Play Phantasy Star IV Online

Phantasy Star IV came out for the Sega Genesis in 1993, developed and published by Sega. It arrived late in the console's life, when developers were really pushing what the hardware could do, and it shows in the detailed sprites and expansive world. This was the fourth entry in a series that had always stood apart from other RPGs of the time with its sci-fi setting.

You control a party of characters, starting with a young hunter named Chaz, as you explore towns, talk to residents for clues, and venture into dungeons filled with traps and monsters. The main goal is to uncover a planetary threat and stop it, which involves traveling between different worlds. Combat is turn-based, but it introduces macros that let you program sequences of actions for your entire party, saving time in random encounters. You also have combination techniques where specific party members can team up for powerful special attacks. The pacing is brisk for a 16-bit RPG, with a clear story that keeps pushing you forward. It feels like exploring a vast, interconnected comic book, with paneled cutscenes breaking up the exploration and combat.