MICHAEL'S THEORY:

We are presented, in-game, with a very exact date for Phantasy Star I: Space Century 342. Likewise, Phantasy Star IV presents us with an exact date, as well: AW 2284. But when it comes to the dating of Phantasy Star II, things become a little more complex.

Numerous references within the games allow us to place PSII at approximately 1000 years after PSI, and approximately 1000 years before PSIV. Further, there is one reference within PSIV that, on the surface, would seem to provide us with an exact date for PSII. Upon reaching the wreckage of the world ship which crashed to Motavia six months previously, Rika says, "Parma, the first planet of the Algo solar system, was destroyed in AW 1284 when the artificial satellite, Gaira, crashed into it..."

This would seem to indicate a gap of exactly 1000 years between PSII and PSIV. However, three facts from the games have convinced me that the exact date of PSII is AW 1286, not AW 1284.

Fact One: The Dimensional Seal:
Le Roof's dialog in PSIV explains the concept of the dimensional seal that holds The Profound Darkness within its prison: "...there were fluctuations in the strength of the seal. Once every thousand years, its power would weaken drastically." In other dialog, Le Roof establishes that "the seal" is "a gigantic seal of three planets on one fixed star..." If fluctuations in the strength of the seal cause its power to weaken drastically every one thousand years, then shouldn't the complete loss of the planet Palma in PSII affect the seal's strength even more drastically? If the seal, when completely normal (meaning, when the star Algo and all three planets are intact), fluctuates in strength every 1000 years, shouldn't the loss of such a significant portion of the seal cause its fluctuation to be much greater -- or more precisely, much sooner? A gap between PSII and PSIV shorter than 1000 years thus seems appropriate and logical.

Fact Two: Wren's Age:
At the time of PSIV, Wren is 998 years old. PSIV also establishes that the loss of Mother Brain and the subsequent collision of a fragment of the exploding planet Palma into Motavia brought about a massive loss of technology known as The Great Collapse. While I certainly believe some technology survived and was restored on Motavia during the gap between the loss of Mother Brain and the impact of the fragment of Palma -- and while I believe the Palman culture on Motavia would indeed have been capable of making Wren-type androids during this period -- it seems to me it would have been a waste of time, effort, and precious materials. Further, note that the only other place in the series where we encounter Wren-types (not 'ren-types but Wren-types) is the Alisa III -- evidence that it is possible that the only place Wren-types existed in Algo was Palma. Add it all up, and the only idea that makes sense to me is that Wren was created prior to Mother Brain's destruction, which, based on his age of 998, would place PSII at 998 years before PSIV, at a date of AW 1286.

Fact Three: The Biosystems Lab Data Recorder:
When the Central Tower Librarian presents Rolf and his friends with the analysis on the Biosystems Lab data recorder, she says, "Please look at this graph. It shows the amount of energy consumed in the last couple of years."

Knowing that the graph contains data for "the last couple of years," and seeing that it contains data for the year AW 1285, PSII's date would clearly appear to be something later than AW 1285 -- such as my suggested date of AW 1286.

MY RESPONSE:

This is one of the very few issues over which Mike and myself entirely disagree. His theory is sound and has no concrete flaws. However, although his evidence is impressive, room for doubt remains.

Regarding Fact One: I have no arguments against Fact One.

Regarding Fact Two: I think that the presence of myriad *ren-type androids on Motavia during Phantasy Star IV casts considerable doubt on Michael's contention that no Wren-type androids originated on Motavia. *ren-types similar to the Wren characters of Phantasy Star III and Phantasy Star IV are present on Motavia, even including a Siren-type reminiscent of the Phantasy Star III villain Siren. The presence of these *ren-types, as well the fact that Phantasy Star IV Wren is in orbit above Motavia on the satellite Zelan, suggests the following question: Although it is possible that no Wren-types originated on Motavia, what reason is there to hold that opinion?

Regarding Fact Three: In Phantasy Star IV, Rika establishes time and time again that she is very knowledgeable about the state of affairs in Algo, both past and present, and she dates Phantasy Star II (to be more specific, the destruction of Palm) as having taken place in AW 1284. No in-game fact proves that she is incorrect in giving the date she gives. Furthermore, the fact that one of Rika's teachers was Wren himself casts the assertion that Rika is simply mistaken into serious doubt (especially if one believes that Wren originated on Palm). When one considers this fact, can we not simply assume that the date of AW 1285 in the Biosystems Recorder is nothing more than a projection for that future year based upon data collected during previous years? Forecasting of this nature is standard practice in such situations.

MIKE'S RESPONSE:

In regards to my reason for believing that Wren-types originated only on Palma, PSII's instruction book describes Palma as "the economic and intellectual stronghold of the system. Thinkers and rulers live here, high in ivory towers, away from the hubub of everyday life." If PSII-era Algo is Disneyland, Palma would seem to be Tomorrowland, while Mota would seem to be Frontierland.

With the Wren-types being by far the most advance *ren-type seen in the series, it simply seems reasonable to me that these would be beings of the high-tech Tomorrowland, not the (by comparison) much more ancient Frontierland.

In addition, when Rolf and his friends become wanted criminals in PSII, they are hounded by robots. If there were Wren-types on Mota at that time, wouldn't the government have sent out their most advanced machines after the criminals? Because we see no Wren-types in pursuit of Rolf, I believe there were no Wren-types on Mota during the PSII era.

As for Rika's statement, it is certainly compelling evidence. However, for PSII to have taken place in AW 1284, PSIV Wren would had to have been created in AW 1286, and as stated before, I do not believe the situation in post-PSII era Algo was "create Wren-types friendly." Add in the fact that the Central Tower Librarian says nothing of projected data, and you have a scale that seems to be very closely balanced. However, I tend to see the "PSII's date is AW 1286" side tipped in its favor.