Phantasy Star: Beneath a New Light

[lyla2284]

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[align=center]It's time I started posting some information about my first (and most ambitious) fan-game made with RPGMaker XP. It's called Phantasy Star IV:Beneath a New Light, and is a parallel game to the original Phantasy Star 4 that was released on the Sega Genesis back in 1994. It is set in the Algo solar system which consists of three planets: Motavia, the desert planet, Dezolis, the ice planet, and Parma, a planet very similar to Earth, in the year AW 2284 (AD 4370-- AW 0 = AD 2086.)

STORY:

'The Algo solar system...somewhere in space.
Once, a brilliant civilisation flourished here.
The citizens devoted themselves to the art and
sciences, and life was prosperous and good.
Then a series of disasters struck.
The system-wide control system,Mother Brain,
was destroyed.
So was the first planet, Parma.
Over 90% of the systems population died,
and the advanced technological culture was lost.
Society declined, spiralling downwards until only at
last a few groups could remember there were better
times.
1000 years passed.
At last, civilization is once more on the rise across the Algo solar
system.
People are once again turning to thoughts of an easier life.
Old knowledge is being rediscovered.
But just as things look brighter, beyond the threshold long
thought closed, a dark and very ancient evil stirs...'

Opening sequence of PSIV: BaNL. Extract taken from the original
1994 release.

An image that shows during the intro sequence.

Now, moving to the present day.
A mysterious outbreak of unusually powerful bio-monsters has prompted the Dean of Motavia Academy to summon a professional female Hunter by the name of Alys Brangwin, along with her partner,Chaz Ashley, to exterminate a group of
monsters that have appeared in the basement of the Academy. All very simple, one might think. But the Dean's overall unease about the whole situation arouses suspicion in Alys and her partner. According to Alys, monsters usually don't come into inhabited areas. So where did they come from?

I can't reveal any further information for fear of ruining the plot. :)

Major cutscenes in the game are shown via movie-like stills. I drew the images myself. :)

CHARACTERS:

There are a total of 7 playable characters in the new demo.

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Alys 'The Eight-Stroke Warrior' Brangwin.
Occupation: Hunter
Age: ??
Weapon usage: Swords/slashers (boomerang-like throwing knives).
Height: 177cm, 5ft 9.5in

The protaganist of PS: BaNL.
A hot-headed, razor-tongued veteran whose prowess with the blade is matched
only by her beauty. Not much is known about her past, but parts of it seem to
pop up from nowhere,which pisses her off to no end. Everyone on Motavia seems
to know something about her that she didn't tell them. She is an excellent all-round
fighter, with exceptional Agility and Dexterity, and possesses powerful techniques
as well. Her only downside is her inability to heal.



Chaz Ashley
Occupation: Hunter
Age: 16
Weapon usage: Swords
Height: 166 cm, 5ft 6in

A street-rat turned Hunter, Chaz was headed for a questionable future until Alys
spotted him and pegged him for Hunter material. Now, three years later, he is
off with his partner to investigate the mysterious outbreak of monsters in Motavia
Academy. He is a keen swordsman with a quick temper and a keen eye, though
can be a bit slow at times, especially when dealing with his partner's witty banters
and sarcastic comments. Another good all-rounder like Alys, but weaker
in both Agility and Dexterity. He can use healing techs, though.



Hahn Mahlay
Occupation: Scholar
Age: 24
Weapon usage: Knives
Height: 178cm, 5ft 10in

A kind and gentle soul who studies under the tutelage of the eccentric Professor Holt. After his mentor goes missing, Hahn takes it upon himself to find the missing Professor. He is expecting to recieve the help of some Hunters who are in on an extermination hunt. Unfortunately, Hunters don't come cheap. Hahn is a very weak physical fighter, but possesses several helping techniques which are useful against Bio-monsters and his healing skills are top-notch.



Rune Walsh
Occupation: Esper Wizard
Age: ??
Weapon usage: Staffs
Height: 183cm, 6ft

An arrogant, (but gorgeous soul), Rune is descended from a group of people that marks him as one of the rare breeds...the Espers, and possesses something few people know about and even fewer possess...true magic. He know Alys from a past encounter, though how they met still remains a mystery. He shares a very powerful bond with the Hunter. After witnessing the events which follow after Nurvus, Rune realises that Alys and the rest of her companions share a far greater destiny... The weakest physical fighter, but probably the most powerful character in the game after Alys. He has a wide range of techs and skills to work with, and nearly all of them are capable of hitting multiple opponents.



Gryz
Occupation: Motavian Soldier
Age: 19
Weapon usage: Axes
Height: 161cm, 5ft 3in

Gryz is the first and only Motavian to join Alys and the rest of her companions. He is asked by the village elder Grandfather Dorin to escort the group down into the Tonoe basement in their search for the Alshline. But his intentions after the group has obtained the medicine soon becomes very clear..he is on a vengance-seeking quest to destroy the man who killed his parents, annihilated his village and murdered his fellow Motavians. Gryz is a very powerful physical fighter, but sucks in pretty much everything else. He is also the slowest character in the game.



Rika
Occupation: None
Age: 1 (Palman biological age is between 16-18)
Weapon usage: Claws
Height: 168cm, 5ft 5in

A genetically engineered creature born from the product of a prototype before the 'Great Collapse', the computer system SEED has not created a hybrid that can fight and heal, but one that also has a surprising amount of naivete. Being part Bio-monster with Musk Cat abilites, it is no surprise that Rika is as agile and as dextrous as a feline can be, and her Mental strength, while low, is high enough to keep the party healed up with her Res abilities.



Demi
Occupation: Systems Controller Android
Age: 324
Weapon usage: Guns
Height: 148cm, 4ft 10in ( yes, she's the shortest character in the game.)

Classified information. Plot spoiler if revealed.

FEATURES:

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-Animated battle system scripted by Atoa.
-Demo is around 6-9 hours, full version is around 17+ hours in length.
-Movie-like stills depicting major cutscenes.
-Fully orchestral soundtrack. NO RTP!!
-Unique Overdrive skills for every character.
-Long,engaging storyline filled with humour, angst, tragedy and many other
recurring themes.
-Challenging battles that support up to 5 party members.
-Interesting and vibrant cast of ten playable characters. Among them is
a millenia-old android and a wizard that has lived for nearly 2000 years. :)
-Fully animated Mog-style menus that I styled myself.
-Hidden flashbacks which convey Alys' past to the player. Shown in black and white.
-No random encounters on the overworld maps.
-Three alternate endings.
-Unlockable techniques and classes.

Finally, for some screenshots. :)

SCREENSHOTS:

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Menu by Mac that can support up to 8 party members.




Demi's OD skill in action.

Credits:

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Programming
Enterbrain
Atoa
Mac
Blizzard
MogHunter
SephirothSpawn
Leon
Zeriab
Jarviar
Near Fantastica
Stripe103

Graphics:
The Inquisistor
Enterbrain
Myself ^^
Mac

Audio
Still compiling.... very extensive list. ><

Download removed. Will upload the new demo late June - early July.

[Ace]

first, I didn't play any phantasy star except fantasy star portable for psp. The story sounds quite interesting and the screens are very nice, I hope there is a demo out soon^^
but what is that light spot on the second screenshot?

[lyla2284]

I forgot to mention that there are no random encounters on the overworld maps, and those red dots represent wandering enemies. ^^ There is actually a demo avaliable, but there are numerous graphical glitches that I'm busy sorting out. Let me tell you one thing... the earlier Phantasy Star storylines were better than the early Final Fantasies. ^^ And this fan game is based off the last entry in a classic series that ran from 1987-1993.
It's also the longest running RPG set in a single universe and is as old as the FF games at 22 years ( my age. ^^)

Believe me, you'll fall in love with Alys. She is awesome! It's not everyday you come across an adult female as a main character. I'm trying to break the horrors of cliches.

[rm-rf]

nice, i liked phantasy star, i'll play your demo when its out ;)

[lyla2284]

Just a quick screencap update:

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New title screen, made with MogHunter's script.


Updated main menu screen.


New status window.


Cutscenes now have a 'wide-screen-like' effect.


Blitz-skills in action. The awesome battle script is courtesy of the one and only Atoa. :cheery:

[deValdr]

Your drawing is great, your titlescreen too. :D

[lyla2284]

Thank you for the comment. I worked very hard on those drawings. And that's the old title screen you're looking at. The new one uses Mog's script to animate it.

Here's the new one.

I prefer this one, it's more visually arresting. ^^

[deValdr]

Agreed.

[lyla2284]

Sorry for the long delay in updates, but I am proud to present that there is finally a demo avaliable! :D Check the first post for download details.

[Boot]

Looks visually interesting, but it sounds like it's more of a fan re-enactment from the looks of your first post.

There's certainly nothing wrong with that, and the cutscene shown above bears a striking similarity to the original. :P

It'll be interesting to see your take on the story, it'll also be nice to bring this game to a modern audience that perhaps never saw it the first time around.