Wikipedia

Final Fantasy IV

For the 2007 remake, seeFinal Fantasy IV (2007 video game).

Final Fantasy IV,[a]titledFinal Fantasy IIin its initial North American release, is a 1991role-playing video gamedeveloped and published bySquare(nowSquare Enix) for theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System.The fourth main installment of theFinal Fantasyseries, the game's story follows Cecil, a dark knight, as he tries to prevent the sorcerer Golbez from seizing powerful crystals and destroying the world. He is joined on this quest by a frequently changing group of allies.Final Fantasy IVintroduced innovations that became staples of theFinal Fantasyseries and role-playing games in general. Its "Active Time Battle"system was used in five subsequentFinal Fantasygames, and unlike prior games in the series,IVgave each character their own unchangeablecharacter class— although at a few points in the story, a dark knight will choose the path of a paladin, or a summoner will evolve to a new tier of spellcasting.

Final Fantasy IV
Box art of the original Super Famicom (Japanese) release
Developer(s)Square
Publisher(s)
Square
Director(s)Hironobu Sakaguchi
Producer(s)Masafumi Miyamoto
Designer(s)Takashi Tokita
Programmer(s)Ken Narita
Artist(s)Yoshitaka Amano
Writer(s)
  • Takashi Tokita
  • Hironobu Sakaguchi[2]
Composer(s)Nobuo Uematsu
SeriesFinal Fantasy
Platform(s)
Release
July 19, 1991
    • Super NES
      • JP:July 19, 1991
      • JP:October 19, 1991 (Easy Type)
      • NA:November 23, 1991
    • PlayStation
      • JP:March 21, 1997
      • NA:June 28, 2001[1]
      • EU:February 27, 2002
    • WonderSwan Color
      • JP:March 29, 2002
    • Game Boy Advance
      • NA:December 12, 2005
      • JP:December 15, 2005
      • EU:June 2, 2006
    • i-mode
      • JP:October 5, 2009
    • EZweb
      • JP:December 10, 2009
    • Yahoo!
      • JP:January 13, 2010
    • Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection
    • PlayStation Portable
      • JP:March 24, 2011
      • NA:April 19, 2011
      • EU:April 21, 2011
      • AU:April 28, 2011
    • Pixel Remaster
    • Android, iOS, Windows
      • WW:September 8, 2021
    • Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
      • WW:April 19, 2023
    Xbox Series X/S
    • WW:September 26, 2024
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player,multiplayer

Final Fantasy IVhas beenported to several other platformswith varying differences. A remake, also calledFinal Fantasy IV,with3D graphicswas released for theNintendo DSin 2007 and 2008. The game was re-titledFinal Fantasy IIduring its initial release outside Japan as the originalIIandIIIhad not been released outside Japan at the time. All later localizations ofFinal Fantasy IV,which began to appear afterFinal Fantasy VII(released worldwide under that title), used the original title.

The various incarnations of the game have sold more than four million copies worldwide. A sequel,Final Fantasy IV: The After Years,was released for Japanese mobile phones in 2008, and worldwide via theWii Shop Channelon June 1, 2009. In 2011, bothFinal Fantasy IVandThe After Yearswere released for thePlayStation Portableas part of the compilationFinal Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection,which also included a new game, set between the two;Final Fantasy IV: Interlude.Ports of the Nintendo DS remake were released foriOSin 2012, forAndroidin 2013 and forWindowsin 2014. Another enhanced port ofFFIVwas released as part of theFinal Fantasy Pixel Remastercompilation series for iOS, Android and Windows in 2021, forNintendo SwitchandPlayStation 4in 2023, and forXbox Series X/Sin 2024.

Retrospectively,Final Fantasy IVis often regarded as one of thegreatest video games of all time,noting that it pioneered many now commonconsolerole-playing game features, including the concept of dramatic storytelling in an RPG.[3][4]It has been included in various lists of thebest games of all time,byIGN(at #9 in 2003) as the highest-ranking RPG,[5][6]as well asFamitsuin 2006 reader poll among the best games ever made.[7]It also appeared in various rankings for Best Games of All Time forElectronic Gaming Monthlyin 2001[8]and 2006,[9]Game Informerin 2001[10]and 2009,[11]GameSpotin 2005,[12]andGameFAQsin 2005,[13]2009[14]and 2014.[15]

Gameplay

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A battle scene from the Super NES version of the game: the party engages a Blue Dragon.

InFinal Fantasy IV,the player controls a large cast of characters and completesqueststo advance the story. Characters move and interact with people and objects on a field map, which may represent a variety of settings, such as towers, caves, and forests. Travel between areas occurs on theoverworld.The player can use towns to replenish strength, buy equipment, and discover clues about their next destination.[16]Conversely, the player fights monsters atrandom intervalson the overworld and in dungeons. In battle, the player has the option to fight, use magic or an item, retreat, change character positions, parry, or pause. Certain characters have special abilities.[16]The game was the first in the series to allow the player to control up to five characters in their party; previous games had limited the party to four.[17]

Player characters and monsters havehit points(HP), with the characters' HP captioned below the main battle screen. Attacks reduce remaining HP until none are left, at which point the character faints or the monster dies. If all characters are defeated, the game must be restored from a saved game file.[16]The player can restore the characters' hit points by having them sleep in an inn or use items in the party's inventory, such as potions, as well as using healing magic spells. Equipment (such as swords and armor) bought in towns or found in dungeons can be used to increase damage inflicted on monsters or minimize damage received.[16]The player can choose whether characters appear on the front line of a battle or in the back. A character's placement impacts damage received and inflicted depending on the type of attack.[16]

Final Fantasy IVintroduced Square'sActive Time Battle(ATB) system, which differed from the turn-based designs of previous RPGs. The ATB system centers on the player inputting orders for the characters in real time during battles.[18]The system was used in many subsequent Square games.[17]

Each character has certain strengths and weaknesses; for instance, a strong magic user may have low defense, while a physical fighter may have low agility. Like otherFinal Fantasygames, characters gain new, more powerful abilities with battle experience.Magicis classified as either "White" for healing and support; "Black" for offense; or "Summon" (or "call" ) for summoning monsters to attack or carry out specialized tasks.[16]A fourth type, "Ninjutsu",consists of support and offensive magic and is available to only one character. Magic users, who account for eight of the twelve playable characters, gain magic spells at preprogrammed experience levels or fixed story events. The game includes balanced point gains, items, and rewards to eliminate long sessions ofgrinding.[19]Due to the Super NES' greater processing power,Final Fantasy IVcontains improved graphics when compared to previousFinal Fantasytitles, all of which were released on theNES.The game employs the Super NES'Mode 7technology to give enhanced magic spell visuals and to make airship travel more dramatic by scaling and tilting the ground for a bird's eye view.[20]

Plot

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Setting

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Most ofFinal Fantasy IVtakes place on Earth, also known as the Blue Planet,[21]which consists of a surface world (orOverworld), inhabited by humans, and an underground world (or Underworld), inhabited by theDwarves.An artificial moon orbits the planet, upon which the Lunarians live. The Lunarians are a race of beings originally from a world which was destroyed, becoming theasteroid beltsurrounding the Blue Planet, and are identified by a moon-shape crest on their foreheads. They created the artificial moon, resting until a time when they believe their kind can co-exist with humans.[17]A second, natural moon orbits the Blue Planet as well, although it is never visited in the game.

Characters

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Main article:Characters of the Final Fantasy IV series

Final Fantasy IVoffers twelve playable characters, each with a unique, unchangeablecharacter class.During the game, the player can have a total of five, or fewer, characters in the party at any given time. The main character,Cecil Harvey,is adark knightand the captain of the Red Wings, an elite air force unit of the kingdom of Baron. He serves the king alongside his childhood friendKain Highwind,the commander of theDragoons.Rosa Farrellis awhite mageand archer, as well as Cecil's love interest. The Red Wings' airships were constructed by Cecil's friend, the engineerCid Pollendina.[17]

During his quest, Cecil is joined by others, includingRydia,a youngsummonerfrom the village of Mist;Tellah,a legendarysage;Edward Chris von Muir,the prince of Damcyan who is abardas well as the husband of Tellah's daughter Anna;Yang Fang Leiden,the head of themonksof Fabul;Palom and Porom,ablack mageand a white mage, twin apprentices from the magical village of Mysidia;Edward "Edge" Geraldine,theninjaprince of Eblan; andFusoya,the guardian of the Lunarians during their long sleep.

Zemusis the main antagonist of the game. He is a Lunarian who wishes to destroy the human race so that his people can populate the earth. He usesGolbezto do this by controlling him and Kain with his psychic powers to activate the Giant of Babil, a huge machine created to carry out the genocide and take over the world.

Story

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The Red Wings attack the city of Mysidia to steal their Water Crystal, and return to the Kingdom of Baron. Afterwards, when Cecil, Captain of the Red Wings, questions the king's motives, he is stripped of his rank and sent with Kain, his friend and Captain of the Dragoons, to deliver a ring to the Village of Mist.[22]There, Kain and Cecil watch in horror as monsters burst forth from inside the ring and lay waste to the village. A young girl, Rydia, is the only survivor and summons a monster named Titan in anger. This monster causes an earthquake, separating Cecil and Kain.[23]Cecil awakens afterward and takes the wounded Rydia to a nearby inn. Baron soldiers come for Rydia but Cecil defends her,[24]and she joins him on his journey.

It is revealed that Rosa, Cecil's love interest, had followed him and is extremely ill with a fever. Soon after this, Cecil and Rydia meet Tellah, who is going to Damcyan Castle to retrieve his eloping daughter,Anna.[25]However, Anna is killed when the Red Wings bomb the castle. Edward, Anna's lover and the prince of Damcyan, who is also a spoony bard, explains that the Red Wings' new commander, Golbez, did this to steal the Fire Crystal for Baron as they had stolen the Water Crystal from Mysidia.[26]Tellah leaves the party to exact revenge on Golbez for Anna's death.[27]After finding a cure for Rosa, the party decides to go to Fabul to protect the Wind Crystal. On the way there they meet Master Yang, a warrior monk serviced to the kingdom and the protection of the crystal. The Red Wings attack Fabul, and Kain reappears as one of Golbez's servants. He attacks and defeats Cecil; when Rosa intervenes, Golbez kidnaps her and Kain takes the crystal.[28]On the way back to Baron, the party is attacked byLeviathanand separated.

Cecil awakes alone near Mysidia. When he enters the town, he finds that its residents deeply resent him for the prior attack on their town. Through theElder of Mysidia,he learns that to defeat Golbez, he must climb Mt. Ordeals and become aPaladin.[29]Before embarking on his journey, he is joined by the twin mages, Palom and Porom. On the mountain he encounters Tellah, who is searching for the forbidden spell Meteor to defeat Golbez.[30]After defeating the fiend Scarmiglione and casting aside the darkness within himself, Cecil becomes a Paladin, while Tellah learns the secret of Meteor. Upon reaching Baron, the party discovers an amnesiac Yang and return him to his senses. The party then confronts the King, only to discover that he is an imposter and one of Golbez's minions, Cagnazzo.[31]After defeating him, Cid arrives and takes them to one of his airships, theEnterprise.On the way, the party enters a room booby-trapped by Cagnazzo, where Palom and Porom sacrifice themselves to save Cecil, Tellah, Cid, and Yang.

On the airship, Kain appears and demands Cecil retrieve the final crystal in exchange for Rosa's life,[32]which the party obtains with assistance from a bedridden Edward. Kain then leads the party to the Tower of Zot, where Rosa is imprisoned. At the tower's summit, Golbez takes the crystal and attempts to flee. Tellah casts Meteor to stop Golbez, sacrificing his own life in the process, but the spell only weakens Golbez, ending his mind control of Kain.[33]Kain helps Cecil rescue Rosa, and defeat Barbariccia another fiend before Rosa teleports the party out of the collapsing tower to Baron.

In Baron, Kain reveals that Golbez must also obtain four subterranean "Dark Crystals" to achieve his goal of reaching the Moon.[34]The party travels to the underworld and encounter the Dwarves, who are currently fighting the Red Wings. They defeat Golbez thanks to a sudden appearance by Rydia, now a young woman due to her time spent in the Feymarch, the home of the Eidolons. However, the party ultimately fails to prevent Golbez from stealing the Dwarves' crystal. With the help of the Dwarves, they enter the Tower of Babil in order to obtain the crystals Golbez has stored there, only to find that they have been moved to a surface portion of the tower. Yang later sacrifices himself in order to stop the tower's cannons from firing on the Dwarves (though he's later revealed to have survived). After escaping a trap set by Golbez, the party flees the underworld aboard theEnterprise,with Cid sacrificing himself to reseal the passage between the two worlds and to prevent the Red Wings from continuing their pursuit.[35]The party, now joined by Edge, the prince of Eblan, travels back to the Tower of Babil in order to take back the stolen crystals and revenge himself upon Rubicante the last of the fiends. Upon reaching the crystal room, however, the party falls through a trap door to the underworld. Meeting with the Dwarves once again and finding Cid to be alive, the party sets out to retrieve the eighth crystal before Golbez can. When the crystal is obtained, Golbez appears and reveals he still has control over Kain, while taking the crystal for himself.[36]After learning of theLunar Whale,a ship designed to take travelers to and from the moon, the party return to Mysidia where the town's Elder and mages summon the ship.[37]

Arriving on the Moon, the party meets the sage Fusoya, who explains that Cecil's father was a Lunarian.[38]Fusoya also explains that a Lunarian named Zemus plans to destroy life on the Blue Planet so that the Lunarians can take over, using Golbez to summon the Giant of Babil, a colossal robot.[39]The party returns to Earth and the forces of the two worlds attack the Giant, including Palom and Porom, who have been revived. After the party breaks the robot, Golbez and Kain confront them, only to have Fusoya break Zemus' control over Golbez, in turn releasing Kain. Cecil learns that Golbez is his older brother.[40]Golbez and Fusoya head to the core of the Moon to defeat Zemus, and Cecil's party follows. In the Moon's core, the party witnesses Golbez and Fusoya kill Zemus, but then quickly fall to an evil spirit named Zeromus, the embodiment of all of Zemus' hatred and rage.[41]Back on Earth, the Elder of Mysidia entreats all of Cecil's allies and friends to pray for the party, which gives Cecil and his allies the strength to fight and destroy Zeromus. Following the battle, Fusoya and Golbez opt to leave Earth with the moon.[42]Cecil, at last accepting the truth, acknowledges Golbez as his brother, and bids him farewell.

During the epilogue, most of the cast reunites to celebrate Cecil and Rosa's wedding and their coronation as Baron's new king and queen, while Kain is seen atop Mount Ordeals, having vowed to atone for his misdeeds.

Development

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After completingFinal Fantasy IIIin 1990, Square planned to develop twoFinal Fantasygames—one for theFamicomand the other for the forthcomingSuper Famicom,to be known asFinal Fantasy IVandVrespectively.[43]Due to financial and scheduling constraints, Square dropped plans for the Famicom game and continued development of the Super Famicom version, retitledFinal Fantasy IV.A mock-up screenshot of the cancelled title was produced for a Japanese magazine, but little other information exists about it.[43]Series creator and directorHironobu Sakaguchihas stated that the Famicom version was approximately 80% complete and certain ideas were reused for the Super Famicom version.[44]

Final Fantasy IVwas lead designerTakashi Tokita's first project at Square as a full-time employee. Before this, Tokita wanted a career as a theater actor, but working on the game made him decide to become a "great creator" of video games.[45]InitiallyHiromichi Tanaka,the main designer ofFinal Fantasy III,was also involved in the development of the game. However, Tanaka wanted to create a seamless battle system that had no separate battle screen and was not menu-driven, and sinceFinal Fantasy IVwas not going in that direction, he changed development teams to work on theaction RPGSecret of Manainstead.[46]According to Tanaka, he originally wanted the title to have a "more action-based, dynamic overworld" but it "wound up not being"Final Fantasy IVanymore, instead becoming a separate project that eventually becameSeiken Densetsu 2(Secret of Mana), which was codenamed "Chrono Trigger"during development.[47]The development team ofFinal Fantasy IVcontained 14 people in total, and the game was completed in roughly one year.[48]

Initial ideas were contributed by Sakaguchi, including the entire story and the name of Baron's royal air force, the "Red Wings".[2][49]The Active Time Battle (ATB) system was conceived and designed byHiroyuki Itowhen he was inspired while watching aFormula Onerace and seeing racers pass each other at different speeds. This gave him the idea of different speed values for the individual characters.[50][51]The system was developed byKazuhiko Aoki,Ito andAkihiko Matsui.[52]As the game's lead designer, Tokita wrote the scenario and contributed pixel art.[53]He said that there was a lot of pressure and that the project would not have been completed if he did not work diligently on it. According to Tokita,Final Fantasy IVwas designed with the best parts of the previous three installments in mind: the job system ofFinal Fantasy III,the focus on story ofthe second game,and the four elemental bosses acting as "symbols for the game" as in thefirst installment.[48]Other influences includeDragon Quest II.[54]The themes of the game were to go "from darkness to light" with Cecil, a focus on family and friendship among the large and diverse cast, and the idea that "brute strength alone isn't power".[49]Tokita feels thatFinal Fantasy IVis the first game in the series to really pick up on drama,[48]and the first Japanese RPG to feature deep characters and plot.[55]

The game's script had to be reduced to one fourth of its original length due to cartridge storage limits, but Tokita made sure only "unnecessary dialogue" was cut, rather than actual story elements.[56]As the graphical capacities of the Super Famicom allowed regular series character designerYoshitaka Amanoto make more elaborate character designs than in the previous installments, with the characters' personalities already evident from the images, Tokita felt the reduced script length improved the pacing of the game.[48][57]Still, he acknowledges that some parts of the story were "unclear" or were not "looked at in depth" until later ports and remakes. One of the ideas not included, due to time and space constraints, was a dungeon near the end of the game where each character would have to progress on their own—this dungeon would only be included in the Game Boy Advance version of the game, as the Lunar Ruins.[48]

Music

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Main article:Music of Final Fantasy IV

The score ofFinal Fantasy IVwas written by longtime series composerNobuo Uematsu.Uematsu has noted that the process of composing was excruciating, involving trial and error and requiring the sound staff to spend several nights in sleeping bags at Square's headquarters. His liner notes were humorously signed as being written at 1:30 AM "in the office, naturally".[58]The score was well received; reviewers have praised the quality of the composition despite the limited medium.[59]The track "Theme of Love" has even been taught to Japanese school children as part of the music curriculum.[60]Uematsu continues to perform certain pieces in hisFinal Fantasyconcert series.[61]

Three albums of music fromFinal Fantasy IVhave been released in Japan. The first album,Final Fantasy IV: Original Sound Version,was released on June 14, 1991, and contains 44 tracks from the game. The second album,Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon,was released on October 24 the same year, and contains a selection of tracks from the game,arrangedand performed byCeltic musicianMáire Breatnach.Lastly,Final Fantasy IV Piano Collections,an arrangement of tracks for solo piano performed by Toshiyuki Mori, was released on April 21, 1992, and began thePiano Collectionstrend for each successiveFinal Fantasygame. Several tracks have appeared onFinal Fantasycompilation albums produced by Square, includingThe Black MagesandFinal Fantasy: Pray.Independent but officially licensed releases ofFinal Fantasy IVmusic have been orchestrated by such groups as Project Majestic Mix, which focuses on arranging video game music.[62]Selections also appear on Japanese remix albums, calleddōjin music,and on English remixing websites such asOverClocked ReMix.[63]

North American localization

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Because the previous two installments of theFinal Fantasyseries had not been localized and released in North America at the time,Final Fantasy IVwas distributed asFinal Fantasy IIto maintain naming continuity.[64]This remained the norm until the release ofFinal Fantasy VIIin North America (after the release ofFinal Fantasy VIunder the title ofFinal Fantasy III) and subsequent releases of the originalFinal Fantasy IIandIIIon various platforms. The game has since gone under the titleFinal Fantasy IVin all subsequent ports.

The English localization ofFinal Fantasy IVretains the storyline, graphics, and sound of the original, but the developers significantly reduced the difficulty for beginning gamers.[65]Square was worried that western fans would find it difficult to adjust to the game's complexity due to not having played the previous two entries, so decreased the overall depth considerably.[66]Other changes include the removal of overtJudeo-Christianreligious references and certain potentially objectionable graphics. For example, the magic spell "Holy" was renamed "White", and all references toprayerwere eliminated; the Tower of Prayers in Mysidia was renamed the Tower of Wishes. Direct references to death were also omitted, although several characters clearly die during the course of the game.[67]The translation was changed in accordance with Nintendo of America'scensorshippolicies (at a time before the formation of theESRBand its rating system).[68]

Re-releases

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See also:Final Fantasy Chronicles,Final Fantasy IV (2007 video game),andFinal Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection

In addition to its original release,Final Fantasy IVhas been remade into many different versions. The first of these wasFinal Fantasy IV Easy Type,a modified version of the game which was released for the Super Famicom in Japan. In this version, the attack powers of weapons have been enhanced, while the protective abilities of certain spells and pieces of armor are amplified.[65]The American release is partially based onEasy Type.

APlayStationport debuted in Japan on March 21, 1997. Ported byToseand published by Square, it was designed and directed byKazuhiko Aoki,supervised by Fumiaki Fukaya, and produced by Akihiro Imai.[69]This version is identical to the original game, although minor tweaks introduced in theEasy Typeare present. The most notable changes in the PlayStation release are the inclusion of afull motion videoopening and ending sequence, the ability to move quickly in dungeons and towns by holding the Cancel button, and the option of performing a "memo" save anywhere on the world map.[69]This version was released a second time in Japan in March 1999 as part of theFinal Fantasy Collectionpackage, which also included the PlayStation versions ofFinal Fantasy VandVI.[70]Fifty-thousand limited edition copies of the collection were also released and included aFinal Fantasy-themed alarm clock.[71]

The PlayStation port was later released withChrono Triggerin North America as part ofFinal Fantasy Chroniclesin 2001 and withFinal Fantasy Vin Europe and Australia as part ofFinal Fantasy Anthologyin 2002.[72]The English localizations feature a new translation, although certain translated lines from the previous localization by Kaoru Moriyama, such as "You spoony bard!", were kept, as they had become fan favorites.[73]A remake for theWonderSwan Color,with few changes from the PlayStation version, was released in Japan on March 28, 2002. Character sprites and backgrounds were graphically enhanced through heightened details and color shading.[74]

Final Fantasy IVwas ported again by Tose for theGame Boy Advanceand published asFinal Fantasy IV Advance(ファイナルファンタジーIVアドバンス,Fainaru Fantajī Fō Adobansu).It was released in North America by Nintendo of America on December 12, 2005; in Japan by Square Enix on December 15; in Australia on February 23, 2006; and in Europe on June 2. In Japan, a special version was available which included a limited editionGame Boy Microwith a themed face plate featuring artwork of Cecil and Kain.[75]The enhanced graphics from the WonderSwan Color port were further improved, and minor changes were made to the music. The localization team revised the English translation, improving the flow of the story, and restoring plot details absent from the original.[65]The abilities that were removed from the original North American release were re-added, while spells were renamed to follow the naming conventions of the Japanese version, changing "Bolt2" to "Thundara" for example.[67]A new cave at Mt. Ordeals was added featuring powerful armor and stronger weapons for five additional characters, as was the Lunar Ruins, a dungeon accessible only at the end of the game.[65]

The game wasremadewith 3D graphics for theNintendo DSas part of theFinal Fantasyseries' 20th anniversary, and was released asFinal Fantasy IVin Japan on December 20, 2007, in North America on July 22, 2008, and in Europe on September 5.[76]The remake adds a number of features not present in the original, such as voice acting, minigames, and some changes to the basic gameplay. The game was developed byMatrix Software,the same team responsible for theFinal Fantasy IIIDS remake, and was supervised by members of the original development team:Takashi Tokitaserved asexecutive producerand director, Tomoya Asano as producer and Hiroyuki Ito as battle designer. AnimatorYoshinori Kanadastoryboarded the newcutscenes.

The original version of the game was released on theWiiVirtual Consolein Japan on August 4, 2009, and in PAL regions on June 11, 2010.[77]An enhanced port fori-modecompatible phones was released in Japan on October 5, 2009. It retains features introduced in the Wonderswan Color and Game Boy Advance ports, while incorporating enhanced character graphics on par with those found inThe After Years,as well as an exclusive "extra dungeon" available after completing the game.[78]

Along withFinal Fantasy IV: The After Years,the game was released for thePlayStation Portableas part of the compilationFinal Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection.This version used updated2D graphics,as opposed to the 3D graphics seen in the DS remake. The collection also includes a new episode calledFinal Fantasy IV: Interlude,which takes place between the original game andThe After Years.Masashi Hamauzu arranged the main theme for the game.[79]It was released worldwide in April 2011, with the exception of Japan in March.[80]The PlayStation port was re-released as part of theFinal Fantasy 25th Anniversary Ultimate BoxJapanese package in December 2012.[81]

In December 2012, the Nintendo DS version ofFinal Fantasy IVwas released for theiOSandAndroid(June 2013) mobile platforms, introducing an optional easier difficulty level.[82]Final Fantasy IVwas also released forWindowsin September 2014, with no prior advertisement.[83]

The PlayStation version was released as a PSOne Classic in Japan on June 27, 2012, compatible with PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and PlayStation Portable.

The Super Famicom version was released on theWii UVirtual Console in Japan on February 19, 2014, while the Game Boy Advance version was released on April 13, 2016.

Reception

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The game received positive reviews upon release.[95]Famitsu's panel of four reviewers gave it ratings of 9, 9, 10, and 8, adding up to an overall score of 36 out of 40, one of the highest scores it awarded to any game in 1991, second only toThe Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.[92]In its November 1991 issue,Nintendo Powerproclaimed it set a "new standard of excellence" for role-playing games.[101]They praised the battles as being "more interesting than in previous RPGs" because the player "must make snap decisions" and the "enemies don't wait for you to make up your mind" and concluded that the "story, graphics, play and sound will keep fans riveted".[95]Electronic Gaming Monthly'panel of four reviewers gave it ratings of 8, 9, 7, and 8, out of 10, adding up to 32 out of 40 overall.[90]In its December 1991 issue, Ed Semrad, who gave it a 9, wrote that "Square has just redefined what the ultimate RPG should be like", noting the "spectacularMode 7effects, outstanding graphics and a quest unequalled in a video game ", concluding that it" makes use of all the Super NES has to offer "and is" the best made to date! "Ken Williams (as Sushi-X), who gave it an 8, said that it is" a totally awesome RPG ", the" storyline is actually coherent and the plot moves along with a combination of speaking sequences and battles ". On the other hand, Martin Alessi, who disliked role-playing games, gave it a 7. They gave the game an award for 1991'sBest RPG Video Game,stating that the "Mode 7 is great here and Square does a spectacular job in using it to zoom in and away from the planet" and that the "quest is huge and also one of the most difficult ever attempted in a video game".[95]

GameProrated it a perfect 5.0 out of 5 in all five categories (graphics, sound, control, fun factor, and challenge) in its March 1992 issue.[102]The reviewer Monty Haul stated that it "truly redefines the standards for fantasy adventure games", proclaiming that "one-dimensional characters, needless hack 'em combat, and linear gameplay will be things of the past if other RPGs learn a lesson or two from this cart", concluding that it "is one small step for Square Soft, and one giant leap for SNES role-playing games".[95]In the November 1993 issue ofDragon,Sandy Petersengave it an "Excellent" rating. He criticized the "stylized" combat system and the graphics as "inferior" toZelda,but praised how every "spell has a different on-screen effect" and the difficulty for being "just about right" where bosses "nearly beat you every time" unlike other RPGs such asUltimawhere enough "adventuring" makes it possible to "trash" enemies "with ease". He praised the "great" music, preferring it overZelda,stating what it "lacks in graphics, it more than makes up for in sound". He praised the story in particular, noting that, in a departure from other RPGs where the party always "sticks together through thick and thin", the characters have their own motives for joining and leaving the group, with one that "even betrays" them. He said that it is like "following the storyline of afantasy novel",comparing it toThe Lord of the RingsandMan in the Iron Mask,concluding that, because "the characters often spoke up for themselves", he "got much more attached" to the party "than in any other computer game".[89]

Retrospectively, major reviewers have calledFinal Fantasy IVone of the greatest video games of all time, noting that it pioneered many now commonconsolerole-playing game features, including the concept of dramatic storytelling in an RPG.[3][4]In a 1997 retrospective,GameProcredited it as "the first game where a turn-based combat system allowed you to change weapons, cast spells, and use items during a battle, and it featured some of the most exciting villains to date".[102]Reviewers have praised the game for its graphics, gameplay and score,[65][3]and have noted thatFinal Fantasy IVwas one of the first role-playing games to feature a complex, involving plot.[19][59]However, some retrospective reviews have criticized the game's original English-language translation.[59][65]

It has been included in various lists of thebest games of all time.Nintendo Powerincluded it in the "100 Greatest Nintendo Games" lists, placing it ninth in 1997's issue 100,[103]and twenty-eighth in 2005's issue 200.[104]IGNincluded it in its top 100 lists of the greatest games of all time, ranking it #9 in 2003, as the highest-ranking RPG,[6]and at #26 in 2005, as the highest ratedFinal Fantasytitle on the list.[5]In 2007, it was ranked at #55,[105]behindFinal Fantasy VI[106]andFinal Fantasy Tactics.[107]Famitsureleased a reader poll in 2006 ranking it as the sixth best game ever made.[7]It was also listed among the best games of all time byElectronic Gaming Monthlyin 2001[8]and 2006,[9]Game Informerin 2001[10]and 2009,[11]GameSpotin 2005,[12]andGameFAQsin 2005,[13]2009[14]and 2014.[15]

Weekly FamitsugaveFinal Fantasy Collectiona score of 54 out of 60 points, scored by a panel of six reviewers.[71]The Game Boy Advance version,Final Fantasy IV Advance,was met with praise from reviewers,[85]although a few noted the game's graphics do not hold up well to current games, especially when compared toFinal Fantasy VI.[65][108]Reviewers noted that some fans may still nitpick certain errors in the new translation.[3]The Nintendo DS version of the game was praised for its visuals, gameplay changes and new cutscenes.[109][110][111]It was a nominee for Best RPG on the Nintendo DS inIGN's 2008 video game awards.[112]

Sales

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Upon release in Japan,Final Fantasy IVsold about 200,000 cartridges on its first day, about4.5 timesless than whatFinal Fantasy Vsold on its first day a year later, no doubt because audiences were hoping for more of the same.[113]The Super Famicom version ofFinal Fantasy IVwent on to sell1.44 millioncopies in Japan.[114]

The PlayStation version sold an additional 261,000 copies in Japan in 1997.[115]By March 2003, the game, including the PlayStation and WonderSwan Color remakes, had shipped 2.16 million copies worldwide, with 1.82 million of those copies being shipped in Japan and 340,000 abroad.[116]The Game Boy Advance version of the game sold over 219,000 copies in Japan by the end of 2006.[117]As of 2007, just before the release of the Nintendo DS version, nearly 3 million copies of the game had been sold around the world.[17]By May 2009, the DS version of the game had sold 1.1 million copies worldwide.[118]According toSteam Spy,another 190,000 copies of the PC version were sold by April 2018.[119]

In addition,Final Fantasy Collection,which includesFinal Fantasy IV,sold over 400,000 copies in 1999. This makes it the 31st best selling release of that year in Japan.[120]

Legacy

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Final Fantasy IV: The After Years,the sequel toFinal Fantasy IV,is set seventeen years after the events of the original. The first two chapters of the game were released in Japan in February 2008 forNTT DoCoMoFOMA 903iseries phones, and forau WIN BREWseries phones in spring. The game revolves around Ceodore, the son of Cecil and Rosa, with most of the original cast members returning, some of whom are featured in more prominent roles than before, among other new characters.[121][122]After the mobile release,The After Yearswas released outside Japan,[123]forWii'sWiiWareservice.[124]The first two chapters were released in June 2009, in North America and PAL territories, with the additional chapters being released in the following months.[125][126]

A two-volume novelization ofFinal Fantasy IVwas released in Japan on December 25, 2008.[127][128]

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^Japanese:ファイナルファンタジーIV,Hepburn:Fainaru Fantajī Fō

References

edit
  1. ^I. G. N. Staff (June 27, 2001)."Final Fantasy Chronicles Coming... Tomorrow?".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2023.RetrievedNovember 25,2023.
  2. ^abSakaguchi, Hironobu (June 5, 1998)."Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi".Shūkan Famitsu(Interview). Translated by Sachi Coxon.ASCII Corporation.Archived fromthe originalon July 17, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 5,2017.
  3. ^abcdeKasavin, Greg (December 12, 2005)."Final Fantasy IV Advance Review".Gamespot.Archivedfrom the original on October 23, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 6,2017.
  4. ^abcTurner, Ben (December 12, 2005)."Final Fantasy IV Advance (GBA)".GameSpy.CBS Interactive Inc. Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2006.RetrievedJanuary 6,2017.
  5. ^ab"IGN's top 100 games of all time".IGN.2005. Archived fromthe originalon August 2, 2005.RetrievedJanuary 15,2017.
  6. ^ab"IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time".IGN.2003. Archived fromthe originalon June 8, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 15,2017.
  7. ^abCampbell, Colin (March 3, 2006)."Japan Votes on All Time Top 100".Next Generation Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon July 23, 2008.RetrievedJune 4,2006.
  8. ^abTop 100 Games of All Time,Electronic Gaming Monthly,2001
  9. ^ab"The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time".Electronic Gaming Monthly.February 6, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon October 17, 2012.RetrievedNovember 19,2013.
  10. ^abGame Informer's Top 100 Games of All Time (Circa Issue 100)ArchivedJanuary 2, 2016, at theWayback Machine,Game Informer,2001
  11. ^abGame Informer's Top 200 Games of All TimeArchivedDecember 25, 2014, at theWayback Machine,Game Informer,2009
  12. ^abThe Greatest Games of All Time,GameSpot,2006
  13. ^ab"Fall 2005: 10-Year Anniversary Contest—The 10 Best Games Ever".GameFAQs.Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2015.RetrievedJuly 16,2008.
  14. ^ab"Spring 2009: Best. Game. Ever".GameFAQs.Archived fromthe originalon January 2, 2016.RetrievedDecember 13,2014.
  15. ^abTop 100[usurped],GameFAQs,2014
  16. ^abcdefSquare Co., ed. (1991).Final Fantasy II instruction manual.Square Co. p. 74. SFS-F4-USA-1.
  17. ^abcdeGameTrailers(May 17, 2016) [July 30, 2007].Final Fantasy Retrospective - Part 3.YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on February 26, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 5,2017.
  18. ^Final Fantasy Advance instruction manual.Square Enix. 2005. p. 22. AGB-BZ4E-USA.
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  20. ^Palley, Steve (December 20, 2006) [September 12, 2005]."Sail to the Moon: Final Fantasy II".GameSpot.Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 5,2017.
  21. ^Fusoya:Long ago, the world that lay between the Red Planet and the Great Behemoth stood at the verge of destruction, both terrible and complete. The last survivors of that devastation boarded a ship and escaped to the Blue Planet. /Cecil:Blue Planet? /Fusoya:The one that you call home. But your planet was still in the midst of its evolution, you see. And so those travelers created a second moon for the planet, and there they settled into a long and quiet slumber.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  22. ^King of Baron:This is most unfortunate, but I can place no trust on one who offers none in return. I hereby relieve you of command of the Red Wings. /Cecil:My liege! /King:You will go now to the Valley of Mist instead. There is a task I would have you do. A phantom creature haunts the borders of that land-the Eidolon of Mist. You will slay it and deliver this ring to the village that lies beyond — they will know its meaning. Be gone by first light in the morning!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  23. ^Rydia:Mother, you can't die! Just because your dragon did...Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  24. ^Officer of Baron:Our orders come directly from His Majesty's own mouth. Surrender the girl, and he will pardon all you've done. The inhabitants of Mist represent a threat to us all. They must not be allowed to live!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  25. ^Tellah:My daughter Anna was tricked by a silver-tongued bard. He's taken her to Damcyan Castle. I fear I've little time. I sense something sinister.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  26. ^Edward:The Red Wings laid siege to us, led by a man named Golbez.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  27. ^Tellah:Tears do not bring back the dead, boy! Anna's death must be avenged. I'll find this Golbez!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  28. ^Kain:It's been some time, Cecil. /Cecil:Kain! You're alive! /Kain:I am. /Cecil:You'll fight, then? /Kain:Of course. That's the very reason I've come. But, Cecil...The one I'll fight is you! /Cecil:Kain!? /Kain:A duel, Cecil! /Cecil:What do you mean? /Kain:Draw your blade!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  29. ^Elder:First you must ascend the mountain and trade your dark sword for one of light. Should the hallowed light deem you worthy, you will be made a paladin--a warrior of virtue. But know it will be no easy trail. Many are the man who have scaled the mountain, but not one has returned. Will you try where all others have failed? /Cecil:I will!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  30. ^Cecil:Weren't you planning to go after Golbez?. /Tellah:Yes, but my magic is no match for a man of his strength. I've been searching for the legendary magic of Meteor. It has been long sealed away, and I know not where. But I feel a powerful aura radiating from this place. I believe the spell I seek may well rest within this mountain.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  31. ^Cecil:What have you done with the king!? /"King of Baron":Would you like to go and see him, that king of yours? You best not mistake me for another Scarmiglione. How one as weak as he came to be crowned an archfiend is something I will never know. Mwa ha ha! /Cecil:Then you're one of them! /"King of Baron":Behold! I am the Drowned King, Cagnazzo--archfiend of water and sworn servant of Golbez!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  32. ^Cecil:Where's Rosa? She's safe, I trust. /Kain:Heh. Worried about her, are you? If you wish to see Rosa alive, fetch me the Earth Crystal from the land of Troia.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  33. ^Golbez:So, the old man's interference severed my hold over you. No matter. Your purpose is served. Do not think this affront will be forgiven. /Cecil:Why...why now stay your hand? /Golbez:You're--You..But--how?...? We will finish this another time.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  34. ^Cecil:Kain, we've lost the Earth Crystal. Golbez holds all them now. /Kain:No. he holds four. /Rosa:You mean to say there are more? /Cid:Come to think it, I've heard tales of others! You speak of the Dark Crystals? /Kain:I do. /Kain:There is more. He said when all of the Crystals were gathered, the way to the moon would be opened.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  35. ^Cid:Once you breach surface, I'll seal off that hold for good--with this! /Rosa:No! Not you too! /Cid:I was hoping I'd get to see your kids someday, but, well--someone's got to keep Yang company! You get yourselves back to Baron. Talk to my boys there! /Rydia:But Cid! You'll die! /Cid:And so young, too!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  36. ^Golbez:Kain...Return to me, my pawn...Deliver to me the Crystal... /Cecil:Golbez! /Cecil:Kain! /Rosa:Don't listen! Resist him! /Kain:It's alright. I...I'm back in control of myself. /Edge:You filthy double-crosser! /Rosa:Kain. What are you doing!? /Golbez:You underestimate the strength of my abilities. I had but slackened your friend's leash, waiting for the proper moment to pull it taut. With this final Crystal, the Tower of Babil will be made complete. Come, Kain. /Cecil:Kain! Don't listen to him! Kain! /Kain:The Crystals are all assembled. We can open the way to the moon at last!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  37. ^Elder:She is risen! The promised Ship of Light... The Lunar Whale!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  38. ^'Cecil:And the Lunar Whale, where did it come from? /Fusoya:Ah, the ship...My younger brother Kluya built that vessel long ago, and flew it to the Blue Planet. He took with him several of our secrets, such as the ones employed in your Devil's Road and in airships--a gift to your people. Kluya was fascinated by your planet and wished to know more about it. And while he was there, he fell in love with a woman of your planet.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  39. ^Fusoya:He thought it fit that we should simply raze all existing life on the Blue Planet and claim it as our own. /Rydia:That's horrible... /Fusoya:Yes. And so I used my powers to force him into hibernation with the others. But as he slept, his will grew stronger and took on a consciousness all its own. It reached out to men with tainted hearts on your planet, twisting them into beings yet darker still. And through them, he began to gather the Crystals. /Cecil:So he was manipulating Golbez! /Edge:Does this guy have a name? /Fusoya:His name is Zemus. The Crystals function as a source of energy you see. I fear he has gathered them in order to activate the interdimenional elevator within the Tower of Babil. With it, he will be able to transport the Giant of Babil to your planet and use it to extinguish all life there.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  40. ^Golbez:My father... His name was Kluya. /Rosa:That you're Cecil's own... /Edge:Brother!?Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  41. ^Zeromus:I am the wellspring of darkness, fed by Zemus's unbridled hate. I am He who is called Zeromus... I am He who know naught but hate!Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
  42. ^Golbez:I cannot return. Not after I have done. And I would very much like to meet my father's people. At least one time.Square Enix (July 22, 2008).Final Fantasy IV DS(Nintendo DS). Square Enix.
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