Originally known as Final Fantasy II on the 16-bit Super Nintendo in the US, Final Fantasy IV is often picked as the first console role playing game people my age really got into. And now it’s being remade again on the Nintendo DS. Read on to find out if it stands the test of time.

Final Fantasy IV stars Cecil the Dark Knight, captain of the Red Wings airship fleet. After his crew took a powerful crystal from the peaceful mage village of Mysdia, he and his shipmates start to question their actions. Returning to the kingdom of Baron, Cecil questions the king’s orders. Angered by his insubordinance, the king strips Cecil of his power and orders him to deliver a package to a neighboring village. When that package ends up destroying a town full of powerful monster summoners, Cecil decides to stop being loyal to the evil kingdom of Baron and runs away. Together with a team of other fighters and wizards, Cecil must fight against Baron and an even more evil force hidden within.

Even though Final Fantasy IV is beloved by many old-school fans, it’s still a pretty typical RPG. Guide Cecil and his band of ragtag adventurers and gather clues and items in towns, then venture into caves and dungeons to defeat monsters. Level up your experience points in turn based battles that appear randomly as you travel. Characters hop in and out of your party during the story, so you have to be on your toes as you master new skills and abilities.

Like Final Fantasy III on the DS, the FFIV remake is also redone with 3-D graphics, cutscenes, and even decent voice acting. Square-Enix has proven they can do amazing things on the DS, and this is no exception. They have also added a few gameplay tweaks and upped the challenge level to keep FFIV veterans on their toes. Aside from a few bits of unbalanced difficulty and disadvantages of old RPGs like level grinding and unclear goals, this is a fantastic DS game for classic RPG fans. I think the GBA remake of FFIV a couple of years ago was a little better than this, though. 4 out of 5 stars.

Kid Factor:
Final Fantasy IV is rated E-10 by the ESRB for Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, and Suggestive Themes. Most of these descriptors can be found in the text, though some can be seen visually in the game as well. There are pubs you can visit which have people acting or talking drunk. Cursing is used sparingly, but it is in the text from time to time. About the most suggestive things in the game are some dancers, but since everyone in the game is short and squatty, it kind of negates that, too. The violence in the battles is pretty light, characters and monsters trade blows and disappear when defeated. No bloodshed, but it is mentioned in the text and story.

By now you’ve probably realized that reading skill is required with all the text involved. Actually the biggest warning to parents is that this is a very difficult game, and younger, less experienced gamers might become frustrated or give up early because of the tough battles. For that reason, FFIV is best for older kid gamers who may have cut their teeth on RPGs like Pokemon but may feel too ‘old’ for that now. Playing FFIV on the DS may be a good way for younger and older gamers to bond, however, and I played the original game as a kid (well, young teen) and I turned out OK.

So what are your favorite Final Fantasy games? Mine are 4,6, and 9. –Cary

Tags: Game Reviews