Final Fantasy IV
Review
See Cecil in 3D!
by AlmightyMax
reviewed on NDS
Stepping Forward by Taking 9 Back
Due to technical advancements, other areas of the gameplay have been tweaked as well. The top screen of the DS is where all the action unfolds, the bottom screen is home to area maps and, in battle, the character status screen. The dual-screen usage is much smarter than in Final Fantasy III, and makes the game experience less cluttered and more manageable.
Thanks to the voice acting, Namingway can no longer change your characters names, and instead wanders around the world looking for a new purpose in life. During his cartography phase, for example, he gives you the Wayfarer’s Map. The map gradually fills in as you explore dungeons, and for every dungeon map you complete you are rewarded with items. The final big change is that you can now carry unlimited numbers of items, making the Fat Chocobo’s use as item storage obsolete. Instead, he allows for training and customization of Whyt.
Whyt is a brand new eidolon, or summon monster, which summoner Rydia has equipped at the beginning of the game. When summoned in battle, Whyt takes Rydia’s place and fights with preset abilities. Fat Chocobo allows players to draw Whyt a face a la Blanca from Animal Crossing Wild World, and partake in mini-games to train him. The simple touch-screen mini-games will increase Whyt’s stats and make him more proficient in battle. It is definitely a cool addition, although unless you are prepared for a hefty amount of mini-games, you will find Whyt to be more of a hindrance than a help in battle.
Final Fantasy IV also utilizes a new system known as Augments. Augments are rare items which bestow characters with new abilities, but can only be used on one character and can’t be removed afterward. Via experimentation with the augment system, you can fully customize your characters until they are whatever powerhouse you envisioned. It’s a great way to keep the abilities of party members who leave, so you will feel like they are fighting with you even after they are gone. With abilities exclusive to Japan in the past, Final Fantasy IV really allows the augments to shine on the character customization front.
Nip and Tuck
But by far, the most improved area of Final Fantasy IV DS is the presentation. The environments and characters are rendered in gorgeous 3D, and are smartly combined with 2D objects in the background. The character and enemy designs are all fantastic, boasting great animations and stunning attention to detail. With the new color palette made available, the art direction has also seen a drastic change. Environments are decorated with much more imagination than before, and help contribute to the game’s epic feel. All in all, Final Fantasy IV is one of the DS’ best looking 3D games.
The musical score is up to series standard, which is to say great. From the upbeat battle tunes to atmospheric dungeon themes, the remixed soundtrack always offers up something great to listen to. Just make sure you’ve got your headphones close at hand. However, the voice acting is more of a mixed bag. While the voice quality is definitely among the best the DS has seen so far, the ‘acting’ portion is a bit sub par. More often than not the script is overacted, adding a needless layer of melodrama.
Still Great Even 18 Years Later
Despite a couple of flaws, Final Fantasy IV DS is an absolutely great title for hardcore RPG fans. The epic, inspired story is better than ever with the new presentation, and together with the gameplay tweaks, the DS edition quickly becomes the definitive version of the game. If you are in the market for an old-school RPG, Final Fantasy IV DS is a must-have – even for those who have played it before.
8.0
fun score
No Pros and Cons at this time
