The Story Timeline Order of Phantasy Star Games
Phantasy Star is a world-renowned franchise of video games. The Phantasy Star games are, in general, RPGs set in sci-fi environments, taking place in different locations and time periods. Over the years, the Phantasy Stars series became known for its action combat gameplay. For this reason, it is reasonable to call some of Phantasy Star video games action RPGs (ARPGs). What many may not know, however, is that Phantasy Star is one of the oldest RPG video games franchises, with the first Phantasy Star game having been released in 1987.
The first Phantasy Star video game, which was released in 1987, features a quite different gameplay than the gameplay with which many of the later Phantasy Star fans became accostumed to. The 1987 Phantasy Star game features a first-combat combat gameplay and a top-down world exploration. The second game, Phantasy Star II, would keep the top-down view for exploration and implement a third-person perspective for the combat gameplay. Other Phantasy Star games feature real-time action gameplay and hack-and-slash features. Thus, it is reasonable to say that the Phantasy Star video games feature a quite varied gameplay across different titles.
While the different Phantasy Star games feature similar elements, quite often these games are set in different planets, in different time periods, and focused on different story events. For this reason, it makes sense to group Phantasy Star games that tell a continuous story in the same chronological story order, or continuity, and separate these chronological story orders and continuities. This separation does not mean that they are in the different universes; it's quite the opposite, it seems that all Phantasy Star games are set in the same universe. However, these video games can take place in very distant locations and time periods. In this article, the games that were grouped in the same chronological story order are games that very closely related to each other, story-wise, time-wise or location-wise.
Is There a Story Order in Which to Play the Phantasy Star Video Games?
While it is possible to play the Phantasy Star games in any order and enjoy the gameplay, it is suggested to play the games in the story order, because quite often Phantasy Star games share an overall story that can be better appreciated if the players plays these games in story order. Phantasy Star games that are set in very distant locations and time periods from one another may not impact the narrative experience of the player as much, but it is suggested, in the case of games that tell an overall story across different titles and are set in the locations near to each other and in a common time period, that these games be played in the story order presented in this article. In other words, for the best story and narrative experience, it is suggested to stick to the orders presented in this article for a better immersion in the Phantasy Star games universe as well as playing the games in an order in which the story will be reasonably developed, as opposed to playing the games out of story order.
In the case of the Phantasy Star franchise, quite often games that have a similar name will be set in related locations, with related stories. For example, Phantasy Star, Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III and Phantasy Star IV are all related to each other, story-wise. However, Phantasy Star and Phantasy Star Universe are not directly related to each other, story-wise. On the other hand, Phantasy Star Online 2 and Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis are directly related to each other, story-wise, as well. There are also cases in which games with quite different names can be still very related to each other, story-wise, such as in the case of Phantasy Star Universe and Phantasy Star Portable. All games that are directly related to each other, story-wise or time-wise, or set in locations that are very one from one another, are grouped together in their own chronological story order in this article. For this reason, it is recommended to play games that are set in the same chronological story order before moving on to a different chronological story order, in order to avoid confusion in regards to the story.
The Story Timeline Order of the Original Phantasy Star Video Games
This is the chronological story order of the first, or original, Phantasy Star games, with the first game, Phantasy Star, being released in 1987. These games received remakes, such as Phantasy Star Generation 1 for Phantasy Star, and Phantasy Star Generation 2 for Phantasy Star II: At the End of the Lost Age. However, while these remakes improve the gameplay, they essentially tell the same story of the original games, even if in some cases the remakes expand the story deevlopment. For this reason, I have decided to consider the remakes and the original games to be the same entry in this list, story-wise. Either the original game or the remake can be played in the order that is presented in this list. However, considering that the remakes may feature improvements to the dialogues, it is more suggested to play the remakes, if possible.
Phantasy Star | Phantasy Star Generation 1
Phantasy Star Gaiden
Phantasy Star Adventure
Phantasy Star II Text Adventures
Phantasy Star II: At the End of the Lost Age | Phantasy Star Generation 2
Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
Phantasy Star Adventure takes place approximately at the same time as Phantasy Star II: At the End of the Lost Age. However, considering that Phantasy Star Adventure is considered to be a spin-off game and that Phantasy Star II: At the End of the Lost Age tells main story events, it is suggested to play Phantasy Star Adventure before Phantasy Star II: At the End of the Lost Age.
Phantasy Star II Text Adventures, despite its name, takes place before Phantasy Star II: At the End of the Lost Age. For this reason, it is suggested to play this game before playing Phantasy Star II: At the End of the Lost Age in order to have a better understanding of the backstory and of the characters.
The Story Timeline Order of the Phantasy Star Online Video Games
This is the chronological story order of the Phantasy Star Online video games. These should not be confused with the Phantasy Star Online 2 video games, which are not set in the same locations of Phantasy Star Online. Despite the similar names, Phantasy Star Online and Phantasy Star Online 2 are not directly related, story-wise. For this reason, the games related to Phantasy Star Online are presented, in this article, in their own chronological story order.
Phantasy Star Online
Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II | Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst
Phantasy Star Online: Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution
Phantasy Star: ZERO | Phantasy Star 0
Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst at first was a port of Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II, later also featuring Phantasy Star Online: Episode IV. In other words, Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst tells the same story as Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II, while also including the additional Phantasy Star Online: Episode IV.
The Story Timeline Order of the Phantasy Star Universe Video Games
Phantasy Star Universe | Phantasy Star Universe Episode 1
Phantasy Star Universe: Ambition of the Illuminus | Phantasy Star Universe: Episodes 1 & 2
Phantasy Star Portable
Phantasy Star Portable 2 | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Episode 1
Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity | Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity Episode 2
The Story Timeline Order of the Phantasy Star Online 2 Video Games
Despite the similar name, the Phantasy Star Online 2 video games are not directly related to the Phantasy Star Online video games, story-wise. For this reason, the Phantasy Star Online 2 games were written, in this article, in their own, separate chronological story order, not directly related to the chronological story orderof the Phantasy Star Online video games. It should be considered that these Phantasy Star Online 2 games tell their own story and narrative, which is presented in this list in its story order.
Phantasy Star Online 2
Phantasy Star Online 2 es
Phantasy Star Nova
Idola: Phantasy Star Online 2
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis
Considering that Phantasy Star Online 2 es is a game that shares data with Phantasy Star Online 2 and uses the same characters for both games, but for different storylines, it is reasonable to say that Phantasy Star Online 2 es takes place at a very approximate time as Phantasy Star Online 2.
It seems that Phantasy Star Nova takes place in the same universe and continuity as Phantasy Star Online 2, but it is not very clear exactly when.
Idola: Phantasy Star Online 2 is set in the same universe of Phantasy Star Online 2, but the game is set in an alternate dimension.
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis takes place a very long time before Phantasy Star Online 2. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that this game also takes place a very long time after Phantasy Star Online 2 es, which is roughly at a very similar time of Phantasy Star Online 2.
If you are interested in the story timeline order of RPG video games, you may also be interested in checking out the story timeline orders of Dungeons & Dragons, Final Fantasy, The Elder Scrolls and The Witcher.
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