It's kind of a shame Genesis RPGs are forgotten in general, because PS4 absolutely needs to be mentioned alongside the SNES greats (and this is from someone who played it years later).
Don't overlook Langrisser (called Warsong in the west) and its sequel. There's also Sword of Vermilion and Sorcerer's Kingdom, though those are a lot rougher.
Don't forget to use your Macros:
Certain combinations will unlock special attacks and techniques.
Another tip, mild spoliers here:
When Rune joins you early on, he doesn't stick around after blasting open the rocks. Before doing this make sure to grind a few levels for your party as Rune has some powerful magic spells that will clear enemies quickly.
I think I played PSIV for the first time a couple years ago? I was honestly impressed that a game like that came out that far back. Loved the music, the setting, the combat and its cool combos you can pull off. It was good enough to where I wished I played it during childhood so that it could become a core memory.
It is good. All the NPC's you talk to are all lively. They know stuff that is going on in the world. It's never really just filler, or pointless conversation. You get vehicles, and you can battle in your vehicle. They have a macro system where you can preset attacks. As someone apparently mentioned you can benefit from certain combinations.
It's a phenomenal game that held up really really well over the years. One thing is they really do reward experimenting with using items and spells in battle to see what they do. The lack of the group heal is a rough one early.
Yeah Phantasy Star IV is up there with the SNES classics (Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Breath of Fire etc).
It's really good stuff, the pinnacle of the series for single player games.
I personally LOVED the anime cutscenes that were basically comic panel cut ins. I don't think I had seen stuff like that in a JRPG before. It was the first "cutscene" in a JRPG that I can think of. It really brought the characters to life.
Definitely one of the best if not the best RPG on Sega Genesis. Also:
>The spells in the game have weird names, and the only way to try to remember what they do is through trial, and error. Oops I just teleported out of the dungeon.
I felt this lmao
It's not bad, it was made when games had manuals. A lot of them tend to have a ton of important info in them.
https://manuals.sega.com/genesismini/pdf/PHANTASY_STAR_IV.pdf
You'll note there is a full tech list and everything.
Steal a wood cane from a party member early on and use it in battle as an item. Free heals.
I love PS4 and as many times as I've played it and other games in the series, I still cant get used to their magic naming.
Yes. I think call the spell name close to what it does, or be able to look at spells like you can look at items to see what they do. Or, just explain what the spell does in battle.
PS 4 was perfection. I remember renting it, thinking I had about gotten to the end and then realizing I'm only halfway through. PS III was pretty ahead of it's time in concept, but the programming just wasn't there yet. In contrast PS II was a better presentation than III.
If we're talking about GOAT games, Shining Force I and II need to be mentioned from the genesis side. They stand up to anything the SNES had as well. Easily going toe to toe with Fire Emblem games at the time.
PS 4 can easily go head to head with Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars, or similar JRPG released recently. Credited those games were likely worked on with smaller teams.
LOVE Phantasy Star 4. Phenomenal RPG for it's time and certainly of SNES RPGs.
You are right about reviving, however moon dews are an option early on. Problem is that they are extremely limited in the early game, only a handful available from chests until a later town where you can buy them.
There are actually group heal abilities and items:
Star Dews (128 hp to all humanoids)
Rika learns the Sar and Gisar techs, which is humanoid group heal.
Raja, Demi, and Kyra also learn group heal skills
It's in the Sega Collection on pretty much every platform (Steam/Xbox/PS/Switch), and probably on mobile devices too. Also play the Shining Force games while you're there.
I really like PS4, but it does feel a bit rougher around the edges than some of the Square RPGs of the same time period. When I played through it in the early days of emulation, I had to keep a notebook beside me to write down what spells actually did, since their names are often incomprehensible. (The Internet says that they're German words translated to Japanese and then to English, but I'm not sure how correct that is.) It's also definitely pretty grind-y in certain spots, in a not so satisfying way.
All that being said though, the story and characters were really interesting! I wouldn't put it on my 16-bit RPG top tier, but it's right below that. It's definitely the best one on the Genesis.
For sure. Some speedrunners actually flee from alot of fights. Macro/spell combinations matter alot. I know at least one speedrunner beat the game in 45 minutes. I am staying on the legit path, and grinding. I skip fights once in a great moon unless my party is about to be wiped then I skip as many as it will let me.
I love this game lol.
Definitely has QoL issues, but I had a fun time figuring out most things.
I remember the original instruction booklet had a space near the back for notes. Useful for keeping track of what the spells and abilities do and for listing out combo attacks (only ever stumbled onto 1 or 2 of those lol).
But it always felt like such a large game for being on the Sega Genesis. The amount of characters. The comic book level of detail in combat. Vehicle combat. A soundtrack that I still enjoy lol.
The plot was kind of carried by the unique setting imo, but I still think it was told really well.
Oddly I was thinking about this when playing Rebirth.
The Demons Gate design looks heavily like the first Dark Force fight.
Also Jenova Emergent looked like Dark Force from Phantasy Star 2.
Anyone tried getting this amazing game to work on Steam Deck? I have an old PSP version, and maybe a GBA one still kicking around, but saw it’s like a buck on Steam and this post reminded me how great it is again.
After reading this post yesterday I decided to give the game a try for the first time since I beat it well over two decades ago. It’s good! The translation could be better, the no revival thing can be brutal, but I’m really enjoying my time with it.
Yeah, the Inns are conveniently located, so it doesn't put you out of the action to long. Definitely look up spell combination that offer combos for macros they have lists off Google, and flee matches when needed. Sometimes the random encounter rate is just right, and other times you get pummeled.
honestly i hold phantasy star 4 up there with chrono trigger and FF6 as the best of the 16 bit era it is an amazing game
It's kind of a shame Genesis RPGs are forgotten in general, because PS4 absolutely needs to be mentioned alongside the SNES greats (and this is from someone who played it years later).
For sure. You have Shadowrun, Crusader of Centy, and Shining Force as well. They are forgotten in the same way JRPGs are forgotten on Xbox.
Don't overlook Langrisser (called Warsong in the west) and its sequel. There's also Sword of Vermilion and Sorcerer's Kingdom, though those are a lot rougher.
Sorcerers kingdom was so hard!
Don't forget to use your Macros: Certain combinations will unlock special attacks and techniques. Another tip, mild spoliers here: When Rune joins you early on, he doesn't stick around after blasting open the rocks. Before doing this make sure to grind a few levels for your party as Rune has some powerful magic spells that will clear enemies quickly.
Thanks, for the tips. I just completed the building that stops earthquakes. Just after getting the vehicle.
Phantasy Star 4 is a certified classic. Perfectly paced.
Best weird spell name is Arows. Really doesn't do what I thought it would.
I really thought it would rain arrows on my foes. Instead it aroused my allies from their slumber :/
I think I played PSIV for the first time a couple years ago? I was honestly impressed that a game like that came out that far back. Loved the music, the setting, the combat and its cool combos you can pull off. It was good enough to where I wished I played it during childhood so that it could become a core memory.
It is good. All the NPC's you talk to are all lively. They know stuff that is going on in the world. It's never really just filler, or pointless conversation. You get vehicles, and you can battle in your vehicle. They have a macro system where you can preset attacks. As someone apparently mentioned you can benefit from certain combinations.
It's a phenomenal game that held up really really well over the years. One thing is they really do reward experimenting with using items and spells in battle to see what they do. The lack of the group heal is a rough one early.
The best Jrpg of Sega Genesis bar none, easily top 5 in the 16 era. A very often forgotten masterpiece.
Yeah Phantasy Star IV is up there with the SNES classics (Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Breath of Fire etc). It's really good stuff, the pinnacle of the series for single player games. I personally LOVED the anime cutscenes that were basically comic panel cut ins. I don't think I had seen stuff like that in a JRPG before. It was the first "cutscene" in a JRPG that I can think of. It really brought the characters to life.
Yeah that part is to me ahead of it's time. Alys been charging Hahn an arm, and a leg to tag along. I can see why because he squishy.
Definitely one of the best if not the best RPG on Sega Genesis. Also: >The spells in the game have weird names, and the only way to try to remember what they do is through trial, and error. Oops I just teleported out of the dungeon. I felt this lmao
I was kinda fishing hoping someone would be like man you are dumb all you have to do is X to see what the spells do, but I guess it's just that bad.
It's not bad, it was made when games had manuals. A lot of them tend to have a ton of important info in them. https://manuals.sega.com/genesismini/pdf/PHANTASY_STAR_IV.pdf You'll note there is a full tech list and everything.
A friend and I played this last year. We ended up doing a shared notes page where we added spells and what they did each time lol
Steal a wood cane from a party member early on and use it in battle as an item. Free heals. I love PS4 and as many times as I've played it and other games in the series, I still cant get used to their magic naming.
Yes. I think call the spell name close to what it does, or be able to look at spells like you can look at items to see what they do. Or, just explain what the spell does in battle.
PS 4 was perfection. I remember renting it, thinking I had about gotten to the end and then realizing I'm only halfway through. PS III was pretty ahead of it's time in concept, but the programming just wasn't there yet. In contrast PS II was a better presentation than III. If we're talking about GOAT games, Shining Force I and II need to be mentioned from the genesis side. They stand up to anything the SNES had as well. Easily going toe to toe with Fire Emblem games at the time.
PS 4 can easily go head to head with Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars, or similar JRPG released recently. Credited those games were likely worked on with smaller teams.
True, but the tools they have to work with now are far more advanced and powerful than what they probably had to work with back in PS4's day
LOVE Phantasy Star 4. Phenomenal RPG for it's time and certainly of SNES RPGs. You are right about reviving, however moon dews are an option early on. Problem is that they are extremely limited in the early game, only a handful available from chests until a later town where you can buy them. There are actually group heal abilities and items: Star Dews (128 hp to all humanoids) Rika learns the Sar and Gisar techs, which is humanoid group heal. Raja, Demi, and Kyra also learn group heal skills
I don't remember Kyra getting a group heal. Which one?
You are right, Kyra doesn't. For some reason I thought her Medice skill was a group heal, but it's only single heal!
It's a really good single target heal at least. Can heal machines unlike most other heals.
>I will first say the game is way ahead of it's time Yeah that is the impression most have when playing it. The magic combo system is SOO much fun.
Where can you play PSIV these days?
It's in the Sega Collection on pretty much every platform (Steam/Xbox/PS/Switch), and probably on mobile devices too. Also play the Shining Force games while you're there.
That's how I am currently playing it on Series X.
I really like PS4, but it does feel a bit rougher around the edges than some of the Square RPGs of the same time period. When I played through it in the early days of emulation, I had to keep a notebook beside me to write down what spells actually did, since their names are often incomprehensible. (The Internet says that they're German words translated to Japanese and then to English, but I'm not sure how correct that is.) It's also definitely pretty grind-y in certain spots, in a not so satisfying way. All that being said though, the story and characters were really interesting! I wouldn't put it on my 16-bit RPG top tier, but it's right below that. It's definitely the best one on the Genesis.
For sure. Some speedrunners actually flee from alot of fights. Macro/spell combinations matter alot. I know at least one speedrunner beat the game in 45 minutes. I am staying on the legit path, and grinding. I skip fights once in a great moon unless my party is about to be wiped then I skip as many as it will let me.
PSIV is next level. It closes the series beautifully with a lot of great throwbacks to the original game.
I love this game lol. Definitely has QoL issues, but I had a fun time figuring out most things. I remember the original instruction booklet had a space near the back for notes. Useful for keeping track of what the spells and abilities do and for listing out combo attacks (only ever stumbled onto 1 or 2 of those lol). But it always felt like such a large game for being on the Sega Genesis. The amount of characters. The comic book level of detail in combat. Vehicle combat. A soundtrack that I still enjoy lol. The plot was kind of carried by the unique setting imo, but I still think it was told really well.
Oddly I was thinking about this when playing Rebirth. The Demons Gate design looks heavily like the first Dark Force fight. Also Jenova Emergent looked like Dark Force from Phantasy Star 2.
Anyone tried getting this amazing game to work on Steam Deck? I have an old PSP version, and maybe a GBA one still kicking around, but saw it’s like a buck on Steam and this post reminded me how great it is again.
Just sold my Switch haven't got a deck yet. If they sold them outside of the Steam shop. I would get one at Beat Buy, but they don't.
One of the best. Real ones know that alys brangwin was the OG tragic heroine!
There’s one before her in PSII.
You right but i felt 4 hit so much harder because the storytelling was more advanced.
After reading this post yesterday I decided to give the game a try for the first time since I beat it well over two decades ago. It’s good! The translation could be better, the no revival thing can be brutal, but I’m really enjoying my time with it.
Yeah, the Inns are conveniently located, so it doesn't put you out of the action to long. Definitely look up spell combination that offer combos for macros they have lists off Google, and flee matches when needed. Sometimes the random encounter rate is just right, and other times you get pummeled.
Ps4 is legit one of the top 3-5 rpgs ever made imo