I see a lot of vitriol by other reviewers on here, so I wanted to try and clean up this game's rep a little.
Phantasy Star II was a game of many firsts when it came to the United States in 1990. It was the first 16-bit console RPG, for instance, beating Final Fantasy IV (known at the time as Final Fantasy II) to the market by a year and a half, and even beat the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest II on NES to the market in North America by a few months. It was the first major RPG on the Sega Genesis. It was also one of the first major RPGs to have a death of a major character in it. Final Fantasy VII would take the credit for that seven years later, but here was Phantasy Star II, doing it when the most complex plots console RPG games had at that point was "dark lord bad, you hero, go stop."
Speaking of the plot, while not complex by today's standards, it holds up well as a tale of ecological destruction, dystopia, and self-discovery with ramifications and consequences that would be felt and paid off in full with Phantasy Star IV later on. There is also a major plot twist at the very end that recontextualizes all the events of the game that, if you don't know about, will absolutely blow your mind. I will not spoil it here, because it is just that good. The attention to detail and lore is what makes the original Phantasy Star games unique in a sense. Each one's plot builds into the next, which is something not often seen even now.
The music is catchy and easy on the ears, and the combat is also fun and intense. The one flaw of the game is that it is brutal. I'll admit there is a lot of grinding in this game, and the dungeons are basically labyrinths that will put your skills to the test. While the grinding is not on the same level as say, Dragon Quest II, it does come close. Though if you have played many RPGs of this era, you'll know what to expect. When this game shipped, it came with a guide that included maps. I recommend having maps on standby, as well. This is a fantastic, landmark game that still holds up, provided you are willing to meet it halfway with its quirks that are more a sign of its era than bad design. One of the most rewarding roleplaying experiences I've ever had, and just plain enjoyable if you put the time in.
Phantasy Star II was a game of many firsts when it came to the United States in 1990. It was the first 16-bit console RPG, for instance, beating Final Fantasy IV (known at the time as Final Fantasy II) to the market by a year and a half, and even beat the original Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest II on NES to the market in North America by a few months. It was the first major RPG on the Sega Genesis. It was also one of the first major RPGs to have a death of a major character in it. Final Fantasy VII would take the credit for that seven years later, but here was Phantasy Star II, doing it when the most complex plots console RPG games had at that point was "dark lord bad, you hero, go stop."
Speaking of the plot, while not complex by today's standards, it holds up well as a tale of ecological destruction, dystopia, and self-discovery with ramifications and consequences that would be felt and paid off in full with Phantasy Star IV later on. There is also a major plot twist at the very end that recontextualizes all the events of the game that, if you don't know about, will absolutely blow your mind. I will not spoil it here, because it is just that good. The attention to detail and lore is what makes the original Phantasy Star games unique in a sense. Each one's plot builds into the next, which is something not often seen even now.
The music is catchy and easy on the ears, and the combat is also fun and intense. The one flaw of the game is that it is brutal. I'll admit there is a lot of grinding in this game, and the dungeons are basically labyrinths that will put your skills to the test. While the grinding is not on the same level as say, Dragon Quest II, it does come close. Though if you have played many RPGs of this era, you'll know what to expect. When this game shipped, it came with a guide that included maps. I recommend having maps on standby, as well. This is a fantastic, landmark game that still holds up, provided you are willing to meet it halfway with its quirks that are more a sign of its era than bad design. One of the most rewarding roleplaying experiences I've ever had, and just plain enjoyable if you put the time in.