Released three years after Phantasy Star III, Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium is an impressive leap forward in quality, weaving the best elements of their past games together while accomplishing their narrative zenith. More than just being a glorious conclusion and a tribute to their past games, Phantasy Star IV stood apart as one of the first genuine efforts in developing a character-centric JRPG story, a process that began with Ys several years before. While the characters were derivative and the plot was conventional, their execution and style was monumental. It was ultimately a conscious focus on rendering involved character interactions, dramatic story moments, and for the first time, impactful character development. This release continued the genre's transition from old grind-based JRPGs towards a future defined by character subplots and heavier story moments.