The great Phantasy Star IV, the saga's peak and one of the best console RPGs of the 90s. Gorgeous, deep, essential for JRPG fans.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player12+
Description
Hero Chaz Ashley battles the Profound Darkness in this American version of Sega's fourth Phantasy Star. Published by Sega, released in the United States in 1995. Epic turn-based RPG with combo system, characters of varied fates and conclusion of the Phantasy Star saga.
Phantasy Star IV review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
The story passes through vignettes drawn in comic-book fashion, framed and laid out on screen like the panels of a page. This device, rare on the machine, allows tight framing on faces and visual changes of pace. The rest keeps crisp sprites and planetary scenery in contrasted tints.
Epic and moving, the score magnifies Chaz's struggle against the Profound Darkness with sumptuous orchestral themes carried by the FM chip. The famous battle theme, heroic and galvanising, has stayed etched in memory. This sonic richness, a peak of the 16-bit JRPG, elevates every moment of the adventure.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Leveling up your heroes, unlocking attack combos and pressing through a story that closes the saga weaves an adventure where you always want to know what happens next. Smooth turn-based battles, dungeons and revelations chain rewards with objectives. The slightly frequent random encounters weigh a little, but the polished writing and the well-judged pacing keep a lasting hold on the player.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Facing the Profound Darkness to save the Algo system unfolds here, in its European version, a hugely generous epic JRPG. A fleshed-out main quest, dungeons to comb and tactical battles guarantee long hours of adventure. The apex of the Phantasy Star saga, it keeps a classic aura that fans savour slowly.
The NTSC edition of Phantasy Star IV is the American version of the Sega JRPG, released in a modest print run on Genesis. Its collector value comes from the absolute cult status of the game among 16-bit JRPG fans and from the fact that the US cartridge has become one of the most expensive Genesis JRPGs on the secondary market.
Is Phantasy Star IV still worth playing in 2026?
An absolute masterpiece of the Sega saga, Phantasy Star IV concludes the original quadrilogy with an RPG adventure of remarkable narrative maturity. The tactical combat system with macros, manga style illustrations during dialogues and universal storyline make this title an absolute 16 bit JRPG peak, often compared to the best Final Fantasy games. For anyone fond of classic Japanese RPGs or wishing to discover an absolutely unmissable Sega masterpiece, an absolutely essential recommendation today still on Mega Drive truly here indeed.
