History VideoGame / PhantasyStarI

The first game in the ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' series, published in 1987. It was Sega's answer to ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' for their UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem, with a ScienceFantasy aesthetic.

The game was later remade for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2 as ''Phantasy Star Generation 1'', which prominently features updated visuals with a vastly expanded story and content alongside a remixed (and [[BrokenBase polarizing]]) soundtrack. It was released alongside the remake of [[VideoGame/PhantasyStarII its sequel]], but it unfortunately both games [[NoExportForYou failed to see the light of day outside of Japan.]] Curiously, out of the entire tetralogy, ''Phantasy Star I'' tends to get skipped over for re-releases, but was later upgraded into an UpdatedRerelease on the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch under SEGA and M3's ''SEGA AGES'' banner.

Not to be confused with ''VideoGame/FantasyZone'', another UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem game.

** This is fixed in the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance version where he's always referred to as male. Oddly, this fix isn't used for the Switch port, bringing this issue back.

* UpdatedRerelease: ''SEGA AGES Phantasy Star'' for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch. It features Ages Mode, which allows you to toggle on most of the difficulty-reducing modifications added in the SEGA Saturn release simultaneously, a [[MonsterCompendium Monster Codex]], auto-mapping for dungeons as an AntiFrustrationFeature, and an exhaustive glossary detailing every item and ability in the game. There is also an FM Sound Unit that lets you listen to the game's music, and the Japanese version also includes the Hiragana text option that originally appeared in ''Phantasy Star Collection''.

* {{Bishonen}}: Noah, which probably led to the AmbiguousGender translation errors.

* LaserBlade: The [[StarWars Lightsaber]].

* ActionGirl: Seeing as this has been around since the start of both ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' and ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' - Alis is one of the earliest female heroines of gaming, alongside [[VideoGame/StreetFighter Chun Li]] and [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran]].
* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Both its VideoGameRemake and UpdatedRerelease (on the Nintendo Switch) incoporate an auto-mapping feature; the former featured a limited-use item that would map the dungeon for 100 steps, while the latter features it as a permanent part of the UI that can be toggled, saving the player the trouble of having to draw his own maps.

The first game in the ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' series was Sega's answer to ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' for their UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem, with a space opera aesthetic.

* It was one of the earliest games to feature a lead ''heroine'' -- as noted below in the ActionGirl entry, Alis is right up there with [[VideoGame/StreetFighter Chun Li]] and [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus]].

The first game in the ''VideoGame/PhantasyStar'' series was Sega's answer to ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' for their UsefulNotes/SegaMasterSystem, and with a heavy SciFi twist.

It tells the story of Alis Landale, a young woman seeking to avenge the death of her brother at the hands of the [[PresidentEvil corrupt ruler]] Lassic. However, as Alis gains allies and seeks out legendary weapons needed to destroy Lassic, it soon becomes apparent that there is a secret power behind Lassic, one that is already working on finding a new pawn in the events Lassic is defeated.

* DubNameChange:
** Of the main characters, Alisa/Alyssa became Alis, Tylon/Tyrone became Odin, Lutz became Noah and [=LaShiec=] became Lassic. (Only Myau remains the same.) In addition, most of the monster and spell names were changed to fit size restrictions.
** [[spoiler:Dark Phallus became Dark Falz.]]

* DegradedBoss: Every boss except Doc Mad, Saccubus, Medusa, Lassic's Shadow, Lassic and [[spoiler: Dark Falz]] reappear as common enemies.

* CashGate: At the beginning, you need to collect 200 meseta for a road pass, then an additional 100 for a passport. You also need to upgrade your starting equipment to fight anything other than monsters just outside the city's exit.

-->"I'm sorry I have a shop in such a such a place. Shortcake for 1000 mesetas!"[[note]]There are six swords in the game. The InfinityMinusOneSword costs 2980. The one before that costs 1120. That's one expensive shortcake.[[/note]]

* DumbMuscle: Odin, apparently. In addition to the WhatAnIdiot entry, he's the only character unable to use magic.

[[quoteright:320:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ps_ps1_478.gif]]
[[caption-width-right:320:Alis, ready for action.]]

* It was one of the earliest games to feature a lead ''heroine'' -- as noted below in the ActionGirl entry, Alis is right up there with [[VideoGame/{{StreetFighter}} Chun Li]] and [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus]].

* ActionGirl: Seeing as this has been around since the start of both ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' and ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' - Alis is one of the earliest female heroines of gaming, alongside [[{{StreetFighter}} Chun Li]] and [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran]].

* It debuted in America before ''Final Fantasy'' and ''Dragon Quest''. IT was also released in Europe well before either of those franchises made their debuts there.

* It debuted in America before ''Final Fantasy'' and ''Dragon Quest''.

* FauxFirstPerson3D

* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: Myau is pronounced like "meow", thus making it a PunnyName.

** Due to the game's shoddy translation (it was the 80s after all), a lot of the hints and instructions given by [=NPCs=] are more obtuse or misleading than they should be.

* UselessUsefulSpell: The Wall and Protect ("Prot") spells are pretty useless since they never work on enemies strong enough to make the player want to use them ([[spoiler:with the exception of Doc Mad]]).
** They can be fairly useful during regular encounters with lots of decently strengthed enemies. They can allow the party to avoid a lot of damage if they're lucky enough for it to last many turns.

* UnwinnableByMistake:
** If your inventory is full, you're given the option to discard an item if you find another in a chest. If you decline to make room for a plot-important item, however, it will [[PermanentlyMissableContent disappear and you will be left unable to finish the game]].
** In the endgame, [[spoiler:after you defeat Lassic, you need to use the Fly spell or a Transer item to leave the castle and return to the surface of Palma. If you have no Transers, and you don't have enough MP to cast Fly, you'll be stuck on Lassic's castle.]]

* ZombiePukeAttack: One Ghoul attack.

* It was one of the very earliest games to feature a lead ''heroine'' (as noted below in the ActionGirl entry--Alis is right up there with [[VideoGame/{{StreetFighter}} Chun Li]] and [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus]]).

** Due to the game's shoddy translation (it was the 80s after all), a lot of the hints and instructions given by [=NPCs=] are more ambiguous or misleading than they should be.

* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: After [[spoiler:Dark Falz]] is defeated and dies, [[spoiler: Alis is very suddenly and undramaticly revealed to be the daughter to the former king of the Algol star system and the rightful ruler. Whether or not she assumes this position is up to you.]]

* It featured animated enemy sprites, used photos of characters along with text boxes to tell the story, and rich full-screen backgrounds depicting the current environment in battles.

* It starred one of the very earliest games to feature a lead ''heroine'' (as noted below in the ActionGirl entry--Alis is right up there with [[VideoGame/{{StreetFighter}} Chun Li]] and [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus]]).

* It featured animated enemy sprites and used photos of characters along with text boxes to tell the story
* It featured 3D dungeons (dropped from later games)

Probably the single greatest legacy left by this entry was the fact that it was one of the very earliest games to feature a lead ''heroine'' (as noted below in the ActionGirl entry--Alis is right up there with [[VideoGame/{{StreetFighter}} Chun Li]] and [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus]] ). Furthermore, hers wasn't a quest driven by the need to explore, follow a heroic love interest, or treasure hunting... hers was a quest driven by straight up [[{{Revenge}} vengeance]]. She could still serve to hand out some lessons to RPG heroines today.