Final Fantasy IV Advance Review

A Pioneer in the Industry

Well, enough of the history lesson. The point is that this game, no matter what name you call it by, was notable because it was one of the first truly plot-driven RPGs ever, at least on this side of the Pacific. It introduced many gamers to the genre, and quickly became legendary thanks to a strong cast of characters and a plotline that still stands head and shoulders above most typical RPG drivel today. Thus explains Square Enix and Nintendo's decision to re-release the now 14-year-old game in 2005 as Final Fantasy IV Advance for the Game Boy Advance. The question is, does it have the chops to compete with more modern offerings in the role-playing genre?

A Classic Story Retold

Certainly, the story holds up now as well as it ever did. In fact, it is arguably better, considering that Final Fantasy IV Advance has been retranslated and is now more faithful to the Japanese version than the heavily edited Final Fantasy II. That should especially please hardcore fans who preferred the original script and the Playstation re-translation to the initial U.S. version. Yet, fans of the writing in Final Fantasy II will also be pleased to know that some of the more unique and memorable lines have survived intact. Really, the writing is a perfect balance, equally parts fresh and poignant while also maintaining a healthy sense of both nostalgia and humor.

The plot, for those unfamiliar with the game, revolves around a dark knight named Cecil. Cecil serves as captain of the Red Wings, the elite air force of the kingdom of Baron. Lately, though, he has begun to question the orders of his liege, who has begun to act aggressively and belligerently, even going so far as to invade neighboring lands in search of the infamous crystals. When Cecil openly questions his king, the monarch strips him of his command and asks him to commit an act so heinous that it ultimately sends the knight on his own personal quest for redemption. And this all happens in just the first hour or so of play.

Faithful Companions

It truly is an epic tale, arguably one of the best in Final Fantasy history, and the roster of characters is so well fleshed out that they make many of today's supporting cast members seem downright lifeless in comparison. For example, there is the aging sage Tellah, who becomes hell-bent on revenge following a traumatic incident early on in the game. Then there is the summoner, Rydia, who must find a way come to peace with the people who murdered her family and destroyed the village she knew and loved. They are just two of the many unique and spectacularly developed characters the player will meet along the way, joining the likes of Cecil's love-interest Rosa and the young twin wizards named Palom and Porom. If you consider yourself a fan of role-playing games but you've never had the opportunity to experience their journeys, stop reading this review right now and go buy this game. You won't regret it.

Been There, Done That

What about those who have already played through Final Fantasy IV? After all, this is the third time that this game has been released in the U.S. Square Enix took the liberty of adding some new features, such as the ability to switch party members during the final stages of the game and the addition of a new dungeon with character-specific levels that add even more backstory to the supporting cast and gives them the opportunity to earn ultimate weapons. Plus, the graphics seem to have been improved ever so slightly over the Playstation remake, and there is the retranslation aspect.

Gameplay wise, though, its the same game with the same active-time battle system, the same dungeons and the same basic plot. As good a game as this is, it really isn't worth picking up if you've already played through it a couple of times before -- that is, unless you count this title amongst your two or three all-time favorites, or if you consider yourself to be a completist who absolutely needs to own and beat every Final Fantasy, RPG, Square Enix title or GBA game that comes down the pike. All others should rent first, if possible. Don't misunderstand, Final Fantasy IV will always be a classic, but even great works of literature can become a bit tiresome the third or fourth time through.