Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium

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Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega CS1, Sega RPG Production M2
Sound driver: SMPS 68000
Genre: RPG
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1993-12-17 ¥8,8008,800 G-5524 US 1995-02 1307 EU 1995-11 1307-50 PT 1995 MDJ1307 UK 1995-11 1307-50 AU 199x KR 199x GM93042JG JP ▼ 2008-06-24 700pts700 US ▼ 2008-12-22 800pts800 EU ▼ 2008-11-14 800pts800 AU ▼ 2008-11 800pts800 JP ▼ 2021-10-26 SUBsub US ▼ 2021-10-25 SUBsub EU ▼ 2021-10-26 SUBsub UK ▼ 2021-10-26 SUBsub AU ▼ 2021-10-26 SUBsub US ▼ 2012-05-02 $2.992.99 211205 EU ▼ 2012-05-02 €2.492.49 211205 UK ▼ 2012-05-02 £1.991.99 211205 AU ▼ 2012-05-02 $3.493.49 211205 US ▼ 2019-02-01 $0.990.99 211205 EU ▼ 2019-02-01 €0.990.99 211205 UK ▼ 2019-02-01 £0.790.79 211205 AU ▼ 2019-02-01 $1.351.35 211205 US ▼ 2019-02-01 $0.990.99 211205 EU ▼ 2019-02-01 €0.990.99 211205 UK ▼ 2019-02-01 £0.790.79 211205 AU ▼ 2019-02-01 $1.351.35 211205

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

Introduction

“	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

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

Overworld and dungeon

Battle and strategy menu

Land Rover

Cutscene

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.

	Alys Brangwin (ライラ・ブラングウェン)
	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 Nafoi Level 24 Nazan Level 27 Skill Level Acquired Effect Vortex Level 1 Damages one enemy for Attack plus 48 weapon damage. Moon Shade Level 10 Chance to paralyze all enemies. Death Level 13 Chance to defeat one enemy.
	Chaz Ashley ( ルディ・アシュレ)
	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 Hinas Level 8 Ryuka Level 9 Anti Level 11 Zan Level 12 Rimpa Level 14 Gires Level 16 Githu Level 17 Brose Level 21 Gizan Level 23 Rever Level 25 Nathu Level 31 Nares Level 36 Nazan Level 37 Megid — Skill Level Acquired Effect Earth Level 1 Chance to paralyze one enemy. Crosscut Level 6 Damages one enemy for Attack plus 80 weapon damage. Air Slash Level 13 Damages all enemies for Attack weapon damage. Ray Blade Level 27 Damages one enemy for Mental plus 176 light damage. Explode Level 35 Chance to defeat one enemy.
	Hahn Mahlay (ハーン・マーレイ)
	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 Wat Level 3 Anti Level 6 Doran Level 7 Zan Level 9 Vol Level 10 Gires Level 11 Rimpa Level 12 Rimit Level 13 Giwat Level 16 Gizan Level 21 Nares Level 23 Nawat Level 28 Savol Level 33 Nazan Level 37 Skill Level Acquired Effect Vision Level 1 Boosts the Dexterity of all non-android allies by a fixed amount. Astral Level 29 Damages one enemy for Mental plus 168 energy damage. Eliminate Level 30 Chance to defeat one enemy.
	Rune Walsh (スレイ・ウォルシュ)
	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 Wat Level 1 Gra Level 1 Arows Level 1 Hinas Level 1 Ryuka Level 1 Giwat Level 18 Gifoi Level 19 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. Diem Level 24 Chance to defeat one enemy. Tandle Level 27 Damages all enemies for Mental plus 144 electric damage. 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.
	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. War Cry Level 14 Boosts Gryz's Attack statistic. Sweeping Level 25 Damages all enemies for Attack weapon damage.
	Rika (ファル)
	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.
	Demi (フレナ)
	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. Stasis Beam Level 12 Chance to paralyze one enemy. Spark Level 12 Chance to defeat one enemy. Barrier Level 12 Increases the mental defense of all allies. 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. Phononmaser — Damages all enemies for Strength plus 176 physical damage.
	Wren (フォーレン)
	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. Flare Level 20 Damages one enemy for Strength plus 128 energy damage. Spark Level 20 Chance to defeat one enemy. Barrier — Increases the Mental Defense of all allies. Hyper Jammer — Chance to paralyze all enemies. Burst Rockets — Damages all enemies for Strength plus 144 physical damage. Positron Bolt — Damages all enemies for Strength plus 240 energy damage.
	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. 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. Saint's Fire Level 25 Damages all enemies for Mental plus 144 holy damage.
	Kyra Tierney (シェス・ティアニー)
	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.

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

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

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

• 

  Steam manual

• 

  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

File:Phantasy Star IV The End of the Millennium MD JP TVAdvert(Alt).mp4

JP TV Advert

File:Phantasy Star IV The End of the Millennium MD JP TVAdvert(Alt).mp4

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:

• Game Champ (KR) #1994-02: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-01: "January 1994" (1993-12-08)

Print advert in Game Players (US) #0802: "Vol. 8 No. 2 February 1995" (1995-0x-xx)
also published in:

• Sega Visions (US) #23: "February/March 1995" (199x-xx-xx)
• GamePro (US) #68: "March 1995" (1995-xx-xx)
• Sega Visions (US) #24: "May 1995" (1995-xx-xx)

Print advert in Velikiy Drakon (RU) #22: "xxxx xxxx" (1996-01-10)

Artwork

• 

  JP cover, front

• 

  JP cover, back

• 

  US/EU cover

• 

  Chaz

• 

  Chaz

• 

  Chaz

• 

  Chaz

• 

  Rika

• 

  Rika

• 

  Rika

• 

  Rika

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source GamesMaster (UK) 72

	72
Based on 1 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 70 Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J 80 CD Consoles (FR) 48 Consoles + (FR) 92 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 67 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) 78 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4 (RU) 100 GameFan (US) NTSC-U 93 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 70 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 73 Gamers (DE) PAL 80 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 69 Game Informer (US) NTSC-U 78 Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J 50 Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL 87 Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 1 (RU) 80 Joypad (FR) NTSC-J 83 Joypad (FR) 94 MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-U 85 MAN!AC (DE) PAL 85 Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U 83 Mega Play (US) NTSC-U 91 Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U 88 Next Generation (US) NTSC-U 50 Player One (FR) 94 Power Up! (UK) 89 Sega Magazin (DE) 88 Sega Power (UK) PAL 87 Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U 95 Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) PAL 90 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 90 Todo Sega (ES) 86 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 84 Video Games (DE) NTSC-U 82

	81
Based on 34 reviews

Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual Map

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, AU
Cover

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium/Technical information.

External links

• Sega of America webpage: Mega Drive
• Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Mega Drive
• Nintendo catalogue pages: US, UK, AU
• Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium on Steam
• Phantasy Star IV section at Phantasy Star Cave

References

Phantasy Star series
"Classic" series Phantasy Star (1987) | Phantasy Star II (1989) | Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom (1990) | Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium (1993) Phantasy Star II Text Adventures (Amia | Anne | Huey | Kinds | Nei | Rudger | Shilka | Yushis/Eusis) (1991) | Phantasy Star Adventure (1992) | Phantasy Star Gaiden (1992) | Phantasy Star (2003) | Phantasy Star Generation: 1 (2003) | Phantasy Star Generation: 2 (2005) Compilations Sega Ages Phantasy Star Collection (1998) | Phantasy Star Collection (2003) | Phantasy Star Complete Collection (2008) Related media Phantasy Star Collection: Sound Collection I (1993) | Phantasy Star Collection: Sound Collection II (1993) | Phantasy Star 1st Series Complete Album (2008) | Phantasy Star Series 25th Anniversary Sound Collection (2012) | Phantasy Star Series 25th Anniversary Concert Sympathy 2013 Live Memorial Album (2013) | Phantasy Star (2022) | Phantasy Star II (2022) | Phantasy Star III (2023) | Phantasy Star IV (2023) Memorial Drama CD & Fanbook "Phantasy Star: Fuujirareshi Kioku" (1995) Phantasy Star II Hint Book (1989) | Phantasy Star III: Toki no Keishousha Koushiki Guide Book (1990) | Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom Hint Book (1991) | Phantasy Star: Sennenki no Owari ni Game Guide Book (1994) | Phantasy Star Koushiki Settei Shiryoushuu (1995) | Phantasy Star IV Official Players Guide (1995) | 25th Anniversary Phantasy Star Visual Chronicles (2013)
"Modern" series Phantasy Star Online (Ver. 2 | Ep. I & II | Ep. III | Blue Burst) (2000-2005) | Phantasy Star Universe (Ambition of the Illuminus) (2006-2007) | Phantasy Star Online 2 (es | Cloud) (2012-2020) | Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis (2021) Handheld games Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Character Timer (2002) | Phantasy Star 0 (Mini) (2008-2009) | Phantasy Star Portable (2008) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 (Infinity) (2009-2011) | Phantasy Star: Eternal Planets (2011) | Phantasy Star Nova (2014) | Idola: Phantasy Star Saga (2018) Compilations Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II & III Trilogy (200x) | Phantasy Star Defender's Pack! (2011) Spin-offs Pachislot Phantasy Star Online 2 (2020) Related media Phantasy Star Online Original Sound Track (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Songs of Ragol Odyssey: Soundtrack Episode 1 & 2 (2002) | Let The Winds Blow: Phantasy Star Online Episode III Special Edition (2003) | Let The Winds Blow: Phantasy Star Online Episode III C.A.R.D. Revolution Original Sound Track (2003) | Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Premium Arrange (2004) | Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst Episode IV Sound Track (2005) | Phantasy Star Universe Game Soundtrack (2006) | Phantasy Star Universe Tsutaya Original Sound Track (2006) | Save This World: Phantasy Star Universe Original Score (2006) | For Brighter Day Phantasy Star Universe Original Soundtrack (2006) | Phantasy Star Universe: Illuminus no Yabou Original Soundtrack (2008) | Phantasy Star 0 Original Sound Track (2009) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Special Single CD (2009) | Phantasy Star Soundtrack: Theme Song Collection (2010) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Original Soundtrack: Wings of Universe (2010) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity Special CD (2011) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity Original Soundtrack (2012) | Phantasy Star Series 25th Anniversary Sound Collection (2012) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Mini Sound Track (2013) | Phantasy Star Series 25th Anniversary Concert Sympathy 2013 Live Memorial Album (2013) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 1 (2013) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 2 (2013) | Phantasy Star Music Collection 2000-2007 (2013) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Character Song CD: Song Festival (2014) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 3 (2014) | Phantasy Star Nova Original Soundtrack (2015) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Character Song CD: Song Festival II (2015) | Phantasy Star Online Series 15th Anniversary Concert: Sympathy 2015 Live Memorial Album (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation Original Soundtrack (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 4 (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 5 (2017) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 6 (2017) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 7 (2019) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 8 (2019) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Original Sound Tracks Vol. 7 & 8 Special Pack: Recitea (2019) | Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode Oracle Theme Song Vol.1 Destiny / Timeless Fortune (2019) Phantasy Star Online 2: Project Dream Arcs! (2013) Phantasy Star Online Navigation Guide (2000) | Phantasy Star Online Official Perfect Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Kanzen Kouryaku Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Perfect Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Tettei Kouryaku Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Ver. 2 Perfect Guide (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Fan Book (2001) | Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Official Perfect Guide (2002) | Phantasy Star Online Ultimate (2002) | Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 Settei Shiryoushuu (2003) | Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution Complete Guide (2003) | Prima's Official Strategy Guide: Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution (2004) | Phantasy Star Universe Signature Series Guide (2006) | Phantasy Star Universe Perfect Bible (2006) | Phantasy Star Universe Visual Book (200x) | Phantasy Star Universe Settei Shiryoushuu (2007) | Phantasy Star Universe: Illuminus no Yabou Perfect Guide (2007) | Phantasy Star Portable Fan Book: Guardians Maniacs (2008) | Phantasy Star Portable Perfect Bible (2008) | Phantasy Star 0 Photon Master Guide (2008) | Phantasy Star 0 Complete Guide (2009) | Phantasy Star 0 Official Strategy Guide (2009) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Star Frontier Guide (2009) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Perfect Bible (2010) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Settei Shiryoushuu (2010) | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity: Infinity Battle Guide (2011) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Start Guide Book (2012) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Master Guide Book (2012) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Expert Guide (2013) | 25th Anniversary Phantasy Star Visual Chronicles (2013) | Phantasy Star Nova Guide Book (2014) | Phantasy Star Nova Side Stories (2015) | Phantasy Star Nova Perfect Bible (2015) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Fashion Catalogue 2012-2015 (2015) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Episode 1 & 2 Settei Shiryoushuu (2015) 15th Anniversary Phantasy Star Online Visual Chronicles (2015) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Fashion Catalogue 2015-2016: Oracle & Tokyo Collection (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2 Episode 3 Settei Shiryoushuu (2016) | Phantasy Star Online 2 es 3rd Anniversary Visual & Chip Collection (2017) Other Phantasy Star Online 2 -On Stage- (2014) | Phantasy Star Online 2: The Animation (2016) | Phantasy Star Online Series 15th Anniversary Concert: Sympathy 2015 Live Memorial Blu-ray (2016) | Puso Ni Comi (2019) | Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode Oracle (2019-2020)