Justin’s Words of Wisdom: Final Fantasy IV is Being Released…Again?
- December 15th, 2010
- Posted in Justin's Words of Wisdom
- By Justin
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By Justin Polak
Co-founder, Ambassador to the Mushroom Kingdom
My favorite game of all time is Final Fantasy IV. The reason, in short, is because it was the first game that opened my eyes to the fact that a video game can be a great medium to tell a good story in a way that TV and movies can’t replicate. I had played many great games before FFIV, but I was obsessed with the game so much that I thoroughly annoyed my family, friends and classmates for years to come. I could seriously write a lengthy article on those exploits alone, but I’m here to address a different matter.
FFIV is being released as Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection for the PSP with overhauled graphics compiled with the direct sequel, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, that came out on Japanese cellphones and later WiiWare. According to 1up, the collection will come out with one or more scenarios that will connect the two games. However, this would be far from the first time something like this has happened. Before I go on, I want to point out just how many different versions of FFIV there are.
1991: FFIV is released in Japan and the United States on the Super Famicom/Super Nintendo. The US gets a gimped version that is heavily censored and poorly translated. It’s called Final Fantasy II to avoid confusion among US players since the real FFII and FFIII were not released in the US at the time. Japan also gets an “easy type” version that, contrary to popular belief, is different from the edited US version.
1997: FFIV is released again for the PlayStation in Japan only.
2001: FFIV is released along with a re-release of Chrono Trigger on the PlayStation as Final Fantasy Chronicles in the US. The version of FFIV is uncensored and has a revised translation.
2002: FFIV is released for the Wonder Swan Color, a Japan only handheld. The key difference this time is more detailed backgrounds and graphics, albeit not by much.
2005: FFIV is released on the Game Boy Advance in Japan and the US. It has the graphical face lift that the Wonder Swan Color port had along with the ability choose different party members near the end of the game. A couple of bonus dungeons were also thrown in.
2007: FFIV is completely remade on the Nintendo DS in Japan with 3D graphics and voice acting for some scenes. Another key difference is the ability to augment abilities from allies and foes alike, if you play your cards right. The game saw release in the US in 2008.
2008: Final Fantasy IV: The After Years is released in episodic format for Japanese cellphones. FFIV:AY is a direct sequel taking place 17 years after FFIV ends. It would come to the US through WiiWare in 2009.
2009: The original FFIV gets released on Wii’s Virtual Console in Japan. The FFII version got released in March of this year in the US.
Image from hookedgamers.com.
Besides the Japan only versions, I have them all. Yes, even the crappy original US version on my Wii despite the fact that I still have a working SNES cart of it. I told you I had a sick obsession. I bought Final Fantasy Chronicles simply because I was interested in my favorite game being uncensored. I also justified my purchase of the GBA version at the time because of the bonus material…but thanks to a poor conversion of the WSC port, the game was full of various bugs. I bought the DS version because I couldn’t resist watching the game take on a new life in 3D graphics.
Though it hasn’t been announced for US release yet, I am almost positive Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection will see a stateside release. I’m sure I’ll buy it and review it for this very site (and I promise I won’t let my bias cloud my review). Why? Because I can’t help it! I don’t know what’s wrong with me!
While I begrudgingly look forward to playing another version of FFIV, I feel that it has been milked far worse than any other game Square-Enix has re-released over the years. A lot of people cite Final Fantasy VII and its various spins offs as going the furthest in the milking department, but at least the FFVII project came with games of different playing styles and a pretty fun movie out of the deal! The worst part is that fans have been clamoring for a remake ever since a PS3 tech demo recreated the opening scene back in 2005. Why not give the fans a remake of the most popular game in the series if you have no problem bleeding your franchise dry? I personally don’t even care if a FFVII remake ever emerges, but I can’t ignore the faulty logic here.
Look, I love FFIV. I also understand that FFIV was huge in Japan, but enough is enough. I wish Square-Enix would put effort into making an original series or reviving an older one instead of all these crazy Final Fantasy ports or remakes. The economy sucks and very few game companies want to take risks like that, but if a crazy FFIV fan like me is getting tired of the same game being released throughout the last couple of decades, imagine how more casual fans are feeling.
2005 Sony tech demo recreation of FFVII opening. Image from spawnkill.com.
Some people who are fans of FFIV similar to how I feel may be excited to play FFIV: AY if they couldn’t do so through WiiWare. Well, let me tell you it isn’t all that great. The story treads the same ground for the most part and tries to replicate iconic moments from the original. It ends up feeling like the writers didn’t care or that they thought any reference to the original would somehow make you feel all warm and nostalgic. Instead it comes off as really bad fan fiction. And that’s only a small fraction of the game’s problems.
Finally, the other problem I see with this release is that it won’t draw in any new fans. By today’s standards, FFIV‘s story is a cliche storm. It would be like trying to impress a child with the first Mickey Mouse cartoon. They just wouldn’t appreciate why it was such a big deal. There are exceptions, but not enough to actually make a difference.
I know I brought up remaking FFVII already, but if they have to remake a Final Fantasy and are avoiding FFVII for whatever reason, why not remake a game that they haven’t already remade? There have been tons of ports, sure, but only FFIII and FFIV has ever been truly remade from the ground up. Based on what little information is out there, it seems that the Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection will look more like a fancy port like the PSP versions of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II. Even then I still think they should have dressed up a different game since they felt the need to revisit the past once again.
In any case another version of FFIV is on it’s way. Square-Enix seems to be continuing it’s tradition of releasing more ports and remakes than original content…and as I said before, I’ll grit my teeth and play it again.
Front page image from neogaf.com.
I love IV too but I’m not as ticked as you are about it. If you think about it the Complete Collection is basically the 20th Anniversary game for IV. So if that helps you feel less ticked then cool.
That’s like I & II coming out for Nes, gba, psx, psp, and iPhone in various forms. I feel like I missed a system or two but still that’s a lot of re-releases. Some Lunar fans feel the same way about the first one which was remade 3 times, yet Lunar 2 was only remade once. Maybe FF IV will come out for iPhone too, who knows?
@Kev
Oddly enough, I didn’t notice that the collection will be released 20 years after the game is made. It’s cool that Square-Enix is tipping it’s hat to it, but I think they have tinkered with this particular FF way too much. Almost every version released could be justified if you examine why they came out when they did, but I would still prefer fresh material or AT LEAST a remake of something they haven’t touched or only ported before.
That being said, thanks for pointing out the 20th anniversary aspect, once again! The totally biased FFIV lover in me is smiling at that thought.
@Kev
I’m willing to bet that the older FFs will constantly come out for all handheld mediums as the years go by. Once we finally catch up to japanese cell phone technology, we’ll be seeing commercial late on Adult Swim saying, “Text 5517 to have Super Mario Bros. on your phone! only $4.99!”
Really RPGs are the best games available for the iPhone. It’s powerful and has excellent graphics but the lack of buttons makes action games difficult since I’m constantly re-evaluating where my thumbs are.
Retro RPGs are awesome. Vay was an old hard to find Sega CD rpg that was re-released on iPhone for like $5 which is way better than the $40 or so it goes for on ebay. I love FFI and II, but I never realized how nice it would be to always have a copy of Shining Force in my pocket whenever I’m in line or during my commute. So yeah, I really hope more FF games get ported too.
While I’m going on and on about portable FFs, rom hackers have released numerous translations of the SNES one, and they can never seem to agree on what is “the best” translation. Though “spoony bard” always makes it in.
Well that may or may not happen but if you think about it, just because one development team is working on IV Complete doesn’t mean that another team isn’t working on another project. SE is made up of many different teams and one team was instructed to pay homage to IV again, being the great game it is.
As we speak, V and VI are probably being remade already in secret and maybe even VII. We just don’t know. Obviously new games are still being produced. 3DS is getting a Chocobo Dungeon game and an FF game of undisclosed nature, possibly V. Tactics Ogre is being shipped in a few months. 3rd Birthday is coming out too as well as KH Re:coded. As gamers, we often forget the processes behind making games.
@John
That’s because that is the best translated line of all time. But yeah, I do see your point on ports. The more I thought about the more I think while I do truly wish Square-Enix would take a risk and see if they get get another flagship series rolling, it is nice for those who want those games on multiple platforms. After all, music is re-released in all sorts of formats all the time. Maybe this will be a common thing in gaming in the years to come.
@Kev
True, you never know! However, Square-Enix has been good about giving us releases stateside. We’ll have to wait and see.
You are probably right about just about everything in your second paragraph. I suppose I should have thought more carefully about the process of making games while writing this article. Thanks for bringing that to mind!
VII is the most overrated sack of shit in the entire franchise.
I welcome a new IV release with open arms. Now run along and continue fingering Sephiroth’s vagina.
Perhaps you missed the part where I said Final Fantasy IV was my FAVORITE GAME OF ALL TIME. The point of the article was that I felt that Square-Enix has revisited FFIV far too many times.
@Bias article
No doubt 4 beats 7, but unlike you I don’t whine like a little bitch because 7 is more popular than my game. My favorite is 2, the outcast of the series, and I don’t use that kindergarten IQ term fanboy for everyone that likes the others better (and you were thinking it).
7 is the most popular- you and every other idiot needs to quit being jealous of that fact. You all think bashing 7 makes you cool because you’re a jealous little bitch.
@Bias article Just because you don’t like VII or you think it’s overrated doesn’t mean it’s a bad game. Come back when you’re no longer a whiny preteen.
@Steve You are awesome. I’m playing II for the first time right now, and I love it so far.
@Justin Thank you for your article! I’m a younger FF fan (17; I got into gaming four years ago); Advent Children interested me in the series, and Final Fantasy VII turned me into a gamer, so I’m afraid I have to cite that as my favorite for sentimental reasons.
HOWEVER! I decided I wanted to see how it started, so I played the PSP port of the original Final Fantasy and fell in love with the entire series. The only ones I haven’t played yet are V and IX. And I absolutely agree that IV was wonderful and one of my absolute favorite games ever. The first version I played was the DS, so I’m not well-versed with all the different releases. As such, I was pretty excited when IV Complete Collection came out (pre-ordered it and everything, haha), so it’s very interesting to have the viewpoint of someone who’s been following the game across multiple releases. Thank you!!