First time playing FFIV, mainly with the knowledge going in these remasters come with the 4x EXP/Gil buff, and thank christ they were added along with the random encounter switch, because you can see exactly where this game would grind to a halt with difficulty spikes. The last dungeon in particular just looks utterly miserable to plough through.
Thankfully, with these additions I was able to breeze through the campaign in just over 10 hours. Overall, FFIV does feel unremarkable, but that's only against the context of what would come after. The story is a basic redemption arc for the main character, but has enough enjoyable companions to see the thing through, and even manages to pull of moments of effective story telling, but it also doesn't commit to those beats (looks directly at the twins). It's like if Aerith was revivied in FFVII - it just wouldn't have the same impact.
Not being a fan of the FF games where they fuck around with the battle system (hello VIII) I have no issue with the basic mechanics of combat here but I understand everyone will have a different view of this.
Crucially, though, holy shit this soundtrack hits so hard. Being an outsider to FF, I have basic understandings of which OSTs are revered for, and FFIV never came up in the conversations I had with friends who love the series, and I'm stunned because FFIV stands up head and shoulders against any other game from the series.
Thankfully, with these additions I was able to breeze through the campaign in just over 10 hours. Overall, FFIV does feel unremarkable, but that's only against the context of what would come after. The story is a basic redemption arc for the main character, but has enough enjoyable companions to see the thing through, and even manages to pull of moments of effective story telling, but it also doesn't commit to those beats (looks directly at the twins). It's like if Aerith was revivied in FFVII - it just wouldn't have the same impact.
Not being a fan of the FF games where they fuck around with the battle system (hello VIII) I have no issue with the basic mechanics of combat here but I understand everyone will have a different view of this.
Crucially, though, holy shit this soundtrack hits so hard. Being an outsider to FF, I have basic understandings of which OSTs are revered for, and FFIV never came up in the conversations I had with friends who love the series, and I'm stunned because FFIV stands up head and shoulders against any other game from the series.