Editing Phantasy Star (video game) (section)

==Reception==
{{video game reviews
|title = Contemporary review scores
|CVG = 75%<ref name=":3"/> <br> 89%<ref name="CVG">{{cite journal |title=Complete Games Guide |journal=[[Computer and Video Games]] |date=16 October 1989 |issue=Complete Guide to Consoles |pages=46–77 |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/9/98/CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf#page=46}}</ref>
|rev1 = ''[[Console XS]]''
|rev1Score = 95%<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Software A-Z: Master System |magazine=[[Console XS]] |date=23 April 1992 |issue=1 (June/July 1992) |publisher=[[Paragon Publishing]] |location=United Kingdom |pages=137–47 |url=https://archive.org/details/console-xs-01/page/137}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Sega Power|S: The Sega Magazine]]''
|rev2Score = 94%<ref name=":6"/>
|rev3 = ''[[Sega Power]]''
|rev3Score = 5/5<ref name=segapower1>{{cite magazine|date=September 1993|title=The Hard Line|magazine=Sega Power|issue=46|pages=100}}</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[Sega Pro]]''
|rev4Score = 96%<ref name=":7" />
|rev5 = ''[[Zzap!64|Zzap!]]''
|rev5Score = 92%<ref name=":8" />
|award1Pub = ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' (Player's Choice Awards)
|award1 = Best Graphics (1988)<ref name=":9"/>
}}

''Phantasy Star'' was well received. ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' called it "the big shot in the arm for Sega [...] who was, at that time, being buried under a ton of NES titles and aggressive marketing".<ref name=":11">{{Cite magazine|last=Adams III|first=Roe R.|date=November 1990|title=Westward Ho! (Toward Japan, That Is)|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]|issue=76|pages=84}}</ref> ''[[Electronic Game Player]]'' felt the game was leading the industry into a new era of console RPGs.<ref name="egp">{{Cite magazine|last=Harris|first=Steve|date=September 1988|title=Phantasy Star|magazine=[[Electronic Game Player]]|volume=1|issue=4|pages=60}}</ref> ''[[Sega Pro]]'' called it the best RPG on the Master System,<ref name=":7">{{Cite magazine|date=March 1992|title=Sega Software Showdown: Part 5|magazine=[[Sega Pro]]|issue=5|pages=21}}</ref> and ''[[Zzap!64|Zzap!]]'' called it a must-have for RPG fans.<ref name=":8">{{cite magazine|date=July 1991|title=Phantasy Star|magazine=[[Zzap!64|Zzap!]]|language=It|issue=58|pages=68–69}}</ref> ''[[Boys' Life]]'' wrote that along with ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' series, "''Phantasy Star'' may represent the future of home video games" by combining "the graphic quality of arcade games with the complexity of computer games".<ref name=":12">{{Cite magazine|last1=Csatari|first1=Jeff|last2=Stuckey|first2=Scott|date=November 1988|title=Bleep! Bleep! Wurble! Zoink! Video Games Are Back|magazine=[[Boys' Life]]|pages=26}}</ref> ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' felt it was a massive and sprawling game, and were left impressed visually and aurally.<ref name="CVG"/>

The game was commended for its strategy, puzzles, and challenge.<ref name=":6">{{cite magazine|title=Special: Phantasy Star|magazine=[[Sega Power|S: The Sega Magazine]]|page=11|date=5 May 1990|issue=7 (June 1990)|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/3/3b/StheSegaMagazine_UK_07.pdf#page=11}}</ref><ref name="egp" /> ''[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment]]'' and ''[[Sega Power|S: The Sega Magazine]]'' praised the game for being easy to play and not relying on quick action reflexes.<ref name=":5">{{cite magazine|last=Mandel|first=Joshua|date=August 1989|title=Reviews: Phantasy Star|magazine=[[Video Games & Computer Entertainment]]|pages=30–32}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> Critics liked the variety of monsters and the combat system.<ref name=":10">{{cite magazine|date=December 1988|title=Sega Software: Phantasy Star|magazine=[[Computer Entertainer]]|volume=7|issue=9|pages=10}}</ref><ref name=":11" /> ''Computer Gaming World'' wrote that "not since ''[[Dungeon Master (video game)|Dungeon Master]]'' had such a good and explicit graphic combat system been seen".<ref name=":11" /> ''[[Computer Entertainer]]'' felt the game's large scope and deep gameplay was more typically seen in computer games than on consoles.<ref name=":10" /> This large scope made critics thankful for the cart's battery back-up, an unusual hardware feature at the time.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":7" /> The save battery and complex gameplay led some critics to compare ''Phantasy Star'' to ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' (1986).<ref name="egp" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":12" />

Critics praised the game for its presentation, building a grand sense of adventure and atmosphere.<ref name="egp" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> ''VideoGames & Computer Entertainment'' commended the mix of science fiction and fantasy elements, and felt it had a grander scale than other RPGs.<ref name=":5" /> ''Electronic Game Player'' wrote that the atmosphere was "simply breathtaking by current video game standards".<ref name="egp" /> The graphics were enjoyed by many reviewers, especially for their vivid colors and animation;<ref name="egp" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8" /> the monster animations, in particular, received considerable positive attention.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":3">{{cite magazine|last=Glancey|first=Paul|title=Mean Machines: Phantasy Star|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=89|date=March 1989|pages=93}}</ref> Many reviewers enjoyed the dungeons, thinking the lighting and perspective effects made for a realistic presentation.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":10" /> ''Electronic Game Player'' called ''Phantasy Star'' a "visual tour-de-force" and "so technologically superior in graphics, that the Nintendo titles pale by comparison".<ref name="egp" /> ''Zzap!'' called it a technical achievement considering the Master System's hardware limitations.<ref name=":8" /> It was awarded Best Graphics for 1988 by ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''{{'}}s Player's Choice Awards.<ref name=":9">{{cite magazine|date=1989|title=The 1989 "Player's Choice Awards"|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly 1989 Buyer's Guide|pages=19}}</ref>

The game was difficult to recommend for some because of its high price.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":10" /> ''Computer Entertainer'' found the purchase difficult to justify as it was the highest price they had ever seen for a game on any cartridge-based system or disk-based computer.<ref name=":10" /> ''Computer and Video Games'' felt they could only recommend it for hardcore RPG fans for this reason.<ref name=":3" /> ''VideoGames & Computer Entertainment'', however, called it "such a remarkable video game that it may justify its existence as the most expensive cartridge on the shelf."<ref name=":5" />

=== Retrospective reviews ===
''Phantasy Star'' was reviewed again for its re-releases. Most critics continued to hold the graphics in high regard.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/08/phantasy_star_virtual_console|title=Review: Phantasy Star (Virtual Console / Master System)|last=Green|first=Kelvin|date=August 16, 2009|website=Nintendo Life|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926094128/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/08/phantasy_star_virtual_console|archive-date=September 26, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=December 15, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/phantasy-star-collection-review/1900-2901862/|title=Phantasy Star Collection Review|last=Tracy|first=Tim|date=December 16, 2002|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215123542/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/phantasy-star-collection-review/1900-2901862/|archive-date=December 15, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite magazine|last=Lan|first=Oliver|date=February 2003|title=GBA Reviews: Phantasy Star Collection|magazine=G-Force|issue=10|pages=62–63}}</ref> ''[[GameSpot]]'' and ''G-Force'' wrote that the graphics pushed the Master System to its limits, and helped set the game apart in its time.<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" /> ''RPGFan'' and ''[[Nintendo Life]]'' called the 3D dungeons "revolutionary".<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/phantasystarcollection/psc.html|title=Phantasy Star Collection|last=McCarroll|first=John|date=July 11, 2003|website=RPGFan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215123725/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/phantasystarcollection/psc.html|archive-date=December 15, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 15, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name=":15" /> ''Nintendo Life'' felt that the graphics did show their age, but noted that it "looks much better than an 8-bit RPG has any right to and it easily surpasses any NES effort of the era".<ref name=":15" /> ''1UP.com'' and ''[[IGN]]'' agreed, writing that it outclassed both the original ''Final Fantasy'' and ''Dragon Quest''.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":23">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3147448|title=The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time|last=Semrad|first=Steve|date=February 2, 2006|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213608/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3147448|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url-status=dead|publisher=1UP.com}}</ref> Some critics commented that the game felt too standard compared to modern RPGs.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/48854/phantasy-star-switch-review|title=Phantasy Star (Switch) Review|last=Rose|first=Bryan|date=November 6, 2018|website=Nintendo World Report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107011239/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/48854/phantasy-star-switch-review|archive-date=November 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/31/phantasy-star-review|title=Phantasy Star Review|last=Thomas|first=Lucas M.|date=August 31, 2009|website=[[IGN]]|language=en-US|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215123913/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/08/31/phantasy-star-review|archive-date=December 15, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Some also felt it was more difficult and dull than modern offerings due to heavier [[Grinding (gaming)|grinding]].<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":18" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/phantasy_star_collection_gba_review/|title=Phantasy Star Collection - GBA - Review|date=May 4, 2012|website=GameZone|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806090437/https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/phantasy_star_collection_gba_review/|archive-date=August 6, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 15, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Game Boy Advance version was commended for being a good emulation but criticized for poor sound and missed opportunities for enhancements.<ref name=":18" /><ref name=":17" /> ''Nintendo World Report'' praised the Switch release for adding FM sound and enhancements to make for a more streamlined experience.<ref name=":14" />