Phantasy Star Series

[Sumez]

Are PS2's dungeons really that bad? People were warning me about Dragon Quest 2, but if you fetch that graph paper and get drawing, they are very manageable, and since you get to keep your exp etc. after dying in that game, losing a few trips into the same dungeon doesn't feel quite as hopeless.

Meanwhile I recently started playing Faria on the NES, and holy hell - I pity anyone trying to play that game without maps. The dungeons are absurdly confusing and impossible to find your way in, even with a map.

[Xyga]

I don't know for sure since I have never cleared DQ2, it's in a different league, but there's one dungeon in particular in PSII that might be one of the worst in the history of jrpg.
The only way to not get pissed and ragequit is to get lucky and grab the event item from the first random tries, and/or use all save slots (which I don't like to do)
Although for my first visit I've used the hint book's map I still got confused (fan made maps are more precise and helpful), for my second playthrough I've tried without and couldn't draw correct routes, there's just too much trial-and-error until it works.
And there was another dugeon before it that wasn't too far from being as painful.
The foes are really tough but don't bring tons of exp. money then? at this point you don't have much equipment left to buy, so spending hours and hours in those dungeons isn't too rewarding, there are better places and times to grind.

So I really don't get the point of absolutely wanting to do the whole game blind, plus as I've mentioned there's missables (some protective gear and magic items that open character strategies otherwise out of reach), of course you can skip those and plan for a future playthrough.
Most people have played the game using the hint book and really enjoyed the ride, that little booklet doesn't spoil the experience at all IMHO, rather it's become part of it (it was bundled with the game).
I don't believe PSII has nearly enough charm left to warrant any fun if played naked/the hardest way on the first playthrough.

note: again online fan faqs and maps are much more revealing and precise than the hint book, so those might completely spoil the game, but that's why they're here.

EDIT: I think all known scans of the hint books have notes and scribbles on the pages unfortunately, which might spoil a few things. I must be one the few owners of a pristine scribbles-free hint book, but it's so old I'm afraid to press it onto the scanner.

[Blinge]

DQ2's got nothing on PS2's complexity.
Faria looks comparable.

[Blinge]

Any more progress Ryu?

I've been replaying PS2, drawing my own maps this time. It's hard.. my cartography leaves much to be desired.
Anyway, since making it back from Biosystems Lab, I've had to follow my own condition and leave Rudo behind.

.. for Hugh.

The true Phantasy Star starts here

[GaijinPunch]

I think the easiest way to level up is to find the enemies that regenerate, an be abel to heal yourself. (some clouds with a single eye... sky blue in color seem to ring a bell). Do those fights for like 30 minutes. Can be boring but you can also watch TV or some shit while you do that.

[ryu]

Any more progress Ryu?

Got the boat a few weeks ago. Last few dungeons before that point went pretty smooth. Then I had no idea where to go and got Nier:Automata, so played that instead.

Today I actually managed to boot PS2 back up again. Didn't figure out where to go though. Guess I'll take a look at the hint book.

[Blinge]

Haha, fess up - online maps or no maps?

Oh the boat section.. Yeah.
I hope you haven't looked at the hintbook yet :3


That section a bit later in the game where you have to find the 'different looking' bit of ocean is absurd imo. That's one place that pushes the Mischief style guide-less playing rather far:

Spoiler

it's just 1 or 4 tiles of ocean on the whole world map that look a bit different and you have to sail around eating damage for ages trying to find it!? urgh!

Gaijin did you mean the longer the fight goes on the more xp you get?? Or just that those particular enemies yield a lot of xp?
only thing i would need to grind for atm is money to kit Hugh out.
Got Rolf (refuse to give him that name) a Ceram sword but maybe i should've gotten him two laser knives instead.

[Xyga]

I think the easiest way to level up is to find the enemies that regenerate, an be abel to heal yourself. (some clouds with a single eye... sky blue in color seem to ring a bell). Do those fights for like 30 minutes. Can be boring but you can also watch TV or some shit while you do that.

Yeah the 'slugmess', tbey can be found in Roron just walking around the first floor in the dark, no need to explore the dungeon.

I've managed to milk out up to 10,000 MST from them in a single round. Could be more using Sashu and Sar I guess.

For EXP you can also milk the Blastoid in Climatrol.

Later in the game I think mainly in Guaron, there are those living-flame like enemies that aren't too tough yet reward with massive EXP.
They don't regenerate but iirc you don't have to explore the dungeon too much to encounter them, IMHO it's easier than bothering with grinding the strongest enemies in Noah like many do.

[ryu]

Haha, fess up - online maps or no maps?

no maps until i get lost completely, then i start taking glances

[Blinge]

I'm about to enter Roron but can't exactly remember if that's what i'm supposed to do now.
I need a jetski thing to look for Guam leaves or guado leaves or w/e they're called.

check out my shitty maps haha.
I'm gonna be fucked at the airport and late game!

[ryu]

Nice!

What holds me back are the trap holes for the most part. Because of those I imagine you'd have to draw multiple pieces of each floor and piece those together, which is too much of a hassle for me.

[GaijinPunch]

Gaijin did you mean the longer the fight goes on the more xp you get?? Or just that those particular enemies yield a lot of xp?
only thing i would need to grind for atm is money to kit Hugh out.
Got Rolf (refuse to give him that name) a Ceram sword but maybe i should've gotten him two laser knives instead.

I recall them giving either good XP and decent money, or vice versa (or maybe both)?

Nice!

What holds me back are the trap holes for the most part. Because of those I imagine you'd have to draw multiple pieces of each floor and piece those together, which is too much of a hassle for me.

This shit I remember vaguely... and hating it. There's a specific hole you have to fall in (badump tsssh) and it takes ages to find.

[Xyga]

I recall them giving either good XP and decent money, or vice versa (or maybe both)?

Well I've just answered that in y previous post, sort of. Killing tons of Slugmess will mainly make money but of course some decent EXp along.

For EXP the Blastoid are best on Mota.

[FinalBaton]

I just wrote a little Phantasy Star IV-hommage battle tune, for the YM2612. If you guys are in the mood for PS music, please check it out

Futuristic RPG Mid-Boss Theme Soundcloud | Youtube

[BryanM]

It's a nice start~ Another melody or two, or some more aggressive modifications to the format of the existing one on its repetitions would really improve it.

[FinalBaton]

Yeah it would benefit from having a part/variation or two more, I agree. But for now I'm kinda overwhelmed already with the task of programming in a tracker, sound-shaping, making sure all sounds fit together etc. (started learning all this 2 months ago). This is taking a lot out of me already. But at some point I will add more parts to my songs, for sure. This will improve over time.

Thanks for the compliment and feedback

[Blinge]

Alright. Amy is far too useful.
Am dumping her in favour of Anna so my final loser party once I can get them will be
rofl, anna, hugh, shir.
grimmmm
Will try not to rely on the special items either.

I landed on the island a bit. what the hells with the entry to the mountains themselves. It's not evident on the overworld at all!

[GaijinPunch]

Alright. Amy is far too useful.
Am dumping her in favour of Anna so my final loser party once I can get them will be
rofl, anna, hugh, shir.
grimmmm
Will try not to rely on the special items either.

I landed on the island a bit. what the hells with the entry to the mountains themselves. It's not evident on the overworld at all!

What is high level Shir so good at? I recall getting my pussy absolutely smoked on the last two battles w/ Amy for the heals.

[Xyga]

What is high level Shir so good at?

Agility. She will have the priviliege of 1st action in any battle, over your party and enemies.
If she's carrying color scarf, snow crown, stormgear, crescent gear...she gives you non-negligible advantages.
And if you have the patience to bring her to lv45 she's the only one able to cast Nagra, which is the only powerful enemy type and group agnostic technique, after Megid of course.

[Blinge]

oh I wanted to beat the game with what myself (read: shrinesrpgclassics) considers bad characters.

[FinalBaton]

shrinesrpgclassics

OMG I love that site so much! Older site that has never changed it's layout, and I love it! Gives me da warm fuzzy feelings (I truly hope that layout will never change)

It's been part of my life for a good while now, it feels like an old friend. Ya know? (well it's not that old, but I've been using it since 2007, so that's a good while). Always check if they have an entry for the rpg I need info on.

[Blinge]

I got rekt.

Spoiler

Actually, memory tells me that there were two islands with one tree each. One real and one fake.
..That's completely wrong isn't it. My mind is the saboteur in this playthrough!

[ryu]

oh god fuck the control tower

edit: nailed it

[Xyga]

You make Ustvestia proud.

[Blinge]

How many times have we been here..

Why are we here, just to suffer?

[drauch]

Why are we here, just to suffer?

I've only toyed with the first game, but reading this thread basically makes me never want to play any of them because it sounds just like suffering.

[FinalBaton]

I've only toyed with the first game, but reading this thread basically makes me never want to play any of them because it sounds just like suffering.

You GOTTA play IV.

I mean, you just gotta

[Mischief Maker]

Why are we here, just to suffer?

I've only toyed with the first game, but reading this thread basically makes me never want to play any of them because it sounds just like suffering.

I'm sorry, is this a shmups enthusiast forum or a visual novels enthusiast forum?

[Blinge]

OOOOOH.

I'm still on Uzo in my playthrough but i think it's mostly mapped out so it's just a matter of time.
Havent played for a while.
This map is super bad though. They're making less sense as I go on.

[FinalBaton]

I'm sorry, is this a shmups enthusiast forum or a visual novels enthusiast forum?

Dammmmmmmmmmn!

That was savage