Games worth discovering

Why won't they Make games like this anymore.

501 View2025-07-21

🎮 Overview

Idola: Phantasy Star Saga is a turn-based RPG mobile game released in 2018 in Japan and later localized for global audiences (though the global version shut down in 2022). It's part of the long-running Phantasy Star franchise, known for its mix of sci-fi and fantasy themes.

✅ What It Did Well

Visuals & Style

The game had gorgeous character art, vibrant battle animations, and clean UI. It leaned heavily into anime-style aesthetics, which fans appreciated.

Environments and enemy designs were detailed and stylish, although not very diverse.

Combat System

The dual-alignment system (Law vs Chaos) added a twist to traditional turn-based combat. Your choices affected character development and even combat styles.

The rotation system in battles allowed swapping frontline and backline characters, adding strategic depth.

Gacha System (Initially Fair)

Early on, players noted the gacha rates were decent by mobile RPG standards.

Characters were unique and worth collecting, especially for fans of Phantasy Star lore.

Music

The soundtrack was solid, featuring orchestral and fantasy-inspired compositions that matched the tone of the game.

❌ Where It Fell Short

Shallow Story & Pacing

The story started with promise but became repetitive and lacked the depth fans expected from a Phantasy Star title.

Lore-wise, it was only loosely connected to the core Phantasy Star universe, leaving longtime fans underwhelmed.

Repetitive Grind

Like many gacha RPGs, gameplay became a grind quickly — especially during events and character upgrades.

It relied heavily on auto-play farming, which diluted the strategic combat appeal.

Monetization Issues

Over time, especially in the global version, the monetization got more aggressive, with expensive banners and limited rewards.

Free-to-play balance suffered, and power creep became a problem.

Server Shutdown (Global)

The global version was shut down less than two years after launch (2022), leading to disappointment and a sense of wasted time/investment for many players.

📝 Score (Out of 10)

Visuals 8.5

Gameplay (Combat) 7.0

Story & World 6.5

Monetization 4.0

Longevity/Support 5.0

Overall Enjoyment 8.0

💬 Final Thoughts

Idola: Phantasy Star Saga was a stylish but ultimately shallow entry in the Phantasy Star series. It offered decent gameplay and good visuals but lacked long-term support and meaningful depth. It's a missed opportunity, especially given the strong legacy of the franchise.

If you're a fan of turn-based RPGs or the Phantasy Star universe, it was worth checking out — but its short lifespan and grindy mechanics made it hard to love in the long run.

Let me know if you'd like similar games that are still active and better executed!

GamesThatHadaBigImpact