That doesn't mean that this particular version is great -- it just means that the DS remake of Final Fantasy IV is built on an excellent foundation. But it's not exactly the game you remember, and if you didn't play it, it's also pretty far removed from many of the other RPGs on the system. The result is an odd hybrid of old school and new.
It's difficult to get a good fix on the remake of Final Fantasy IV from screenshots and video, but that very blend of styles is very apparent in the overall look of the game. The backgrounds are simple and gorgeous -- there are no complaints that could possibly be made on that aspect -- but because they do look so good, they serve to make the characters look a little blocky and less polished. Worse, they seem to clash a little. The 3D characters just look out of place. It's never bad, but it's certainly odd, and not always as attractive as it might have been. One place I always liked them, though, was in the battle animations. There are also some neat touches; for instance, background characters who originally all used the same sprites also all look the same here.
The gameplay has been adjusted a little as well to fit in with this old vs. new idea. Final Fantasy IV is very linear and many things, like party make-up, depend on where you are in the story. This doesn't give the player a lot of options. One of the new additions to the game adjusts this in an excellent way: you can now give characters a single ability from another character. Someone exits due to a story shift? No problem. This also expands on the game's replay value, which is admittedly lacking, since it's an RPG (but don't worry; you won't need to replay it, as it will take you long enough to complete the first time).The other addition is the new summonable ally, and that's where the mini-games come in. Yes, that's right: they've put mini-games in Final Fantasy IV. This was by far my least favorite addition. It almost feels like a tongue-in-cheek nod to the DS, since the game doesn't capitalize on the system's unique features.
One of the best things about Final Fantasy IV will also be the worst thing for some: the revamped difficulty. The game, which was never easy, is now difficult enough to be downright grueling at times. We were warned about tweaks to the bosses, but the warning didn't go deep enough. Prepare to try, try again ... and to try strategies that are different than those you attempted a decade or more ago. Personally, I found the new boss battles to be a real treat, but it does take some time and some thought to get through them.
One area in which the remake definitely shines is in its sound. You won't regret picking up the headphones for this one. While not everyone will like the voice acting, surely everyone will agree that the score is rendered beautifully here. Final Fantasy IV doesn't have the best music of the series, but the DS remake makes it sound like it might give any other version a run for its money.Ultimately, Final Fantasy IV feels a little extraneous. It's pretty, but not pretty enough, and it hardly makes use of the strengths of the system. Considering that the last version of this seminal game debuted less than three years ago -- and is playable on the same system, though without the 3D graphics or the newer touches -- it's hard to guess just what purpose this game serves. Unlike Final Fantasy III, IV didn't really need anything. The changes are interesting, and there are some improvements to the game ... but there are also some drawbacks. Matrix did a good job with the updates, but it also feels like Square Enix is edging toward a bit of laziness with these remakes. Final Fantasy IV is a great game, and this is a good version, but whether or not it's great will depend on how much you feel like playing what is still a pretty linear, and very difficult, RPG.
Final verdict: 8/10
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-05-2008 @ 2:12PM
Kimiko said...
Well, the improved difficulty should help shut up the whiny fanboys who always complain that games are too easy nowadays :þ
The voice acting, is it really bad? Ugly American accents? *worried*
I didn't play the GBA remake, so this one will be nice revisiting a great game. FF3 first though, as I haven't played that yet.
As for Squeenix getting lazy with the remakes, well, that may be true, but they're at the same time still innovating. Games like TWEWY and Sigma Harmonics prove that. I suppose it's hard to get excited about updating an old game when you have such exciting projects to work on instead.
Thanks for the review ^_^
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8-05-2008 @ 2:12PM
Almadi said...
So when is V being released? and more importantlly, VI?
I imagine 6 being the last game on the current DS befire DS2 comes out.
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8-05-2008 @ 2:49PM
XDragon said...
Exactly what I was wondering! VI is a must have for me where as V is just badly prolonging my wait for VI.
8-05-2008 @ 2:16PM
Brad said...
"Even though it's not the very best in the franchise"
I beg to differ!!
This one is/was the best!
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8-05-2008 @ 2:24PM
Backslash said...
Seconded! Sorry mates, perennial winner Mr. VII just didn't do it for me :|
8-05-2008 @ 2:55PM
Kimiko said...
Oh dear. Not another 'which FF is the best' argument..
8-05-2008 @ 3:15PM
XDragon said...
IV, VI, I, VII and X is my order of preference for FF games.
8-07-2008 @ 1:05PM
Spectraeon said...
I agree... pretty much everything past FFVII blew because that's when they started adding anime elements in... it sickened me. I would have to say, FFV is still second best, to FFIII
8-07-2008 @ 1:23PM
Brad said...
I agree with the anime statement, that ruined it for me. I've played FF from 1 to 8, the 2nd one in the states, 2/4/this one was my favorite, FF3(Terra) is a very close second, I just like the gameplay in the old ones better. A lot of games lately do to much 3D pretty stuff and lack story/gameplay. FF5 is another very good one, the combination of tactics jobs with a regular RPG FF experience.
8-05-2008 @ 2:50PM
Toxic said...
This game is good.
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8-05-2008 @ 2:56PM
Uejji said...
I got this game the day it came out, and although I was hoping for the option to be able to use the original Japanese voices, the American voice acting really is pretty good. There are a few big VA names here.
My major complaint though is that a lot of the stylus usability from FF3DS is now gone. In FF3DS, you have pretty fluid 360 degree control of your character (vehicles are limited to 8-way though). Your character shows on the bottom screen, and you can intuitively navigate through towns and dungeons with the stylus. Navigating through menus with the stylus was very nice in that game, and so was battling with the stylus. Sure it was quicker to use the dpad, but there's something very neat about using your stylus to select Magic, select Cure, then bandbox your whole party to cast cure on your entire party. in FF4DS, everything like this has been moved to the top screen, so you are no longer able to directly interact with the stylus. On the overworld, you are still able to move with the stylus, but it is now limited to 8-way movement with no run/walk deadzone like FF3DS had. Sure in FF3DS it may have felt like an afterthought but it was usable and an alternative way to play the game.
Don't get me wrong, though -- FF4DS is a very excellent game and I have been playing the hell out of it. I've been playing FF4 Advance alongside it as well to note firsthand all the changes between the two versions.
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8-05-2008 @ 3:19PM
Schnuff said...
Yeah, and I can't help but think that a lot of folks just automatically tell you FFVII was the best entry simply because it was their first time playing FF.
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8-05-2008 @ 3:51PM
Christopher said...
It was mine, but I never finished it. I came close enough though that I think it qualifies. Since then I have played many of them, but not all. I'm not really a fan of the old school FF games before VII because I'm looking for the well developed story which is why VII is fun. It's by far their most fleshed out FF universe simply because they keep revisiting it with new games and movies.
After VII, I'd say X because again I really liked the story. VIII was OK, but not phenomenal. :D I also prefer the more realistic looking characters and environments, so I-III wasn't so enthralling for me. I skipped IV-VI. I have yet to play XII, although I do have it.
I'd say FF did most of it's growth in the series between VII and X. I'd say the early stuff is likely good, just not for me knowing my preferences. It's why I will likely never play IX.
8-06-2008 @ 1:01AM
Red said...
Which is somehow different from the people who'd say FFVI is the best Final Fantasy and is a flawless and perfect 10/10 of a game...just because they played it when they were 8 and/or it was their first JRPG? Nostalgia goes all ways. Don't knock the FFVII first game love, we've all got our soft spots.
....just to pre-emp the usual argument, FFIV's my favorite by far, but I'm also fond of FFT, FFIX, and FFXII, and I started with FFVII. But there's other JRPGs I like more.
8-05-2008 @ 3:45PM
bombchu said...
Let's see... I didn't mind the voice acting at all! Well, so far. Also, I noticed they synced their little 2d mouths with the dialogue! It impressed me anyway :P
That first minigame made me feel absolutely retarded. I don't know why I keep playing it. I suppose I want to prove something...
I actually liked the 3d sprites (compared to the ones in other games). I didn't notice the clash though which is saying something, I guess. Then again, I always pick the graphics to pieces so maybe I was concentrating too much on the texture maps instead of the overall cohesion. And I suppose I forgave them a bit since it's hard to do in the first place... The poor little things never have any hands.
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8-05-2008 @ 3:56PM
Tina said...
stupid joystiq, "It's pretty, but not pretty enough,"
hello! the nds has limitations when it comes to 3-d graphics!! what were you guys expecting, crisis core graphics? come on joystiq, give me a fucking break. the nds can't do that and you know/knew that.
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8-05-2008 @ 6:21PM
NekoDaimyo said...
I hope that Squeenix will be lazy enough about 5 to skip straight to 6.
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8-05-2008 @ 8:13PM
Kia said...
"Even though it's not the very best in the franchise, being second-best for Final Fantasy is often far better than any other comparable game"
I hope to god that top title is FFVI. Anyway, mediocre review is mediocre. You hit the nail on the head when it came to the minigames and difficulty, but it seems like you're too damn hard to please.
The voice acting is fantastic, as has Square's work always been since FFXII. The graphics, too, are fantastic for what the DS can do and nothing to complain about.
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8-05-2008 @ 10:08PM
Jacksons said...
As much as I'd like to see it redone in 3D, I suppose I should put my $40 towards something else.
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8-05-2008 @ 10:09PM
Plokosh said...
I can see being aggravated at the inclusion of out-of-place minigames, but being aggravated at the presentation? C'mon the game is great and everyone here knows it! (Sure, I got my ass whooped by Dr. Lugae's reversal gas too many times to remember, but its all part of the FF experience!)
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