[Game Review] Final Fantasy IV (Steam Version)

A Quick Review of the PC version of the classic RPG: Final Fantasy IV.

Final Fantasy IV windows version is 2014 port of the NDS remake of the original 1991 SNES game, the PC version while offers some additions, is inferior to the DS version which is the best version of the game in my opinion.

Final Fantasy IV is a famous classic, as one of the first video games ever to use dramatic storytelling elements, it's improved battle system was used & built upon in hundreds of JRPG games since then.

Game-Play

The game is divided into exploration & battle sections, exploration part of the game plays like traditional RPGs with the player exploring the world, talking to NPC to advance the story.

Some parts of the map aren't accessible until the player gets the items or the vehicles that allow to pass through them, like using a spaceship to fly above mountains, or hover craft to pass over shallow water.

however, a new transpiration vehicles exclusive to FFIV is a Spaceship.

Active Time Battle System is the FFIV version of the turn based battles used in the JRPG of that time, instead of controlling the whole party actions each turn, ATBS gives each character in the battle a "speed value" that decides when they get their turn. This system was used in at least the next 5 Final Fantasy games, and many other games (even developers) based their battle systems on it.

Golbez Boss Battle.

Outside the battle system there hasn't been much of improvement from gameplay side, though unlike the Final Fantasies before it, FFIV changes your characters almost every plot twist. It's characters are locked to their predefined classes by design. It 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 adds the Augement system. Items that can be used to add new commands to characters on top of their unique commands. The addition of this system in the NDS Remake made harder if played normally without using it, the PC version however adds "Easy Mode" for people who're interested in the story rather than challenge.

ٍStory & Characters

The story follows Cecil, a dark knight who by the start of the game, have just raided a town and stole their treasure. Troubled by his guilt and his inability to disobey orders he know 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 leader of Dragoons) to deliver a ring to a land called "Mist," such 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 turns 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 romance interest. Cid the mechanic who makes airships for Baron.

Rydia defeats two grown men?

In Mist we encounter Rydia, a young summoner who loses everyone she knows. Tellah the master mage who forgot most of his spells. Edward a prince in a "Spoony Bard" disguise.

At some point Cecil realizes who's his really 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 have lost all his companions to that villain. Palom & Porom, young twin of mages and finally Edge the hot headed ninja.

Many party members are playable for at least %50 of the game, and those who are only briefly playable still make imapct on story while they aren't.

Despite how main characters are fleshed out, sadly, FFIV is story heavy and there isn't much room for exploration of the world. NPC don't have any personality which I consider a bad thing for RPG game but I won't expect it from a game this old even after all this remakes... I loved the characters.

I loved Golbez the main antagonist... I loved Kain, or more specifically the character arc of Kain through out the game... Even though his story is a bit "cliche" by today's standards.

Cliche Story 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.

The rival turned against us?

But while the elements may be old, the pacing is great especially in remakes. 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 (a SPACESHIP in fantasy setting?) It's still enjoyable.

And it's full of twists that it's hard to spoil it in one go. This story would be your result after taking every plot twist known in 80-90s movies pushing them all together in a fantasy setting and make them work. That's the real "art" of Final Fantasy IV in my opinion.

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Graphics, Animation & Sound

The PC version uses the same NDS 3D models, which while look good on its portable screen, doesn't look as good here... Since PC and Android versions are the same, the menus are "mobile-friendly" which makes them all more non 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 PSP version the best.

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.

Like when someone screams "WHYYYYYYYYYYY?!"

The first few voiced scenes are really strong, especially the first Cecil & Rosa scene accompanied by their love themed song.

That takes me to the music... Final Fantasy series is known for its amazing music & FFIV is one of the best of all time, some pieces like The Theme of Love are performed by orchestras around the world. The Battle & Boss theme gives me excited feeling, and either help focus or don't take away from it.

And the opening of this version is 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.

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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, with so many versions of Final Fantasy IV, it's the easiest to get hold of, and the most likely to suit various people tastes in the series.

Random encounters are viewed from the side.

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, and 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 of being like me. So, there's that.

Final Fantasy IV might not be the best in the series (depends,) but it's still a masterpiece of it's time, and if you like RPGs you'll most likely to love one version or another of the game.

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?