“Who is this Zio?”
The main character’s mentor asks this shortly into Phantasy Star IV, and since its release in 1993 (JP), fans haven’t had a real answer.
Released at a time when RPG antagonists were becoming realistically motivated, tragic, and/or even sympathetic, PSIV’s first-half villain was seemingly evil just because.
The mystery of Zio finally is revealed to PS fans decades later, from a developer interview in a cosplay fanzine, of all places (pictured).
Zio’s backstory now drives Rune’s/Thray’s heroic journey even before the events of PSIV, and their diametric opposition, actions, and even starting positions have sound reasoning behind them.
Thanks to the magic of romhacking, unrealized developer dreams like these can now be integrated into already great classic gaming stories, bringing them to new heights and giving even the oldest fan a reason to revisit a beloved world.
Phantasy Star Generation: 4 is a retranslation and relocalization of PSIV, comprehensive in its research, writing and editing, made for new players and old fans alike. Please contact the author with any feedback or requests for customized versions of the patch.

https://gamesdonelegit.com/phantasy-...elocalization/