A Quick Review of the PC version of the classic RPG: Final Fantasy IV. (This Review was written in 2018 and Updated in 2022. The un-updated review is still on Steemit.)
Final Fantasy IV (3D Remake) on Windows is the 2014 port of the NDS remake of the original 1991 SNES game. The PC version is inferior to the DS version even though it offers some additions. The DS has the best 3D version of the game in my opinion. In 2022 Final Fantasy IV got a Pixel Remaster for a 2D version on PC.
Final Fantasy IV is a famous classic, as one of the first video games ever to use dramatic storytelling elements. The improvement FFIV introduced to the battle system (The ATB system) was adapted & built upon in hundreds of JRPG games since then.
The Standard RPG
The game is divided into exploration & battle sections. The exploration part of the game plays like a traditional RPG with the player exploring the world and talking to NPCs to advance the story.
Some parts of the map aren't accessible until the player gets the items or the vehicles that allow passing through them, like using a spaceship to fly above mountains, or a hovercraft to pass over shallow water. That was the same in previous games, however, a new transportation vehicle exclusive to FFIV is a Spaceship.
The Active Time Battle System is the FFIV's version of the turn-based battles used in the JRPG of that time, instead of controlling the whole party's actions each turn like in other games, ATBS gives each character in the battle a "speed value" that decides when they get their turn.
This system was used in the next 5 Final Fantasy games, and many other unrelated games (from other developers) have based their battle systems on it.
Golbez Boss Battle.
Outside the battle system there hasn't been much of improvement in gameplay. Unlike the Final Fantasies before it, FFIV bounds you to certain party members at any given moment. Characters are locked to their predefined classes by design though the party changes after each plot twist.
Final Fantasy IV makes each characters unique and important by giving them their own commands & also forces the player to adapt a new play style per party as the story unfolds.
The 3D versions of FFIV have the Augement system. A way to add new commands to characters on top of their unique commands. The game was rebalanced with the addition of this system in the DS Remake. Without Augments, FFIV is harder on the DS. The PC version, however, adds Easy Mode for people who're interested in the story rather than a challenge. FFIV is arguably the easiest Final Fantasy, and the Easy Mode in the PC version allows it to keep that reputation.
ٍStory & Characters
The story follows Cecil, a dark knight who by the start of the game, has just raided a town and stolen their treasure. Troubled by his guilt and his inability to disobey orders he shouldn't follow. Cecil gets demoted from commanding the army after he asks the king (Baron) for the reason he declared war on other nations.
Please, give yourself some sympathy.
He was sent with his friend Kain (the Dragoons leader) to deliver a ring to a land called "Mist," such an errand turns into a journey to re-evaluate his morals, goals, and place in life. Cecil's journey to solve the problems he started, ends with fighting to save more than one world.
While Cecil is the only character that stays in the party for all of the game, he develops and grows. From a troubled Dark Knight to a heroic Paladin.
Other characters who are introduced from the start are: Kain, his best friend and rival (and my has my favorite character development.) Rosa the white mage and Cecil's romantic interest. Cid is the mechanic who makes airships for Baron.
In Mist we encounter Rydia, a young summoner who loses her family and people when her village was caught on fire. Tellah the master mage who has feel victim to old age. Edward a prince in a Spoony Bard disguise.
At some point, Cecil realizes his real enemy. Golbez, who took the leadership of Baron army at his stead and seeks the crystals for unknown reasons.
In the journey through the world to defeat Golbez, he discards the Dark Sword to take the role of THE Paladin. He meets Yang, a monk who has lost all his companions to that villain. Palom & Porom, young twin of mages, and finally Edge the hot-headed ninja.
Final Fantasy IV uses its cast efficiently. Many party members are playable for at least %50 of the game. Even those who are only briefly playable still make a lasting impact on the story even when they aren't at the party.
Despite how the main characters are fleshed out, sadly, FFIV is a story heavy and there isn't much room for exploration of the world. NPCs don't have any personality. (I consider a bad thing for modern RPG game but I wouldn't expect it from a game this old.) I loved every named character after all.
I loved Golbez the main antagonist... I loved Kain, (or more specifically his character arc) through out the game. Even though his story is a bit "cliche" by today's standards as the twists have been copied by a dozen or so games since then.
A Cliche That Works
The story and characters are both cliche, done thousands of times by 2018. But at the first release it was the first time these story elements are put into a game... The animated scenes of the remake did the right thing by making the story over-dramatic because it works best for these types of stories.
But while the elements may be old, the pacing is great. The remake adds some content to not let it be too fast.
In the first hour, the player is introduced to more than half the cast, slowly letting you know about their personalities and motivations. The plot flows elegantly as you play and while it has that weird factor Final Fantasy is known for. (For example, the setting is a medieval fantasy one, but there are a few cases of out-of-place technology.) It's still enjoyable.
And it's full of twists that it's hard to spoil in one go. If you take every plot twist known in 80-90s movies and put them in blender then tried your best at making the result work, you'll end up with something similar to Final Fantasy IV. That's the real art of FFIV in my opinion.
Graphics, Animation & Sound
The PC version uses the same 3D models of the Nintendo DS version. They looked great on its small screen, but they don't look as good here. Since PC and Android got the same remake, the menus were made for "mobile-friendly" touch-screens. This makes them even less appealing to me.
I don't know if I like the 3D models or not, at one hand, I like the animation of them and they allow for make voice acted scenes more powerful, but on other hand, they're childish, contrasting with the game's story.
Visually I prefer the Pixel Remaster version the best. There's also the PSP version, but it's impossible to get it without a PS Vita these days.
The voice acted scenes are over-dramatic, sometimes they feel just right in the story sequence. Other times I find them unnecessary exaggerated. Still, the voices make emotional moments more powerful.
The first few voiced scenes are really strong, especially the first Cecil & Rosa scene accompanied by the 'Theme of Love' soundtrack.
That takes me to the music: Final Fantasy series is known for its amazing soundtracks. FFIV's is one of the best of them. Pieces like The Theme of Love are performed by orchestras around the world. The Battle & Boss themes make me feel excited.
The opening of this 3D Remake is also great!
It introduces most of the characters & some plot points in amazing short sequences. While still managing to not spoil anything. I can watch it again and again without getting bored.
A Timeless Classic
Along with Chrono Trigger I'll recommend this to anyone who doesn't get turned off by the traditional RPGs Battle system. Final Fantasy IV has many versions, and you can't go wrong with any of them. This is the easiest version to get hold of the game, and the most likely to suit various people tastes in the series. (EDIT: The Pixel Remaster changed that recently.)
I won't recommend to someone who got tired of RPG games or don't want to play them, FFIV isn't the most casual friendly game in the genre. The story has been copied so many times since its release that you could predict some of the twists before they even happen here. (I was still surprised more than I thought I would.)
The animated scenes helped make them feel fresh to some degree, but since the 3D of this game is so weak you might get turned off by them instead.
This game might not be the best in the series but it's still a masterpiece of its time. If you like RPGs, you'll most likely love a version or another of Final Fantasy IV.
What do you think?
I wrote more than one post about this game while playing it for the last weeks: A Boss Battle Experience, Playing on Hard Mode & my short fanfic Flames of the Mist. You might also want to read what I wrote about it as the first Final Fantasy I play on Playstation 1.
~ I'm interested to know your thoughts in comments ~
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- All images are screenshots from the game taken by me. Anyone noticed that most of them feature Kain?
- All Humblebundle links in this article are Referral Links. I get a commission if you bought a game through them. (Thanks for your support.)