A few notes going into this review:
To be honest, this is really just covering the psp version of Final Fantasy 4, not The After Years. I enjoyed my time with 4 enough- but as I'm going through the FF games I didnt really feel much of an itch to try out the other half of this collection just yet. I'll probably edit this review whenever I do get around to that but for now I'm just sticking with prime FF4. Secondly, this isn't exactly my first time touching FF4. My first experience with a Final Fantasy, let alone 4 was actually the DS version of this game, several years ago. I didnt get too far (Cagnazzo walled me as a teen) so I tried that version again when I got around to playing 4 again. After opening the DS again and messing around with that version I just decided to play this edition instead. Said DS editions bosses and overall gameplay just wasn't what I was looking for, although I don't mind the 'cuter' aesthetic and it was cool seeing a ds game with voice acting and that kind of direction.
As for this edition, and FF4 in general, it's alright. It's definitely the first FF in the series that feels genuinely 'Final Fantasy' despite me generally liking 1 and 3 as well. Its interesting going through these chronologically as you realize tiny details that might seem commonplace picking this game up weren't actually in prior games or might have been picked up/tweaked from a prior game. Hell, it's weird to think this is the first FF game without 'fully' customizable characters (unless you count Cecil's class change), or that its the first with a truly expanded roster. It's really interesting going through and seeing this game as a culmination of the prior 3 games' ideas melded into one cohesive package. The issue is really how well it holds up.
Despite this intrigue, when actually going through the game I didn't find myself caring all too much about the game as it actually was. I think a good chunk of this is just how often you switch party members that are kinda so-so to begin with. Cecil, Yang, Rydia are probably the only ones I really liked, the rest are kind of just okay or are Edward who I completely forgot existed when revisiting this. I don't dislike any of the team members but some of them just kinda exist, like I don't know how much i really cared about Cid as far as his battling prowess went. Tellah and Fusoya are cool for the hour you have either of them. Edge is okay but I kinda wish I just had Yang the entire game (I have a bias for monks). Its a pretty alright cast overall but hey, it's more of a cast than 3 or what I can remember from 2.
Additionally the story's just alright. I definitely feel like it peaks WAY too early, Cecil only being a dark knight for about a fifth of the game. Otherwise its just dealing with Golbez's shenanigans across the map, dealing with fake character deaths and some side dungeon stuff for cool rydia summons.
Although one big complaint I did have throughout is god I hated managing inventory in this game (also, I do think the devs were being a bit cheeky with some of the hidden passage hunting but maybe thats just me).
I'm definitely glad I finally finished this game, despite not being the original version I had growing up. There's a bit that could be talked about but I think I can just sum it up with 'its fine'.
To be honest, this is really just covering the psp version of Final Fantasy 4, not The After Years. I enjoyed my time with 4 enough- but as I'm going through the FF games I didnt really feel much of an itch to try out the other half of this collection just yet. I'll probably edit this review whenever I do get around to that but for now I'm just sticking with prime FF4. Secondly, this isn't exactly my first time touching FF4. My first experience with a Final Fantasy, let alone 4 was actually the DS version of this game, several years ago. I didnt get too far (Cagnazzo walled me as a teen) so I tried that version again when I got around to playing 4 again. After opening the DS again and messing around with that version I just decided to play this edition instead. Said DS editions bosses and overall gameplay just wasn't what I was looking for, although I don't mind the 'cuter' aesthetic and it was cool seeing a ds game with voice acting and that kind of direction.
As for this edition, and FF4 in general, it's alright. It's definitely the first FF in the series that feels genuinely 'Final Fantasy' despite me generally liking 1 and 3 as well. Its interesting going through these chronologically as you realize tiny details that might seem commonplace picking this game up weren't actually in prior games or might have been picked up/tweaked from a prior game. Hell, it's weird to think this is the first FF game without 'fully' customizable characters (unless you count Cecil's class change), or that its the first with a truly expanded roster. It's really interesting going through and seeing this game as a culmination of the prior 3 games' ideas melded into one cohesive package. The issue is really how well it holds up.
Despite this intrigue, when actually going through the game I didn't find myself caring all too much about the game as it actually was. I think a good chunk of this is just how often you switch party members that are kinda so-so to begin with. Cecil, Yang, Rydia are probably the only ones I really liked, the rest are kind of just okay or are Edward who I completely forgot existed when revisiting this. I don't dislike any of the team members but some of them just kinda exist, like I don't know how much i really cared about Cid as far as his battling prowess went. Tellah and Fusoya are cool for the hour you have either of them. Edge is okay but I kinda wish I just had Yang the entire game (I have a bias for monks). Its a pretty alright cast overall but hey, it's more of a cast than 3 or what I can remember from 2.
Additionally the story's just alright. I definitely feel like it peaks WAY too early, Cecil only being a dark knight for about a fifth of the game. Otherwise its just dealing with Golbez's shenanigans across the map, dealing with fake character deaths and some side dungeon stuff for cool rydia summons.
Although one big complaint I did have throughout is god I hated managing inventory in this game (also, I do think the devs were being a bit cheeky with some of the hidden passage hunting but maybe thats just me).
I'm definitely glad I finally finished this game, despite not being the original version I had growing up. There's a bit that could be talked about but I think I can just sum it up with 'its fine'.