Collapse about the Nei series. She is but one year old, but, since she was raised by Seed, she's highly intelligent, and, what's more, her attack power is something of which to stand up and take notice.
This is an experimental 3D dungeon screen made with enhanced machinery. The reason why the department abandoned them on the high-capacity ROM is because the graphical patterns got monotonous.
A master magician who, of course, can use techniques, but who also wields magic thought to have died out long ago. He's an obnoxious man who constantly treats Rudy like a child, but, in truth, he is the inheritor of the will and memory of Lutz, the one who fought with Alisa 2,000 years ago.
A young Motabian warrior who is called the "Motabian Mania" [I think they meant the "Motabian Maniac"]. He comes with Rudy and company to avenge his parents, who were murdered by Zio. He is a quite hot-tempered man with a strong sense of duty. He has taken refuge in the Motabian town of Tonoe and looks after his little sister.
A highly efficient android created from the technology of the former civilization. He is master of the artificial satellite Zelan and overseer of the Algol Solar System's life support systems. To stop the abnormalities running amok in the system, he joins Rudy's party.
Rudy's teacher, a master Hunter called "Tear 'Em to Pieces Lyla" [note: "Tear 'Em to Pieces Lyla" is written in Japanese as "Yatsuzaki no Raira", with the "yatsu" written as the counter of the number eight. This is probably from where the U.S. nickname "of the Eight Strokes"/"the Eight-Stroke Sword" came; the translator apparently either forgot or didn't know that the number eight is sometimes used in Japanese as a synonym for "many", especially in certain figures of speech, like "yatsuzaki"]. Three years ago she met Rudy, took him in, and brought out his true character. During the battle with Zio, she is hit with the Black Wave while protecting Rudy and loses her life.
[Rudy looking over his shoulder at Lyla] Lyla's death hastens Rudy's spiritual growth....
Hahn Mahlay
A young scholar at Motabia Academy. Two years ago, he graduated from the biology department of Motabia Academy and became Professor Holt's assistant. He joins Lyla and asks her to find Holt, who went to Birth Valley and has not returned. He has a fiancée in his birthplace of Krup.
A female android created by Forren. She supervises the energy plate system "Nurvus". Zio seizes control of the system and imprisons her, but she is rescued by Rudy and friends.
A girl born and raised in the Esper Mansion on Dezolis. She is studying to be an apprentice at the shrine, but she is already the best disciple, and her future is promising. Because of her impulsive nature, she is often treated as a problem child. She is an ardent follower of Lutz.
[Kyra in ceremonial clothes] Shess dressed up as she does at Esper Mansion.
Su Raja
A Dezolian priest [note: the book says "Buddhist priest"] who cracks too many cheap jokes. He is highly capable as a disciple, but his personality is his downfall, and he is shuffled off to a temple in a remote part of the land. But this doesn't really bother him. He goes with Rudy and his party, saying only that this "sounds interesting".
[various items] Illustration of items and equipment shown in the manual.
An archaeologist met at the entrance of the cave leading to the Soldier's Sanctuary [Soldier's Temple]. He looks like a good-natured middle-aged man, but he is actually Dark Force disguised in human form. Incidentally, Shiam was modeled after a certain human at the Sega offices.
A black magician who worships Dark Force. He has founded an evil cult and made Nurvus run amok to cause destruction. He wears a gauntlet on only one arm to hide the fact that his right arm has been monster-fied [sorry, there isn't really another English equivalent - his hand is kinda gnarled and "demonized", comme ça]. He is the opponent in the first half of the tale.
The one who led the Algol Star System to ruin 2,000 years ago. He nurses a grudge against Lutz and has been resurrected as a zombie. He steals the Eclipse Torch and invites Rudy and company to come to his floating Air Castle.
[La Shiec threatening Rudy] A height comparison of Rudy [and La Shiec]. Do you think he's changed much in 2,000 years?
[map of Motabia] Motabia 1,000 years after II; due to shifting of the earth's crust, the topography has changed a lot.
An information-monger old man who lives in the hidden Motabian village of Tonoe. Because he was a close friend of Pyke's father, he looks after Pyke and Pana.
A professor at Motabia Academy. He is Hahn's teacher. He was turned to stone at Birth Valley. To tell the truth, he's on bad terms with the university.
The dean of Motabia University. He hires Lyla to drive away the monsters in the basement. At one time [in production] he had the name of "Kroft".
Pyke's little sister. Pyke leaves the party out of worry for his sister, but, at her urging, he comes back for the final, decisive battle.
Hahn's fiancée, a schoolteacher in the town of Krup. But, since Lyla has made away with their wedding fund, I wonder if they'll be able to get married...
A friend of Raja's who runs a tavern in the Dezolian town of Ryuon. He informs you that there's a spaceship hidden in the town of Tyler.
The archbishop of the great Gumbious Temple. He tells Rudy and the others about the existence of Ryucross and the Profound Darkness. In production, he had the name of "Sha Iraa".
High priest of the great Gumbious Temple. He asks Rudy and company to recover the stolen Eclipse Torch. A common Dezolian who quickly has a change of heart [rough translation].
A fellow Esper who asks Rudy and his party to go rescue Shess, who has set out for the Galberg Tower [Garuberk Tower] all alone. Like Shess, he comes from the Esper Mansion.
The mentor who watches over Esper Mansion in place of the often-absent fifth-generation Lutz. He seems like quite a capable person. In production, he had the name of "Hasari".
The proprietor of the "Naula" cake shop on the outskirts of Aiedo. The conversation here will bring back memories for those familiar with I.
Zio's second-in-command, who confronts Rudy and company at Zio's Fort. At first glance, he appears to be an ordinary human, but is body is actually that of a monster.
A fortuneteller in the town of Aiedo. She foresees Lyla's ultimate fate. Her own name is Mito, but the name of her shop has not been determined.
[Dark Force] It isn't specified, but it's obvious that this is Dark Force.
[Algol] An image spanning the Algol Solar System.
[Rudy kneeling with sword before Dezolis] Some of the graphical collage behind Rudy was used.
[PSI, II, III memorial screens] The Lineage of the Series's Past Is Also Acknowledged
Graphical images depicting I-III were also inserted. We wanted to put them in the finished version.
[Algol] THE ALGOL SOLAR SYSTEM [something]
[Rudy kneeling etc.] AW 2284 THE CURTAIN RISES ON THE DECISIVE BATTLE
Trinity Blaster Vaht + Foie + Grantz
(T Hahn) (T Lyla, Thray) (T Rudy)Blizzard Vaht group + Zan group or Hewn
(T Thray, Hahn) (T Rudy) (S Thray, Shess) Fire Storm Foie group or Flaeli + Zan group or Hewn
(T Lyla, Thray, Shess) (S Thray, Shess) (T Rudy) (S Thray, Shess)Lethal Image Death Size + Illusion
(S Lyla) (S Fal)Holocaust Savolt + Diem
(T Hahn) (S Thray)Silent Wave Phononmezer + Airslash
(S Freyna) (S Rudy)Conduct Thunder Vaht group + Tandle (fixed order)
(T Thray, Hahn) (S Thray)Circuit Breaker Hyperjammer + Tandle
(S Forren) (S Thray)Grand Cross Swordcross + Efess
(S Rudy) (S Thray)Purify Light Efess + Holyword
(S Thray) (S Raja)Shooting Star Burstroc + Foie group or Flaeli (fixed order)
(S Forren) (T Thray, Shess) (T Thray, Shess)Black Hole Grabuto group + Negatis
(T Shess) (S Thray)Paladin Blow Astral Flare + Rayblade
(S Hahn) (S Rudy)Destruction Debando + Megido + Legeon + Positron Bolt (Deband must come first)
(T Fal) (T Rudy) (S Thray) (S Forren)
Picture Captions:
[continue menu] At this screen, you should press the B button.
[sound test] You can press the control pad left and right to change the tune on screen. You can listen to only the ones you like!
Picture Caption:
[Destruction] If you use combination attacks in macro commands, you'll be able to execute them with certainty.
[fight with Zio] A battle scene. The commands are all written in English. I'm afraid that I'll make a mistake in entering a command!
[Rika talking] As in the domestic version, if you keep on pressing the buttons too fast, you won't understand the story at all.
[U.S. package] This is the package. Fal is supposed to be wielding a claw, but it just looks like her fingernails have grown out.
[PSIV logo] Was the Domestic Version "PSIV" Too!?
The title of the Genesis version became "PSIV", but the domestic version was actually originally titled "PSIV" on the release schedule.
[U.S. PSIV booklet] The Chara Names Are Different.
It doesn't have any effect on the contents, but each name has been changed from the domestic version. In doing so, Fal has become "Rika"...
A four-frame manga [looks like a five-frame manga to me] published in the 12/24/93 issue of Famicom Information. It goes without saying that Mr. Yoshida [Yoshibon] is, of course, the artist.
[title] Watch Out! The Ladea Tower Volume
[panel 1 - Rudy alert] One day, Rudy noticed something...
[panel 2 - Fal puzzled] <---Numan *a man-made life form...
Fal: ?
[panel 3 - Pyke chomping on a cookie] <---Motabian
Pyke: What?
[panel 4 - Freyna adjusting her shoulder cannons] <---android
Freyna: Oh, this shoulder joint...
[panel 5 - group shot, Rudy with sweatdrop]
Rudy: I don't know...Am I the only "human"?
Fal: Rudy, what's the matter?
[footnote] This is a really modern kind of party...
through Game Library Distribution Service - ADV
PHANTASY STAR GAIDEN
Game Gear - RPG - 10/16/92 - 4,500 yen - 2M + BB
PHANTASY STAR ADVENTURE
Game Gear - ADV - 3/13/92 - 3,500 yen - 1M + password
The games are advanced basically by way of text messages, with only a few visuals per title along the way. The games are centered around each character's past, and you'll be able to see some unexpected sides to them [the characters]. In battle scenes against enemy characters, the unique system determines the damage dealt using only one's attack power and an on-screen roll of the dice. The over-emphasized gambling element makes things difficult, but...
The games were compatible with the modem specially sold for the Megadrive, where the game data was sent from Sega to the console. Unfortunately, this service has now finished.
All those people who regret not having had a modem can play the games now, if they have a Mega CD. The Mega CD software Games Can Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 each contains four stories. Many other modem games are also included.
Picture Caption:
[CDs] That they're "canned" is somewhat unique. Plus, happily, the price is quite cheap.
The story of Eusis's youth; he just scrapes by the skin of his teeth on his own, yet, through surmounting difficult trials, grows spiritually and physically. In time, he plots to track and fight monsters...
The story takes place a half a year before II, when Nei still looked like a young girl. Her sad story is that, because of her outward appearance, her allotted place in human society is to continue wandering
alone. Also has a scene in which she meets Rudger.
A tale set in the days when Rudger still was an officer in the state government. He hunts the Biomonsters that destroyed his hometown and murdered his wife and child. This comparatively combat-filled scenario is very well-suited to Rudger.
Anne is the only female doctor to finish internship. Anne is on her way to an elementary school in a neighboring town to save some people wounded by Biomonsters, but... When she uses the antidote, a lot of feminine [that's what it says] events take place.
Strange creatures are rumored to be stalking the halls of the Kubaatsu branch of Motabia University, Huey's alma mater. At the principal's request, Huey comes to investigate. Huey's girlfriend, not-so-good friend, and others from his university days appear to keep things interesting. [Just as a note, Huey wears an outfit nearly identical to Hahn's throughout his adventure, and he runs into a monster that looks exactly like an Igglanova.]
A group of Motabian thieves is said to have intercepted information from Mother Brain. Amia is under orders from the Agents to track them down. You can still see plenty of this girl's activities as a Counter-Hunter, though.
The story takes place three years before II. Kainz has run away to escape the monotony of his hometown and is living a tough life in a run-down city apartment. The developments in this story, the most sci-fi-ish of the eight, suit mecha-lover Kainz.
Shilka is the greatest thief in the world (ha). Her next prize is the masterpiece 'Opa-Opa'. I wonder if she can really pull it off? Includes hang-glider action (among other things), but is this strange, flashy behavior ladylike?
[Eusis in a fight] Luck plays a big part in battles, and since you can't save, they're quite scary!
[Nei's intro] Nei, painfully wandering alone. She still looks like a child, but the story takes place several months before the main game.
[Shilka's intro] That fluttering-miniskirt-wearing thief looks like Shilka (ha).
Picture Text:
[Eusis in a fight] Eusis's sword whizzes past.
[Nei's intro] Nei, all alone since birth, was taken in and raised by a kind middle-aged couple. This foster family was torn apart one day when a mob [end of window]
[Shilka's intro] This time, the target is the art gallery on the 10th floor of the building next door. The master artist Aerie Ossale's oil painting "Opa-Opa", worth 1 billion meseta, is said [end of window]
Made for the Game Gear, and a rather traditional RPG, Alisa joins the party after she awakens from cold sleep, an event PS fans will really enjoy. But, storywise, since it hardly has a connection to the main [PS] storyline, it's a disappointment as a Phantasy Star game. [Note: Information on obtaining a translated ROM of Phantasy Star Gaiden - as well as an in-progress version of Phantasy Star Adventure - is available at Naflign's Ego.]
Picture captions:
[portrait of Gaiden Alisa] This is Alisa! She looks like another person, but could it be due to adverse effects from the long hibernation?
[town party shot] At the end of the game, Alisa looks like Princess Kaguya [a traditional princess from Japanese folk tales], but maybe she's hiding something... [I really don't see anything wrong with Alisa looking like Princess Kaguya. The bad guy of Phantasy Star Adventure looks like a refugee from Devo, so it all evens out.]
The hero is an Agent from Paseo on Motabia. He heads for Dezolis to see an invention created by his friend, Dr. Ken Miller. But, a short time after this joyous reunion, both the doctor and the machine he invented are abducted...
The events are unrelated to PSII, probably because it was released in such a short time, but new developments (such as having to control another character to rescue the hero, who has been captured by the enemies) are always unfolding.
Picture Caption:
[girl at desk] The on-screen layout and system is simple. Due to that, the Game Gear's small, handy liquid-crystal screen does not present a problem.
Picture Text:
[girl at desk] This is the spaceport in Carsonville on Dezolis. There's a girl at the reception desk.
[Sentence I can't completely make out, but it says that Yoshibon drew the pictures, and that when you finished the puzzle, another picture would apparently flash onto or in the background.] It is unclear how this picture was animated, but there was sideways scrolling and the hair moved - what other things were there? I wonder why software like this can't come out for the Saturn?
Picture Caption:
["Neisecond" puzzle] This screenshot was discreetly published in a pamphlet. Things like this make one sorry that the game service ended.
Sound Collection I is original and arranged sound from I, II, and III collected on two discs. Price: 3,700 yen (shipping 600 yen). Sound Collection II is a collection of original sound from At the End of the Millennium. Price: 2,500 yen (shipping 600 yen). Stock Numbers - RS-1, RS-2
A publication centered around illustrations used in packaging and publicity for the series's four installments, with commentary on unseen settei and illustrations drawn by the staff. A4 size, 48 pages, price 1,200 yen (shipping 800 yen). Stock Number - RS-3
T-shirt A has the illustration of Nei drawn by Yoneda-shi. Likewise, the one with the character illustrations used on the flip side of the At the End of the Millennium package is T-shirt B. Either is 2,300 yen (shipping 600 yen). Stock Number - RS-4, RS-5
A simply designed telecard with the At the End of the Millennium logo in the middle surrounded by the four main characters, Rudy and his party. Price: 1,000 yen (shipping 600 yen). Stock Number - RS-6
A set of two bandanas, one with the character designs from the I package illustration, and one with the logo on a black background. Price: 1,500 yen (shipping 600 yen). Stock Number - RS-7
To ask about the character goods on this page, please do the following: though we tentatively have all the items shown, since our supplies can be exhausted, please call to ascertain whether or not we have the goods you want. Please pay attention to the full instructions over the telephone.
Address: Attention*: "Phantasy Star Goods"
2-1 Kanda Ogawa-chou
Chiyoda-ku, Toukyou 101 [Japan - this'd work a lot better if ASCII had macrons]
Tel: 03-3292-9708
PSIII's "quick-finish contest" was considered quite impressive and an extraordinary event in RPGs at the time. When At the End of the Millennium first came out, you were also given a writing board [shitajiki] when you bought the software; why wasn't I one of those lucky people?
Picture Captions:
[Joy Joy magazine with PSI (and After Burner)] PSI passouts are now rather valuable items. In the old days, when Sega had control over the flyers, "Joy Joy News" was sent out to the toy departments of department stores, and it was available almost everywhere. We longed for another title...
[PSII "Mega Press" passout] Printed on thick paper, this was splendid. It featured "Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Sky Castle" and "Super Great Strategy".
[that PSIII "quick-finish" poster again] It was quite a daring scheme, but... Were there really people who received "Broxede" units for the other quiz?
[PSIV big poster] There are probably still a lot of people who have the At the End of the Millennium giveaway. The kinds of prizes in the [PSI] reissue campaign were really well-received and were available afterwards. [The poster touts a "'Search for the Roots of Phantasy Star!' Campaign", which features the Megadrive version of PSI. Other PSIV-related headlines talk about "A Magnificent Story and Talked-about Battle System Revive a Role-Play Legend" (top), "The Tale of the Algol Star System Now Brought to Light" (other yellow box), "Dynamic Fights, Machine Battles!" (left bottom), "Flowing Marching Window Visuals!" (middle bottom), and "This Innovative Luxury, Combination Battle" (bottom right).]
While there are exceptions, though these game books were quite the rage when they were released, they are little known today. The ones for I and III were big sellers, but they're hard to get now.
Picture Captions:
[PSI guide] One book that gave a hard-to-understand event order. Strategy for After Burner was included as a bonus (ha).
[PSII guide book/Eusis cover] Is this the book that everyone bought? It gives the locations of all the items, but what else does it offer...
[PSII guide book/Rudger, Anne, Nei, Eusis cover] Many lovely supplemental illustrations were published in this game book, such as a battle scene against the Earthmen where Alisa sends Nei's spirit to Noah.
[PSIII guide book/Mieu/Shirren cover] Due to the volume of this game, this book was divided into two parts. It's interesting how it relates the game's opening in comic-book form in the front of the book.
[PSIII guide/Kane/Mieu cover] The hair color and clothing in the character introduction illustrations didn't all feel right...[I might be a little off on this sentence.]
[PSIV guide book] I think that you can still get the At the End of the Millennium strategy book. There aren't many places [in the game] to get stuck, but the book's become one of the more valuable character goods, so do get one if you can find one.
The opening, the sudden appearance of a real-life Alisa, is interesting. It's also quite atmospheric. The game shots, such as the smoothly scrolling dungeons or a screen divided into nine fields with monsters popping up one after another, were perfectly segued and drummed up sales for the game.
Picture Captions:
[Alisa, back to camera] A girl stands in a wasteland. Something is stalking her from behind...
[monster eyes] Monster up! It's supremely powerful.
[Alisa with sword] The girl turns about; the heroine Alisa! The sword in her hand gleams. Has the time for battle arrived?
[PS logo] The logo appears! After this comes a succession of game screens.
[monsters] Beautiful monster animation unfolds all over the screen.
[Alisa in blue mist] Alisa raises her sword to the heavens, and lightning strikes in a beautiful but violent sky. A deep story in a short space of time. ["Deep"? Hello? The story of the commercial is monster sees Alisa, Alisa sees monster, Alisa kills monster off-screen, Alisa is triumphant, The End. That's not even PSIII deep. Heck, that's not even sixth-season X-Files deep.]
Quite different from PSI, this commercial was composed only of game screens. The monsters were full of animation. The fields used vivid colors unseen in any previous RPG. A clear distinction from I was drawn, and high expectations were raised.
Picture Captions:
[Fanbites] It opens abruptly with monster animation. We see one after another, and...
[PSII logo] The PSII logo materializes flying out of a monster's mouth!
[jet scooter] The Flow Mover [jet scooter] crossing the waterways. The green of the fields is so vivid!
[fight with Whistle & Polezi] Battle scenes with monsters are displayed without nary a pause for breath, followed by projected lettering. That lettering...
["16-BIT RPG"] ...says "16-BIT". It was then the only family game for the Megadrive.
[Megadrive] The power of the Megadrive shown in only fifteen seconds!
Quite a novel work. [That's a diplomatic way of putting it.] It's sword-wielding young men dancing about with no game screens in the entire piece. A few people were probably startled when they first saw it. The strange BGM and "King of RPG" lettering were impressive.
Picture Captions:
[sword guys] Against the backdrop of a wasteland, nine swordsmen appear and, with a strange-sounding score playing, start dancing.
["KING OF RPG"] The swords are hoisted, and the "KING OF RPG" lettering appears! The dancing gets furious. The camera pans up.
[fireball] Flame spews from hands pointed toward the heavens. Up-tempo, feel-good music plays at the first cut-away.
[sword pose] A young man lifts his gaze to his sword. The movement of his fingertips is strangely sexy. [It is beyond my mental capacities to produce a retort sarcastic enough to match the ludicrosy of this quotation.]
[PSIII logo] Everyone raises their swords, and the title logo appears.
[Megadrive] A glimpse of an announcement for the quick-finish contest. All in a fifteen-second instant.
This was the final and most elaborate of the series, and it spread Sega's confidence [in the game], which really permeated the piece. Sound effects ran throughout the whole thing, and the real-life characters that appeared made an intense impact. There were a thirty-second full version and a fifteen-second short version, but I wonder if both versions got seen?
Picture Captions:
[PS logo] The Phantasy Star logo materializes while the planet Parma explodes.
[Forren, Fal, and Rudy] The trio of the real-life Rudy, Fal, and Forren appear. The atmosphere is perfect.
[Rudy with Eclipse Torch] Rudy looking at the Eclipse Torch. He's a little older than he is in the game, but, otherwise, this is cool!
[Forren climbing] Forren scales a wall in the midst of a billowing fireball. The braced expression is so like Forren!
[Fal in crystal ball] From the valley to the plains toward the valley again, crystal balls projecting the faces of the trio fly by the camera at high speed.
[dark star] Rudy's globe flies into a monster's face in a looming star, and...
[PS: ATEOTM logo] The title logo appears on a flaming star. It's truly overwhelming!
On this page, the picture continuity sheets drawn during the production of the At the End of the Millennium TV commercials are presented in their entirety. The sound effects and the explanatory text give a better understanding of the staff's images and the continuity sheets' steps.
[Fal with claw] Notice the arm [claw] on Fal, which was not in the game but was on the back of the package drawn by Yoneda-shi.
[Forren in crystal ball] A scene of Forren's globe passing by. Forren's pose and expression really make the chara image.
[Rudy in crystal ball] Rudy's crystal ball. If you look at the continuity sheets, Fal was originally last, but it was changed to Rudy to clarify the story.
PSI, PSII - Main program supervisor
(currently) Co-producer and chief programmer, Consumer Software Research & Development, Planning, & Design
What I remember most about the production of PS is, of course, the production of the dungeons. [The scrolling] was so smooth that the villains seemed to pop up one right after another. Judging from the jokes that were made at the time, like "Are we making a airplane-flying shooting game here?" [since the scrolling was so smooth and fast], I think that it was judged as a success. But, in the end, that speed wasn't there in the final version, thanks to the dungeon data being compressed. If I ever get another chance to make an RPG, I think I'd gladly accept and look forward to the challenge of [creating] 3D dungeons on the Saturn.
PSI - Parameter planner, enemy, player, & item numerical value supervisor
(currently) publicity team
Sorry for the unbalance. I fixed and fixed the data for the monsters (especially the zombie-type creatures) that I thought were especially rough when it was their turn to attack - I thought that "it must be when they form groups from one enemy image" and the great amount of data involved - but the balance was still not good, especially at the beginning. I still remember clearly when we lined the chairs up and slept on them in the meeting room with the planning team.
PSIII - Program
(currently) Part of First AM Research & Development
I remember what happened the night when we had finally reached the end. Having completed the final release version and handed it over to the checkers, I had taken a break from my all-night vigil and collapsed in the nap room. When I opened my eyes, S-shi (who was involved with PSII and PSIII and, if my memory serves, was hospitalized with an illness at the time) appeared before me and said, "T-san, we found some bugs...". "Eh......!" I heard myself shout - and then I woke up. For a second, I thought, "Heh, heh...it was all a dream" - and then the door to the nap room opened - and S-shi appeared. "T-san, we found some bugs...". "Eh......!" I heard myself shout, and then I woke up...ad infinitum.
Miya Saru [?? name may not be correct]
PSIII - Character designer, package illustrator
I remember the great hardships involved in creating what started out for me as a home-spun game.
Millennium - Programmed all the enemies in battle
(currently) Part of products management
Well, what I remember most in the great staff around me and my appreciation for having such a great job. I was the one who made all the enemies in the battle scenes, but there were so many of them, and so many attacks, that it was horrendous (especially the last boss!). But really, I have affection for all the enemies. The most anticipated [effect] was where the Igglanova would perform fission and spawn children, and how the eggs cast their shadows. At the time, I don't think I found [the game] very enjoyable to play, since I knew all the enemies' weak points, but now that I've forgotten them all, it was fun to finish PS the second time around.
Millennium - Game system, fields, event sub-programmer
(currently) Software Research & Development, second division
At the time, I was a new recruit on my first-year assignment, and, since this was my first job after completing my studies, I remember that I was rather stressed to be working on such a big title. Since I didn't understand its importance from a software standpoint at the time, a lot of the memories the project gave me are of extreme lack of sleep and longing for a bed. And, since I was the one who made the Toy Show OP, of internally screaming "That's not my fault!" when the display jittered in and out of sync.
Millennium - Programmer
(now) Software Research & Development, second division
Now that I think about it, with my role in the project changing in mid-production and my environment changing with the replacement of my superiors, I feel that I performed my job rather capably. Since I did not know about PS when I first joined the project, I used to play PSII with the strategy guide, controlling the parameter. I think it was how all the members of the production staff did their best that made such a great game possible.
Millennium - Programmer
(currently) Software Research & Development, second division
Honestly, it was a tough project. Personally, I intended to create a speedy game and I think we did a great job from that aspect, compared to other sluggish games. In terms of its content, we were easily able to alter things depending on the circumstance. We came up with various ideas and made detailed work in it. It turned out very well. It was never drudgery; the enthusiasm of the creators pulsated throughout and flowed into the making of the product, and that was what shaped the development of PS.
When we asked Yoneda-shi, he gave us two rough drafts. He settled on the draft at left. The orthodox design balanced the main characters of the CD drama well. There weren't any big changes [made to it], even when compared with the final versions.
Unfortunately, this one was not used. Except for NM-2011, it uses the same characters in Draft A, but their poses are distinctly different. [NM-2011 is the Numan in red armor on Draft A and the final picture; apparently, she's a character in the CD drama, though the book doesn't say anything about her role in such. Judging by the hairstyles, though, I strongly suspect that NM-2011 is also the Numan with the short hair and narrow eyes pictured in the leftmost image on pg. 40.] The characters are grouped together in one area. Those who'd like to learn about the characters in depth might want to try listening to the drama CD, on sale now.
Illustrator. Involved with a wide variety of projects centering around fantasy and sci-fi. His greatest works are collected in the artbooks entitled Enuma Elish [note: I've seen a Japanese webpage by that name - but I believe it dealt with Final Fantasy VII...] and Quintessentia, and another, an illustrated story collection called Kaleidoscope, just came out. He started designing Megadrive packages with Phantasy Star II and At the End of the Millennium, as well as Sorcerian and the like.
PRICE:3,900 YEN
Actual Price 3,786 Yen [without tax]
CAST: Nei - Kotono Mitsuishi, Rudy - Daisuke Sakaguchi, Thray - Kazuhiko Inoue, Forren - Shou Hayami, Fal - Yukana Nogami, NM-2011 - Sakura Tange, Freyna - Junko Iwao
Scenario: Inaka Kami [we *think*. Or at least Gray Brangwin's sister *think*s, since everyone else apparently is as stumped as I am] Production: Two Five Publication: Softbank
Price includes tax. Please look for it at a bookstore near you.
[panel 1] Thray: There now, Lyla. Don't speak.
Lyla: Thray...
Please...
Look after Rudy...
Thray: Don't say such stupid things!
[panel 2] Lyla: Thray...!
Thray: ......
I understand....
[panel 3] Lyla: Rudy...Don't cry!
You have an important job to do...!
You can't be weak like that!
It's no good to cry...
[Lyla says a couple more sentences in the two following panels, but the scripty, obtrusively-outlined writing makes it hard for me to translate. I *believe* that she says, in part, "They'll [the other party members] protect you... It'll be all right this way!", though, considering that Lyla just told Rudy that he has to be strong, she's probably not telling him in her next breath to rely on the protection of others, so that's probably not right.]
