Phantasy Star - Physical ( and digital) Strategy Guide

[kido]

The year was 1988; my younger self had just embarked on the adventure of playing Phantasy Star for the very first time. As I fired up the game, I found myself wandering the virtual streets, soaking in the exquisite graphics of the Camineet Warehouse. Venturing out into the untamed wilds, my excitement quickly turned to dismay as a couple of Scorpions ended Alis's journey prematurely. Attempt after attempt, the same fate befell me. I eventually threw in the towel. But then, a glimmer of hope emerged.

Game Pro unveiled a mini strategy guide, unveiling the splendor that was Phantasy Star. It was then that I fell head over heels for RPGs. The 3D dungeons of Phantasy Star had me captivated, and I reveled in meticulously mapping them out on graph paper. However, a craving remained unfulfilled—a strategy guide. Nintendo had always been on the ball, providing books to aid their players, so why wasn't Sega following suit? Let's fast-forward 35 years into the future.

My dream has blossomed into reality, even if it might seem a tad belated and inconsequential... yet, it's anything but that. Within my grasp is a physical strategy guide for Phantasy Star. The concept of crafting such a guide had sparked in me about two decades ago. At the time, I didn't do much with the idea, apart from a few scattered pieces of artwork. Then, the advent of COVID-19 altered the landscape, propelling me to actively pursue my long-cherished dream. And now, I'm on the cusp of completing this endeavor, with about 99% of it finalized. I'm excited to share with you the culmination of my labor over the past two years.

I've made the decision to release this book for free when it's completed. You can snag a PDF copy at no expense, or if you prefer a physical copy, I'll provide a link where you can utilize a print-on-demand service to get it at cost. Monetizing this endeavor isn't my aim. I undertook this project because it was a dream close to my heart, and I yearned to share that dream with fellow enthusiasts like you.

I have included a video for your viewing pleasure:

[ian]

That looks awesome, I love it. Congratulations on getting that completed, it must have been a lot of hard work.
Were you able to really dig into the equipment and stats? I know Maxim has done a lot of work reverse engineering the game, he could provide invaluable information.

I'm currently working on an SMS guide book myself, but (somewhat futilely) trying to cover every game.

[Batman666]

Sounds awesome!

[kido]

Aug 18, 2023 23:25:43 GMT ian said:

That looks awesome, I love it. Congratulations on getting that completed, it must have been a lot of hard work.
Were you able to really dig into the equipment and stats? I know Maxim has done a lot of work reverse engineering the game, he could provide invaluable information.

I'm currently working on an SMS guide book myself, but (somewhat futilely) trying to cover every game.

Regarding character and weapon/item statistics, I use simple math to figure out their attributes. I'll need to explore whether Maxim can provide any additional insights that could potentially be integrated into the book. Thank you for that tip.

[Maxim]

There’s a few features of the items and magic that were apparently unknown until quite recently as I reverse engineered some of the code; and there may be more left to discover. For example, the rules for whether Alis’ transrate/talk spell works, and the secondary use of the Telepathy Ball for detecting pitfalls.

[kido]

Wow, it's astonishing that even the Chat spell can sometimes falter. The clever application of telepathy to detect pits is nothing short of brilliance. Surprisingly, it was only recently that I stumbled upon the revelation that the compass can serve as a valuable tool for orienting oneself within the dungeons. The enduring fascination with this 35-year-old game, where enthusiasts continue to unearth hidden gems, never ceases to amaze me. I did reach out to you with a PM a while ago, though it may seem untimely now since I've already moved ahead. Nevertheless, I'm eager to hear more of what you may have unearthed.

[jessie]

This is wonderful! One of the things I wish we would have had back then.