Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection (2008)

Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection cover

Developer: M2, Sega Corporation
Publisher: Sega Corporation
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2
Genres: Role-playing (RPG)
Where to get it: Website

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

Playing this feels like revisiting a curated museum of early Phantasy Star adventures, blending classic turn-based exploration with old-school fantasy charm.

nostalgicclassic rpgretrofantasycompilationmoderate pacingold-school difficulty

About

The PlayStation 2 version, part of Sega's PS2 line of Sega Ages titles, is significantly different from the Sega Saturn version. Renamed Phantasy Star Complete Collection, this version includes the Phantasy Star II Text Adventures series, released exclusively to the Sega Meganet network, with the first of the eight games (the one following the adventures of Rolf) available to be played without unlocking. It also includes the two Game Gear titles of the series, Phantasy Star Gaiden and Phantasy Star Adventure. Unlike the GBA version, it includes all four titles of the original series. While, unlike the Sega Ages titles Phantasy Star Generation 1 and Phantasy Star Generation 2, the games are mainly untouched, several options that are not available in the Sega Saturn version are included. These options can drastically alter the games, both visually (with graphical options ranging from changing resolution, interlacing, smoothness and scanlines) and in gameplay. The changes in gameplay can alter the speed of the characters (much like the option available for Phantasy Star II and Phantasy Star III in the Saturn version, but available to all games) and also the difficulty, by changing how much money and experience the player gets from fights, which can drastically reduce the time necessary to complete the games. There are also options to change the type of machine and localization of the games, making it possible to play them in their Japanese version as well as their English localized counterparts. This compilation was released on PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 in 2012.

Screenshots

Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection screenshot 1

Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection screenshot 2

Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 32: Phantasy Star Complete Collection screenshot 3

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This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.