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For a game to be a hit, it would have had to have been easy to pick up and play. Phantasy Star was very similar to this.

While sticking to its storylines, the series was simple to get to grips with for anyone at first by providing menu's and not harrassing the player with complicated moves all the time, you simply select what you want to do! By the time things started getting a bit strategical and tactical, you were dragged into playing more and more of the titles because you were into the storyline yourself and keep coming back for more!

Gameplay is a huge element to selling games to success, and Phantasy Star had it!

Anyone will tell you that for a game to be successful, it needs to have an excellent soundtrack. Even in the days of the SEGA Mega Drive and SNES, the rule still applied, and gave games the test of time. Games still renowned today for their soundtracks include the 'Streets of Rage' series of games, and various 'The Legend of Zelda' titles. However, from a Phantasy Star perspective, you maybe a little dazzled as to why its included. The tunes were simple, however yet effective, and storyline fitting, and made a foundation for a nice series of games.

Even today SEGA appreciate the music of the times by including the tracks of these games on few of their 'Best Of...' CD Soundtrack compliations.

For example, this CD Compilation includes 2 tracks from the Phantasy Star games, alongside other tracks from many of their other games.

Another factor that sells games as we all know is to advertise it, and advertise it well! Unfortunately i was unable to find any Phantasy Star advertisements for this issue of the Hunters Gazette, but back in the day, it was done mainly using prints for advertisements and reaching out to consumers.

As we all know, now are the days of online play, as Phantasy Star Online completes the circle of life! Gone are the days of using menus to decide your fate (Although still a big part of the game) and now is the time for complicated moves as the times have changed. Phantasy Star was revived after noticing the success of the series early on and bringing back players who knew the feet inside and out standing on their head despite much of the plot changing.

Parts remained, but much was changed. Classic characters were gone and brought in was a more suitable character creation system letting people choose who they want to play as and dressing them respectively. A system that worked well with the game. Aside from that, the basic lines stood out. A planet was overruled by familiar faces of evil and it was your job to take them out only this time in force online!

Soundtracks and Gameplay were all there and the basis for Phantasy Star still lives on in PSO.

Advertising for the game when it was released on the SEGA Dreamcast a time ago now was however still important, and below are some pretty original prints to enjoy if you've never seen them before!

Unfortunately i've run out of things to say right now, hence bringing this Hunters Gazette to a close... but just before i log out, as promised in the last Hunters Gazette, a link to the past!

Link: Phantasy Star Webring

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Hunters Gazette - October 1st 2004 - Credits

Hunters Gazette Edition by: Lee-yoshi
Images: Lee-yoshi 
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