If phantasy star isn’t number 1, I’m gonna riot!

Phantasy Star was an amazing experience. I remember that final dungeon, where I could not find the final boss encounter for the life of me. It wasn't until later I found out that you had to step one place forward and look left or right to see the door, it would not show up just walking the dungeon like corridors do. I think one of the game magazines of the time had a strategy guide or user question.

I can't say enough how good the Monster Boy III remake is. I called my brother to send me my old password from the Master System version and it worked with the new version. They got absolutely everything right, and being able to change the graphics and sound to the original at any time is awesome. Must play.

Wow, so many highlights from my childhood here. I've beaten Golvelius, Lord of the Sword, Miracle Warriors. And probably beaten Phantasy Star 30 times. Good video!

I noticed the subtle note you put in there about the gentleman's way of playing Odin. You're truly a man of culture. The Virgin Laconian Axe vs. The Chad Laser Gun

I ended up replaying all of Phantasy Star while doing this video, so I wonder what I'll do with all that footage.....

Glad to see Y's in the top 3 where it deserves

Glovelius was a damn good-looking game when it was new....Wonder Boy in Monster Land was great. It makes Govelius look pedestrian by comparison but I digress... I got my Nes and Master System in 1986 and really just loved playing everything. I remember wanting Phantasy Star when it released but we could never find it. I wouldn't get Phantasy Star until I got my Genesis on Christmas of '89. I got Altered Beast (pack-in), Ghouls n' Ghosts, and the promise that when they could find Phantasy Star II it would be mine. They did however finally find the first game. It was the last gift I received that Christmas. Unfortunately, my mom not knowing anything about gaming at all packed up and gave away my Master System (doh!). The day after Christmas I had to get a Powerbase Converter so I could still play all of my 5 Master System games...well 6 including Phantasy Star (Double Dragon, Miracle Warriors, Teddy Boy, Astro Warriors/Hang-On, and Phantasy Star). What was cool was I got to play both Phantasy Star games back-to-back on my shiny new Genesis. Dare I say because of the 3d mazes I liked the first game better. Although I didn't care for some of the harsh sound effects...man, they were grating. The enemy attacks sound like an amplified 2600 game. Addendum- I had way, way, way more Nes games. I actually preferred my Master System but games were so damned hard to find. Even living in Miami Florida it was rare to find any real selection at all. Even Toy's R" Us never had anything. They had tons of Master System storefront (same size as the Nes) but they were always out of their games. What a tease...

Snail Maze is my favorite RPG for the SMS...yes, I am counting Snail Maze as an RPG. 👍

Miracle Warriors really is tough at the start i died like 10 times before I was able to really get going but once you get over the hurdle you do just get into the routine of grinding and progressing

I loved Miracle Warriors as a kid, but it was very difficult. Finding the end boss alone was probably the most frustrating part, just to have your ass handed to you because you didn't have enough NUTS! lol You then get booted out of the dungeon and have to collect a shit ton of NUTS in hopes of finding the entrance again. Not beating this game still haunts me... I'm 50 lol

Great video. If you liked the Master System, definitely give the Game Gear a try. It is the same hardware (more or less) and there are many excellent RPGs on it, some were fan translated and are must play (Sylvan Tale, Moldorian, Lunar, SF Final Conflict, Royal Stone). I am myself a developer for these consoles (GG and MS) and a new "RPG" (more a novel) will be available on GG this year if everything goes as planned, and I am working on something much more ambitious for the MS as well !

I have to say that Wonder Boy 3 qualifies as a RPG for me. It is also the game on the master system that aged absolute best in my taste. Its graphics is still pleasing and the game is very accessible in its visual storytelling so that a gamer from today can simply pick it up and start to play. Or play the remake. The character have abilities and an inventory system. You beef up through finding gemstones, more hearts and buy better equipment in shops.

Great vid! Very interesting. I gotta make sure to get enough ENGY so I don't softlock xD

Always appreciated!

I would STRONGLY recommend the Sega Ages release of Phantasy Star on the Switch for new players as it has several great quality of life improvements, biggest being an on screen map for the dungeons that slowly fills in as you explore them! I cannot begin to tell you how helpful this is! It just makes the game so much more enjoyable as if you are playing this for the first time without this, you WILL get lost in the dungeons if you aren't literally drawing out your own maps!

Great video. Phantasy Star is the best Master System game ever.

I love the topic and the video overall,but Richard, you may have forgotten about Kings Quest, not a definitive RPG , but elements of them at least a little bit.thanks

I finished Miracle Warriors as a kid in the 80's. I had never played a RPG before and it felt epic when I finished it. I remember it took me a long time, but the game play gets easier after the beginning stages with more party members.

I beat Miracle Warriors as a kid on the Game Gear with the adapter. Trying to read the text on that tiny screen was so bad.

Gotta respect Yuji Naka.

11:49 Oy gevalt!

I could never get into Miracle Warriors (there's a Japan only Famicom version too) and Ys/Ultima are more fun on PC to me personally, so Phantasy Star wins by default. That there are only 4 true RPGs really shows how much more of a "Western" console of its time Master System is, NES + Famicom had easily close to a hundred turn-based RPGs. It's sad how overlooked Phantasy Star is sometimes as a series (besides PSO), despite being released around the same time as Final Fantasy/Dragon Quest. It's still 'probably' my favourite 8-bit JRPG, besides FF 1 and FF 3!

Lol I love how you said Adol's name incorrectly the first time but then said it correctly like 10 seconds later 😅

Actually Wonder Boy in Monster Land has a levelling system, though it only gives more HP. But that may be why it was labeled one of the first action-RPGs ever on the recent re-release. There is also Wonder Boy in Monster World on the system as well.

I'm not sure that I would agree that a rogue-like isn't an RPG just because it either lacks a story, or only has a very light story.

I had repressed all memories of Lord of the Sword. Then I heard that damn theme song. I remember hand drawing maps for the phantasy star dungeons. Baya Malay Tower was such a nightmare. Also, f*** Miracle Warriors :P

wow, i didnt hear you say rEtRo every fuckin 5 seconds nor at all. thumbs up. and for that i subscribe. pluse the review was pretty decent.

No! NOOOOO! Golvellius is AWESOME damnit!

What about D&D Heroes of the lance??!?!

Me so engey, me fight you long time.

Blasphemy! Golvellius is amazing.

It's funny, I beat all of the games when they originally came out that now people consider hard. Phantasy Star (without mapping), Phantasy Star 2, Miracle Warriors were all games that I completed. I didn't think of how hard they were, I just played them.

Phantasy Star on the Switch is doable. They rebalanced and added auto-map in dungeons.

(relax it's only four) Then proceeds to pad the video or with far more. Way to Milk that ad revenue lol

PS1 is the GOAT of all RPGs

Action RPG's are a thing.

Is the Master System really know for anything?

Golden Axe Warrior is just a rip-off of the very first Zelda game.

you are completely wrong about lord of the sword, you are just bad at the game if you keep having to backtrack all the time. Do your research first before playing these sorts of games

The controls and hit detection for SMS games is terrible. Pathetic.