Sega redefined console RPGs with Phantasy Star Online, a game that remade the series into a multi-player affair more focused on action. It still had that classic feel, and it was one of the seminal titles on the console. With three friends and an Internet connection, this was THE game to play and a must-have release for the console.
Tag: Action/RPG
Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap
Westone expanded on the action/RPG turn taken by Wonder Boy in Monster World by adding a larger world and multiple character transformations. The result was a classic sequel that, despite some linear design and cryptic mechanics, remains one of the Master System’s best titles.
Magic Knight Rayearth
One of the first games announced for the Saturn ending up being its swan song in North America. U.S. fans waited anxiously for the beautiful action/RPG that never seemed to arrive. In the end, they got a solid title that missed its window to really impress but was still a solid entry in the Saturn’s library.
Ys The Vanished Omens
The only Ys released on the Master System was a port of the first game, and while it lacks the advanced features of its CD-ROM cousin, it offers an excellent rendition of the classic action/RPG. Adol’s first adventure is one anyone with Sega’s 8-bit machine should play, and it still holds up, even with its somewhat clunky combat.
Golden Axe Warrior
Sega gave Master System owners a Zelda-style game set in the Golden Axe universe, and though it’s far from original, it’s a an excellent homage to Nintendo’s 8-bit classic. A large world, good story, and lots of secrets make this often overlooked title one worthy of addition to any Master System library.
