More Information
Rating: 
-
An excellent game, good update to an already excellent game. Reminded me of the good ol SNES days. A must have for any FF fan.
Rating: 
-
I've seen several reviews that have gone into the basics of the slightly convoluted history of Final Fantasy IV in the English-speaking world, so I'll just cut through all of that and talk about the Game Boy Advance version of Final Fantasy IV.
The basic story is fairly simple -- you play Cecil, a Dark Knight who came to age in the care of, and who now works for, the King of Baron. The King develops a lust for the Crystals, and he preys upon Cecil's loyalty, and his skill as a Dark Knight, to take what he wants by force. Cecil questions the King's motives and is quickly relieved of his command of the Red Wings (air ships that act as the Royal Air Force for the kingdom of Baron).
Cecil, along with his dragoon friend Kain, are sent on a menial task which ends up being more than they bargained for, and that's when the story really gets cooking.
The basic plot elements aside, Final Fantasy IV Advance is mostly the same game as it was in its earlier form. There are some nice bonuses in this version -- the script has been revised, two new dungeons have been added, there is a party swap feature later in the game, and there are some new boss battles. There is also a Bestiary and a Soundtrack Player.
I would have given the game 5 out of 5 stars, but there are some technical issues. The GBA version is a port of the Wonder Swan Color version, thus making it a port of a port. Sadly, this shows. The maps do not scroll with perfect smoothness while playing on the Game Boy Player (although it's not so bad on the actual SP). This is especially bad when you're using an air ship.
The battle scenes sometimes lag if there is a whole lot going on at once, and the menus also display some noticeable lag. This can create problems if you're trying to cast magic quickly.
The biggest issue that I noticed is a bug that allows a character to attack twice in a row, despite whether the ATB gauge is full or not. This can drastically alter the way battles unfold, and I personally found it bothersome to think that the monsters I'm facing might be getting the same benefits from this troublesome glitch. The last thing you want to think about is whether or not some Super Boss is about to strike twice when by rights it should only get the one attempt.
The above bugs were apparently fixed for the European cart, but buyers of the North American cart beware.
Despite the bugs, I would definitely suggest this cart to those who love classic SNES RPG titles, and to those who are curious to see the beginnings of what the Final Fantasy franchise is best known for today. The bugs and glitches aren't enough to make the game unplayable, but they're definitely noticeable. Thankfully, none of these issues seem to have carried over to the ports of Final Fantasy V or Final Fantasy VI.
Rating: -
Reviewed for Big Boss Games by: TRC
To the Moon and Beyond...
SquareEnix has re-released Final Fantasy IV (4) Advance for the GBA system, aka Final Fantasy II in the USA. This new and very improved version of the game takes you from the top of the Earth to the center of the Earth then the Moon and beyond?
In this retelling of a great story they use bolder language and more of the story is told.
You start out as a Dark Knight robbing innocent people, this starts you on a gripping tale of betrayal, love, loss, sacrifice and redemption.
Some of you might remember all those wonderful cheats like the duplication trick and the crystal trick in the dwarf?s castle, well they are all gone. No more cheats and that only adds to this game being even more of a challenge.
Just when you thought it was over, after you beat the game you get a 50+ Level dungeon you can explore that changes every time you go into the dungeon. One tiny detail, you can only go into the special rooms with the people that you beat the game with. So, you will have to complete this game 3 times. It sounds like a lot but I did it in 49+ Hours.
The music in this game is great! 8/10
Graphics are updated from the SNES version of the game. 5/10
Replay value is quite high because of it wonderful and gripping story. 9/10
Overall a must have RPG for any story driven person. 7/10
Rating: -
Final Fantasy IV - Game Boy Advance port
INTRODUCTION:
The Final Fantasy RPG series was one of the finest to dominate the NES, back in its eight-big heyday. There were three awesome games released for that classic system in Squaresoft's legendary RPG series (only the first of which initially made it stateside.) But in the early nineties, Nintendo unveiled the Super Nintendo - twice as strong as its predecessor. It was time to take Final Fantasy to the next level, and that's just what they did. The fourth installment in the series, and first for the Super Nintendo, has now been reissued for Game Boy Advance.
OVERVIEW:
Final Fantasy IV Advance is a new port of the old Super Nintendo game (which was erroneously called Final Fantasy II in its American form originally.) The game adds several new features/quests/dungeons/bonuses etc.
REVIEW:
This was one of the finest of the Final Fantasies. I'm glad to see it get the proper reissuing treatment at long last. After the Game Boy Advance port of Final Fantasy I and II, Squaresoft serves up another winner. Aside from some flaws, this is an excellent port of an old classic.
-THE GOOD:
-FINAL FANTASY IV - REISSUED AT LAST! The classic first entry in the series for the Super Nintendo is readily available on a Nintendo system once again! And this time around, it's even portable!
-THE PRESENTATION HAS BEEN REWORKED. The graphics have been retouched slightly, and the script has been totally redone to be more accurate to that of the original game (though some of the bad script from the old translation was left in for a good laugh.) Attack names are no longer edited/altered, so they days of Nuke and Fire1/Fire2/etc. are at an end.
-FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE ACTIVE TIME BATTLE SYSTEM. This system set the standard for combat not only in the Final Fantasy series for years to come, but other RPGs as well, such as Square's time-traveling classic, Chrono Trigger.
-EXTRA DUNGEONS AND BOSSES! One great thing about the Final Fantasy series has always been the side quests - which are totally optional but great for gaining experience/abilities/etc. The Game Boy Advance version even throws some in that weren't in the original game, further enhancing the game play. There's even extra dungeons, bosses, and a new final boss after you beat the game!
-FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SERIES, TRULY THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTERS. The games on the NES were big on game play but small on story. Only Final Fantasy II on the NES had a decent plot-driven storyline. Finally, we get a game with characters who grow and evolve over time.
-THE BAD:
-WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE SAVE SYSTEM!? In the Final Fantasy I and II port, you could save anywhere you wanted, anytime you wanted. This is no longer the case. You can now only save on the world map or in dungeon save points. This is nowhere near as bad as the DS port of Final Fantasy III, but still a flaw that needs to be brought up.
-MANY PARTS ARE STILL EDITED. No, there's nothing here that's a big deal, but still worth mentioning. It's just stuff done to block out partial nudity that isn't even revealing at all, so I'm not really complaining. I just wanted a true, unedited game that was as true to the Japanese version as possible. But for the most part the game does that.
-LAG TIMES AND OTHER BUGS IN BATTLE. No other port of this game (to my knowledge) has this problem. It gets extremely annoying in the heat of a fierce battle when everything just stops suddenly. Likewise, due to the active time battle system not being perfected yet, enemies are sometimes able to squeeze in multiple attacks on a single turn - and cheese you to death.
-HORRIBLY UNEVEN DIFFICULTY. This game is challenging, but most of the challenge comes from the game's uneven nature. You'll be leveling up just fine, and beating any challenge that comes your way - only to suddenly find yourself facing enemies who overwhelm you instantly. Most of the other Final Fantasy titles gradually get more difficult - whereas this game has its moments that will hit you all at once.
-WHAT HAPPENED TO THE JOB SYSTEM? This was one of my favorite elements introduced in Final Fantasy III, and I was disappointed to see it not make a return here. Your characters in this game are not at all customizable, which is a shame, and all come with a class already assigned. Their class can't be changed unless the story calls for it, and even then, it's NOT optional.
-NINTENDO DS PORT ON THE WAY. With a DS port on the way from the same company that produced the DS Final Fantasy III port, this Game Boy version will soon be obsolete.
OVERALL:
Overall, this is an excellent port - easily the best version of Final Fantasy IV on the market - and it will remain such until the DS port arrives. If you can find this game for a good price, by all means make the purchase. It's a role-playing masterpiece.
EDITION NOTES:
Most game retailers still have copies of this game available. It's not known of Square/Enix still produces it or will continue to do so after the DS port arrives.
Rating: -
First things first: Final Fantasy IV was first released in the United States on the Super Nintendo as Final Fantasy 2. There were two games between the first Final Fantasy game (on the original NES) and this one which were not released in the states, and thus this game was given the title FF2 in an ill-conceived attempt to avoid confusion. Now that the other games have been released in the US this game has been given its original title, and I will refer to it as FF4 throughout the remainder of this review.
This port manages to stay faithful to both the American and Japanese versions of the game. The Super NES version was easier than the original Japanese game, and this edition retains the difficulty of the Japanese version. And though there are a few new additions--a new dungeon, a quicksave feature, some new items--these serve to improve the overall quality of the game rather than detract from it and do not diminish the game's nostalgic appeal in the least.
When FF4 first appeared on the Super Nintendo almost 15 years ago the graphics were stunning, and while the visuals are not as impressive as they once were this game still looks great on a Game Boy Advance (or Nintendo DS) screen. The soundtrack to this game is also one of its strengths--this isn't one you'll want to play on mute if you can help it.
As for the game--well, it is one of the best games I've ever played, RPG or otherwise. The gameplay is fantastic--FF4 pioneered a time-based attack system that strays just a little from the typical turn based combat system prevalent in so many RPGs before it. Essentially this system gives each of your characters a time bar that, when filled, allows you to attack with him or her. Unlike strict turn based combat, however, the enemies can actually attack you while you're mounting your attack, which spices up the combat a little since you have to be more quick on your feet while fighting.
Final Fantasy 4 features a vast array of weapons, armor, and items. What really makes the game stand out, though, is the incredible storyline. The story revolves around Cecil, a Dark Knight who feels remorse for some deeds that, though done under orders, he feels were wrong. This puts him at odds with the King he serves, and eventually he finds himself deciding to protect a little girl the King wants dead, thus effectively making himself an enemy to the crown he once served.
The story quickly picks up after that and continues strong throughout the duration of the game. Final Fantasy 4 was unique (at the time) in that your party was always changing--there are a total of 12 characters who each have their own strengths and weaknesses and who come and go at various points in the game. They have unique abilities but also their own personality quirks and traits. The intent of some of the characters, such as Cecil's love interest Rosa and the loyal Cid, is usually pretty clear, while some, like the enigmatic Cain, will keep you guessing throughout the game. This is one of the great aspects of the story--you never know who is going to show up, who might have reason to leave, or who you might encounter next.
I cannot praise Final Fantasy 4 enough. In fact, I would recommend this game to just about anyone, whether in this format or in the Playstation release in Final Fantasy Chronicles. This is a time consuming game, and at times very difficult, but it is incredibly rewarding. If you're new to Final Fantasy or missed this title, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
More Information
HOMECar Credit - Online Advertising - Hotel Las Vegas - Remortgages - Problem Mortgage 