FINAL FANTASY IV Pixel Remaster

The first of the GOAT Final Fantasy games. People don't talk about 4 as much these days, but back in the day there were just as many people talking about 4 as 6. I think it's easy to see why: Cecil is the first antihero protagonist in the series and is the fist time I really felt invested in their journey thus far. It's a darker, more competent FF2. Yes, your team will come and go with the weather. There are a few times when that will ♥♥♥♥ up your party composition. There's no bonus dungeons from the GBA version. There's enough dungeons already IMO. If you're into these games more for the story than the gameplay, you'll enjoy this one.

Final Fantasy IV is one of the most important games in the series and a major step forward for RPG storytelling. It introduced a more character-driven narrative, which makes it stand out even today. The story is a big highlight, following Cecil and his journey from a dark knight to a hero. The characters feel more developed than in earlier games, and the plot has more emotional moments that keep you engaged. The gameplay introduces the Active Time Battle system, which adds a sense of urgency to combat. It makes fights feel faster and more dynamic compared to the turn-based systems in previous games. Each character having a defined role also helps the game feel more balanced, even if it limits customization compared to other entries in the series. Overall, Final Fantasy IV is a classic RPG with a strong story and important gameplay innovations. It still holds up well and is a great entry in the series. Gameplay: 8/10 Very Good | Overall: 9/10 Great

I think the story is kind of weak overall but this is definitely better than 1-3. My only gripe with this game is how often the party changes, it was very frustrating because the game rewards you for grinding your character in the midgame, they get super op and then they never touch your party again. I have to touch on the series more to find out if this is a problem with the game or the series. The party in the end was not my favorite I wish there could have been some substitutions. I did like most of the main cast, Cecil and Kain are badass and my favorites. The only other early FF game i've played at this point is 1 and this was way better and felt way more modern. Having set characters rather than the build your own party felt much more enjoyable. Combat was still pretty simple but this game has some very difficult areas where I had to turn off encounters to keep my sanity. Overall this game doesn't do major numbers for me but it was more enjoyable than not and I appreciate it. -Sent from the SoeDeck™