Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (NOW WITH SOME SPOILERS)

[Isenyne]

Anyone know if this is any good? It's been out on cellphone in Japan, but it's apparently headed for a US Wii release too.

Also, is Final Fantasy the only franchise in history with "sequels of sequels"? :)

[The 9th Sage]

I'm not sure how it is, but it looks to be more or less a 16-Bit style extension of FF IV, and I'll be all over that since that's probably my favorite Final Fantasy. If you like, I'll post opinions once I get it (I *THINK* it comes out on the first of June on WiiWare).

I'm don't think Final Fantasy is the only franchise to do this, but it is more rare than it probably should be (continuing the stories of games like this). Actually, another example that I like was Tales of Symphonia - Dawn of the New World.

[Isenyne]

Yeah, that'd be great. I'm interested to hear about it. Also -- I guess Grand Theft Auto does the same kind of thing with Liberty City Stories / Vice City Stories, although I guess it's 'prequels of sequels' with that.

[Haoie]

Those guys sure can milk any franchise dry.

[Reaper man]

Is it wrong that I'm hoping for an FFVII remake announcement next week?

[The 9th Sage]

Well, I've only played it for like two minutes so far, but so far so good. It's incredibly old school. It sounds like the instruments for the music have been updated, and the graphics look kind of higher res, but other than that it looks very much like a new Super Nintendo game, down to something resembling Mode7 in the intro (not sure if the SNES could handle exactly what they do, but after seeing Terrenigma's underworld, it could possibly be able to do this).

Also, it appears that you can purchase additional quests via DLC. There is one up right now called "Rydia's Tale" or something like that (focusing on Rydia, presumably) for 300 points, or $3. Oh yes, and interestingly the game is developed by Matrix, apparently. That's the company that worked on all the DS Final Fantasy remakes. If that's the case, I think it's probably in good hands.

[The 9th Sage]

After playing for a few hours, I think it's pretty good. It seemed kind of easy at first, but near the end of the initial part in Baron it was getting a bit hard. That's about where the plot starts to get interesting too. Wouldn't really want to spoil it, but a new character gets introduced, and I don't know what/who she is, but she seems to be causing chaos for everyone in FF IV's world.

I'd say that if you like Final Fantasy IV, you will really like this. Otherwise, it still seems like a solid RPG thus far, though you'll probably get more out of it if you've played FF IV.

Oh yes, and there are a few new game mechanics. First off is the Phases system, where the phase of the moon can affect the attacks of you and your enemies...each phase affects things different. For example, a Full Moon weakens standard attacks, but Black Magic is at it's peak during this phase also. It changes by itself sometimes (after different story points it will go to the next phase) and also when you stay at an inn.

Another would be the "Band" system, where characters can sometimes join together and attack as one. That means that you can look for combo attacks and use them. For example, Cecil and Rosa have one called Holy Blade, where she charges up his sword with holy magic and he whacks the enemy with it. In a way it's kind of like Chrono Trigger's Dual Techs (and maybe Triple Techs...it appears you can have more than one character banding with you). It's kind of a great idea.

[Adremalech The Wroth]

Is it wrong to hope that you can play as Theodor (aka Golbez) in that game?

[The 9th Sage]

Is it wrong to hope that you can play as Theodor (aka Golbez) in that game?

Heh, no it's not. :D One of the developments in the plot at the outset may in fact make this possible. It would be pretty awesome.

[Adremalech The Wroth]

I always loved his character and the way it develops to show the puppet master is really the puppet.
Not to mention learning he is Cecil's brother... >.>

[The 9th Sage]

I always loved his character and the way it develops to show the puppet master is really the puppet.
Not to mention learning he is Cecil's brother... >.>

Yeah, I've always liked that character as well. I hope he's in here somewhere. Oh, also, now that I've played more of it I'm definitely getting even more into it. It's kind of weird/awesome to be going through some of the same places I remember from the original game and recognizing stuff, though of course it's bound to happen as this game is in that same world.

[Adremalech The Wroth]

This game makes me want a Wii... >.>
Final Fantasy 4 is my second favorite Square RPG.
Sounds like a well made and thought through sequel.

[The 9th Sage]

I will say that the first part ends at the worst possible time though. :P Things are getting awesome, and then it ends on something of a cliff hanger. Oh well...time to buy another chapter I guess. At least it's three dollars per chapter, so that's not so bad assuming I pace myself a little this time. I've been playing the hell out of this since I got it (or at least it feels this way).

*edit*
I also want to express my adoration for the "Masked Man". ;) He gets pretty awesome.

[shadowdorothy]

the masked man is kain. yep it's a spoiler, but I already know the entire games plot from reading a japanese website. but there is another masked man after Kain. and I can't spell his name either..... it's really long.

[The 9th Sage]

the masked man is some guy. yep it's a spoiler, but I already know the entire games plot from reading a japanese website. but there is another masked man after some guy. and I can't spell his name either..... it's really long.

I was trying to avoid giving out spoilers. Please no more, because then I'll be forced to stop reading the thread entirely. Most people don't appreciate when you toss out spoilers of games that've just come out.

[shadowdorothy]

um. it's on the webpage for the game in English. I read it months ago. and you can read the plot on the site. it's hard too tell at first but after reading it everything they say is in some way a spoiler.

also if you haven't, go to the Japanese website and look at the image section. it's got all the original characters updated artwork for this game. it's pretty cool.

[The 9th Sage]

um. it's on the webpage for the game in English. I read it months ago. and you can read the plot on the site. it's hard too tell at first but after reading it everything they say is in some way a spoiler.

also if you haven't, go to the Japanese website and look at the image section. it's got all the original characters updated artwork for this game. it's pretty cool.

Still doesn't change the fact that I dislike spoilers.

Anyway, just wanted to say that after you play the first chapter, reload your completed save for that chapter (you'll want to make sure you don't save over these) and check out Baron...there's something new hidden there that's pretty cool that you can only access after completion.

*edit*
I wish they were charging slightly less for the other chapters, but overall this game is so awesome to me that I don't really care. I'm having loads of fun with it.

[shadowdorothy]

why do you have to play it in chapters though? that takes away from the awesomeness. I still like playing games the old way, you buy it all at one and there need be no expansion packs, extra maps and unreleased content to download later. episodic game play is fine, if all the episodes are there.

[The 9th Sage]

why do you have to play it in chapters though? that takes away from the awesomeness. I still like playing games the old way, you buy it all at one and there need be no expansion packs, extra maps and unreleased content to download later. episodic game play is fine, if all the episodes are there.

It's more like episodes. With the main download you get something about equal to two chapters, then you can get the DLC, which has the story of the other characters who weren't in the 'regular' game (their stories may intertwine with the other chapters, but their adventure is more or less seperate). At the end, they'll release the final chunk of the game, where everything comes together and you can load your saves from the other chapters (if you want to...this is good since it means you can get everything your characters had at the end of their stories).

There is somewhere in the range of 10 - 12 chapters I think.

[shawn]

why do you have to play it in chapters though?


Lets see, Ian said he paid $3 for the first chapter and there are 10-12 chapters. I guess you can make more money 30-36 bucks for a remake of a 16 bit game would be a good reason.

I see now they are using marketing techniques to increase the profit margin and since it's a download they don't have to even worry about the cost of cartridges, packaging, or manuals to cut into all those profits.

[The 9th Sage]

Lets see, Ian said he paid $3 for the first chapter and there are 10-12 chapters. I guess you can make more money 30-36 bucks for a remake of a 16 bit game would be a good reason.

I see now they are using marketing techniques to increase the profit margin and since it's a download they don't have to even worry about the cost of cartridges, packaging, or manuals to cut into all those profits.

Well, 10 to 12 with (apparently) the 'main game' counting as like two, and the final part of the game as two. The main game was like $8, don't know what the last part will be.

I guess it is partly price gouging, but given that they are releasing them slowly, the cost doesn't seem as much. I'll still buy it..given the amount of gameplay, that amount of money is probably not bad, given that it IS a new game (not a remake of Final Fantasy IV, but a sequel). I was thinking about it, and I'd pay that much in a heart beat if it was a DS game card, so why not for a download?

*edit*
Er, wait...Wikipedia says 9 releases...so...the first equals two chapters, the last two chapters, so...yeah, 10 then. $8 for the first two, then $3 each for the next 7...so $29 and Wikipedia says another $8 for the final part, so the total cost would be $37. Good guess then. :)

[Burzy]

FF4 is the greatest RPG ever, to me personally.

I thank you so much for the coverage of this game Sage.

*side note about the Golbez discussion before, how can you NOT love a character who has such goosebump-inducing Organ music as his theme?!

But I think Fu So Ya was my favorite character- this ancient , but glorious Mage who silently watches over his kind for a seeming eternity, and Bears the payload of the main plot to the party... and well, being Cecil's uncle is quite the revelation... made all the more stark by the revelation of big brother Golby :P

Sibling rivalvry meets pure luncay. I just cant ever get enough of that game.

[The 9th Sage]

Sibling rivalvry meets pure luncay. I just cant ever get enough of that game.
If this was an intentional pun, well played sir. ;)

[Burzy]

If this was an intentional pun, well played sir. ;)

aw shucks hehe

[Isildur]

hehe, lunacy.
The spongmonkeys (http://www.rathergood.com/moon_song) approve of that pun on this anniversary (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/090720-apollo-11-moon-facts.html).

[shadowdorothy]

I wish they would release it on the DSI already....
I mean really it's a 16 bit game. they could have put it on the GBA. but the Wii is sadly a bad choice. I have a wii, with no internet connection.

[The 9th Sage]

I wish they would release it on the DSI already....
I mean really it's a 16 bit game. they could have put it on the GBA. but the Wii is sadly a bad choice. I have a wii, with no internet connection.

I feel you there. It used to be I didn't have broadband, and I used to (and I AM serious) bring my Wii to the mall, hook it to a portable LCD I have (which happened to be a DS and a GBA TV Tuner) and use their free WiFi to download Shop Channel stuff.

This marks me as the biggest geek I know. >_<

[InVerse]

I feel you there. It used to be I didn't have broadband, and I used to (and I AM serious) bring my Wii to the mall, hook it to a portable LCD I have (which happened to be a DS and a GBA TV Tuner) and use their free WiFi to download Shop Channel stuff.

This marks me as the biggest geek I know. >_<

I think that beats out me taking my 360 over to my friend's house about 25 miles away to download stuff. Of course, as fragile as the 360 is, I keep it wrapped in a thick layer of towels that I've kept in the fridge to avoid overheating.

Incidentally, I just started playing FF2/4 for the very first time last week. Just finished the battle at... the martial arts castle that starts with F that I'm too lazy to look up. I'm playing it in small spurts.

[The 9th Sage]

I think that beats out me taking my 360 over to my friend's house about 25 miles away to download stuff. Of course, as fragile as the 360 is, I keep it wrapped in a thick layer of towels that I've kept in the fridge to avoid overheating.

Incidentally, I just started playing FF2/4 for the very first time last week. Just finished the battle at... the martial arts castle that starts with F that I'm too lazy to look up. I'm playing it in small spurts.

You must mean Fabul. I gotta say, given the X-Box...that is pretty brave. lol

[shadowdorothy]

I have wifi. but my wii is in a room with 2' thick wooden walls. I can't even get cell service in the room.

I have 4 for the gba and DS. but the DS version disappointed me. I expected to see the sprawling 50 lvl dungeon. not get 2 crappy dragons to fight.

[Burzy]

I liked the look of the DS version, but i wil always prefer crappy graphics, and enchanting music and GREAT gameplay over ANY nice graphics (looks outside.. hmm reality has nice graphics, and you don't see me running like mad to get out there >.> )

I'm sure modern game companies for a long time couldn't care less about what us oldschool hardecore gamers want.. but this games release, speaks volumes for the contrary... now if only square would smarten the hell up and INSTEAD of Cease n desisting fan project (r.i.p. Crimson Echoes i loved the beta myself :) ) , they wake up and FINISH THE DAMN STORY!!!! lol

[The 9th Sage]

Aaaah....don't get me started on Crimson Echoes. ;) If only it was released in a completed form...I mean, I guess there's the alpha that was leaked, but it's got it's share of issues. At least we got to see the story from their video walkthrough of the game.

[Burzy]

yeah I still pray for the day where Square realize we would rather buy a NEW chrono game, instead of 3 ported versions of the same one ive been playing since i was 15...

the original rules, but , come on Square, Chrono Cross was an amazing game too, and i personally loved radical dreamers, you've shown us that you are capable of so much! Just finish it!!

I suppose I'll stop de-railing this topic, Yay for the after-Years!

Guess it's time to buy a wii...