Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium, known as Phantasy Star: Sennenki no Owari ni (ファンタシースター 千年紀の終りに) in Japan, is a role-playing game in the Phantasy Star series. The game is highly regarded and considered one of the greatest Sega Mega Drive games as well as one of the greatest RPGs ever made.
Phantasy Star IV marks the end of the "classic" Phantasy Star series, and was the last to be released for the Sega Mega Drive. The series would continue after a six-year gap with Phantasy Star Online for the Sega Dreamcast.
Story
“
|
AW 2284. Monster attacks have swelled the ranks of those who call themselves "Hunters." But as the attacks become ever more frequent and powerful, an elite few begin to wonder what is behind this outbreak... and when and how will it all end?
|
„
|
— Introduction
[22]
|
Phantasy Star IV takes place a thousand years after the events of Phantasy Star II (and a thousand years before the era of Phantasy Star III). The death of Mother Brain ushered in a period of decline known as the Great Collapse, in which the majority of the population of the Algo star system died and its advanced technological culture was lost. The once-thriving planet Motavia has largely reverted to its original desert state as the climate and biosphere-controlling devices installed over a thousand years previously begin to fail, and life has become progressively more difficult for the planet's inhabitants. Furthermore, there has been a marked increase in the numbers of the "biomonsters," a term for the strange and violent aberrations of Motavia's flora and fauna. Keeping these creatures under control is the job of "Hunters."
Hired by Piata Academy on Motavia, the renowned Hunter Alys Brangwin and her young apprentice Chaz Ashley begin their investigation into the relationship between the biomonster problem and the planet's ecological crisis. Joined by others along the way, they connect the world's troubles to a cult leader called Zio, "The Black Magician," whose aims appear to be total annihilation of not only Motavia but of the whole Algo solar system.
Story events are told through cutscenes with manga-style panel illustrations.
Gameplay
Town and character status
Phantasy Star IV is a role-playing game and plays similarly to its predecessors. The player controls a party of as many as five characters, initially formed around the Hunters Alys and Chaz. Additional characters join and leave the party as the story progresses, each having different strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. The party shares an inventory of items, but each character also equips his or her own weapons and armor pieces.
The game uses a top-down perspective for towns, dungeons, and the overworld. Dungeons and the overworld have random enemy encounters as the party moves through them. Dungeons additionally have treasure chests for finding items. The party earns meseta, the in-game currency, from defeating enemies in battle, which can then be exchanged for items, equipment, and services in towns. Characters can equip separate one-handed weapons or shields in each hand or a single two-handed weapon.
Battles are turn-based and use a third-person perspective (combining the character sprites from Phantasy Star II with the changing backgrounds of the other two games). On each turn, the player can choose to issue individual commands to each character or to select a macro, a set of predetermined actions for every character in the party that can be programmed by the player outside of battle. The player can set up to eight different macros. The player can also attempt to run from an encounter. When issuing commands, the player can choose to order a character to attack, use a technique (a special ability that costs technique points to use), use a skill (a limited use ability unique to the character), use an item, or defend. The character reverts to attacking after using an item or a support technique (such as a healing ability) but continues using offensive techniques until given a different order. Battles can involve up to four foes and up to two different enemy types, and the player can target individual enemies. There is a chance for attacks to do extra damage (a critical hit) or to miss entirely. Characters and enemies are defeated when they run out of hit points. When the enemies are defeated, the party earns meseta and surviving party members gain experience.
As the characters gain experience points, they increase in level, gaining access to new techniques and raising their statistics:
- HP: The amount of damage that the character can sustain from enemy attacks before dying.
- TP: A pool of energy required for using techniques. Using a technique costs TP and cannot be done if its cost exceeds the current TP.
- Strength: Used as the base value for the character's attack power.
- Mental: Determines the effectiveness of some techniques and skills.
- Agility: Increases the character's priority in the battle order.
- Dexterity: Increases the character's accuracy (the likelihood that the character will hit an enemy and not miss with an attack) and the chance of scoring a critical hit (an attack doing extra damage).
- Attack: Determines the damage done by physical attacks. It is the sum of the character's Strength with bonuses added by weapons and other equipment.
- Defense: Reduces the damage taken from enemy attacks. It is the sum of the character's Dexterity with bonuses added by armor and other equipment.
- Mental Defense: Reduces the damage taken from certain kinds of enemy attacks. It is the sum of the character's Mental with bonuses added by armor and other equipment. This statistic is not shown in-game.
Enemy attacks can inflict negative status effects on characters: sleep, paralysis, and poison. Sleep causes characters to skip their turns, but they have a chance to awaken on each turn. Some items and techniques can awaken characters, and characters automatically awaken when the battle is over. Paralysis also causes characters to skip their turns, but the condition can only be cured by use of an item or technique (or by walking a short distance out of battle). The game ends in defeat if the entire party is paralyzed. Poison causes the character to lose hit points when in the overworld until cured with an item or technique. Poisoned characters lose one hit point for every four steps taken in the overworld or a dungeon (but do not lose hit points when in a town or during battle).
Towns include weapon, armor, and item shops. Staying at an inn restores the party's hit points, technique points, and skill uses for a fee, as well as reviving any party members who have fallen in battle. The Hunter's Guild building in Aeido has a number of side quests for gaining additional experience and meseta.
The vehicles from the original game (the Land Rover, the Ice Digger, and the Hydrofoil) return and move quickly through the overworld, negotiating otherwise impassable terrain such as quicksand, ice, and water. The player now engages enemies in random battles inside each vehicle, using the vehicle's own weapons (which include special weapons that work similarly to skills). Vehicles restore their hit points after each battle.
When out of battle, the player can invoke a menu with to view the status of any character, change the party order (members placed at the front of the party are more likely to be attacked), manage items, use out-of-combat techniques (including healing and teleportation techniques), read dialogue summarizing the current story situation, or modify battle macros. There is also an options menu that can be opened with START that allows the player to save the game at any time or to set options (such as message speed or button configuration).
Characters
The composition of the party is determined by the plot developments rather than selected by the player, though the player can choose the fifth member of the party before the final battle.
Android characters do not learn any techniques and cannot be healed with conventional healing techniques, but they revive themselves automatically if slain and regenerate hit points while walking outside of battle. They have high hit points and strength and are also immune to poison, sleep, and paralysis effects. They acquire their skills as items that upgrade or augment their hardware.
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Alys Brangwin (ライラ・ブラングウェン)
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Alys is the top Hunter of the Hunter's Guild, known as the "Eight Strokes Warrior" (八ッ裂きのライラ, "Lyra the Dismemberer"). She has taken Chaz under her wing as her apprentice. At the beginning of the game, they accept a job to exterminate the monsters infesting the basement of the Piata Academy, where they find monster breeding capsules and begin an investigation into their origin. Alys starts the game at a higher level than the other characters. She has high speed and equips slashers, which are boomerang-like weapons that hit all enemies in one turn. She can learn all of the fire and physical attack techniques as well as some stat-boosting techniques.
Technique |
Level Acquired
|
Foi
|
Level 1
|
Shift
|
Level 1
|
Saner
|
Level 1
|
Zan
|
Level 8
|
Gifoi
|
Level 14
|
Gizan
|
Level 18
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Nafoi
|
Level 24
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Nazan
|
Level 27
|
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Vortex
|
Level 1
|
Damages one enemy for Attack plus 48 weapon damage.
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Moon Shade
|
Level 10
|
Chance to paralyze all enemies.
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Death
|
Level 13
|
Chance to defeat one enemy.
|
|
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Chaz Ashley ( ルディ・アシュレ)
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The main character. Chaz is being trained to be a Hunter by Alys. He is a well rounded fighter. He is the only character who can equip swords. He is the only character who learns light attack techniques and also learns healing and teleportation techniques.
Technique |
Level Acquired
|
Res
|
Level 1
|
Tsu
|
Level 4
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Hinas
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Level 8
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Ryuka
|
Level 9
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Anti
|
Level 11
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Zan
|
Level 12
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Rimpa
|
Level 14
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Gires
|
Level 16
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Githu
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Level 17
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Brose
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Level 21
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Gizan
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Level 23
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Rever
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Level 25
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Nathu
|
Level 31
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Nares
|
Level 36
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Nazan
|
Level 37
|
Megid
|
—
|
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Earth
|
Level 1
|
Chance to paralyze one enemy.
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Crosscut
|
Level 6
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Damages one enemy for Attack plus 80 weapon damage.
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Air Slash
|
Level 13
|
Damages all enemies for Attack weapon damage.
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Ray Blade
|
Level 27
|
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 176 light damage.
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Explode
|
Level 35
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Chance to defeat one enemy.
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|
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Hahn Mahlay (ハーン・マーレイ)
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Hahn is a scholar at the Piata Academy who hires Alys and Chaz to investigate the monster appearances. He is a technique-focused character who learns a number of attack and healing techniques. He is the only character learns bio techniques, which are strong against non-mechanical enemies. He joins the party at level 1 before entering the first dungeon of the game.
Technique |
Level Acquired
|
Res
|
Level 1
|
Gelun
|
Level 1
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Wat
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Level 3
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Anti
|
Level 6
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Doran
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Level 7
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Zan
|
Level 9
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Vol
|
Level 10
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Gires
|
Level 11
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Rimpa
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Level 12
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Rimit
|
Level 13
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Giwat
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Level 16
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Gizan
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Level 21
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Nares
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Level 23
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Nawat
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Level 28
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Savol
|
Level 33
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Nazan
|
Level 37
|
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Vision
|
Level 1
|
Boosts the Dexterity of all non-android allies by a fixed amount.
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Astral
|
Level 29
|
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 168 energy damage.
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Eliminate
|
Level 30
|
Chance to defeat one enemy.
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|
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Rune Walsh (スレイ・ウォルシュ)
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Rune is a mysterious, powerful wizard who already knows Alys from previous adventures. He initially joins the party at level 17 in Molcum. He learns more damage techniques than any other character.
Technique |
Level Acquired
|
Foi
|
Level 1
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Wat
|
Level 1
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Gra
|
Level 1
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Arows
|
Level 1
|
Hinas
|
Level 1
|
Ryuka
|
Level 1
|
Giwat
|
Level 18
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Gifoi
|
Level 19
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Seals
|
Level 20
|
Rever
|
Level 21
|
Gigra
|
Level 23
|
Nafoi
|
Level 25
|
Nawat
|
Level 26
|
Nagra
|
Level 30
|
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Flaeli
|
Level 17
|
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 48 fire damage.
|
Hewn
|
Level 17
|
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 64 physical damage.
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Diem
|
Level 24
|
Chance to defeat one enemy.
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Tandle
|
Level 27
|
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 144 electric damage.
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Efess
|
Level 29
|
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 160 holy damage.
|
Negatis
|
Level 32
|
Chance to defeat all enemies.
|
Legeon
|
Level 35
|
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 224 energy damage.
|
|
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Gryz (パイク)
|
Gryz is a Motavian who wishes to avenge his parents, who were killed by Zio and his forces. He joins the party at level 6 in Tonoe. He is a strong fighter and the only character who can equip axes. He learns only one technique.
Technique |
Level Acquired
|
Brose
|
Level 1
|
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Crash
|
Level 6
|
Chance to defeat one enemy.
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War Cry
|
Level 14
|
Boosts Gryz's Attack statistic.
|
Sweeping
|
Level 25
|
Damages all enemies for Attack weapon damage.
|
|
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Rika (ファル)
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Rika is a numan and an evolution of Nei from Phantasy Star II. At the beginning of the game, she is only a year old and has never left the Bio-Plant. She has extensive knowledge of ancient advanced technology, taught to her by the artificial intelligence Seed and the android Wren. She joins the party at level 1 at the Bio-Plant but gains levels faster than other characters. She is the only character who can equip claws. She has high agility and dexterity and learns a number of support techniques.
Technique |
Level Acquired
|
Res
|
Level 1
|
Saner
|
Level 8
|
Gires
|
Level 13
|
Deban
|
Level 14
|
Shift
|
Level 19
|
Sar
|
Level 20
|
Gisar
|
Level 28
|
Nares
|
Level 33
|
Nasar
|
Level 40
|
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Illusion
|
Level 1
|
Chance to subtract Rika's Agility from every enemy's Agility.
|
Double Slash
|
Level 4
|
Damages one enemy for Attack plus 64 weapon damage.
|
Eliminate
|
Level 12
|
Chance to defeat one enemy.
|
Disrupt
|
Level 17
|
Damages all enemies for Attack weapon damage.
|
|
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Demi (フレナ)
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Demi is an android who was designed to act as the system controller for the climate systems of Motavia. She traveled to Nurvus to shut down the planet's control systems as they were malfunctioning, but she was captured by Zio. She joins the party at level 12 after escaping Zio's Fortress. She can only equip guns as weapons.
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Recover
|
Level 12
|
Heals self. Can be used out of combat.
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Stasis Beam
|
Level 12
|
Chance to paralyze one enemy.
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Spark
|
Level 12
|
Chance to defeat one enemy.
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Barrier
|
Level 12
|
Increases the mental defense of all allies.
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Medical Power
|
Level 12
|
Revives all non-android allies and heals them for an amount equal to Demi's Strength. Can be used out of combat.
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Phononmaser
|
—
|
Damages all enemies for Strength plus 176 physical damage.
|
|
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Wren (フォーレン)
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Wren is an android who is the custodian of the space station Zelan, where the remaining Algo support systems reside. He is not the same as the character of the same name from Phantasy Star III. He joins the party at level 20 on Zelan. He can only equip guns as weapons.
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Recover
|
Level 20
|
Heals self. Can be used out of combat.
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Flare
|
Level 20
|
Damages one enemy for Strength plus 128 energy damage.
|
Spark
|
Level 20
|
Chance to defeat one enemy.
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Barrier
|
—
|
Increases the Mental Defense of all allies.
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Hyper Jammer
|
—
|
Chance to paralyze all enemies.
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Burst Rockets
|
—
|
Damages all enemies for Strength plus 144 physical damage.
|
Positron Bolt
|
—
|
Damages all enemies for Strength plus 240 energy damage.
|
|
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Raja (ス・ラジャ)
|
Raja is a good-natured Dezorian priest. He joins the party at level 25 on Dezolis. He is a strong healer with access to every healing technique in the game as well as the only skill that can restore technique points.
Technique |
Level Acquired
|
Res
|
Level 25
|
Anti
|
Level 25
|
Rimpa
|
Level 25
|
Sar
|
Level 25
|
Arows
|
Level 25
|
Rimit
|
Level 25
|
Gires
|
Level 25
|
Seals
|
Level 25
|
Rever
|
Level 25
|
Nares
|
Level 27
|
Gisar
|
Level 28
|
Regen
|
Level 31
|
Nasar
|
Level 34
|
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Blessing
|
Level 25
|
Increases the Defense of all allies.
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Holyword
|
Level 25
|
Chance to defeat one enemy.
|
Ataraxia
|
Level 25
|
Restores TP to all non-android allies for an amount equal to Raja's Mental.
|
Miracle
|
Level 25
|
Heals all allies. Can be used out of combat.
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Saint's Fire
|
Level 25
|
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 144 holy damage.
|
|
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Kyra Tierney (シェス・ティアニー)
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Kyra is an esper wizard. She joins the party at level 27 at the Esper Mansion. She learns all of the fire and gravity attack techniques along with some healing and recovery techniques.
Technique |
Level Acquired
|
Res
|
Level 27
|
Foi
|
Level 27
|
Anti
|
Level 27
|
Rimpa
|
Level 27
|
Gires
|
Level 27
|
Gifoi
|
Level 27
|
Gra
|
Level 27
|
Gigra
|
Level 30
|
Nafoi
|
Level 33
|
Nares
|
Level 36
|
Nagra
|
Level 40
|
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Medice
|
Level 27
|
Heals one ally. Can be used out of combat.
|
Flaeli
|
Level 27
|
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 48 fire damage.
|
Telele
|
Level 27
|
Chance to subtract Kyra's Mental from every enemy's Attack.
|
Hewn
|
Level 27
|
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 112 physical damage.
|
Warla
|
Level 29
|
Increases the Defense of all allies.
|
Bindwa
|
Level 35
|
Chance to paralyze all enemies.
|
Tandle
|
Level 39
|
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 176 electric damage.
|
|
|
Seth (シアム・シズラブラム)
|
Seth is a traveling archaeologist who happens to be heading to the ruins of the same ancient temple as the group. He joins the party at level 35 at the Soldier's Temple. He does not learn any techniques.
Skill |
Level Acquired |
Effect
|
Shadow
|
Level 35
|
Chance to subtract Seth's Mental from every enemy's Agility.
|
Corrosion
|
Level 35
|
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 144 physical damage.
|
Mind Blast
|
Level 35
|
Chance to paralyze all enemies.
|
Death Spell
|
Level 35
|
Chance to defeat one enemy.
|
|
Town
Towns contain buildings that the party can enter to talk with NPCs or purchase items, equipment, or services. The party can also sell items at any shop for half of the purchase price.
|
Weapons and Armor Store
|
Sells weapons and armor.
|
|
Tool Shop
|
Sells consumable items, such as healing items.
|
|
Inn
|
The party can rest at the inn to recover their hit points, technique points, and skill uses for a fee. Fallen party members can also be revived at the inn. Staying at an inn cures poison or paralysis. The party can rest at Alys' house in Aeido for free.
|
|
Hunter's Guild
|
The Hunter's Guild is found in Aeido and provides special missions that the party can complete for bonus experience and meseta. There are eight missions total; one mission is initially available, and the others open up as the player completes certain milestones in the game.
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Items
Healing and resurrection items do not work on android characters.
Item |
Cost (in meseta) |
Description
|
Monomate |
20 |
Restores 48 hit points to an ally.
|
Dimate |
160 |
Restores 96 hit points to an ally.
|
Trimate |
400 |
Restores 320 hit points to an ally.
|
Antidote |
10 |
Cures an ally of poison effects.
|
Cure Paralyze |
120 |
Cures an ally of paralysis effects.
|
Moon Dew |
5,000 |
Revives a dead ally with partial hit points.
|
Star Dew |
10,000 |
Restores 128 hit points to the entire party.
|
Sol Dew |
20,000 |
Revives a dead ally with full hit points.
|
Escapipe |
70 |
Teleports the party to the entrance of the current dungeon.
|
Telepipe |
130 |
Teleports the party to any previously visited town on the same planet.
|
Weapons
Daggers
Daggers are one-handed melee weapons.
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Dagger |
40 |
+3 Attack |
Chaz, Hahn, Seth
|
Hunting Knife |
120 |
+5 Attack |
Chaz, Hahn, Seth
|
Titanium Dagger |
240 |
+10 Attack |
Chaz, Hahn, Seth
|
Ceramic Knife |
1,600 |
+14 Attack |
Chaz, Hahn, Seth
|
Laser Knife |
1,600 |
+21 Attack |
Chaz, Hahn, Seth
|
Plasma Dagger |
1,800 |
+25 Attack |
Chaz, Hahn, Seth
|
Tornado Dagger |
8,300 |
+32 Attack, +2 Strength |
Chaz, Hahn, Seth
|
Laconian Dagger |
9,400 |
+39 Attack |
Chaz, Hahn, Seth
|
Mahlay Dagger |
7,900 |
+60 Attack, +10 Defense |
Chaz, Hahn
|
Swords
Swords are two-handed melee weapons that usually also increase Defense.
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Alis' Sword |
500 |
+1 Attack |
Chaz
|
Steel Sword |
280 |
+14 Attack, +2 Defense |
Chaz
|
Titanium Sword |
560 |
+29 Attack, +5 Defense |
Chaz
|
Ceramic Sword |
3,600 |
+43 Attack, +7 Defense |
Chaz
|
Shadow Blade |
1 |
+50 Attack, -10 Mental, -5 Agility |
Chaz
|
Laser Sword |
2,700 |
+58 Attack, +10 Defense |
Chaz
|
Plasma Sword |
4,350 |
+70 Attack, +12 Defense |
Chaz
|
Flame Sword |
12,900 |
+81 Attack, +15 Defense, +4 Strength |
Chaz
|
Laconian Sword |
20,400 |
+103 Attack, +19 Defense, +10 Dexterity |
Chaz
|
Guardian Sword |
12,550 |
+112 Attack, +22 Defense, +10 Strength, +10 Dexterity |
Chaz
|
Elsydeon |
— |
+127 Attack, +25 Defense |
Chaz
|
Slashers
Slashers are one-handed ranged weapons that attack all enemies in one turn.
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Boomerang |
80 |
+1 Attack |
Alys, Kyra
|
Slasher |
160 |
+4 Attack |
Alys, Kyra
|
Titanium Slasher |
360 |
+9 Attack |
Alys, Kyra
|
Laser Slasher |
1,050 |
+12 Attack |
Alys, Kyra
|
Laconian Slasher |
21,600 |
+30 Attack |
Kyra
|
Moon Slasher |
8,400 |
+42 Attack |
Kyra
|
Rods
Rods are two-handed melee weapons that sometimes increase Mental.
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Wooden Cane |
70 |
+4 Attack |
Rune, Raja
|
Psycho Wand |
— |
+11 Attack, +4 Mental |
Rune, Raja
|
Silver Rod |
2,700 |
+18 Attack, +2 Mental |
Rune, Raja
|
Dream Rod |
5,400 |
+20 Attack, +4 Defense, +2 Mental |
Rune, Raja
|
Force Cane |
2,500 |
+26 Attack |
Rune, Raja
|
Laconian Rod |
6,800 |
+26 Attack |
Rune, Raja
|
Guardian Rod |
7,250 |
+32 Attack |
Rune, Raja
|
Axes
Axes are two-handed melee weapons that also increase Defense.
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Titanium Axe |
640 |
+26 Attack, +8 Defense |
Gryz
|
Broad Axe |
1,000 |
+32 Attack, +14 Defense |
Gryz
|
Struggle Axe |
4,600 |
+38 Attack, +20 Defense |
Gryz
|
Laser Axe |
3,200 |
+45 Attack, +25 Defense |
Gryz
|
Laconian Axe |
13,000 |
+109 Attack, +40 Defense |
Gryz
|
Defeat Axe |
3 |
+120 Attack, +40 Defense |
Gryz
|
Claws
Claws are one-handed melee weapons.
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Claw |
1,000 |
+12 Attack |
Rika
|
Saber Claw |
1,700 |
+18 Attack |
Rika
|
Laser Claw |
1,250 |
+25 Attack |
Rika
|
Plasma Claw |
1,950 |
+32 Attack |
Rika
|
Thunder Claw |
8,500 |
+37 Attack, +2 Strength |
Rika
|
Silver Tusk |
3,150 |
+42 Attack, +2 Defense |
Rika
|
Laconian Claw |
10,200 |
+51 Attack |
Rika
|
Genocyde Claw |
4,300 |
+53 Attack |
Rika
|
Guardian Claw |
6,600 |
+60 Attack, +3 Defense |
Rika
|
Guns
Guns are two-handed ranged weapons. Some guns can hit all enemies in a single turn.
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Impacter |
1,500 |
+31 Attack |
Demi, Wren
|
Pulse Laser |
3,200 |
+39 Attack |
Wren
|
Stun Shot |
1,600 |
+44 Attack |
Demi, Wren
|
Pulse Vulcan |
3,600 |
+58 Attack |
Wren
|
Wave Shot |
2,000 |
+61 Attack |
Demi, Wren
|
Plasma Rifle |
2,800 |
+73 Attack |
Wren
|
Napalm Shot |
3,200 |
+76 Attack |
Wren
|
Plasma Launcher |
4,300 |
+105 Attack |
Wren
|
Sonic Buster |
5,600 |
+121 Attack |
Demi, Wren
|
Photon Eraser |
6,400 |
+125 Attack |
Wren
|
Armor
Headgear
Helmets
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Leather Helmet |
80 |
+1 Defense |
Chaz, Gryz
|
Carbon Helmet |
200 |
+4 Defense |
Chaz, Gryz
|
Titanium Helmet |
570 |
+7 Defense |
Chaz, Gryz
|
Ceramic Helmet |
1,800 |
+12 Defense |
Chaz, Gryz
|
Swift Helmet |
4,000 |
+13 Defense, +6 Agility |
Chaz, Gryz
|
Silver Helmet |
1,800 |
+14 Defense, +2 Mental |
Chaz, Gryz
|
Laconian Helmet |
1,800 |
+22 Defense |
Chaz, Gryz
|
Crowns
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Leather Crown |
90 |
+1 Defense |
Alys, Rika, Kyra
|
Carbon Crown |
150 |
+3 Defense |
Alys, Rika, Kyra
|
Titanium Crown |
490 |
+7 Defense |
Alys, Rika, Kyra
|
Graphite Crown |
1,000 |
+11 Defense |
Alys, Rika, Kyra
|
Psychic Crown |
2,800 |
+13 Defense, +3 Mental |
Rika, Kyra
|
Silver Crown |
5,000 |
+16 Defense |
Rika, Kyra
|
Laconian Crown |
15,000 |
+19 Defense |
Rika, Kyra
|
Circlets
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Leather Band |
70 |
+1 Defense |
Hahn, Rune, Raja, Seth
|
Circlet |
100 |
+2 Defense |
Hahn, Rune, Raja, Seth
|
Psychic Circlet |
1,200 |
+5 Defense, +5 Mental |
Hahn, Rune, Raja, Seth
|
Silver Circlet |
3,000 |
+10 Defense, +3 Mental |
Hahn, Rune, Raja, Seth
|
Laconian Circlet |
9,600 |
+12 Defense, +4 Mental |
Hahn, Rune, Raja, Seth
|
Gear
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Head Gear |
800 |
+7 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Titanium Gear |
1,000 |
+10 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Ceramic Gear |
1,500 |
+13 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Zirconian Gear |
1,800 |
+16 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Compound Gear |
2,100 |
+18 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Elastic Gear |
2,500 |
+22 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Laconian Gear |
2,800 |
+25 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Rings
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Mahlay Ring |
8,000 |
+18 Defense, +2 Mental |
Hahn
|
Motavian Ring |
— |
+20 Defense, +1 Agility |
Rika
|
Dezorian Ring |
— |
+20 Defense, +3 Mental |
Rune
|
Algo Ring |
— |
+22 Defense, +2 Mental, +2 Agility, +2 Strength, +2 Dexterity |
Chaz
|
Palma Ring |
— |
+28 Defense |
Wren
|
Body armor
Suits
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Leather Cloth |
160 |
+2 Defense |
Alys, Chaz, Hahn, Gryz, Rika, Kyra, Seth
|
Carbon Suit |
550 |
+10 Defense |
Alys, Chaz, Hahn, Gryz, Rika, Kyra, Seth
|
Graphite Suit |
1,200 |
+16 Defense |
Hahn, Rika, Kyra, Seth
|
Cyber Suit |
15,000 |
+50 Defense, +5 Strength |
Chaz, Hahn, Gryz, Rika, Kyra, Seth
|
Mahlay Mail |
24,600 |
+65 Defense |
Hahn
|
Mail
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Titanium Mail |
1,120 |
+15 Defense |
Alys, Chaz, Gryz, Rika
|
Ceramic Mail |
3,700 |
+25 Defense |
Alys, Chaz, Gryz, Rika
|
Psychic Mail |
7,400 |
+35 Defense, +2 Mental |
Chaz, Gryz, Rika
|
Silver Mail |
13,200 |
+48 Defense |
Chaz, Gryz, Rika
|
Reflect Mail |
26,800 |
+53 Defense |
Chaz, Gryz, Rika
|
Laconian Mail |
43,800 |
+64 Defense |
Chaz, Gryz, Rika
|
Guardian Mail |
28,200 |
+76 Defense |
Chaz, Gryz, Rika
|
Robes
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
White Mantle |
200 |
+10 Defense, +1 Mental |
Rune, Raja, Kyra
|
Psychic Robe |
1,500 |
+33 Defense, +2 Mental |
Rune, Raja, Kyra
|
Frade Mantle |
2,000 |
+42 Defense, +3 Mental |
Rune, Raja, Kyra
|
Phantasm Robe |
8,400 |
+47 Defense, +5 Agility |
Rune, Raja, Kyra
|
Silver Mantle |
7,3000 |
+49 Defense, +3 Mental |
Rune, Raja, Kyra
|
Reflect Robe |
18,400 |
+58 Defense |
Rune, Raja, Kyra
|
Guardian Robe |
14,100 |
+72 Defense |
Rune, Raja, Kyra
|
Armor
Armor |
Cost (in meseta) |
Bonuses |
Equippable by
|
Titanium Armor |
1,500 |
+36 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Ceramic Armor |
2,000 |
+44 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Spaced Armor |
2,500 |
+53 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Zirconian Armor |
3,000 |
+62 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Compound Armor |
3,200 |
+72 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Elastic Armor |
3,900 |
+82 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Laconian Armor |
4,800 |
+94 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Guardian Armor |
6,400 |
+108 Defense |
Demi, Wren
|
Techniques
Offensive
Offensive techniques do elemental damage, so enemies that are weak to a particular element take bonus damage and enemies that are resistant to the element take reduced damage. Some enemies are immune to certain attacks and only take the minimum one hit point of damage.
Technique |
TP cost |
Description |
Learned by
|
Foi |
3 |
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 24 fire damage. |
Alys, Rune, Kyra
|
Gifoi |
6 |
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 72 fire damage. |
Alys, Rune, Kyra
|
Nafoi |
9 |
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 136 fire damage. |
Alys, Rune, Kyra
|
Wat |
4 |
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 32 ice damage. |
Hahn, Rune
|
Giwat |
7 |
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 80 ice damage. |
Hahn, Rune
|
Nawat |
10 |
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 144 ice damage. |
Hahn, Rune
|
Tsu |
6 |
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 48 light damage. |
Chaz
|
Githu |
11 |
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 96 light damage. |
Chaz
|
Nathu |
15 |
Damages one enemy for Mental plus 160 light damage. |
Chaz
|
Zan |
8 |
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 16 physical damage. |
Alys, Chaz, Hahn
|
Gizan |
12 |
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 64 physical damage. |
Alys, Chaz, Hahn
|
Nazan |
16 |
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 128 physical damage. |
Alys, Chaz, Hahn
|
Gra |
10 |
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 32 gravity damage. |
Rune, Kyra
|
Gigra |
15 |
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 80 gravity damage. |
Rune, Kyra
|
Nagra |
19 |
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 144 gravity damage. |
Rune, Kyra
|
Vol |
8 |
Chance to defeat one enemy. |
Hahn
|
Savol |
16 |
Chance to defeat all enemies. |
Hahn
|
Brose |
16 |
Chance to defeat all enemies. |
Chaz, Gryz
|
Megid |
30 |
Damages all enemies for Mental plus 255 light damage. |
Chaz
|
Support
Healing and resurrection abilities do not work on android characters.
Technique |
TP cost |
Description |
Learned by
|
Res |
3 |
Heals one ally for Mental plus 16 hit points. |
Chaz, Hahn, Rika, Raja, Kyra
|
Gires |
6 |
Heals one ally for Mental plus 80 hit points. |
Chaz, Hahn, Rika, Raja, Kyra
|
Nares |
9 |
Heals one ally for Mental plus 240 hit points. |
Chaz, Hahn, Rika, Raja, Kyra
|
Sar |
12 |
Heals the entire party for Mental plus 64 hit points. |
Rika, Raja
|
Gisar |
24 |
Heals the entire party for Mental plus 160 hit points. |
Rika, Raja
|
Anti |
2 |
Cures an ally of poison effects. |
Chaz, Hahn, Raja, Kyra
|
Rimpa |
5 |
Cures an ally of paralysis effects. |
Chaz, Hahn, Raja, Kyra
|
Arows |
9 |
Cures an ally of sleep effects. |
Rune, Raja
|
Rever |
12 |
Revives a dead ally with partial hit points. |
Chaz, Rune, Raja
|
Regen |
36 |
Revives a dead ally with full hit points. |
Raja
|
Shift |
7 |
Increases the Attack of one ally. |
Alys, Rika
|
Saner |
6 |
Increases the Agility of the entire party. |
Alys, Rika
|
Deban |
5 |
Increases the Defense of the entire party. |
Rika
|
Gelun |
5 |
Decreases the Attack of all enemies. |
Hahn
|
Doran |
4 |
Decreases the Agility of all enemies. |
Hahn
|
Seals |
8 |
Chance to silence all enemies. |
Rune, Raja
|
Rimit |
10 |
Chance to paralyze all enemies. |
Rune, Raja
|
Ryuka |
8 |
Teleports the party to any previously visited town on the same planet. |
Chaz, Rune
|
Hinas |
4 |
Teleports the party to the entrance of the current dungeon. |
Chaz, Rune
|
Combination attacks
The game introduces combination attacks, which are devastating attacks performed by combining certain techniques and skills from different characters in a particular order. Combination attacks damage every enemy in the battle. There are fourteen different combination attacks in the game, and they can be programmed into macros for easier casting. Each technique in the combination attack must be done in order and without any other actions in between, so the turn speed of each character and random chance both affect whether a combination attack is successfully performed.
|
Black Hole
|
Gigra/Nagra, Negatis
|
|
Blizzard
|
Wat/Giwat/Nawat, Zan/Gizan/Nazan/Hewn
|
|
Circuit Break
|
Hyper Jammer, Tandle
|
|
Conduct Thunder
|
Wat/Giwat/Nawat, Tandle
|
|
Destruct
|
Deban, Megid, Legeon, Positron Bolt
|
|
Firestorm
|
Foi/Gifoi/Nafoi/Flaeli, Zan/Gizan/Nazan/Hewn
|
|
Grand Cross
|
Crosscut, Efess
|
|
Holocaust
|
Savol, Diem
|
|
Lethal Image
|
Illusion, Death
|
|
Paladin Blow
|
Ray Blade, Astral
|
|
Purify Light
|
Holyword, Efess
|
|
Shooting Star
|
Phonomezer, Airslash
|
|
Silent Wave
|
Air Slash, Phononmaser
|
|
Triblaster
|
Foi, Wat, Tsu
|
History
Development
The development team for the game was led by Toru Yoshida and Rieko Kodama, who had previously worked on Phantasy Star II. The game is much more similar stylistically to the first two Phantasy Star games and continues the plotline established by those games. Composer Izuho Numata is the only known staff member shared with Phantasy Star III. The developers sought to combine the best elements of all the previous Phantasy Star games to create the "definitive Phantasy Star," while also improving upon the storytelling of its predecessors with deeper characterization and manga-inspired cutscenes.
“
|
It's a direct continuation of the first two games. PSIII was like a collection of side-stories, but with PSIV, we're returning to the main storyline, with PSI and PSII forming the historical backdrop. I wanted to make one more game where you get to explore the whole solar system and travel from planet to planet.
When our team made PSII, we were stretched pretty thin, and we couldn't include all that we had imagined. We felt that leaving the story at PSII, therefore, would have been a real waste, and that's how the idea for PSIV got started.
Also, PSII's battle animation system still stands out today, I think. It allowed for really great visual presentation, and again, we thought it would be a huge waste to not revisit it. But PSII and PSIII also had a lot of flaws, and we wanted to fix all that and make a game which players would consider the definitive Phantasy Star. So in that sense, we also saw PSIV as a sort of remake of the best elements of the series.
|
„
|
— Toru Yoshida[23]
|
3D dungeon in development
Plans were put in place to include pseudo-3D stages like in the original Phantasy Star, but the idea was scrapped during development.
“
|
Whenever you release new hardware or equipment, users are going to have high expectations for it. For example, with the Sega Master System, the 3D dungeons in Phantasy Star probably grabbed a lot of attention for that reason. I know we've had a lot of requests to add the 3D dungeons back in for the Megadrive Phantasy Star games. However, players won't be satisfied with SMS-era technology for the 3D dungeons in a Megadrive game, and it doesn't make sense with our design plans either: everything has to be rotatable, floors, ceilings, etc, and that would take up far too much memory.
|
„
|
— Rieko Kodama[23]
|
Legacy
The game has been re-released several times. It was included in Sega Ages Phantasy Star Collection for the Sega Saturn in 1998. It was also included in Sega Mega Drive Collection for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable in 2006 and Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2008. These compilations additionally include interviews with developers Rieko Kodama and Toru Yoshida as unlockables. It was included in Phantasy Star Complete Collection for the PlayStation 2 in 2008. It was released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam as part of the Sega Mega Drive Classics collection in 2018. Emulated versions have been released for the Wii's Virtual Console and Nintendo Switch Online. These versions fix a bug in the game that corrupts character statistics after reaching level 99. The game was also included in the Mega Drive Mini, released in 2019, which also fixes the level 99 glitch. It was added to Phantasy Star Classics for Android and iOS in 2019.
A remake of the game was planned as part of the Sega Ages 2500 series for the PlayStation 2 (in the same vein as Phantasy Star Generation 1 and Phantasy Star Generation 2), but it was never made.
Versions
Localised names
Also known as
Language
|
Localised Name
|
English Translation
|
English
|
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
|
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
|
English (US)
|
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
|
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
|
Japanese
|
ファンタシースター 千年紀の終りに
|
Phantasy Star: Sennenki no Owari ni
|
Production credits
- Main article: Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium/Production credits.
Digital manuals
Mega Drive Mini US manual
Mega Drive Mini EU manual
Mega Drive Mini JP manual
Magazine articles
- Main article: Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Print advert in
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-12: "December 1993" (1993-11-08)
Print advert in
Game Champ (KR) #1994-01: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)
also published in:
Print advert in
Game Players (US) #0802: "Vol. 8 No. 2 February 1995" (1995-0x-xx)
also published in:
Artwork
Physical scans
Mega Drive version
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Mega Drive, JP
|
Cover
|
|
Mega Drive, US
|
Cover
|
Cart Manual
|
Mega Drive, EU
|
Cover
|
|
Mega Drive, PT
|
Cover
|
Cart
|
Mega Drive, AU
|
Cover
|
|
Mega Drive, KR
|
Cover
|
Cart
|
Virtual Console version
Technical information
- Main article: Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium/Technical information.
External links
References
- ↑ https://tzk-gamedesign.hatenablog.jp/entry/2023/04/23/012721 (Wayback Machine: 2023-08-23 16:00)
- ↑ Most developers are credited in later games by this department
- ↑ File:PhantasyStar4 MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
- ↑ VideoGames, "February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 54
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sega Saturn Magazine, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-11-24), page 91
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/07.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-05 23:01)
- ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_ps4/ (Wayback Machine: 2008-08-03 03:56)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/lKuYbTg2KNxhISx3_pUAzqHsn47_fgCO (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 22:50)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/phantasy_star_iv (Wayback Machine: 2017-06-25 04:25)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Wii-/Phantasy-Star-IV-278524.html (archive.today)
- ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19759&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 01:31)
- ↑ https://store-jp.nintendo.com/list/software/70010000046986.html (Wayback Machine: 2021-10-26 03:04)
- ↑ @NintendoAmerica on Twitter (archive.today)
- ↑ @NintendoEurope on Twitter (archive.today)
- ↑ @NintendoUK on Twitter (archive.today)
- ↑ @NintendoAUNZ on Twitter (archive.today)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 https://steamdb.info/app/211205/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-07 02:46)
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 http://steamdb.info/app/211205/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 19:37)
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 https://steamdb.info/app/211205/history/?changeid=5755264
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7 http://steamdb.info/app/211205/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-07 02:46)
- ↑ File:Phantasy Star IV, Story.pdf
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 https://shmuplations.com/phantasystariv/
- ↑ Game Champ, "xxxx" (KR; 199x-xx-xx), page 11
- ↑ Sega Visions, "February/March 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 67
- ↑ GamePro, "March 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 63
- ↑ Sega Visions, "May 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 35
- ↑ GamesMaster, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-xx-xx), page 64
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 174
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1994" (JP; 1993-12-08), page 25
- ↑ CD Consoles, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-xx-xx), page 142
- ↑ Consoles +, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 88
- ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "May 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 72
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 35
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 166
- ↑ GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 4: April 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 18
- ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 2 February 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 38
- ↑ GamePro, "February 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 118
- ↑ Gamers, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 48
- ↑ Game Informer, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 16
- ↑ Game Informer, "June 1998" (US; 1998-0x-xx), page 66
- ↑ Hippon Super, "February 1994" (JP; 1994-01-06), page 42
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Diciembre 1995" (ES; 1995-xx-xx), page 89
- ↑ Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 2000-12-07), page 207
- ↑ Joypad, "Juillet/Août 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 33
- ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 70
- ↑ MAN!AC, "04/95" (DE; 1995-03-08), page 32
- ↑ MAN!AC, "02/96" (DE; 1996-01-10), page 69
- ↑ Mega Fun, "04/95" (DE; 1995-03-22), page 79
- ↑ Mega Play, "February/March 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 48
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-05-27), page 76
- ↑ Next Generation, "March 1995" (US; 1995-02-21), page 97
- ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 98
- ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, December 09, 1995" (UK; 1995-12-09), page 1
- ↑ Sega Magazin, "Februar 1996" (DE; 1996-01-10), page 14
- ↑ Sega Power, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-19), page 51
- ↑ Sega Pro, "Easter 1995" (UK; 1995-03-23), page 40
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 84
- ↑ Todo Sega, "Diciembre 1995" (ES; 1995-1x-xx), page 44
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 20
- ↑ Video Games, "6/95" (DE; 1995-05-17), page 96