Final Fantasy IV

Originally posted on Facebook on 15 June 2021

Okay, so I've now finished Final Fantasy 4!

I played the original 16-bit version. There also exists a more modern version on GBA and PSP, and also a complete 3D remake / overhaul version on DS and Steam. But I felt like it was important to me that I played the original, because I really want to get an idea of what the early FF games are like.

The version I played was named Final Fantasy II. This is just another example of early FF weirdness, where they had to change the numbering scheme when releasing it in the USA back in 1991. But despite its altered name, "Final Fantasy II" for Super NES is indeed Final Fantasy 4.

Anyways. I think it's really good!

After playing a whole bunch of early 90s games like Phantasy Star II, Phantasy Star III and Breath of Fire, I was expecting an RPG from 1991 like this to be similar - slow-paced, full of combat interruptions, and annoyingly difficult.

However, I was pleasantly surprised at just how playable FF4 is. I never really felt like the game was overwhelming. I never really had to grind at all, if I made sure to fight everything that jumped at me. And during times I needed a break from battles, it was usually easy enough to run from most encounters (though not always).

The story in this game is told via some extremely rudimentary textboxes filled with  extremely bad, stilted and awkward English. Yet, somehow, they still managed to tell an engaging and interesting story with such bad text. Pretty impressive! 

The plot is about as JRPGish of a plot as you can get - "bad guy wants to gather the elemental crystals to rule the world" kind of thing. But they do manage to do some interesting things with it, and it ends up being quite fun. I'm actually surprised at how much focus the story gets in this game compared to other early 90s RPGs. I think FF4 might have more dialogue and cutscenes than Phantasy Star II and Phantasy Star III combined.

I really like the various characters in this game. I felt like they made each one interesting, both storywise and combatwise.

The game has a system where you're only ever allowed five characters on your team at once - so every time the story needs to introduce a new character, it also needs to come up with a reason why one of your current characters must say goodbye. It feels a little forced at times, and I'm not really a fan of how your party lineup is completely out of your hands - especially when your strategy was relying on someone who needs to leave.

 It does force you to change your strategies as the game progresses, though, which I suppose is a good thing.

I've heard that the later versions of the game at least allow you to swap out the team to your liking when you've reached the endgame - but in the version I played, I was stuck with the final lineup of Cecil, Kain, Rosa, Rydia, and Edge... If I had a choice, I would have definitely replaced Edge with Yang, as I felt like Yang was way more effective during the portion of the game you have him in. ...But no. Once he leaves, you can't ever use him again in the original SNES version.

I guess this means I need to try the remake version at some point!

This system of changing the team according to the game's plot actually reminded me a lot of Phantasy Star 4, which does something very similar.

Actually, Phantasy Star 4 is reminiscent of Final Fantasy 4 in a few other ways too. I wouldn't be surprised if Sega was inspired by Square at some point.

Hm...I actually think Phantasy Star 4 is overall better than FF4, but there may be a little bias there.

But yeah! Another classic RPG done! And this one felt especially important since FF4 is REALLY one of the stone-cold classics that I felt like I was sorely missing from my gaming vocabulary.