About this game
Tales of Phantasia (1995) is the origin of one of JRPG's most enduring franchises — the Tales series — and arrived as the Super Famicom's second-largest cartridge, at 48 megabits. Developed by Wolf Team and published by Namco, it was the first SFC game to include a fully voiced opening theme song. Composer Motoi Sakuraba began his long association with the series here. The game introduced the Linear Motion Battle System that would define the franchise for decades.
Key Features
The Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS): real-time combat on a two-dimensional battlefield where characters move along a central line. Spells and physical attacks are executed manually, and positioning matters. The game features a fully voiced opening song — a first for the Super Famicom. The story spans past and future timelines, with the party traveling between eras. The 48-megabit cartridge was the second largest SFC cartridge produced, after Star Ocean.
The Story Behind
Wolf Team had previously developed games published by Telenet Japan; when Telenet's business declined, the team approached Namco as an alternate publisher. Tales of Phantasia was their most ambitious project and the company's only Super Famicom game. The game sold over 1.3 million copies in Japan, making it the second best-selling Tales game in the region. Wolf Team was subsequently absorbed into Namco's internal structure, and the Tales series continued under what became known as the Tales Studio.
Tricks & Tales
Tales of Phantasia's opening song 'Yume wa Owaranai' (Dreams Never End) was a first for the Super Famicom — actual voice singing on a 16-bit cartridge game. The game later received a Game Boy Advance port in 2003 and a PlayStation port in 1998. Motoi Sakuraba, who composed the soundtrack, would go on to score dozens of entries across the Star Ocean and Tales franchises.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Japan only in original Super Famicom form (December 1995). A PlayStation port was released in Japan in 1998; a GBA version in 2003. The first international release was the GBA version in North America in 2006.
Maintenance Tips
Standard Super Famicom cartridge care. The game uses battery-backed SRAM for save data — check the battery if saves are lost. Original SFC cartridge commands a higher collector price than the later PS1 port.
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
Direct purchase supports this museum directly. eBay Top Rated Seller · 1,750+ reviews · 100% positive feedback.
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