Final Fantasy IV
Score: 90% ESRB: Everyone 10+ Publisher: Square Enix Developer: Square Enix Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1; 2 (Online - WiFi) Genre: RPG
Graphics & Sound: Every time the question, "What's your favorite Final Fantasy?" comes up (and where I work, it comes up at least once a month), I'm surprised by how few people bring up Final Fantasy IV. Even after playing the game three times (well, four now...), I tend to forget about it, which is a shame. I had mixed feelings over the new visuals. On one hand, the new 3D graphics are impressive. Enemies and worlds have been redesigned, but still have the same look and feel of the 16-bit version. Characters are much more expressive, though the character designs are a bit awkward. While I wouldn't call the designs "bad", the oversized heads and small bodies make it feel like you're playing with a bunch of bobble-head versions of characters. The soundtrack is, of course, one of the game's best features, though in order to really appreciate it, I recommend purchasing a set of earphones. The DS's speakers are okay, though listening through earphones adds so much more to the presentation. On top of that, not only is nearly every cutscene fully voiced, but the voicework is exceptional.
Gameplay: Even for a game that is nearly two decades old, Final Fantasy IV still stands the test of time. This, however, is not without reason; not only did it set the tempo for the rest of the series, but it was one of the first console RPGs to give players a group of likable, complex characters with an equally complex story. The story revolves around Cecil, a duty-bound knight with a crisis of conscience. Although honor bound to his king, he has begun to question the king's motives, especially after he is sent on a mission to steal a mystical crystal from a peaceful kingdom. Cecil confronts the king, only to be demoted from his position as leader of the Red Wings and sent on an errand to a nearby village. Once in the village, Cecil's doubts turn to action as he sets out to stop the king. Over the course of his quest, Cecil is joined by one of the series' deepest casts of characters. Each has their own motivation for helping Cecil; some seek revenge, others just believe in Cecil. It's hard to not become drawn into each character's individual stories and when the few who leave do, you'll miss them for more than their abilities. The storytelling goes beyond cutscenes and plays throughout battles, adding a dramatic edge. Gameplay follows the traditional RPG mold, though with a few additions. While in the menu screen, characters will share their thoughts on the current story element or quest. Though it serves as a great reminder of what is going on, it also helps flesh out characters even more. Additionally, your group's summoner, Rydia, has a new summon named Whyt. By visiting the Fat Chocobo, you can customize his appearance and assign abilities. You can also play a series of mini-games to boost his stats and take him online to battle friends. You aren't required to spend any time on Whyt (I forgot about him throughout most of my adventure), though he's a fun distraction. Another neat addition is a series of quests introduced by Namingway. In the original game, Namingway could rename your characters - something that he can't do now because of the voice acting. In an effort of appear useful, Namingway goes through a series of career and name changes. His first job is as Mappingway, which grants you the ability to map out dungeons on the bottom screen. This is a big help and, if you're a diligent explorer, you can earn prizes. Rewards aren't amazing, though every little bit helps.
Difficulty: Final Fantasy IV is a tough game. The learning curve is steep though it is manageable as long as you remember to save like you would vote in Chicago - early and often. Even the most meaningless of random battles can become death traps if you aren't careful. There's a real emphasis on strategy and your ability to make the most out of any situation. A handful of battles will put you in a tight spot. Most of the time, difficult bosses are followed by equally hard (or harder) bosses, while others will suddenly remove a key member of your party, forcing you to adapt. Sound strategy is only part of the equation; you also have to spend time leveling up characters. Running is a good way to drop the encounter rate, though you'll likely end up grinding levels outside of towns anyway, so it's not like you're saving yourself any hassle. Besides, you'll want as many hit points as possible when you start running into enemies that can take you for 200+ hit points a pop.
Game Mechanics: The new Augment system allows you to carry over special abilities. Characters are constantly swapping in and out of your party, which can leave you without certain abilities. With Augments, you can assign certain abilities to other characters. The catch is that Augments are difficult to find and you can only use them once. In fact, several Augments are produced by giving them to characters that will eventually leave your party. If used effectively, Augments can have a major impact on battles. For instance, giving the Double Cast ability to your white mage can really help when setting up your initial defenses or quickly erasing powerful attacks. If you're an RPG fan, you need to play Final Fantasy IV. Even without the DS's added pieces of flair, it's a great game that has managed to hold up incredibly well over the years.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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