[18/1000] Final Fantasy 4 Pixel Remaster

 

Platform: Switch, Xbox, PC, PS4, Mobile

Release date: September 8, 2021

Developer: Square Enix

Publisher: Square Enix

Genre: RPG

Battle System: ATB

Difficulty: Normal

Setting: Fantasy

 

Final Fantasy 4 was the revolutionary rpg for it's time. It's epic story, characters no longer a bunch of nameable dummies but a real characters with personalities (although FF2 had this earlier but still kinda barebones: characters had very small amount of dialog) and new strategic battle system. This game was also second FF released in the west as "Final Fantasy II" because real FF2 and 3 never left Japan up until FF2 release for PS1 and we got 3 just about a few years ago as Pixel Remaster (again, I'm not counting 3D remake, it's completely different game).

 

Battles here are awesome. It's the first game in series to use Active Time Battle system: you wait for character's atb gauge to fill and then give them commands. Atb gauge can also be manipulated by spells like "Haste" and "Slow" to make it fill faster for allies or slower for enemies, of course enemies can slow you down too. Spells and some special skills need time to be cast or used. It's adding action feeling to command based battles and you have to think not only about what to use but also when. Your party is also changing very frequently - almost every dungeon someone leaves or joins and each character has their own set of commands which increases variety.

Story is also very good here, although I didn't liked that twist with "true" villain. You play as Cecil - the dark knight and captain of elite forces "Red Wings" of Baron kingdom. Lately king started to act strange: he started giving orders to his troops to seize crystals, from all over the world, even by force. When Cecil started to question king's actions, he received and order to deliver a ring to Mist - village of summoners. The ring was a trap with intention of killing all summoners - a bunch of bombs flew form it and destroyed the village. Eventually Cecil learns that a man named Golbez stands before king's strange actions and now he tires to stop him. And this is like first hour of this game, it gets much more interesting later. 

This is one of the best FF games in series and (maybe) the best place to get into the series. Amazing story, great cast of characters, best type of combat in FF and almost no backtracking.

Final stats:

Game playtime: 14h 12m

Total playtime: 10d 21h 55m