Virtual Console Monday

[bapenguin]

Two titles this week, including the best RPG ever as voted by me.

Ninja Gaiden™ III: The Ancient Ship of Doom (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Violence, 500 Wii Points)

Phantasy Star™ II (Sega Genesis, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone - Mild Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points)

Don't argue, it is the best RPG ever.

[Spigot]

Woo! This is the one game I still have for my Sega Genesis (which has seen much, much better days). I remember being blown away by the idea of having multiple generations in a JRPG back in the day. I'll have to snag this and... wait a minute. Am I thinking of Phantasy Star 3?

[Nuggsy]

Not to mention one of the hardest. I celebrated for a week when I finally beat that fucker at the end.

[violentp]

Hell yeah. Best game on the Wii.

[Baron Samedi]

Don't argue, it is the best RPG ever.

http://tylerhere.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/buisness-penguin.jpg

[Gorvi]

Woo! This is the one game I still have for my Sega Genesis (which has seen much, much better days). I remember being blown away by the idea of having multiple generations in a JRPG back in the day. I'll have to snag this and... wait a minute. Am I thinking of Phantasy Star 3?
I haven't done this in a while, but if you want Phanasy Star 2, 3, and 4, just get this:

http://www.electronicsshowplace.com/images/isimages/DH66014.jpg

[frederec]

Don't argue, it is the best RPG ever.

Very cute. Reminds me I should play Phantasy Star II, III, and IV since they're included on the Sega Collection for the PS2 I got a while back. So very many of Sega's VC releases are.

Or as Gorvi mentions above, you can get the same for the PSP.

[Spigot]

I haven't done this in a while, but if you want Phanasy Star 2, 3, and 4, just get this:

http://www.electronicsshowplace.com/images/isimages/DH66014.jpgI have that on the PS2... Good call though. I totally forgot I had that, despite it being the reason I haven't downloaded any other Sega Genesis game.

Now, was Phantasy Star 2 called Generations of Doom or was that #3?

[bapenguin]

Not to mention one of the hardest. I celebrated for a week when I finally beat that fucker at the end.

It literally took me and a buddy almost 10 years to finally beat that. We kept that cartridge and everything.

I think we started playing the game in 7th or 8th grade. We finally beat it sometime after college. LOL.

[bapenguin]

I haven't done this in a while, but if you want Phanasy Star 2, 3, and 4, just get this:

http://www.electronicsshowplace.com/images/isimages/DH66014.jpg

HOw's the emulation on it?

[Gorvi]

HOw's the emulation on it?
I haven't had any issues with any games so far, but I also haven't touched any of the Phantasy Star games yet. It does have the wonderful option (at least in the PSP version) to save literally at any point in any game.

[Spigot]

I haven't had any issues with any games so far, but I also haven't touched any of the Phantasy Star games yet. It does have the wonderful option (at least in the PSP version) to save literally at any point in any game.I think the PS2 version does the same.

I was very impressed with the emulation on all of the games in the PS2 version of that collection. Seriously, if you have a PS2 (or a PS3 that will play it), get that collection now. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

[EternalGamer]

Damnit Sega, where the hell are these games on XBL? Sonic 1 & 2 sold extremely well, some of the top selling Xbox Live games. How about giving us some Phantasy Star or Gunstar Heroes on Live? Or even Streets 3 and Sonic 3 and S&K.

Ditto for Hudson Soft and all their great TG16 stuff and Tecmo and Ninja Gaiden. Get this stuff on Live and I will buy it immediately. A lot of great stuff on Virtual Console these days, but I'm not paying to download straight ROMs on a system with extremely limited storage for the titles. And as much as I love me some Lords of Thunder, I don't love it enough to slum in the gaming ghetto and completely cut myself off from friend's lists, HD support, and achievements. Unless it is a game that is going to blow my mind, I refuse to play games any more without this stuff. It has become an integrated and essential part of the way I play games.

[Mot Wakorb]

Why is it that Sega never includes Revenge of Shinobi on their collections? I found it to be one of their best games and it's never included.

[asimonk]

Woo! This is the one game I still have for my Sega Genesis (which has seen much, much better days). I remember being blown away by the idea of having multiple generations in a JRPG back in the day. I'll have to snag this and... wait a minute. Am I thinking of Phantasy Star 3?

You are.

That being said, I actually preferred 2 over 3 by leaps and bounds.

For those who don't know, Phantasy Star 2 is a JRPG for those that don't want their characters to be whiney little androgenous emo bitches (see any Final Fantasy from 7 onward), yet want a very challenging gameplay with a decent story that can't be defined as simply stupid and/or convoluted (see same subset of FF games).

[danhoo]

Now, was Phantasy Star 2 called Generations of Doom or was that #3?

I believe you're thinking of PS III.

I enjoyed PS II back in the day, although I recall it had a crazy-high encounter rate. At some point, every 5 steps I took just trying to get to the next floor in a dungeon would result in encounters.

[bapenguin]

What ever happened to the remakes (updated sprites) of the Phantasy Star games. I think they came out for the PS2.

[Gorvi]

What ever happened to the remakes (updated sprites) of the Phantasy Star games. I think they came out for the PS2.
I think they were Japan only releases as part of the Sega Ages games. Phantasy Star was the topic of last week's Retronauts podcast and I'm pretty sure they mentioned those there.

[Klunka]

Best twist ending EVER! To this day I still refuse to reveal the ending to Phantasy Star 2 unless someone all ready has beaten it. I don't care how long ago it came out. Go play the damn game and find out. You will not be disappointed.

Urge to reinstall Phantasy Star Universe rising.

[Reebdoog]

until I get LAST BLADE 2...I will remain bitter.

[Digital Outlaw]

Thank you finally for making a VC monday update Bap....

[Zaro]

Best twist ending EVER! To this day I still refuse to reveal the ending to Phantasy Star 2 unless someone all ready has beaten it. I don't care how long ago it came out. Go play the damn game and find out. You will not be disappointed.

Urge to reinstall Phantasy Star Universe rising.

How many hours of gameplay before seeing this best twist ending ever?

[Ravenlock]

I'm a week late to the party on this, but I need to mention that Lords of Thunder is phenomenal, and has probably taken my top spot for shooters on the VC, over Soldier Blade and Blazing Lazers. It's just that enjoyable.

The graphics are gorgeous, the weapon powerups for the four suits are all very different and satisfying, and the levels are just the perfect length for playing through quickly and feeling like a badass as you watch everything explode around you in an orgy of destruction.

The difficulty level is definitely lower than the other Hudson shooters on the VC, but there's also plenty of room to challenge yourself and make it harder. Try getting through the game with the suit you like least, try getting through without buying any shop upgrades, etc.

I finished a playthrough with the water armor, and immediately started again with the fire armor. It's just a very, very solid, well-crafted game. Highly recommended.

[LongStepMantis]

How many hours of gameplay before seeing this best twist ending ever?

Well, it's a classic JRPG, and it's at the end...so...lots. This game wasn't easy.

[card930]

You can also play Phantasy Star 2, 3 and 4 on Gametap.

[Edmontongamer]

until I get LAST BLADE 2...I will remain bitter.

Yeah that would kick ass. SNK never releases the newer shit from the neo though. Always some port of FF or SS. Give us last blade 1&2 and garou: mark of the wolves with online play and alot of people downloading it off xbox live or psn will be like whoa who is SNK? These games destroy what is currently on live or psn.

[Reebdoog]

I swear, Last Blade 2 is the most enjoyable fighter I've every played.
I still have the dreamcast remake around here somewhere...