Phantasy Star 2

I bought Phantasy Star 2 the other day... for my iPod Touch. Three dollars got me a pretty much perfect port of one of my all time favorite videogames. I probably wouldn't recommend paying three dollars for a game that originally came out on the Genesis twenty years ago (wow, that made me feel old!), but if you're a fan, well, it's a must buy. It's Phantasy Star 2. That's all you need to know.

Unfortunately, Phantasy Star 2 was way more fun to play on a TV with a controller. The graphics look identical to the original and hold up because event then it was a fantastic looking game with an amazing art design, but it just doesn't feel as fun to use a virtual control pad and buttons on a touch screen. But since there's no getting around that, there's no use complaining about it. I just don't think I could play this version in the same marathon-long sittings I used to do as a kid on my Genesis. It just feels weird and your thumbs get raw. But the game as a whole holds up. It still plays great and is a lot of fun. Phantasy Star 2 had one of the best written, most engaging stories of any RPG, and that transcends control and what console it's told on.
 

My main complaint, however, is that the sound is a little tinny. Phantasy Star 2 has my favorite soundtrack from any game of all time ever. Only Super Mario Bros 3, Castlevania, and the Final Fantasy games come close. I love the music in this game, and it just sounds a little tinny and somewhat staticy. It is still the same music, it just wasn't ported over perfectly for my ears. But it still has some amazing music, I just wish the audio presentation was of slightly higher quality.

Anyway, if you have an Ipod Touch or an Iphone and loved this game (or just love Japanese style RPGS in general), this is a great port of one of the best games of all time. And if you just want to hear the music, check that out here.