Phantasy Star II: Eusis's Adventure is a text based adventure spin-off that explores the backstory of Rolf (aka Eusis) from Phantasy Star II.
Plot[]
It is the year 1274 A.W. and an eleven year old Rolf is being raised in an orphanage in Paseo City, having lost both his parents to an accident the year prior.
Rolf is young but talented in sports, grades and considered a prodigy in the art of the sword. As a result of this praise and fame, he had become arrogant believing himself undefeatable in combat.
Whilst talking to one of his friends in the orphanage, Rolf hears about a superb fencer who his friend Dick, who claims this man may even be better than Rolf with the blade. Rolf, insulted at the mere suggestion, vows to defeat this swordsman as he has never lost a single battle, not even against experienced adults.
After sneaking out of the orphanage, Rolf heads to the Sword Gymnasium, where he comes across his instructor. He asks about the master swordsman, who his instructor informs him is named O'Conner. Rolf and his instructor spar briefly, before Rolf overcomes his teacher. The instructor informs Rolf that O'Conner is in the room next door, and Rolf goes to meet the man who is supposedly his superior.
O'Conner tells Rolf that he is impressive but still a fledgling which causes a cocky Rolf to challenge O'Conner to a sword fight. It isn't long until Rolf is defeated by the swordsmaster's overwhelming strength, and after his legs buckle from the battle O'Conner mocks Rolf for his arrogance with his current level of skill. Rolf dashes out of the gym ashamed of himself.
Whilst wandering through the city at night, injured and soaked with rain, Rolf finds himself lost in thought as he loses his confidence in himself and his ability, unsure of who he is or how to go on. A Motavian soothsayer appears next to him, reading Rolf's expression who begs the fortune teller for some advice on how to continue on.
"With discipline." The soothsayer advises "Work hard and you can conquer your doubts." These words gave Rolf some hope that if he trains hard going forward he could reach O' Conner's level of skill. The soothsayer suggests Rolf trains on Uzo Island in order to gain the strength he needs. Filled with a new passion, Rolf returns to the orphanage to get permission from the orphanage's director to get permission, who gives him his blessing and the money Rolf needs for the airport. Rolf gets on the plane and silently says goodbye to his friends and the city of his birth as he heads to the training grounds, swearing to return only once he has finished his training.
Eight years pass before Rolf returns to the city of Paseo. Rolf has finished his training and has grown into a disciplined adult. The city has changed greatly during his absence but only the orphanage and the sword gym seem to remain the same. He returns to the orphanage, coming across a membership card in the storage room, before heading inside where both O'Conner and the director are together to Rolf's surprise. O'Conner comments he'd like to test Rolf's skill level now but they have more pressing matters as one of Rolf's childhood orphan friends, Shelley, has been kidnapped. A ransom note tells them to come alone to Myra Tower in Scion alone. Rolf offers to go and rescue Shelley instead of O'Conner. The director and O'Conner express that they believe Rolf is capable of saving her with the director giving Rolf an airplane pass.
Before heading out Rolf revisits the sword gym, and meeting up with his old instructor who when defeated in a sparring match bestows a tape with an explaination of how to to perform the secret phantom technique, Tendou Zanhaken upon it. Thinking it might be helpful for saving Shelley, Rolf accepts the tape and heads out to the airport to fly to Scion.
Upon arriving in Scion, it isn't long until Rolf comes across a soldier, guarding the area where Shelley is supposedly kept ready to engage in battle. Upon defeating him, Rolf confiscates some money from him, and uses it and the membership card to obtain a dazzling light sword. He heads to Myra Tower but discovers the entrance is sealed up by a large stone door. He looks around and comes across a warehouse, but the gate to it is locked tight. Unsure how to progress Rolf heads to the local inn to rest.
At the second floor of the local inn, Rolf comes across a small black key and a tape recorder. Using the Tendou Zanhaken tape on the recorder he learns it's secrets before the tape self destructs. Rolf takes the black key and uses it to open a warehouse gate by Myra tower. A soldier lurks inside who upon being defeated drops a stick of dynamite. Rolf takes this dynamite and uses it to blast the tower's stone door apart. Rolf rushes into the now open tower and upon climbing it and finding a key card, Rolf comes across Shelley.
Overjoyed to see her again, Rolf is shocked when she lunges at him with a sword, appearing to be brainwashed. Rolf has no choice but to engage her in combat. Upon defeating Shelley, she doesn't return to normal, and despite being unable to battle continues to prevent Rolf from going further in to the tower. Rolf presents Shelley with her childhood doll, proving to her that Rolf was her friend from eight years ago.
Rolf continues up the tower to face off with Shelley's kidnapper and bring them to justice, blowing a hole in the shutter door with a laser gun he found within the tower. Rolf is shocked to find that the man who abducted Shelley was in fact O'Conner. O'Conner reveals that he used Shelley to lure Rolf out to defeat him in combat as he realises Rolf is an obstacle in his way of world dominance. Rolf engages in a sword battle with O'Conner and through a difficult battle manages to best him.
Just as Rolf is about to land the killing blow Shelley calls out to him to stop, grabbing his arm preventing Rolf from killing O'Conner. Shelley reveals that she was never actually kidnapped and that she is in actual fact an agent of the Motavian Government. O'Conner is the governor-general. This entire thing was a charade to help Rolf get strong.
O'Conner reveals that he was looking for a successor when he overheard about the young Rolf. A prodigy swordsman with incredible potential, but arrogance was causing him to not tap into that full potential. O'Conner defeated Rolf all those years ago to encourage him to obtain his true strength. It is then revealed that the Director, Rolf's childhood friend Dick, his instructor, the Soothsayer and Shelley were all recruited into the plan to help Rolf grow.
O'Conner reveals Rolf passed his test and he'd now like him to come work for him. Rolf accepts his offer and becomes a Motavian Agent, leading into the events of Phantasy Star II.
Gameplay[]
The player is given the options to Move, Look, Take, Use and Drop.
- Move: will bring up directional options for Rolf to take. Upon moving the player will be given text on what is in the immediete area.
- Look: allows Rolf to interact with people, buildings, animals and objects in the area.
- Take: allows Rolf to pick up objects of note
- Use: allows Rolf to use the things in her inventory
- Drop: allows him to remove things from his inventory
When entering a combat encounter Rolf and the opponent take turn in rolling die to calculate the attack damage.
Trivia[]
- O'Conner is the man who assigns Rolf his mission at the beginning of Phantasy Star II.
- This is the only Phantasy Star II Text Adventure title that includes a special technique.
- Strangely the Tendou Zanhaken technique is not used by Rolf in Phantasy Star II.
- It is also one of the more straight forward adventures focusing on storytelling opposed to exploration and puzzle solving.
- It's also the shortest title overall, as Rolf was already well fleshed out in Phantasy Star II compared to his fellow party members.
- Whilst this game is in Japanese, there exists English fan translations.
Gallery[]
| Phantasy Star games | |
|---|---|
| Algol series (Main): Phantasy Star · Phantasy Star II (Shilka's · Amia's · Huey's · Eusis' · Nei's · Rudger's · Kinds' · Anne's) · Phantasy Star III · Phantasy Star Adventure · Phantasy Star Gaiden · Phantasy Star IV | |
| Ragol series (Online): Phantasy Star Online · Phantasy Star Online ver.2 · Phantasy Star Online: Episode I & II · Phantasy Star Online: Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution · Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II Plus · Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst | |
| Gurhal series (Universe): Phantasy Star Universe · (Ambition of the Illuminus) · Phantasy Star Portable | |
| Oracle series (Online 2): Phantasy Star Online 2 · Phantasy Star Online 2 es · Phantasy Star Nova · Idola: Phantasy Star Saga · Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis | |
| Remakes and compilations: Phantasy Star Collection · Phantasy Star Generation 1 · Phantasy Star Generation 2 · Phantasy Star Complete Collection | |