History VideoGame / PhantasyStar

* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarI'' (1987): When her brother is murdered by the forces of the tyrannical King Lassic, Alis Landale will embark on a journey across the Algol System to liberate the people from not only Lassic's brutal reign, but the otherworldly evil controlling him. Features first-person dungeon crawling, a rarity among [=JRPGs=] of the time, and one of the first female protagonists in the genre. Notable for being the first major JRPG to be localized for release in America and especially Europe, making it a kind of TropeCodifier for those territories.

* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarI'' (1987): When her brother is murdered by the forces of the tyrannical King Lassic, Alis Landale will embark on a journey across the Algol System to liberate the people from not only Lassic's brutal reign, but the otherworldly evil controlling him. Features first-person dungeon crawling, a rarity among [=JRPGs=] of the time, and one of the first female protagonists in the genre.

* ''VideoGame/IDOLAPhantasyStarSaga'' (2018): A free-to-play RPG released on Japanese mobile phones. On the distant planet of Vandor, the Aries Knights, a peacekeeping organization dedicated to repelling titanic monsters known as Idola, must contend with the revival of Dark Falz and those that would use its powers for their own gain.

Three {{Gaiden Game}}s, mostly focused on ''Phantasy Star II'', were released as well. ''Phantasy Star II Text Adventures'' and ''Phantasy Star Adventure'', a duo of text-based {{Adventure Game}}s, explored the past of the ''PSII'' cast and told an unrelated story set in the same era of the Algol system's history, respectively. ''Phantasy Star Gaiden,'' an {{Eastern RPG}} for the UsefulNotes/GameGear, took place roughly halfway between ''I'' and ''II'' in the Copto star system, a sector of space colonized by the Alogols. The protagonists are two colonists, Alec and Mina--the latter being a descendant of ''I'''s heroine, Alis Landale. [[NoExportForYou None of these games were released outside of Japan.]]

A number of times, the games of the tetralogy have been ported to newer consoles. At one point, there was even a [[VideoGameRemake Remake]] of the first two games in the tetralogy--''Phantasy Star Generation 1'' and ''Generation 2''--for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2. On top of a more fleshed-out story (''far'' more in ''Generation 1'''s case) and updated graphics, there were a few additional quests and tweaks made to the remakes. [[NoExportForYou Of course, nobody outside Japan got to see these either]]. A similar remake of ''IV'' was planned and a US release bundling the ''III'' was announced, but the remake of ''IV'' disappeared and the US release along with it.

* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2es'' (2012): A mobile phone companion game and spin-off of ''Phantasy Star Online 2'' that follows a team of ARKS known as the Darker Busters and their adventures into the dark side of the organization.
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarNova'' (2014): A Playstation Vita spinoff of ''Phantasy Star Online 2''. When the ARKS Ship "Delta Valiant" and its passengers are stranded on the planet Machia, its crew must not only survive but uncover the secrets of the Gigantes, a race of artificial bioweapons inhabiting the planet. Curiously the only post-tetralogy game that lacks an online component.

** ''Phantasy Star Adventure'' (1992): Shortly after the events of ''Phantasy Star II'', another Mota agent travels to Dezo to visit a friend, only to be caught up in a new conspiracy. Made in a similar vein to the ''Phantasy Star II Text Adventures''.

** The translation for "Dark Falz" has varied across the series. The tetralogy referred to it as "Dark Force" (and [[UnfortunateNames "Dark Phallus"]] at one point), while every game from ''Online'' onwards stuck to "Dark Falz".

** ''Phantasy Star III'' is this as a result of having been developed by a different team from other classic entries, with a notably different style from other games, a more classic fantasy theme, and no ties to other games, being the only classic game not set in the Algol system. Due to this, it tends to get ignored by later games -- ''Phantasy Star IV'' went back to the first two games' style, setting and storyline, in addition to dropping the numbering system in Japan; and the planned third ''[=PlayStation 2=]'' remake was going to be based on ''Phantasy Star IV'' instead.

* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarNova'' (2014): A Playstation Vita spinoff of ''Phantasy Star Online 2''. When the ARKS Ship "Delta Valiant" and its passengers are stranded on the planet Machia, its crew must not only survive but uncover the secrets of the Gigantes, a race of engineered bioforms inhabiting the planet. Curiously the only post-tetralogy game that lacks an online component.

** ''Phantasy Star III'' is this as a result of having been developed by a different team from other classic entries, with a notably different style from other games, a more classic fantasy theme, and no ties to other games, being the only classic game not set in the Algol system. Due to this, it tends to get ignored by later games -- ''Phantasy Star IV'' went back to the first two games' style, setting and storyline, and the ''[=PlayStation 2=]'' remakes made the decision to skip it -- ''Phantasy Star Generation 3'' was going to be a remake of ''Phantasy Star IV'' instead.

** ''Phantasy Star III'' is this as a result of having been developed by a different team from other classic entries, with a notably different style from other games, a more classic fantasy theme, and no ties to other games, being the only classic game not set in the Algol system. Due to this, the ''[=PlayStation 2=]'' remakes choose to skip it -- ''Phantasy Star Generation 3'' was going to be a remake of ''Phantasy Star IV'' instead.

** ''Phantasy Star III'' is this as a result of having been developed by a different team from other classic entries, with a notably different style from other games, a more classic fantasy theme, and no ties to other games. Due to this, the ''[=PlayStation 2=]'' remakes choose to skip it -- ''Phantasy Star Generation 3'' was going to be a remake of ''Phantasy Star IV'' instead.

* OddballInTheSeries: ''Nova'' is notable for dumping several series mainstays, such as Dark Falz (who has no presence in the game whatsoever), Meseta (replaced by a PracticalCurrency called Gran Pieces), and Mags (replaced by the Gigantes, who double as {{Mons}}).

* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline (2000)'': After a six-year SequelGap, the series returned to the Dreamcast in a radically new game. With the Pioneer Project, a massive undertaking to colonize the planet of Ragol, thrown into jeopardy by a mysterious explosion causing the disappearance of the first wave of colonists, players must band together to investigate the planet and uncover the fate of the colonists. This game is one of the first console [=MMOs=] made, with players forming parties of four to explore vast dungeons.

* FiveRaces: There are five major playable races across the series, each one fitting into archetypes in some way.
** Humans are the typical Mundane race. They are a JackOfAllTrades race that has balanced stats in each game it appears in and can typically do pretty much anything and run any Class.
** Newmans/[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Neumans]]: The Fairy race. In most games they are SpaceElves with an emphasis on magic/Photon affinity but lacking on technological prowess, making them powerful casters but restricting their ability to become Rangers. Their ''IDOLA'' counterpart is the Elf race.
** Androids/[=CASTs=]: The Stout race, typically comprised of RidiculouslyHumanRobots (with the degree of "Ridiculously Human" varying from entry to entry). They are quite sturdy and are good with technology but lack the ability to command Photons in most games. Most games they are featured in typically cut them off from Technique or Force Class access. Their ''IDOLA'' counterpart is the Machina.
** Beasts: Primarily featured in the ''Universe'' subseries, they are a cross between Stout and Mundane, being physically strong creatures with human-like appearances and are fairly adaptable. Their ''IDOLA'' counterpart is the Lycan race, the males of whom are more beastial in nature while the females are more LittleBitBeastly.
** Deuman/[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Dewman/Duman]]: Appearing in ''Portable 2 infinity'' and ''Online 2'', the Deumans assume traits from the Fairy and Mundane types, owing to their unique (and sinister) origins and freedom of choice concerning development. Their ''IDOLA'' counterpart is the Demonic race.
** Cute: While there aren't any "major" Cute races, ''Universe'' had Small Beasts as an offshoot of the Beast race. ''IDOLA'' also features a sixth Gnome race that fits the typical Cute bill.

** Subverted by the Great Light, [[spoiler:the direct counterpart of the Profound Darkness whose sole goal is to prevent its resurrection. While the Great Light's interests align with that of the heroes, it doesn't actually have humanity's best interests in mind; rather, it sees the sentient beings that it created to help seal the Profound Darkness as part of the solution. Chaz pretty much gives it what-for when he finds out.]]

* EldritchAbomination: Dark Force in all the games. [[spoiler:The Profound Darkness in ''PSIV'' and ''[=PSO2=]'', even more so.]]

** ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2es'' (2012): The mobile phone companion game of ''Phantasy Star Online 2''.

* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2NewGenesis'' (2021): The sequel to ''Phantasy Star Online 2'', released for the [=PlayStation 4=], PC, and Nintendo Switch in Japan and for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X in North America. A millennia after the end of Oracle's war against the Falspawn, players join a new generation of ARKS and their fight against the DOLLS that populate their new world.

* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarUniverse'' (2006): Released on PC, Playstation 2, and Xbox 360, ''Universe'' represents a new direction the online series took. In addition to a robust multiplayer component, the game also featured a dedicated offline story mode centered on Ethan Waber, a newcomer to the GUARDIANS peacekeeping organization, as he contends with a dangerous threat to the Gurhal System

*** ''Phantasy Star Portable 2 infinity'' (2011): The Japan-exclusive continuation of the portable series.

* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarNova'' (2014): A Playstation Vita spinoff of ''Phantasy Star Online 2'', which sees players take part in an expeditionary force stranded on the planet of Machia
* ''VideoGame/IDOLAPhantasyStarSaga'' (2018): A free-to-play RPG released on Japanese mobile phones. As the heroine Stella, players will contend with mysterious monsters known as Idola that threaten the planet of Vandor.
* ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2NewGenesis'' (2021): The sequel to ''Phantasy Star Online 2''. A millennia after the end of Oracle's war against the Falspawn, players join a new generation of ARKS and their fight against the DOLLS that populate their new world.

Creator/{{Sega}}'s answer to the RPG craze of the late 1980s, the ''Phantasy Star'' series was a classic contemporary to ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' and ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''. Having been in the hands of several of Sega's development studios (in chronological order: Sega [=RD4=], Sega [=AM7=] (Overworks/Sega Wow), and Sega [=AM8=] (Creator/SonicTeam)), the franchise has taken several different forms since its inception.

** Men get traditional shields, while women instead wear emels -- basically thick gauntlets. Unfortunately, in a franchise which offers higher rewards for DualWielding, these are largely useless except on your {{Squishy Wizard}}s.