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FFIV: The After Years Impressions

by Zephyrantes on Jun.04, 2009, under Final Fantasy IV

So I picked up the prologue chapter for the game, which is actually turning out to be fairly lengthy.

I’ve logged about four hours, and it’s pretty darn good so far. Much of the gameplay is, as expected, ripped almost entirely from the original FFIV (read: turn-based, ATB driven combat). However, there are a couple of new wrinkles that have an impact. The first are “Bands”; co-op attacks by two or more party members. You acquire some bands automatically as the story progresses, but the vast majority are there for you to discover on your own by combining different actions from each member of the desired band. For example, combining “Attack” with Cecil and “White Magic” with Rosa will activate the “Holy Blade” attack. Most offensive bands do more damage to a particular enemy type, so it maintains an element of strategy. Another addition is the effect of moon phases, which shift after a period of time or whenever your party sleeps. Each of the four phases significantly powers up one of the four primary attributes (physical attack, white/black magic, and techs) and weakens another.

As story goes, the plot is pretty intriguing so far, if a little nonsensical occasionally. While you do control the old guard characters like Cecil and Rosa on occasion, the majority of the game is played as Ceodore, Cecil’s son. He’s a pretty solid character all around, though he tends toward the melodramtic.

One other thing worth noting is that this game gets hard in a hurry. At my point, I’m already having to level grind to keep standard mobs from slicing off nearly half of my HP every time they attack.

But anyway, I’m interested to keep exploring the story to see what surprises Square has in store. Definitely worth the download so far.

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3 Comments for this entry

  • Joshua
    June 5th, 2009 on 10:31 am

    I’ll follow up with some impressions to but leave it as a comment to Zephy’s post.

    Bands:

    I have used this very little but the system is similar with the “Tech” system in Chrono Trigger EXCEPT you get the control of playing around and controlling and discovering your own.

    The only problem with this is that you are getting the crap kicked out of you so hard by the monsters in this game that you have very little time for experimentation and tend to mash Attack and Cura so you can end the fight in a hurry.

    Random Battles:

    Excessive. Last night I entered a mountain area and realized I’d rather save on the field map and go to bed. The area they placed me after a bit of dialogue put me roughly 8 steps from the “exit” of the mountain area. I was attacked 3 times in those 8 steps.

    Monster Difficulty:

    Final Fantasy IV famously was “dumbed” down for its American audiences when localized some 15 years ago, and wasn’t given to us with its “hard mode” until the Gameboy Advance re-release in 2005.

    There is no EZ mode now. I can walk into a battle with 4 members at full health and by the time it’s my turn, Ceodore must use “Raise” as his opening move.

    Nostalgia:

    The music, the maps, even the little hidden rooms return. I love it. It’s a totally new 2D Final Fantasy.

    The Plot:

    Cryptic and a bit hard to follow so far. I’m likely at the same point as Zephy.

  • Joshua
    June 5th, 2009 on 10:44 am

    And hint:

    Don’t save over your main quest save with your Rydia chapter save.

  • Zephyrantes
    June 6th, 2009 on 8:51 am

    Just as a measure of how difficult this game can get, the very first dungeon in Rydia’s Tale is the infamous Sealed Cave from FFIV. Remember: the one with those EVIL and FAST Trap Door monsters whose only attack was to instant KO somebody every other turn? Now imagine fighting it with a beginner’s level party. I barely survived my first one with most of my resources drained and got the heck out of that place.

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