*A quick note: the next few video game reviews will be for the games in the Final Fantasy 4 Complete Collection for PSP. I will review each game individually then offer a total review for the whole package. This will be done for all game collections in the future as well! :)
***SPOILERS AHEAD***
Originally released in 1991 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System(SNES) Final Fantasy is one of the most ground-breaking and beloved entries into the FF series. Its masterful blend of great storytelling, innovative gameplay mechanics, graphics, and the large cast of likeable characters cemented Final Fantasy 4's status as one of the greatest video games of all time and the game certainly holds up to that status even by today's standards!
This entry in the FF saga was where Square really started to grow as storytellers! The story takes place on Blue Planet and follows the Dark Knight, Cecil Harvey, as he serves the Kingdom of Baron and there airship fleet the Red Wings. Cecil as well as his love interest Rosa Farrell and best friend Kain Highwind set out to discover why there kingdom has started to become aggressive with allied nations, as well as stealing elemental crystals from other kingdoms. Along the way they discover new truths about there world, there moons, as well as there pasts and as well as meet the true mastermind behind the war engulfing there world, Golbez. In there travels, Cecil and his friends also team up with a host of interesting characters. Rydia the summoner, Edward "Edge" Geraldine the ninja, Yang Fang Leiden the monk, Tellah the sage, Palom and Porom the twin magicians, Edward Chris von Muir the bard, and Cid Pollendina the engineer round out a cast that works really well together and bring the story to life! The story overall(especially when compared with the previous 3 FF games) has been credited with bringing dramatic storytelling to RPGs and the twists and turns and developments in FF4's plot will keep you engaged from start to finish! Even after over 20 years this story of war, love and redemption still knows how to wow you! :D
Some characters from Final Fantasy 4
Cecil Harvey
Rosa Farrell(hot!)
Kain Highwind
Rydia(hot!x2)
Golbez(boooo!)
As epic and ground breaking as the story was, Final Fantasy 4 also introduced several innovative gameplay conventions that are still being used in RPGs to this day! Like FF1 and FF1, you travel across the game's overworld and through dungeons battling monsters and defeating bosses. You are given the usual experience points to gain levels and increase your stats for each character. You also obtain and use gil to purchase weapons, armor and items to heal or enhance your party. One of the new mechanics that separates this from past FF games is the introduction of greater diversity in character abilities based on that particular character's class. For example, Cecil as a Dark Knight can use an attack that sacrifices his HP to attack multiple enemies with dark energy, Rydia can summon powerful entities called Eidolons to aid the party in battle with powerful attacks, and Yang uses martial arts to attack multiple enemies at once or one enemy for massive damage. Another feature introduced in this game was the fact that your party can hold up to 5 characters at once, and by doing so, you can arrange your party in two different rows to fit any situation you may come across. The front row is used for characters you wish to be your attackers. Being in front, characters deal the highest damage but also take a bit more damage as well and are more likely to be attacked. The back row is reserved for characters you use in a support role such as using White or Black magic and items. Characters in the back deal slightly less damage but take less damage as well and aren't as likely to be attacked. This concept of switching your party members from offense to defense is crucial to winning battles. Figuring out each characters strength and weaknesses and placing them in the right place adds a layer of strategy to the game and makes for some fun and challenging battles! Another new idea is the ability to switch party members with different
characters. In past FF games you were only relegated to using a set
group of characters and no one else. In FF4 after reaching a certain
point in the game, you are able to sawp out characters in your party for
others you have waiting in your airship or elsewhere. This system of
swapping party members around can make for some fun strategizing as you
try and discover new teams that can get you past a situation another
team set up can't! The most notable gameplay element(and the most innovative) in FF4 is the introduction of the Active Time Battle(ATB) system. All characters have an ATB gauge next to there HP/MP bars. After a character takes an action, like attack, use magic or items, the character must wait until the ATB gauge fills up again. The amount of time it takes for the gauge to fill back up depends on the character's class and level. The higher a character's level is, the faster the gauge will fill. Items and magic can also be used to increase the speed at which the gauge fills. Since enemies also have an ATB gauge, you can also use magic and items to slow there gauges, but the same can be done to you. The ATB system was very innovative for its time and has appeared in several RPGs since, including other FF games. It may not seem so innovative now but it still works really well, and its use means one has to carefully plan out attacks and actions before there gauge fills up. All these mechanics combine to make for addicting monster slaying and truly epic and fun boss battles!
The game's presentation, like FF1 and FF2, has been enhanced specifically for the PSP. The graphics are roughly the same as FF1 and FF2, but with a bit more detail. Also there is far greater variety to the game world. From the typical green and blue over world, to an underworld of lava and stone, and the high tech interior of an ancient tower, there is far greater visual variety in FF4 than in previous FF games. The epic soundtrack has also been upgraded. In this PSP version you can switch from using the original SNES tracks, or the new superior arrangement made for the PSP(also used in the Nintendo DS version). Some of Final Fantasy's greatest tunes came from FF4 and listening to the soundtrack today its not hard to see why! ;)
Final Fantasy 4 is where the true console RPG craze began. An amazing story, fun battle systems, and amazing soundtrack all combine to create one of the best games I have ever had the pleasure of playing as well as one of the most beloved RPGs in general! There is so much to love in FF4 you would be doing yourself a great disservice by not playing this game. Easily one of my favorite games ever, a true classic! :)
Final Fantasy 4(PSP) score: 9/10
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