System: Sega Master System	Released: 1988
	Developer: Sega	Publisher: Sega
	Genre: RPG	Players: 1
	Game Size: 4 MBit Cartridge	Reviewer: Mystik

One of the older console RPGs, it is revolutionary with it's introduction to the perspective-changing first-person dungeons. This is it's most unique feature, and inspired a good list of future games, but there isn't a whole ton of such dungeons in the game. Most of the game play consists of standard third person top-down movement over a world map (more than one world, actually) between towns and dungeons. It's semi turn based battle system is the same as its descendants, where you assign actions to all your characters at the beginning of the round, and the actions are executed based on the speed of the characters and enemies, exactly like the original Final Fantasy.

As for the plot, there are four characters, each completely unique from the other: Alis, our heroine who's brother was killed by the cruel antagonist King Lassic, Odin, the big warrior who stands behind Alis no matter what, Myau, the Musk Cat who is much fiercer than his size suggests, and Noah, the powerful magic-using Esper. Together they traverse the three planets of the Algo solar system in an attempt to bring peace from Lassic's reign, though a surprise enemy shows up to set the stage for future entries into the deeply epic series. This game, however, does little to satiate the plot- and character development-hungry players, providing sparse dialogue and story progression, as was typical for RPGs back in the day.

Phantasy Star also suffers from standard older-game high difficulty that was typically unaccompanied by an official strategy guide, resulting in some required tasks that usually are completed by luck more than strategy or skill, like the infamous "puzzle that is not a puzzle" early on the game involving a certain "secret". Aside from this, it is only a truly difficult game if the player fails to level up, or forgets to take notes while traversing the easily-confusing dungeons; if the player is prepared, patient and a decent strategist, the experience is very enjoyable. The patience required to level up enough to survive, however, is quite high, thereby making it hard to maintain the interest of those who just want the game to "get on with it" (to quote Monty Python).

Overall, Phantasy Star is a decent start to a good series and a landmark for it's time, especially for it's system, however it will be hard to enjoy for those with little patience for leveling up, and especially those with a disinterest in RPGs because of it's extreme-ism with specific elements that separate RPGs from other genres. Recommended only for die-hard Phantasy Star fans, or for those interested in a taste of true old-school RPGism.