Since I started this site with my first movie, that I can remember, I thought it appropriate to follow up with the game that likely contributed most to who I am and what I like. Final Fantasy IV, or Final Fantasy II as I’d known it, is an RPG by Square released in 1991 to critical success. Considered one of the best in the series, even now, Final Fantasy II was one of the many games that set things in motion for the eventual release of Final Fantasy VII, which would make RPGs a lucrative venture in North America.
I will specifically be talking about Final Fantasy II in this review, but know that just about everything I say applies to nearly every release of Final Fantasy IV, minus the 3D version. We’ll get to that.
Final Fantasy II is a game full of good ideas and wonderful execution. The characters are instantly recognizable and likable, the musical score is moving, and the world itself is one of the most interesting Final Fantasy has ever had, in my opinion.
Our story opens with Cecil, Captain of the Red Wings, elite soldiers from the kingdom of Baron. He is returning home after his successful mission to retrieve the Water Crystal from Mysidia, only to be met with suspicion. He and his men have questioned why they’re attacking innocent people and gathering crystals, but the king opts to strip Cecil of his rank, accuse him of insubordination, and cast him out. If not for the timely intervention of his best friend, Kain the Dragoon, who got Cecil a chance to prove his loyalty by delivering a package to the nearby village of Mist. And so, Cecil, a Dark Knight, sets out, with Kain by his side. Will he be able to regain his command? And why is the King of Baron gathering the crystals?
But in the end, this is a Final Fantasy game, so of course the king is corrupt and you must lead a small band of mercenaries to stop him. But is he the puppet master or just a puppet himself? No one knows for sure.
Who am I kidding? We all know he is. This is Final Fantasy! There’s always a bigger bad somewhere! This bigger bad is Golbez, who took Cecil’s place as Captain, and is gathering the crystals for reasons unknown, who is willing to stoop as low as possible, kidnapping Cecil’s girlfriend, Rosa, and attacking whomever he must. But the Dark Sword cannot harm Golbez so, in the end, Cecil must travel once more to Mysidia, climb Mount Ordeals, and shed his Dark Knight abilities to become a Paladin. Only the holy blade can pierce Golbez’s defenses, or so we are told.
And while the sense of character development is great, most characters don’t get that much. However, it can be forgiven as this is the first game in the series to explore the development of it’s characters. Sure, the actual Final Fantasy II had character development, but it usually didn’t amount to more than “Leon is my brother” or “Guy speak beaver”. No, I did not make that up about Guy speaking beaver. The less said about that, the better.
In fact, Cecil gets so little himself that his story basically wraps up right after becoming a Paladin, which happens in the first act of the game. The rest of the game features mainly secondary characters, many of whom are likable, with the occasional curve ball.
This game also spices things up with the new Active Time Battle system, at least for the time. Before Final Fantasy II, battles consisted of inputting commands on a static screen before each round and the round is played out depending on people’s agility stat. But in Final Fantasy II, you input commands as people’s turns come up and special abilities feature charge time needed to complete the ability. For example, simply attacking is quick, but casting a spell takes some time, but usually deals far more damage. Other abilities can be quick as well, like Cecil’s Darkness attack and Cid’s Analyze.
Which leads me to the biggest problem with Final Fantasy II. The special abilities I just mentioned? Most of them are absent from Final Fantasy II. Cecil’s Darkness, Tellah’s Recall, Edward’s Medicine/Heal, and many more. There was also a fair number of spells missing as well, with numerous changes to items and equipment as well.
Final Fantasy II, as many know, was actually Final Fantasy IV, and not even the normal game. Known as Final Fantasy IV Easy Type, the game is a watered down version of Final Fantasy IV. Enemies take more damage, deal less, some equipment has been changed for easier progression, and lots of the combat was streamlined, for the same reason.
As such, it’s difficult to recommend Final Fantasy II/IV. And it’s difficult because it depends on the version you can get your hands on. This is because the various versions offer different things. Final Fantasy II on Super Nintendo is the easiest, while the Playstation 1 version is the first release of Hard Type and restores all the lost content. The Gameboy Advance or PSP versions are the most feature complete, featuring all missing content and additional dungeons, with the PSP version also featuring The After Years, the sequel to Final Fantasy IV, but many fans don’t like The After Years.
And then there’s the 2007 remake for the Nintendo DS, also available on iOS, Android, and Steam. Final Fantasy IV 3D is less a new version so much as a complete reimagining of the game. All commands are available, like in all versions of Final Fantasy IV after the Super Nintendo, but it also features the Augments system, where you can give your characters passive effects like Auto-Potion or commands from either lost characters or even bosses, like Yang’s Brace or Palom and Porom’s Twin Magics. Characters are now 3D and look better than ever with new redesigns, have a stellar voice cast, and the cutscenes are better than ever. It even features New Game Plus, a feature usually absent from Square’s Final Fantasy series. However, the bonus content from the Gameboy Advance and PSP versions are missing, although replaced by a brand new post-game dungeon to challenge.
If there is just one version I must recommend, it’s the 3D version. It’s more widely available and while the lack of the bonus content is a shame, what is there is excellent. If you must have the vanilla experience, however, the Gameboy Advance and PSP versions are the most feature complete experiences. This does not, however, mean the Super Nintendo version isn’t enjoyable. It’s much easier, sure, but sometimes, I want to play Final Fantasy IV without the difficulty, which can be quite difficult at times. Sometimes, I want to re-experience the story without needing to dedicate myself to the game and the grind. Sometimes, I just want to tear through an RPG, and Final Fantasy II on Super Nintendo allows me to do that.
The only version I cannot recommend is the Playstation 1 version and that’s entirely because of it’s load times being really bad. Just go with any of the portable versions (Gameboy Advance or PSP), as they offer the same experience, but with new dungeons and additional content.
Recommended (SNES), Highly recommended (DS, PSP, and GBA)
The Professional Protagonist 