Final Fantasy II and Phantasy Star have more in common than you might think. Both games have some interesting features that help them to stand out from other games. Not all of these features are good, but they’re unique to these games.
Neither of these games is my favorite in their respective series. There is something about them that I like, and a few things that I really don’t enjoy. They have different takes on what a console RPG is, which normally makes for a good comparison. At least it is fun for me when this happens.
I didn’t like either of these games when I first tried them. From what I remember, I was upset that Final Fantasy II wasn’t like any of the other games in the genre, and Phantasy Star wasn’t like the fourth game. It didn’t help that I really wasn’t on the internet back then, so I had no idea that I could look up guides or explanations on how to play either game.
These are grind heavy games, but for different reasons. I normally like this, but it does get tiring. This should be fun, as I have a newfound appreciation for both of these games, even if I wouldn’t say that I like them all that much.
Game Descriptions/Overviews
These two games have quite a few differences when it comes to their core mechanics. They have differences in setting, story, and gameplay. Let’s go over some of the things in these games.
Final Fantasy II is a high fantasy game with some steampunk elements in it. You have a party of four characters, one of which is filled by a rotating cast of characters until you reunite with one of the main characters. The plot has you joining a rebellion against an evil emperor, eventually you fight one of your friends, and then the evil emperor comes back. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot, which makes it very exciting.
Phantasy Star is a science fantasy game. There is a lot of science fiction in this game, and it is mixed with Greek Mythology and other high fantasy elements. In this game, you go on a quest for your party members. It starts as a revenge tale, morphs into overthrowing a corrupt king, and ends with a fight against the source of all evil.
These are general descriptions of these games. There is more to it than what I put here, but I wanted to keep things brief. They both have good stories, and I like the characters in each game. Let’s get into the main differences and then compare the core mechanics.
Main Differences
There are quite a few differences between these two games. Their stories, settings, and gameplay are all different. One thing that really stood out is how Phantasy Star was starting a larger story, and Final Fantasy II was a new adventure.
The two stories deal with rebels fighting against an evil empire. Phantasy Star has a better catalyst for why our heroes are fighting against the king and why Dark Falz is in the game. Final Fantasy II does have some development for its characters, but their motivations are less personal. You also don’t have the same grand space adventure that Phantasy Star has.
Phantasy Star and Final Fantasy II have very different settings. Phantasy Star takes place on three planets that you can travel between on a spaceship. Final Fantasy II is more of a high fantasy setting that happens to have a little steampunk in it. At least that is how I always thought of it. I’m not sure what actually is powering the airships, especially in the first game.
While the games are both turn based RPGs, they have some very different gameplay. The leveling systems are very different, as are the dungeons. Final Fantasy has a system where your character’s stats go up as they attack, use magic, and take damage. Phantasy Star uses something similar to most console RPGs. Final Fantasy has an overhead view for its dungeons, and Phantasy Star’s dungeons look more like a dungeon crawler.
Those are the main differences between these games that I could think of. I know that there are more, but I wanted to keep this brief and eventually expand on them in the next section. Let’s go over the core mechanics of these games.
Comparing Core Mechanics (Combat, Story, Visuals, etc)
I’ve talked about some of this already, so I’ll try not to repeat myself. I’ll be going over the combat, story, and visuals here. There is a lot I can get into, but I’ll try to keep all of this as brief as I can.
While the combat systems are mostly the same, Final Fantasy II is more complex as you fight more types of monsters. There is also a leveling system for just about everything in that game. Phantasy Star is more basic, but still has some strategic gameplay.
The stories are a little different. Phantasy Star’s story is a bit more basic and linear. Final Fantasy II’s story is a little more complex because of all the additional characters and gameplay. Both stories are a little ahead of what other RPGs were doing around the time they were released.
The visual styles are very different. Final Fantasy II is a darker game. It looks like a natural evolution from what was being done in the first game. Phantasy Star is bright and colorful. It also has comic book cutscenes on top of using in game graphics to tell the story. This game has a color palette that I really like!
These are some of the core mechanics in these two games. There are a few more, but I wanted to keep this to the things that stood out to me. Let’s get into what each game does better than the other.
What Does Phantasy Star do Better?
There are a lot of things that Phantasy Star does better than Final Fantasy II. I like that you go on a quest for your party members, the cutscenes are better, and the leveling system is much better. Those are the areas I want to focus on here, and if I think of anything else, I’ll add it in.
You have to go on a quest to find your party members. This is something that I always enjoy in a retro RPG. I know that I’ve mentioned it before, but not every game does this. Phantasy Star does a wonderful job of making this feel rewarding.
Phantasy Star has comic book cutscenes. These look much better than just using in game graphics to tell the game’s story. These cutscenes would become a staple of the series, and they look wonderful in the first game.
The leveling system is much better in this game. It is a more traditional style that you’ll see in most console RPGs. For me, it was easier to pick up and understand when I first played the game.
There aren’t many stupid moments in Phantasy Star like there are in Final Fantasy. Things are taken more seriously in Phantasy Star, which is something I appreciate. It also feels like a grander adventure by having the player go into space and to other planets.
I’m sure that I’m missing something. Just about every time I write these sections, I think of something else I could’ve added. Let’s get into what Final Fantasy II does better.
What Does Final Fantasy II do Better?
When I sat down to think about this, some of them were pretty easy to come up with. Final Fantasy II has better dungeons, the combat is better, there are more playable characters, and there are fewer archaic gameplay mechanics.
The dungeons are much better in this game. I loathe the way that Phantasy Star does its dungeons. I prefer to have an overhead view instead of a first-person view. Also, the dungeons look more interesting in Final Fantasy II, and there is a more involved puzzle system for some of them.
The battles are more complex in this game. You fight more enemies and multiple types of enemies. This means there is more strategy in the random encounters. You also have to use more of your magic in this game, and there are more customization options for your characters.
There are more playable characters in this game. Final Fantasy II has you control several other characters who are only used to advance the plot. This is a nice way to get to know some of the secondary characters, and it makes the game feel a little bigger than it is.
Final Fantasy II doesn’t have the player open a menu to talk to people. It is one of the features I normally bring up when I compare games to Dragon Quest and Phantasy Star. Not having an annoying menu system is a bug plus for this game.
That is what came to my mind when I thought about what Final Fantasy II did better. It is a decent game despite what some people on the internet tell me. Let’s get into which game is better and which I would rather play.
Which is Better Overall and Why?
Phantasy Star is the better RPG when I look at them as that. It has better gameplay, graphics, and I enjoy the setting more. There is a lot in this game that I really enjoy. It also has the advantage of being in my favorite series of retro RPGs.
It’s not just the leveling system; I like the gameplay in Phantasy Star more. I always love going on a little quest to find your party members, and that is what you do in this game. Everything makes more sense in this game when compared to Final Fantasy II.
On top of having beautiful comic book cutscenes, I also like the way enemies have little animations when they attack. Final Fantasy II has the player fighting static images. There is nothing wrong with that; I just like the way Phantasy Star does things more.
Science fiction is more enjoyable than high fantasy. That setting leaves itself open to more stories that I find interesting. The way Phantasy Star builds out the game’s setting is a lot of fun for me. It is just more enjoyable than what Final Fantasy II has to offer.
Those are the things that make Phantasy Star the better game. It is easier to get into and understand. Much of my decision has to do with my love for the Phantasy Star series, and how the gameplay in Final Fantasy II isn’t as satisfying. Let’s get into which game I would rather play.
Which Would I Rather Play?
Final Fantasy II is the one I would rather play. It is very close, but this game is a little different, and I like things that are different. I really like the story, some of the gameplay, and how the magic system is set up.
The story is really what got me through this game. It really outshines the gameplay, even when something a little stupid happens. It is more complex than some of the other RPGs on the home console.
I love the password/keyword system in this game. It is something that you won’t see in other retro RPGs, especially on the NES. This was a really cool idea, and I wish they had used it in other games. You learn a word, and it can change how some NPCs talk to you, and it is a fun way to advance the plot.
While I don’t like much of the way this game handles its progression system, I do like how the magic works. The more you use a spell, the more magic points you get and the better that spell becomes. It is one of the few things that I think is a very cool idea when it comes to how Final Fantasy II handles its leveling system.
This is one of those games that I enjoy more than most people. It isn’t some spectacular game that deserves reevaluation or anything like that. I like it because it is a little weird, and it is different from many of the other RPGs. This is something that I like about the early Final Fantasy games.
Conclusion
This was a case of two games that I like going up against each other. One of them is the better game overall, and it was a bit of a coin flip for the one I would like to play again. These decisions are fun for me because it makes me think about the games a little more than I normally would.
Final Fantasy II is a game that I don’t think is as bad as the internet tries to tell me it is. It isn’t my favorite in the series, but it is by no means the worst or my least favorite. I’m sure that when I start doing more videos on it, some of the stranger Final Fantasy fans will give me their unsolicited opinions on it and pass them off as facts.
Phantasy Star is a game that I like more now than when I first played it. The story is very good, the graphics are great, and I like most of the gameplay. What I really like about it is the setting. It feels like a much bigger game than it really is.
These comparisons are getting a little hard as I move through the list of retro RPGs. That just means I get to have more fun as I go over them. It makes doing things like this more interesting, and I get to revisit some of the RPGs that I haven’t played in a while.
If you liked this post, check out some of my other posts in this series. Such as Final Fantasy II vs Dragon Quest II or Robotrek vs Final Fantasy.