On: Phantom Dust

   Though I take pride in occasionally being a game hipster, it frustrates me to no end how many avid gamers have not heard of this game. I’m talking about Phantom Dust, for the original XBOX. This game is by far my favorite. I will be the first to say that I am a Zelda nerd. Zelda is my thing. But this game, in my mind, surpasses the entire franchise. I realize most may not agree, but then again this is of the three or four people I’ve met who have even heard of it.

   The game centers on a post apocalyptic world where a dust covers the surface, erasing the memory of anyone caught in it. All anyone ever remembers is an image of ruins, and an acute need to find them. Some of these people developed a skill, the ability to harness the dust as a weapon. The forms the dust takes varies highly, anything from a blade of fire to a healing energy to a projectile ice shard. The very dust that confines them underground is their only defense against the deformed creatures that roam the surface. The game opens to a scouting team finding two identical pods. They open them to reveal two men, one of which is your main character. The scouts bring them back to their base and explain to them what they are and what they’re doing. They are the Espers, and they are looking for those ruins. It’s a very somber story.

   At the end of the day, it’s the gameplay that captivates me. Put into a mission based sequence, you’re main base is the Esper’s HQ. In the missions, you simply have to kill whatever you’re faced with. It’s simple. But don't be fooled. The fights can be extremely difficult. Eventually, you even get to choose what skills you take into battle. Depending on your arsenal, you could be very ill fit for the fight you’re going into. However if you know how to arrange it, you could have just what you need for every situation. I’m personally a short range fighter. But I will carry some mid range attacks for those larger maps and plenty of shields. Low cost shields are my best asset.

   This game is unlike any other. I highly recommend giving it a try. At least so I may someday find someone else who has heard of this game.