Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS) - PC and Console Games (Square Enix)

Final Fantasy IV, one of the most highly rated games of all time, makes an impressive return on Nintendo DS.

Customer Reviews of Final Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS)

heideggerus
Leiden
19th December 2008

For the sceptics and doubters
In this review I'd like to address those who, like me, played Final Fantasy 4 on the SNES, PSOne, the GBA version, maybe the ROM, and are asking themselves the question, 'Does this remake make the effort to slog through it again worthwhile?'

Why yes, yes it does!

I was very skeptic about this one, especially since it came on the heels of the 'improved' GBA edition. I've played this game so many times I can dream every nook and cranny of it, and didn't want to start from scratch again. In a weak moment I picked it up anyway, thinking that I could sleepwalk through most of the game and satisfy my curiosity about the remake. Sort of a DS sidedish, say.

Well, forget about that! From the intro onward I was sucked again into a familiar but somehow completely new tale. But, more importantly, the game throws you into the thick of things from the start. The game is harder, requires more tactical figthing, you get less gil and XP, characters have new abilities, enemies are harder to beat, and spells such as haste, slow, and esuna are there from the first battles with the 'weakest' enemies, allowing for much more strategy in your battles.

There are new welcome challenges, for instance, Namingway changes his career into Mappingway, giving you a magical map that allows you to chart all dungeons completely. Completists who persevere get all kinds of stuff as a reward. Another nice touch is Whyte, one of Rydia's Eidolons. The fat Chocobo doesn't hang on to your excess items anymore, but trains Whyte for battle. You can mould Whyte in whatever way you please, re-design him, or use him Pokemon style in wireless fights against your friends. And this is only the tip of the iceberg.

The music received an overhaul, some tunes are not so exceptional, some (like the overworld theme) feel like coming home, but then a home with a cozy fireplace, a warm rug and a bottle of fine wine waiting for you. Of course, the graphics are phenomenal, the voice acting is really, really good. There are lots of cutscenes that really add to the drama, although they can be a bit cheesy sometimes. Some scenes are extremely well-done, though. For those who already know the ins and outs of the storyline there are subtle hints to things to come.

So if you're still sitting on the fence about this one, come off and jump in. You're in for a ride, familiar yet still thrilling.

Final Fantasy addict
Essex, England
25th November 2008

Too Brilliant To Handle!
The good points of this game are:
1. Voiced cut scenes.
2. Bosses take skill and strategy.
3. Lovely background music.
4. Beautiful graphics.
5. Amazingly gripping storyline.
6. Long lasting, but not too long lasting storyline.
7. Challenging.
There is only one bad thing about this game, it may be a bit to challenging.
So don't buy this game if your looking for a pushover.
If your looking for an amazing and challenging game then this is for you.

Miss S Steen

16th November 2008

Great fun :D
I'm a big fan of Final Fantasy games, and, unlike Final Fantasy 3, this one did not disappoint.
Final Fantasy 7 was, in my opinion, one of the best ones, and if you liked that, you'll like this. The battle system is very similar, as are the graphics.
The best aspect of this game is the boss battles. They usually have some kind of quirk to them, which makes you really have to think and develop a strategy. I've played quite a few RPG's on the DS, and I felt a lot of them you could get through just by constantly attacking. Not here!
The new cut scenes added for the DS were really nice, if just a little cheesy in places, but i feel this just added to the experience.
To level up your Eidolons (summons), you play mini games using the touch screen and stylus. I found these fun and sometimes challenging (but hopefully you're better at maths than me!).
Of course, a Final Fantasy game on a handheld is never going to be as in depth as a home console, so if you're looking for another FFX, don't get your hopes up.

gurkemeia

5th October 2008

A completely ruined experience
I did enjoy this game a lot, just like I did Final Fantasy III. But only half of it. The reson for the one star is that this game contains the worst error a game can have: An almost impossible to beat boss directly after a very long cut-scene that can not be skipped and with no save point.

Now, I don't mind a challenge, and fighting the same boss a few times in order to get i right is just fine. But not when I have to watch the same cut-scene for fifteen minutes while having to press the same button over and over in order for the daft conversation to progress (you can skip about 30 secs. of the cut-scene). So after 8-10 tries, this game was put in a drawer where it will stay. No more Final Fantasy for me.

life is but a dream
london
28th September 2008

Classic RPG fun
One of my favorite games of all time is Final Fantasy IIV. When the remake of Final Fantasy III came out i gave it a try as i own a DS and have never played any FF games befor VII. Fianl Fantasy III was pretty good.

Final Fantasy IV however is in my opinion an amazing game for the DS its been handled with care and attention. The story is not as dramatic as todays standards of story telling in games but still its fun and has a classic feel to it. Graphics are very nice for the DS with some fully voiced cut scenes that help bring the characters to life which there are many and most are really cool (find out for your self).

I am about 30 hours in to the game and still have few things to do, i should also mention that this game is though but as long as you spend time to level up you will be fine.

I have the force unleashed for my 360 sitting on a shelf but that can wait until i fininsh this, choosing my DS over my 360? This game must be good.

If you like Final Fantasy you will love if you dont maybe you should try this.

I hope they foloow up with some more remakes i would love to try V and VI and maybe one day square might give the world what it wants Final Fantasy VII the remake?