Final Fantasy IV was the first Final Fantasy game I've ever played and it was the game that encouraged me to enter the world of Final Fantasy back when I was skeptical about the franchise,and man I'm glad I've played it ^_^

 

To this day Final Fantasy IV has to be my favorite Final Fantasy game of all time,I just can't have enough of this game,I've replayed it again and again and was never bored,almost everything in this game is blended perfectly with each other to make a simple yet incredibly magical experience

 

 

The story tells the tale of the dark knight Cecil Harvey,the captain of Baron's royal fleet the Red Wings who was sent on a mission to retrieve the crystal from Mysidia by his king who told him to kill anyone who gets in his way,Cecil wasn't comfortable with such orders as it goes against what he believes but he couldn't bring himself to disobey his king who raised him like his own son.When Cecil returned to Baron he delivered the crystal but without questioning the King's orders lately which angered the king who stripped Cecil from his command over the Red Wings and tasked him to deliver an item to the village of Mist,Kain tried to ask the king to forgive Cecil,only to be sent to Mist alongside him,and with this starts the epic story of love,betrayal and world saving adventure...I won't spoil much of the story because I want you guys to see it in case some of you didn't play it just yet

 

What I love the most about FFIV's story is the perfect pacing for events,it's one epic event after the other to keep you on your toes as you progress through the story,every character here is great and most of them have a decent character development especially Cecil,he starts his journey as a dark knight to redeem himself from his past sins and became a Paladin,which also affects your gameplay with him tremendously in a nice StoryGameplay integration.

 

What I also like about FFIV's story is that it's simple yet very epic,it doesn't take itself too seriously but at the same time it has many memorable moments like Cecil becoming a Paladin or the plot twist when you reach the Giant of Babil,the story can be very deep especially if you played the DS version which added some cutscenes which shed more light on Cecil's past,it's a very simple enjoyable story that you can go through casually with no problem but if you went out of your way and searched for more details about it  you'll appreciate it even more.

 

It didn't need to complicate it's story to make it seem epic and it shows that you can still tell a great plot with very simple elements that makes the player more invested in the story since it's easy to understand without throwing the player into a needless journey of over analysis or a wall of text reading class to enjoy it.Cecil himself is one of the best elements in this story,sure he was tormented by a dark past but he wasn't angsty or emo about it like most protagonists of this kind of story(looking at you Squall & Lightning),and instead he sought the path of redemption and cleansed himself from his past sins and got the power he needed to save the world.That alone makes Cecil my favorite main FF protagonist of all time(alongside Zidane,Zack Fair and Cloud Strife).In short FF4's story is great and I hope everyone can appreciate it as much as I do

 

 

Now on to the Gameplay.

 

FFIV was the first game in the Final Fantasy franchise to utilize the ATB(Active Time Battle) system that the series is known for to this day in which instead of waiting for the enemies until they finish their turn,you can attack as soon as the ATB gauge of your party members is filled,which can allow you to attack multiple times before your enemies hit you if you've boosted your speed stats with spells like Haste,it's faced paced,it's fluid,it's strategic as you have to keep an eye on elemental weaknesses and use your buffs,debuffs and summons wisely, and it's very fun to play with and I'm glad later entries from IV to IX kept the battle system as it is but with their own unique twists on it.

 

The world of FFIV is balanced in that it;s not too small to suffer streamlined linearity but it's not too big to cause you to get lost,you can always go out of your way and explore extra dungeons like the Sylph Cave, the Feymarch & Lair of the Father or find hidden villages which can give you some really decent stuff like new summons that you may not find in the main dungeons of the plot like(Asura,Sylph,Leviathan and the awesome Bahamut) or powerful weapons like Excalibur.

 

There are some new features that were added to the Gameboy AdvancePSP version with the game like the choice to change party members(which is something that the SNES version didn't have) in Mysidia's Tower of Prayer and extra dungeons like the Cave Trials(which are there to help other characters to get up to the level your current party is in now by giving them new weapons once they finish their trial)and the Lunar Trials(which opens once you finish the game)

 

The main story takes about 12 to 15 hours to finish which for me is the fitting length for this game as it gives it more replayability if you want to do more playthroughs of it and it's not too long or too short,I've replayed this game almost more than 5 times and I've enjoyed each and every single playthrough I did

 

The only thing that I didn't like,which is only in the GBA and PSP versions,is how the Lunar Trials were handled.In order to unlock the trials of each character in the game,you have to beat the final boss with those characters,and you can't remove Cecil from your party,which means in order to unlock all 8 trails for all 8 characters,you have to beat the final boss three times to have them all unlocked.This method of unlocking was unnecessary as they could've made all the trials available right after you beat the final boss.As for the trials themselves,they're ok but they could've been handled much better.

 

But that's really a minor complaint as the lunar trials are optional and they're not in all versions since they're GBAPSP exclusives,so it really doesn't hinder the experience

 

 

 

As for the graphics the SNES version look decent enough since it's the first FF game on the SNES,but the biggest improvements that graphics have gotten are in the DS and PSP versions

 

Well,the DS version is obvious since it's a 3D remake which helped the game tremendously as they added voiced cutscenes that made the experience even more immersive and epic

 

But my favorite in terms of graphics has to be the PSP version,my god it looks BEAUTIFUL ^_^

 

 

The new sprites look detailed and beautiful,the environment looks crisp and clean,overall the PSP version is an absolute eye candy to look at and I can't get enough of it.It's so freakin gorgeous man ^_^

 

 

As for the soundtrack...........it's...freakin.....AWESOME ^_^

 

 

It's Nobou Uematsu so of course his music is gonna be awesome,both the original SNES soundtrack and the DS version's remixed soundtracks are amazing but I lean more towards the SNES original soundtrack

 

the soundtrack in general is so grand and epic and I love every single track in the game,from the epic Giant of Babil theme to the silly Palom & Porom theme...I love this soundtrack soooo much

 

 

Overall,Final Fantasy IV is an amazing experience that I can never forget,I enjoyed every moment in this game and I'm ready to replay it as many times as I can

 

It's so accessible to both RPG newbies and veterans and it's a great way to introduce new fans to the series with,if you're new to Final Fantasy and don't know which game to start with,start with this game,it's a great introduction to prepare you for what's to come in the future entries,and for other FF fans that haven't played it yet,play it now you won't regret it ^_^

 

The game is available everywhere on SNES,Ps1,GBA,DS,PSP,iOS,Andriod.....etc

 

But the versions that I recommend you to get are the PSP and DS versions

 

Especially the PSP version as it has both FFIV and it's sequel the after years alongside a the bonus Interlude episode

 

And the DS version of you want more challenge as it's way harder than SNESGBAPSP versions

 

 

Overall,my final rating for Final Fantasy IV is.......(and I know I've been giving a lot of those lately)

 

1010

 

This is just my personal opinion though so feel free to say yours

 

 

FFIV is one of my favorite video games of all time and it's still so far my favorite Final Fantasy game with FFVII coming very close to it alongside FFIX,and I highly recommend it to both newbies and JRPG veterans

 

 

 

As for my next FF game to review it'll be FFXIII-2 since it'll take me a while to finish VI and IX and I need to make something between those until I finish them

 

 

 

 

To see my other Final Fantasy reviews so far,click the following links

 

Final Fantasy VII

 

Lightning Returns Final Fantasy XIII

I agree with pretty much everything you said. This was my second FF game (The first was the first one I played), and it's my second favorite game in the series after VI, but I still absolutely love this one. There are a few dungeons that kind of slow down the pace for me (Looking mostly at the magnetic one where you can't use any metal gear), but aside from that, this game is absolutely fantastic. This or VI are the ones that I'd recommend to newcomers, and I'd probably lean more towards this one. It's a lot more accessible than the others, the difficulty's just right, the gameplay's simple yet addicting, and the story's one of the best in the series. I've actually been feeling like playing through this one again recently, might as well go ahead and boot up the PSP version since I didn't get to play too much of that one.

 

By the way, unless you plan on doing a separate review for that one, what did you think about The After Years? I'm just curious. I enjoyed it, but I screwed up and didn't do the trial dungeons, so I'm being destroyed by all of the bosses in the final dungeon.

Now I am going to read somthing that long if it say good things about a game that I like.

 

Anyway, I agree with pretty much everything you said,  this is my fav FF alongside 5-6 with 9 coming close, (the  3D makes it hard to get things, not like 7 or 8 but still)

And the DS version make it my fav, however if there was a remade to 5-6 they would be equal.

The  gameplay is really great, and there are enough side things to do in this game.

The plot is also great, Zemous was okay, but the fact that Golbez was mind controlled and is Cecil brother, makes it better.

Cecil is also my fav FF protaganist.

I give this review 4.

Out of 4

Edited March 15, 201411 yr by lulus1

I agree with pretty much everything you said. This was my second FF game (The first was the first one I played), and it's my second favorite game in the series after VI, but I still absolutely love this one. There are a few dungeons that kind of slow down the pace for me (Looking mostly at the magnetic one where you can't use any metal gear), but aside from that, this game is absolutely fantastic. This or VI are the ones that I'd recommend to newcomers, and I'd probably lean more towards this one. It's a lot more accessible than the others, the difficulty's just right, the gameplay's simple yet addicting, and the story's one of the best in the series. I've actually been feeling like playing through this one again recently, might as well go ahead and boot up the PSP version since I didn't get to play too much of that one.

 

By the way, unless you plan on doing a separate review for that one, what did you think about The After Years? I'm just curious. I enjoyed it, but I screwed up and didn't do the trial dungeons, so I'm being destroyed by all of the bosses in the final dungeon.

I'm currently starting The After Years and so far it's really good,not as good as the original but it's good

I'm currently starting The After Years and so far it's really good,not as good as the original but it's good

Oh, alright. Yeah, it's not as good as IV, but it's still really fun. Just a warning, though: You might need to do a lot of grinding at the trial dungeons that you unlock for completing each story. The final story is really tough if you don't. Aside from the grinding, I really like it, though. Also, which version are you playing?

Now I am going to read somthing that long if it say good things about a game that I like.

 

Anyway, I agree with pretty much everything you said,  this is my fav FF alongside 5-6 with 9 coming close, (the  3D makes it hard to get things, not like 7 or 8 but still)

And the DS version make it my fav, however if there was a remade to 5-6 they would be equal.

The  gameplay is really great, and there are enough side things to do in this game.

The plot is also great, Zemous was okay, but the fact that Golbez was mind controlled and is Cecil brother, makes it better.

Cecil is also my fav FF protaganist.

I give this review 4.

Out of 4

I see what you did there ^_^

 

As for Zeromus I didn't care that much for him but Golbez was an amazing villain even though he was mind controlled

 

He was on your ass the whole game and the fact that he came personally to take down Cecil instead of the generic action of "waiting until the hero comes to kill him"

makes Golbez as my favorite FF villain alongside Caius Ballad and Kefka

Oh, alright. Yeah, it's not as good as IV, but it's still really fun. Just a warning, though: You might need to do a lot of grinding at the trial dungeons that you unlock for completing each story. The final story is really tough if you don't. Aside from the grinding, I really like it, though. Also, which version are you playing?

"Oops I double posted,can someone fuse my comment with the previous one" 

 

 

Don't worry I've learned my lesson from my earlier playthroughs.

 

Now I mostly grind from enemies that regenerates like the Marrionettes and Security eyes from IV for at least 10 to 20 minutes

 

And I'm gonna do the same in the After Years.

Edited March 15, 201411 yr by Metal Snake

Don't worry I've learned my lesson from my earlier playthroughs.

 

Now I mostly grind from enemies that regenerates like the Marrionettes and Security eyes from IV for at least 10 to 20 minutes

 

And I'm gonna do the same in the After Years.

Alright, good. There are trial dungeons that you unlock after finishing each story, too. Going through those a few times not only help with grinding, but you can get a lot of good equipment and items from them.

Alright, good. There are trial dungeons that you unlock after finishing each story, too. Going through those a few times not only help with grinding, but you can get a lot of good equipment and items from them.

I hope those trials aren't as weird as the Lunar Trials from IV(Dude,Cid's trial is Crazy Taxi but with an Airship,and Kain suddenly became Cole Phelps)

Edited March 15, 201411 yr by Metal Snake

I hope those trials aren't as weird as the Lunar Trials from IV(Dude,Cid's trial is Crazy Taxi but with an Airship,and Kain suddenly became Cole Phelps)

... I'm suddenly very curious about the Lunar Trials now. And from what I played of the trial dungeons, they're just ordinary dungeons. There's nothing too special about them, you just go through fighting monsters until you reach the end.

... I'm suddenly very curious about the Lunar Trials now. And from what I played of the trial dungeons, they're just ordinary dungeons. There's nothing too special about them, you just go through fighting monsters until you reach the end.

Well,the Lunar Trials test the characters you have in something they're related to.

 

Rosa's trial for example requires that you heal all of the NPCs in town before the time runs

 

And at the end of each trial you battle a Lunar version of the summons Rydia obtained during your journey

 

completing each trial will lead you to two superbosses,one of them is Zeromus EG

Well,the Lunar Trials test the characters you have in something they're related to.

 

Rosa's trial for example requires that you heal all of the NPCs in town before the time runs

 

And at the end of each trial you battle a Lunar version of the summons Rydia obtained during your journey

 

completing each trial will lead you to two superbosses,one of them is Zeromus EG

I've seen a little but of the Lunar Trials, I always thought that they were just regular dungeons, though. I didn't know there was anything else involved in it. I knew about the Lunar Eidolons, though. Same with Zeromus EG. I didn't know there were two superbosses, though.

I see what you did there ^_^

 

As for Zeromus I didn't care that much for him but Golbez was an amazing villain even though he was mind controlled

 

He was on your ass the whole game and the fact that he came personally to take down Cecil instead of the generic action of "waiting until the hero comes to kill him"

makes Golbez as my favorite FF villain alongside Caius Ballad and Kefka

Yep.

When Golbez was  villian, he was the best FF villian, every time he apeared the party was like: "oh damn it".

After that there's Kefka+Exdeath, Caius is 4th tho he deserves a better game.

Edited March 15, 201411 yr by lulus1

Yep.

When Golbez was  villian, he was the best FF villian, every time he apeared the party was like: "oh damn it".

After that there's Kefka+Exdeath, Caius is 4th tho he deserves a better game.

And that intimidating evil theme he had

 

 

This is one of the best villain themes I've ever heard

 

During his time as a villain Golbez was the best FF villain the series ever had,sure he was mind controlled,but if that's his evilness under mind control,imagine how great of a villain he would've been if he was evil for real man ^_^.

 

 

Also,Golbez's size in Dissidia and Dissidia012 is freakin huge,heck he's bigger in size than all of the other villains in Chaos's side and the only one coming close to his size is Exdeath

 

+

 

Yep Caius was awesome and he deserves to be in a better game

Edited March 15, 201411 yr by Metal Snake

And that intimidating evil theme he had

 

 

This is one of the best villain themes I've ever heard

 

During his time as a villain Golbez was the best FF villain the series ever had,sure he was mind controlled,but if that's his evilness under mind control,imagine how great of a villain he would've been if he was evil for real man ^_^.

 

 

Also,Golbez's size in Dissidia and Dissidia012 is freakin huge,heck he's bigger in size than all of the other villains in Chaos's side and the only one coming close to his size is Exdeath

 

+

 

Yep Caius was awesome and he deserves to be in a better game

True, Clad in drak is awesome, it also greatly fits his character, it's also why I like Kefka theme.

And yep, Golbez is indeed huge, just a look at his CG render.

And I haven't even talked about kain in the plot.

And rubincate is great too, the fact that he is an honorable fighter, and even restores the party's health before every fight against him.

True, Clad in drak is awesome, it also greatly fits his character, it's also why I like Kefka theme.

And yep, Golbez is indeed huge, just a look at his CG render.

And I haven't even talked about kain in the plot.

And rubincate is great too, the fact that he is an honorable fighter, and even restores the party's health before every fight against him.

Kain Highwind is the reason I love the Dragoon job class

 

Kain is a total badass,I really liked his character,sure he betrayed me twice after equipping him with expensive equipments in the Underworld but I liked him especially since he was incredibly useful in battles.Also,his voice actor Liam O'Brain did an awesome job voicing him in FFIV DS and Dissidia 012

 

+

 

Rubicante was great and easily my favorite of the four archfiends because he has more personality than just the usual(urrrghh my master sent me to kill you) and I liked the fact that he was an honorable warrior.

 

And yess,Golbez was ginormous in that CG opening for FFIV on the DS....like holy shit this guy is massive

I haven't finished the game, but I'm glad I picked the game up when it went on sale in Google Play. Story is amazing, and character personality was spot on. I kinda like the PSP version for its graphics, and DS version for its gameplay and challenge. But it will be the same for me.

 

If SE games go on sale again, I will look forward to buying VI or After Years.

Kain Highwind is the reason I love the Dragoon job class

 

Kain is a total badass,I really liked his character,sure he betrayed me twice after equipping him with expensive equipments in the Underworld but I liked him especially since he was incredibly useful in battles.Also,his voice actor Liam O'Brain did an awesome job voicing him in FFIV DS and Dissidia 012

 

+

 

Rubicante was great and easily my favorite of the four archfiends because he has more personality than just the usual(urrrghh my master sent me to kill you) and I liked the fact that he was an honorable warrior.

 

And yess,Golbez was ginormous in that CG opening for FFIV on the DS....like holy shit this guy is massive

Yep, Liam O'Bain is awesome, he is my favorite VA, he also voiced Caius, and I loved his voice acting as War(Darksiders).

And yep, as the first dragoon, I also love the class because of him, and there should be more draggons.

Yep, Liam O'Bain is awesome, he is my favorite VA, he also voiced Caius, and I loved his voice acting as War(Darksiders).

And yep, as the first dragoon, I also love the class because of him, and there should be more draggons.

Actually, Ricard/Richard from FFII was the first dragoon in the series. Kain's still the coolest, though.

Actually, Ricard/Richard from FFII was the first dragoon in the series. Kain's still the coolest, though.

I know, but he unlike kain, who's in your end party, richard is a 4th party member, being temporlly playble, being fully playble only in Soul of Rebirth.

And if I remeber correctly, he doesn't have jump.

I know, but he unlike kain, who's in your end party, richard is a 4th party member, being temporlly playble, being fully playble only in Soul of Rebirth.

And if I remeber correctly, he doesn't have jump.

Pretty much

 

Speaking of which,wasn't Kain's father named Richard Highwind?

Pretty much

 

Speaking of which,wasn't Kain's father named Richard Highwind?

I don't kmow in 4,but in 2, there was a character named Kain, and he was Richard's son.

Edited March 16, 201411 yr by lulus1

I don't kmow in 4,but in 2, there was a character named Kain, and he was Richard's son.

It was also mentioned in the DS version of FF4 if I remember that Kain's father was named Richard

 

I'm not sure if this is a connection between FF4 and FF2 or it's just a coincidence

It was also mentioned in the DS version of FF4 if I remember that Kain's father was named Richard

 

I'm not sure if this is a connection between FF4 and FF2 or it's just a coincidence

 

References feeding into each other as a little in-joke, probably...AFAIK, FF2's ref was added in a later port, well after FF4's initial release. Whatever. The point is, neither of them are the same character, and FF2 and FF4 are not connected in any way.

 

Unpopular opinion time: I never really cared for Rydia, I'm far more invested in the Baron characters (Cecil/Rosa/Kain/immediate family and friends).

References feeding into each other as a little in-joke, probably...AFAIK, FF2's ref was added in a later port, well after FF4's initial release. Whatever. The point is, neither of them are the same character, and FF2 and FF4 are not connected in any way.

 

Unpopular opinion time: I never really cared for Rydia, I'm far more invested in the Baron characters (Cecil/Rosa/Kain/immediate family and friends).

I really liked Rydia,she's my favorite summoner in the series ^_^

 

+

 

I said I'm not sure if there is a connection or not,I never said it was confirmed they were connected

I'm playing IV now and its amazing...I just got to the moon and met Fuyosa.