After nearly twenty years, it's still an amazing game for so many reasons.
Phantasy Star 2 made it's debut in 1988 on the Genesis and has since been ported and ported again on different systems ranging from the Sega Saturn to the Game Boy Advance and the Playstation 2.
The game follows the story 1000 years after the events of Phantasy Star 1. You play as Rolf, a government agent on the plant of Motavia. Your initial mission from your commander ends you getting into more trouble as monsters are beginning to appear on the planet and you need to find out why. Though the story at the beginning doesn't seem to be anything stellar, the connections and relationships you make with the later characters more than make up for that.
At any time, you can have up to four members while your battling foes in this turn-based RPG. Some of characters use more techniques than others while some go for the gusto and use the biggest weapons they can find. Everyone has their uses but it's clear that some of the characters are much more versatile for most of the game than others so you probably will be using the same characters for most of the game.
The graphics in the game are quite excellent considering it's almost twenty years old. The enemies appear in random battles. Once the battle has loaded, the enemies appear in front of your group. Many of them are different colours and sizes but they all look quite good. What you see of your team, is their backs as they charge up to the enemy and strike at them with whatever weapon they have.
Running smoothly, the game doesn't have any issues with slow down or too many things going on in the game. The sprites are clearly different from each other and as vibrant as ever. There are different types of terrains to explore from the green lushes of Motavia to the icy lands of Dezoris while the dungeons all have different elements from toxic spills to holes in the ground to keep you guessing.
Though the sounds in the game are nothing spectacular, the music is definitely the high point. Each dungeon seems to have it's own mood as you descend deeper to find out what is going on. Some of my most memorable times have been about the music and once you've heard it, you might get hooked as well. One of the saddest parts of any video game happens in this one and the music doesn't let you down.
What makes this game so memorable and still replayable, is the story and the connection you make with the characters. Each one seems to have their own ideas of what to do and their own back story but the most important one you make is the one in the beginning with a character named Nei. Without going into more detail, it is her that makes this game what it is!
If you've never played this game, I really recommend you pick it up and play it a bit. If you can tolerate the random battles and the brutal harsh gameplay (it came with a hint book it was so hard!) then you won't be disappointed.